DAY 1 -Letting People Know and Love God -10th Sept.
A Brief
outline of the Life of St. Emilie de Rodat:
“The Saint of Rouergue” was born on the 6th September
1787 at the Castle of Druelle near Rodez
in the Region of Aveyron in France. She was counted among the great workers for
the spiritual recovery of France
after the French Revolution.
A deep love of God and her neighbour manifested
itself from her childhood. One day when
visiting a destitute family, her vocation became clear to her: she would devote
her life to teaching the poor children in a way that they will know and love
God. For this purpose, St Emilie was led
by God’s Providence
to found a new Religious Congregation – Sisters of the Holy Family. She and her Sisters responded to whatever
compelling needs presented themselves.
And so orphans were taken in; a
refuge for vulnerable young girls was opened; the prisoners, the poor and the
sick of the town were visited.
St. Emilie always trusted in God, she never
worried about resources. She believed
that God would always provide the means needed to accomplish His will. She encouraged her Sisters to “love, love
still more, as love never says enough”.
A balanced life between prayer and action was important to her.
Following a life of passionate love for God and
His people St. Emilie died on 19the September 1852. The people in Villefranche popularly
acclaimed her the Saint of Rouergue. She
was canonised in the Holy Year of 1950.
Thirty-six houses were founded during her life
and this extended to 200 by the end of the19th century. The religious turmoil of 1902 led to the
foundation of communities in different countries. Today the Holy Family Congregation is
establised in 14 Countries over 4 Continents.
St Emilie sought all her life to reveal the
face of the God of Love, first of all with the school children and later in her
work with deprived people. Here are some
of her deepest convictions which she shared with her first Sisters:
“Be gentle
towards children; don’t ever treat them harshly. Always show them a mother’s heart. Every time you speak to children or to any
other person, do it gently.”
“You are
responsible for visiting the sick. I
don’t need to tell you to love them, I know you do that; but we can ever do it
enough. Serve our dear sick people and
visit them with a spirit of faith and just as if you were visiting Our Lord in
person.”
“As
imitators of the divine Master, your hearts should be full of charity, of
compassion for the unfortunate victims of human passions. This charity will show itself in all you say,
and in all you do. You will have a mother’s
instincts for each of them and you will lavish your care on those who have the
greatest needs.”
“I am happy
to think that you do all in your power to make the best of Masters known and
loved.”
Prayer to
St. Emilie:
O Saint
Emilie, you who opened your heart to children, reached out to the poor, shared
your bread with those who are unfortunate, and obtained many favours from God
for all who came to you, we ask you to continue your beneficial effect on all
those who call upon you with confidence, and let the power and the goodness of
God burst forth in their lives.
St. Emilie,
pray for us.
No comments:
Post a Comment