Madeleine Sophie Barat was born in Joigny, France, a small Burgundy town, December 12, 1779. As a young girl Sophie was tutored by Louis Barat who recognized the intelligence and giftedness of his younger sister, instructed her in the classics of French literature, ancient history, Spanish, Italian and possibly some Latin-- a rigorous curriculum that at the time was reserved for boys.

In the aftermath of the Reign of Terror, Sophie moved to Paris where she continued her studies in theology, the Church Fathers, biblical studies, and mathematics. During this time she became acquainted with Fr. Joseph Varin who told her of an idea of another priest, Fr. Leonor De Tournely. The idea was to begin a company of women parallel to the then-suppressed Society of Jesus and whose work would be to revitalize Christian life in France. Sophie agreed to this idea and with three companions made her vows on November 21, 1800. (In doing so Sophie and her companions joined an established institute known as the Dilette di Gesu. This name was subsequently changed to the Ladies of the Faith in 1802, the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1806, and finally to the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1815.)

Sophie Barat and her companions opened the first school in Amiens. In 1804 she traveled to Grenoble to the Visitation convent of St. Marie d'en Haut. There she met Rose Philippine Duchesne. The two became fast friends and collaborated in the development and extension of the Society with Philippine establishing the Society of the Sacred Heart in the United States in 1818.

Leading the Society of the Sacred Heart for 65 years, Sophie Barat was a builder, educator, apostle and spiritual guide. During the time the Society grew to more than 3,000 members on four continents.

Sophie Barat died May 25, 1865 and was canonized May 24, 1925.