The Society of the "Daughters of the Heart of Mary" was founded by Pierre Joseph de Clorivière S.J. and Marie Adélaïde de Cicé, in Paris, France in 1791.

In 1785 Father de Clorivière was rector of the Church’s school in Dinan. It was there in Dinan that God arranges the meeting of this holy and daring priest with Marie Adélaïde de Cicé, a woman from Breton, who was destined for great works given by God.

Near Dinan was a famous hot springs frequented by Adélaïde on the recommendation of her doctor. She was staying at the Ursuline monastery and soon sought confession with Father de Clorivière, chaplain of the monastery. In Adélaïde the priest recognized a soul surrendered to the Lord, a generous and humble servant of the poor, ready for any noble endeavor for the Kingdom of God.

From there began a long journey of accompaniment of Father de Clorivière with this young pious woman who hungered to find God's will for her life. During this accompaniment, Adélaïde confided to Father de Clorivière her dream of a kind of religious life different from that in existence at that time. She wanted something which was unthinkable in her time: to unite the contemplative life with the apostolic life in the service of the poor.

It was to be a religious life without habit or enclosure, with total consecration to the Lord through the religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and at the same time remaining within the world to serve the poor by all kinds of apostolic work. The Father listened and guided her spiritual life, encouraging her to patiently wait for God's time.