The church is part of a charitable foundation created by the Abbot Le Rebours, curate of La Madeleine (1822-1894) given over to the Lazarists (founded by Vincent de Paul).

A chapel bearing the name Chapelle Sainte-Rosalie was constructed in 1859 on a large site the Abbot had acquired on the now defunct Rue de Gentilly.

He had the chapel built to recognise Sister Rosalie's good work for the needy of the quarter in the first half of the 19th century.

[1] In 1867, the land was expropriated for the creation of the short Avenue de la Sœur Rosalie, which joins the Place d'Italie.

With the proceeds of compulsory purchase, another plot nearby was acquired, on the corner of rue Corvisart and the then boulevard des Gobelins.