July 15--Bl. Anne-Marie Javouhey, Religious and Foundress

 

Bl. Anne-Marie Javouhey

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” We have all heard this aphorism many times in our lives. It speaks to the virtue of perseverance, which “signifies the steadfast pursuit of a goal despite facing obstacles, delays, or difficulties” and is a strength in the virtue category of courage. This is perhaps the single most important characteristic of today’s saint, Bl. Anne-Marie Javouhey.

Born in France in 1779 just before the French Revolution, she dedicated her life to care for children of all races. In 1801 she and her three natural sisters ran a school for poor children and “during the next decade she ran two day schools and an orphanage.” For many, that would be enough, but not for her. In 1812 she founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. From these beginnings she expanded her ministry to missionary work in the French Caribbean and African colonies, including Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and French Guiana. At the request of the French government she prepared six hundred slaves for emancipation in French Guiana. “As each family was ready to be freed, Mother Javouhey arranged for them to have money, some land, and a cottage." She also faced and overcame episcopal opposition, including prohibition of reception of the sacraments for two years.

The motto she gave her sisters illustrated her entire mission: The Holy Will of God. She said, “I am in God’s hands, ready to do God’s Will as soon as it is revealed to me.” Thus she can guide us according to Jesus’ own words for us as we pray to the Father: “Thy will be done.” To do God’s will is our bread, our life, and our calling to holiness. She died in 1851 and was beatified in 1950. Bl. Anne-Marie Javouhey, pray for us!

July 15--St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

The Franciscans have given the Church many great saints, among these being St. Bonaventure.  St. Bonaventure lived in the 13^th century, not long after the Franciscans were founded.  He became the Minister General, or leader, of the Franciscans and also was named a cardinal.  He was also influential in helping unite the Latin and Greek churches at the Council of Lyon in 1274.  He wrote many volumes on theology and philosophy.  A contemporary of St. Thomas Aquinas, he also worked on integrating faith and reason.   He died soon after the Council of Lyon.  He was named a Doctor of the Church and called the Seraphic Doctor.

Faith and reason do go together, as shown by St. Bonaventure’s, and others, works.  Many have accused Catholics and believers of having “blind faith”, that is, faith that does not have any connection to reason whatsoever.  This is not true.  Both faith and reason are gifts from God and need to be used in the correct context.  We use reason in acknowledging the existence of God.  We use reason as a natural gift from God.  We use faith as a supernatural gift from God.  Reason tells us there is a God; faith tells us that Jesus is God.  Reason tells us that the statement that Jesus is God is reasonable due to the evidence of the believers who first knew him, listened to him, and witnessed him as risen from the dead.  Faith builds on reason, just as grace builds on nature.  

“Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope …” (1 Pet. 3:15).  We need to be ready to use our reason in defense of our hope and our faith, namely Jesus Christ.  We are not “blind fools”, but rather, “We are fools on Christ’s account …” (1 Cor. 4:10).