Final answer:
St. Louise de Marillac served the poor by contributing to the settlement house movement, providing medical care, education, and food to working-class women. These houses were essential in a time when few other professional opportunities were available for women, emboldening the concept of labor rooted in love and compassion towards the less fortunate.
Step-by-step explanation:
St. Louise de Marillac served the poor through various means. One substantial way was through the settlement house movement, which provided relief for working-class women. These settlement houses, like the notable Hull House, offered a range of services that fundamentally supported women in need.
For instance, they offered crucial medical care, access to recreation programs, and educational opportunities such as English classes. Furthermore, they provided tangible assistance like hot lunches for factory workers. This initiative was particularly helpful since work outside of charity was often not an option for women at the time.
Moreover, through the influence of individuals like St. Louise de Marillac and others who shared a compassionate view towards the needy, settlement houses played a critical role. They functioned on donations and were run by dedicated missionaries and volunteers, often women, who generally received minimal wages for their work. Their services greatly helped ameliorate the harsh conditions faced by the poor, especially working-class women. This movement symbolized a deep commitment to labour and love, as articulated by Louisa Susanna Cheves McCord in her poem 'Woman's Progress' dated 1853.
In addition to advocating for and establishing settlement houses, compassionate figures of the time also faced challenges in serving various communities. They often had to navigate the tension between the poor who were suspicious or resentful towards charitable efforts and the affluent who were indifferent to the plight of the destitute, as seen in the accounts of those like Grace MacPherson Livingston, who toiled selflessly to help wounded men despite societal challenges. Through such efforts, ground was gained against the widespread indifference that had pervaded many aspects of society regarding the suffering of the poor.