October 6--Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin and Foundress

 

A painting of Canadian nun Eulalie Durocher, also known by her religious name Marie-Rose Durocher. It replicates an earlier painting by Théophile Hamel licensed under Public Domain.

Pope St. John Paul II beatified today’s saint in 1982, stating: “Marie Rose Durocher acted with simplicity, prudence, humility, and serenity. She refused to be halted by her personal problems of health or the initial difficulties of her newborn work. Her secret lay in prayer and self-forgetfulness, which, according to her bishop, reached the point of real sanctity.” There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the secret to becoming a saint! For Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher died at the age of 38 in Quebec, Canada after living a full, if not healthy or easy, life.

At the age of 18 she tried to enter the convent, but her poor health prevented her from completing her education. Then her mother died and she took over her duties. Then she moved to her brother’s rectory as a housekeeper and secretary. It was there that she noted the lack of Catholic education for the children. In 1841 she heard that the bishop was arranging for an order of teaching sisters to come to Canada and tried to join. However, the plan fell through and instead the bishop asked her to start a teaching order. She agreed and in 1843, with two other women, founded the order of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. By 1849 demand for her girls’ schools had grown so much that she needed four convents and 30 teachers to educate 448 students! In some provinces her order was teaching boys as well. However, she faced conflict and poor health, which led to her death in 1849.

“Simplicity, prudence, humility, and serenity.” As they consecrated Bl. Marie-Rose, these virtues can help us become holy: simplicity instead of worldliness; prudence instead of rashness; humility instead of pride; and serenity instead of anxiety. Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher, pray for us!

July 14--St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

Is there a Native American saint?  Yes, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as Lily of the Mohawks or Flower of the Algonquins, is the only Native American to be canonized.  She was born of a Mohawk father and a Christian Algonquin mother in 1656.  She was orphaned at the age of four and eventually converted to Christianity at 19 under the influence of the Jesuits who were missionaries in French Canada.  She also took a vow of virginity, which was extremely unusual.

She underwent other hardships as well.  Because she did not work on Sundays, she was not permitted to eat.  She was in danger in her village because she was Christian.  She left it and walked 200 miles to a Christian Native American village near Montreal.  She also survived smallpox, but with half her sight and severe disfigurement.  However, she accepted her crosses and spent long hours in prayer, charity, and penance.

Do we accept our crosses in our ordinary lives?  Let us listen to St. Kateri and follow her example:  "I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus.  He must be my only love.  The state of helpless poverty that may befall me if I do not marry does not frighten me.  All I need is a little food and a few pieces of clothing.  With the work of my hands I shall always earn what is necessary and what is left over I'll give to my relatives and to the poor.  If I should become sick and unable to work, then I shall be like the Lord on the cross.  He will have mercy on me and help me, I am sure."

January 6—St. André Bessette, Religious

Is there a saint for failures?  No one who is a saint is a failure, but many of the saints had numerous setbacks throughout their lives that challenged them to grow in faith.  St. André Bessette, who died in 1937, went though numerous setbacks, or failures, in his life.  He was a sickly child; his parents died when he was 12; he attempted, and failed, numerous trades including shoemaking, baking, and blacksmithing.  He tried to enter the Congregation for the Holy Cross, but was too sick to be admitted.  Eventually, he was admitted and then given the “humble” occupations of doorkeeper, sacristan, laundry worker, and messenger.  However, he served with piety and devotion to St. Joseph.  That devotion to St. Joseph prompted him to work toward having a chapel built dedicated to St. Joseph.  Many years of prayer and dedication and setbacks were put in before he saw the successful culmination of his efforts.

We all fail in our lives, whether it be due to lack of ability, lack of effort, or illness or injury, or even due to “luck” and circumstances beyond our control.  We do not get what we want and that can lead to feelings of feeling despised or put upon, or unlucky.  Nonetheless, the only true failure is sin.  Sin is the ultimate failure to love.  But we have a savior who lifts us up from our failures.  Forgiveness from God is the ultimate success.  As we have been loved and forgiven, we have been called to love and forgive others.  This leads us to a life of spreading the Good News of salvation.  True, we may still not get what we want here on earth.  However, God will always give us what we need to get to heaven.  We just need to turn to him and understand how these setbacks may be calling us to a greater success, as did St. André Bessette.