Many believe that we have our own saint right here in Louisiana. Charlene Marie Richard was born on January 13, 1947, and lived in the small farming community of Richard, Louisiana.     Charlene’s parents were devout Christians and she grew up to have a remarkable devotion to her Christian faith, She would regularly pray the rosary and attend mass with her family. Charlene’s grandparents lived next door, and Charlene loved her grandmother very much.  It was this grandmother who shaped and encouraged the spiritual development of the young girl. Charlene loved to be helpful. Her mother remembers that she would often get up after dinner and offer to clean the kitchen, telling her mother to rest on the couch. She would wake her mother when she had finished the chore and make a fresh pot of coffee for her. Just as she liked to be helpful in life, in death she seems to shower favors on those who ask in humble faith. In 1959, Charlene suddenly fell ill and was taken to our Lady of Lourdes hospital in Lafayette where she was finally diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia.  Charlene "suffered a great deal", said Sister Theresita Crowley, who accompanied the chaplin, Fr Joseph Brennan, on his rounds at the hospital. "It's the nature of the disease; the pain is awful and there is almost constant bleeding and hemorrhage. I remember her as a cheerful patient. She never complained". Charlene was especially fearful of the painful bone marrow tests which involved inserting a long needle into the breast bone, but the brave girl bore these painful tests with remakable courage. When Father Brennen learned the severity of Charlene's illness and saw how much agony the young girl was enduring, he talked to her about the Christian concept of offering her pain and suffering as a prayer for the benefit for others. Charlene eagerly accepted Father Brennen's suggestion, and each day Father Brennen visited her, he talked about a particular person who he felt might benefit from her prayers. Charlene would then offer that day's pain and discomfort to God as a prayer in the name of that person. Charlene died at 7:20 AM on August 11, 1959. "She was a faith-filled little girl. I see Charlene as a witness for all people of all ages to the power of resignation and acceptance of God's will. She wasn't different in any way except that when crisis came in he life and it came very early, she accepted it with faith, trust and love", commented Fr. Brennen. Charlene Marie Richard was buried in St Edwards Catholic Church Cemetary in Richard, Louisania.  Thousands visit her grave each year and implore her prayers. As of 2006, her cause for beautification is being considered by the Vatican.