Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. Terese Couderc, Feast Day September 26
St. Terese Couderc
The feast day of St. Terese Couderc is celebrated on September 26. She is the founder of the Cenacle Sisters.
St. Terese was born in Masle, France on Feb. 1, 1805. She joined the Sisters of St. Regis. St. Terese and Father Stephen founded the Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle. She became its superior in 1828, and when the mother house was established, its superior general until 1838. St. Terese helped to conduct spiritual retreats.
The spirituality of St. Terese focused on surrendering her life to the will of God. She experienced a vision which clarified for her the goodness of God in all creation.
On September. 26, 1885 St. Terese died of natural causes in Lyon, France at the age of 80. She was canonized in 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
Take a step at a time in the darkness, and the path will unwind beneath your feet. It is not necessary to understand God’s purposes. Just follow His will.
On Saturday, Sept. 19, a globe of light opened to reveal a beautiful woman seated on a stone. The woman appeared to two shepherd children in Salette, France. The apparition was approved and is celebrated on September 19.
The children’s names were Melanie Calvat, age 15, and Maiximin Graud, age 11. The woman was gently crying and asking for the people and the priests to repent of their sins. She called for penance.
Our Lady was tall, wearing a pearl studded dress and white shawl with a tiara on her head. A crucifix was hanging from her neck. She seemed to be made of light. As she talked to the children she warned of coming war and famine.
Our Lady asked the children to pray day and night for the salvation of the world.
Our Lady of La Salette warned of chastisements that would fall upon humanity if they didn’t change their ways. Before ascending into heaven she urged the children to pray more and gave each of them a secret that was revealed to Pope Pius IX in 1851 concerning threats to the church and to the world.
While Our Lady’s message focused on conversion and penance she also gave the children a message of hope regarding the power of prayer saying:
“if they are converted, the stones and rocks will change into mounds of wheat, and the potatoes will be self-sown in the land”,
After the apparition many people made amends for the wrongs they had done. Miracles began occurring at the site, as people were cured over various ailments from water from the spring there within weeks of Our Lady’s appearance. The Church officially approved of this apparition (deeming it worthy of belief) after much investigation and debate in 1851. Construction of a church at La Salette began in 1852 and was completed in 1865. It was designated as the Basilica of Our Lady of La Salette in 1879.
Pope John Paul II made the following comment on the Apparition of La Salette:
“In this place, Mary, the loving Mother appeared manifesting her pain for the moral evil caused by humanity. Her tears help us to understand the seriousness of sin and the rejection of God, and at the same time it is a manifestation of the passionate fidelity that her Son has for each person, even though His redemptive love is marked by the wounds of treason and abandonment by men.”
Of all the virtues of the Virgin Mary, the most admirable is her great humility; it is a virtue of which we ourselves have a great need.
Quote of Bl. Alphonsus de Orozco; Feast Day September 19
The feast day of St. Regina is celebrated on September 7. She was born in Alise, France. Her mother died at childbirth. Regina’s father was a prominent man who was a pagan. He hired a Christian nurse to raise Regina. While Regina was quite young the nurse secretly baptized Regina.
St. Regina became more and more religious as she grew older. When her father learned that she had been baptized, he disowned her. She lived with her nurse and worked in the fields to earn money. She also tended sheep. While working, she meditated on the love and mercy of God.
When Regina was 15 years old, the prefect of Gaul named Olybrius noticed Regina and became determined to marry her. He was unhappy that she was a Christian. Olybrius tried to convince her to deny her faith but she not only refused but proclaimed her faith even louder. Olybrius then had her imprisoned. She was chained to the walls of the cell with an iron belt. After she still refused to deny her faith, she was whipped and scourged. Finally she was beheaded. She died in the year 286. Many were converted after seeing a solitary dove hover over her during the torture.
The relics of St. Regina are enshrined in Flavigini Abbey where many miracles have since occurred.
St. Regina is honored as a martyr for the faith. She is the patron saint against poverty and for victims of abuse.
If the moon is beautiful as it reflects the light of the sun at so great a distance, what will be the beauty of the saints, who for all eternity and not at a distance, will reflect the divine image of God!
The feast day of Bl. Bertrand of Garrigua is celebrated on September 6. He was born in Garrigua, France in 1195. Bl. Bertrand was ordained a secular priest preaching with the Cistercians against the Albigenses. In the year 1216 he met St. Dominic. He soon joined St. Dominic helping him to found the Order of Preachers.
While St. Dominic was in Rome seeking approval of his new order he left Bertrand in charge. He was an important part in the founding of the Order of Preachers, becoming known as the “second Dominic”. He was known to be a traveling companion with St. Dominic.
Bl. Bertrand was known for continually weeping for his sins. St. Dominic convinced him that it would be better to pray for ht sins of others instead. Bertrand continued weeping, however, he was weeping for others sins instead of his own. After having a vision he also began to pray for the souls in purgatory.
Bl. Bertrand fell sick while preaching a mission in 1230 and died at the age of 35.
The body of Bl. Bertrand was found to be incorrupt in 1881, 23 years after his death.
Bl. Bertrand was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1881.
A person who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.
The feast day of St. Giles the Abbot is celebrated on September 1. St. Giles is the patron saint of the mentally ill, the disabled, epileptics, childhood fears, and depression.
St. Giles was born into a noble family in Athens, Greece in the seventh century. After the death of his parents, he distributed his inheritance to the poor. He also became known for the gift of miracles and healing he had received. Giles longed to live a life of solitude, serving God as a recluse, away from all the praise and fame of the world.
He left Greece, sailing for France. Everywhere he lived he became known for his gift of miracles and healing. He would have to flee once again to find a place to live in peace and solitude. He first lived near the mouth of the Rhone River. Later he lived near the river Gard and finally he lived in the diocese of Nimes. His final dwelling place was deep in the forest in a cavern in a rock. He occupied his time in prayer, praising God and meditating. He was a vegetarian, living on herbs and roots. His only companion was a red deer, which provided him with milk to drink.
After several years of living in complete solitude, the King of France instituted a great hunt near where Giles lived. The hunters chased the deer which led them to the cave where Giles lived. They shot an arrow into the cave, wounding the holy hermit. They found him covered with blood with the deer lying at his feet. When the king was told what had happened, he ordered him taken care of. He came to see him offering him gifts. St. Giles refused the gifts and the King’s request to leave his solitude. Before leaving the king asked if there was anything he could do for him, St. Giles said he would like a monastery built where they were standing.
St. Giles became the Abbot of the monastery which was soon built. Several disciples joined him. His fame continued to spread because of his gift of miracles. The conversion of the King was one of these miracles.
St. Giles made a pilgrimage to Rome to see the Pope. He requested a blessing for his community which embraced the Rule of St. Benedict. Not only did he receive a blessing but he received the gift of two beautifully carved doors of cedar wood for his church.
Many sinners were converted because of the prayers and miracles of St. Giles. St. Giles died on September 1, 725. The miracles which took place near his tomb were so many that soon after his death a town began to grown and was named Giles.
The feast day of St. Jeanne Jugan is celebrated on August 30. She was born in 1792 in a small port town in the region of Brittany, France.
By the age of four her father had died at sea. Her mother struggled to support her and her siblings. She learned to knit and spin wool. Eventually, she worked as a kitchen maid for a wealthy family. Jeanne felt called to serve Christ while still in her teens. She began by working in a local hospital.
At age 25, Jeanne joined the Third Order ofSt. John Eudes. She worked as a nurse for six years but left for health issues. Her spirituality focused on her devotion to Mary, her desire to be one with the poor and trust in Divine Providence.
Jeanne was sharing an apartment with an older woman and an orphaned younger woman. One day, she met an elderly woman named Anne Chauvin. Anne was blind, partially paralized and had no one to care for her. She carried her home, up the flight of stairs to her apartment. She gave her bed to Anne, deciding to sleep in the Attic. By 1841, she had rented a room to provide housing for a dozen elderly people. The next year, she acquired an unused convent which was able to house 40. Many young women joined her to help. The Community which she formed became known as The Little Sisters of the Poor. Jeanne became known as Sister Mary of the Cross.
An ambitious priest eventually had her forced out of her leadership role and placed in retirement. In retirement, Sister Mary continued to pray for the order which had 2400 members. She was not known to be its foundress. The priest was eventually disciplined and St. Jeanne Jugan acknowledged as the foundress.
St. Jeanne was considered a true friend of the poor. She died in 1879 at the age of 86. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 11, 2009.
What happiness for us, to be a Little Sister of the Poor! Making the poor happy is everything!
Quote of St. Jeanne Jugan
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Eudes, Feast Day August 19
The feast day of St. John Eudes is celebrated on August 19. St. John Eudes was born in Ri, France on Nov. 14, 1601. At the age of 14 he took a vow of chastity. He was ordained a priest in 1625 after studying at a Jesuit college at Caen, France.
As a priest, St John Eudes ministered to the victims of the plague. He cared for the sick while at the same time becoming well known as a preacher in France and Normandy. In 1641 he founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. Their purpose was to give aid to prostitutes. He also founded the Society of Jesus and Mary for the education of priests.
St. John Eudes encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Heart of Mary writing the first book about the devotion.
St. John Eudes died at Caen on August 219, 1680. He was canonized in 1925.
Faith is a beam radiating from the face of God.
Quote of St. John Eudes
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The feast day of St. Jane Frances de Chantal is celebrated on August 12. Jane was born on Jan. 18 1572 in Dijon, France. She was born into a family of nobility. Her father was the president of the parliament of Burgundy. At the age of 29 she married Baron Christophe de Chantal. Their marriage lasted seven years during which they had three daughters and a son. Jane became a widow when Christophe died tragically in a hunting accident when Jane was 28 years old. Although her husband forgave the man who shot him, Jane struggled for a long time to forgive him. With time and God’s grace she was finally able to do so. Because she was able to forgive him, she became the godmother of his child.
To support her children, Jane moved home with her father in law. For seven years she managed his estate bearing patiently his abusive behavior. Jane turned to God for guidance. In a vision she saw the person who was meant to be her spiritual director. When she met St. Francis de Sales while he was preaching she recognized him as the person in her vision. He soon became her spiritual director. They corresponded by letter. Many of the letters have survived.
With the guidance of St. Francis de Sales, Jane opened the Congregation of the Visitation in 1610. They focused on uniting their will to the will of God; trusting in Him and seeking to please Him. After the death of St. Francis de Sales, St. Vincent de Paul became her spiritual director. By the time of her death 86 convents were opened. The Order welcomed women who had been rejected from entering other orders due to health and age. When St. Jane died at the age of 69 she was known for her sanctity. She was credited with miracles before and after her death. St. Jane was canonized in 1767.
St. John Vianney Prayers, Quips and Quotes: St. John Vianney, Feast Day August 4
The feast day of St. John Vianney is celebrated on August 4. St. John was born into a family of farmers on May 8 1786 in Dardilly, France.
St. John lived through the French Revolution. Because their work had to be done in secret, he admired the courage of priests. He received his first communion and confirmation in secret at the age of 13.
When John was 20, he left home to study in Ecully, struggling to learn Latin. He was drafted in 1809 into Napolean’s army. He soon fell ill and was hospitalized. While praying in a church he met a man who led him into the mountains where deserters met. He lived with them for fourteen months. While living there he opened a school for the local children.
It wasn’t until 1810 that deserters were granted amnesty. He returned to his studies and was ordained a deacon in June 1815. On August 12, 1815 he was ordained a priest. St. John Vianney became the parish priest of the Ars parish. Father Vianney spent many hours hearing confessions. He was also known for his sermons calling everyone to repent from their sins. His fame as a confessor spread and soon pilgrims began arriving. As many as 20,000 pilgrims a year came to confess their sins to hm. He spent as many as 16 hours a day hearing confessions.
Father Vianney wanted to become a monk and spend his time praying alone. He attempted to leave Ars four times before deciding he was meant to stay and hear confessions. He became known as the Holy Cure de Ars. He was always kind, patient, gentle and cheerful.
On August 4, 1859, St. John Vianney died peacefully fter serving as a parish priest for 41 years.
His body was exhumed in 1859 due to the impending beatification, and was found to be incorrupt. His heart, later removed, is kept in a building known as the Shrine of the Cure’s Heart.
Pope Pius IX canonized St. John Vianney on May 31, 1925.
The most Holy Virgin places herself between her Son and us. The greater sinners we are, the more tenderness and compassion does she feel for us. The child that has cost its mother the most tears is the dearest to her heart.
Quote of St. John Vianney
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The feast day of St. Peter Julian Eymard is celebrated on August 2. Peter was born in 1811 in La Mure, France. He worked with his father as a cutler until he was 18.
While he was still a teenager, St. Peter told his father of his desire to become a priest. His father was adamantly against it, wanting him to stay in the family business. Peter began to study Latin while continuing to work for his father. Two years later, Peter’s father refused his request to attend college, wanting him to continue to work with him. Peter managed to attend college by accepting a scholarship. He also worked for a priest at a hospital for the insane.
While at college, his mother died. A priest from the Oblates of Mary received permission at this time from Peter’s father for him to enter the Oblate novitiate. His father died two years later. Five months after entering the novitiate, Peter became very ill. he struggled with illness throughout his life. After his father’s death he entered the seminary at Grenoble. After his ordination he joined the community of Marists. His devotion to the Eucharist and perpetual adoration grew. He helped to spread the devotion of perpetual adoration. St. Peter became known as the Apostle of the Eucharist. He wrote many different books about the Eucharist including How to get more out of Holy Communion.
St. Peter Julian Eymard died in 1868 and was canonized in 1962.
The Lord comes into us Sacramentally in order to live there spiritually.
Quote of St. Peter Julian Eymard
August is the Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The feast day of Bl. Rose Chretien is celebrated on July 17. It is also the Feast of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne. She was born near Eureaux, France in 1741.
Bl. Rose married at a young age and soon became a widow. She decided to join the Discalced Carmelite Order and became a choir nun. At her profession in 1777 she took the religious name of Sister Julia Louise of Jesus.
Bl. Rose is considered one of the Carmelite Martyrs of Compiegne. The sixteen Carmelites were imprisoned along with English Benedictine nuns. The Carmelites were condemned as traitors and sentenced to death by guillotine. As they were martyred, one by one, they renewed their vows and chanted the hymn Veni Creato Spiritus which was the hymn sung at their ceremony professing their vows.
Several days after their deaths, the persecution called the Reign of Terror led by Robespierre came to an end. The English Benedictine Nuns credited the Carmelites with ending the bloodbath and saving their community.
The Carmelite Sisters were buried in a common grave at Picpus Cemetery with a single cross where 1306 other victims of the guillotine were buried.
Those who do something for the glory of God are not troubled by failure, because they have already achieved their pupose of pleasing God, by acting with a pure intention.
Quote of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Feast day August 1
The feast day of St. Eurosia is celebrated on June 25. St. Eurosia is considered the patron saint against bad weather.
St. Eurosia was a French martyr. She was born in Bayonne, France into a noble family. Betrothed against her will to a Moore, she escaped through the mountains and hid in a cave. Eurosia was pursued and captured. Her captures dragged her out of the cave by her hair. She was then martyred. Her limbs were amputated and then she was beheaded. At the moment of her death a violent storm came which terrorized her captures.
St. Eurosia’s remains were discovered by a shepherd. Her head remained at the original shrine, but her body was taken to Jaca for burial. Miracles were reported at the original shrine which became a site of pilgrimage.
St. Eurosia was canonized by Pope Leo XIII.
Where the sign of the cross is erected,
the wickedness of the devil is immediately repelled.
