Bl. Teresa of St. Augustine and Companions (OCD), Virgins and Martyrs (m)

“These were a community of sixteen Discalced Carmelite nuns from the monastery of the Incarnation at Compiégne in France. When the full terror of the French Revolution began, they offered themselves as sacrificial victims to beg God for peace for the Church and for their country. Arrested and imprisoned on the 24th June 1794, they continued to share their joy and their faith with others. Condemned to death for their loyalty to the Church, to their religious vows and for their devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, they were guillotined in Paris on 17th July 1794 whilst singing hymns and after having renewed their vows to their prioress, Teresa of St. Augustine. They were beatified by Saint Pius X on 13th May 1906.” from The Carmelite website

If you get a chance, listen to the beautifully provocative opera by Poulenc entitled “The Dialogues des Carmelites”…it’s stunning!  The finale makes me cry every single time…(they are singing the Salve Regina, aka the Hail Holy Queen)

Take a look

Beatification of Sister Marguerite Rutan,
June 19, 2011

From the Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul website:

“The lives of the saints are not limited to their earthly biographies but also include their being and working in God after death. In the saints one thing becomes clear: those who draw near to God do not withdraw from men, but rather become truly close to them.”(Deus Caritas est 42).

In February 2011 we published a short article on Sister Marguerite Rutan, Daughter of Charity and martyr (see www.filles-de-la-charite.org/en/news). As her beatification approaches we invite you to learn more about her life. Who is this new example of Vincentian holiness?

A presentation of her life:

Marguerite Rutan was born on 23 April 1736 in Metz in Lorraine and was baptized the same day. Marguerite was the 8th of 15 children. Marie Forat, her mother, was very Christian and her father, Charles Gaspard Rutan was an honest and courageous workman. With them she learned to live her life as a gift from God.

Her father introduced her to mathematics and linear design. Soon she was able to keep the accounts of his business. She helped with all her family until she was 21 years old.

She had the profound conviction she was being called by Jesus. With Him she looked for a way to give herself to the service of those who were poor.

In 1756, Marguerite Rutan entered the Company of the Daughters of Charity to be near those who were suffering, marginalized or excluded. She wanted to serve them. Following Christ she encouraged charity in those around her. For over 20 years she placed everything she received from God and others at the service of the poorest of the poor, no matter where she was sent by her superiors.

In 1779 she was sent to serve in the Hospital of Dax. Sr. Marguerite and her Sisters worked for 10 years relating with the townspeople. The Sisters were admired and respected.

In 1789 the troubling period of the Revolution began. It profoundly changed the country and personally touched Sr. Marguerite with suffering and death (April 9, 1794). Her faithfulness to Christ and the Church lead her to martyrdom. The life of Sr. Marguerite was anchored in the person of Christ and his Word. Each day she profoundly encountered the love of Christ which drew her to serve as He served.

Following Christ, servant of her brothers and sisters, kneeling to wash their feet, Sr. Marguerite gave her life to serve the poor and the sick and building brotherhood with all.

Following Christ, servant of the will of the Father, Sr. Marguerite based her life on the Gospel, desiring only one thing: to do the will of God.

Following Christ, servant of the suffering, despised, persecuted, Sr. Marguerite abandoned herself totoally to God. During the revolutionary turmoil, she showed the extremity of her love.

Interesting links:

http://www.ktotv.com

Marguerite Rutan: A little history of her life

 

“The Song at the Scaffold” by Gertrude von le Forte’s is one of the best novella’s…ever!   Vivian Dudro, writer and editor at Igantius Press, engages in a wonderful conversation about the work of German author Gertrude von le Forte who was a writer of novels, poems, and essays.  A convert  to Catholicism in 1926, most of  von le Forte work came after her conversion. In 1952 she won the Gottfried-Keller Prize, an esteemed Swiss literary award.

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Set during the French Revolution, this classic novella is based on the true story of the Carmelite nuns of Compiègne, who offered their lives for the preservation of the Church in France. The Song at the Scaffold was the original inspiration for the opera Dialogues of the Carmelites written by Francis Poulenc, which premiered in 1957. The opera was based on a libretto with this same title written by Georges Bernanos.

As Vivian points out in our discussion, von le Forte’s work is as relevant today as it was in the last century. In the course of our conversation, we discuss the influence of the Carmelite tradition and it’s influence on Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) and Bl. John Paul II, as well the role of redemptive suffering in the life of the Christian.

A novella in it’s truest sense, this book contains as much meaning as any tome made up 10x the pages.  A NOT TO BE MISSED READ.

You can find it at Ignatius.com

One of the great Christian classics of all time. —Michael O’Brien, Author, Father Elijah

A poignant reminder that, for the Christian, fearlessness lies on the far side of Gethsemane and the Cross. —George Weigel, Author, Witness to Hope

  I’m not 100% comfortable with Father’s connection in the video above with St. Rose and failure…my gosh, she survived the French Revolution, traveled to a foreign and scary wilderness land, had difficulty learning English (which is a REALLY tough language to learn compared to the romance languages), and yet she persevered in educating and establishing a legacy of education which survives today…failure?  I don’t think so, but you decide….

Vatican.va -ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE Was born August 29, 1769 in Grenoble, France. She was baptized in the Church of St. Louis and received the name of Philip, the apostle, and Rose of Lima, first saint of the new continent. She was educated at the Convent of the Visitation of Ste. Marie d’en Haut, then, drawn to the contemplative life, she became a novice there when she was 18 years old.

At the time of the Revolution in France, the community was dispersed and Philippine returned to her family home, spending her time nursing prisoners and helping others who suffered. After the Concordat of 1801, she tried with some companions to reconstruct the monastery of Ste. Marie but without success.

In 1804, Philippine learned of a new congregation, the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and offered herself and the monastery to the Foundress, Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat. Mother Barat visited Ste. Marie in 1804 and received Philippine and several companions as novices in the Society.

Even as Philippine’s desire deepened for the contemplative life, so too her call to the missions became more urgent – a call she had heard since her youth. In a letter she wrote to Mother Barat, she confided a spiritual experience she had had during a night of adoration before the Eucharist on Holy Thursday: “I spent the entire night in the new World … carrying the Blessed Sacrament to all parts of the land … I had all my sacrifices to offer: a mother, sisters, family, my mountain! When you say to me ‘now I send you’, I will respond quickly ‘I go”‘. She waited, however, another 12 years.

In 1818 Philippine’s dream was realized. She was sent to respond to the bishop of the Louisiana territory, who was looking for a congregation of educators to help him evangelize the Indian and French children of his diocese. At St. Charles, near St. Louis, Missouri, she founded the first house of the Society outside France. It was in a log cabin – and with it came all the austerities of frontier life: extreme cold, hard work, lack of funds. She also had difficulty learning English. Communication at best was slow; news often did not arrive from her beloved France. She struggled to remain closely united with the Society in France. (more…)

Episode 9– The World Goes Mad

The Resilient Church with Mike Aquilina, offers a fascinating look at the trials and triumphs of the Catholic Church over the past two thousand years. Fast-paced sketches of critical periods in church history give readers perspective on the challenges faced by the church today. Mike Aquilina does not shrink from the realities of the past, including badly behaved leaders and those who betrayed the Lord. Yet he also leaves us all with well-founded hope for the future: God remains faithful in every circumstance and fulfills his promise to remain with his church always. Hosted by Kris McGregor

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Pick up a copy of Mke’s book. You’ll find so much more and invaluable references and resoources, as well

Also visit Mike’s “Discerning Hearts” page for more audio downloads and information!