Giving Equal Time ...
You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her, but only put in her hand a powerful instrument of self-destruction.
While I was energetically avoiding the nun-thing, I solidly knew that once I got around to doing it, it would be with the Society of the Sacred Heart. Of course, here I am in the middle of Nowheresville, Indiana, so I'm still not totally sure what happened, but .... I still consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked for two years at the school in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. It was said to be holy ground, for Philippine had visited there twice; thus, saints had walked there.
We cultivate a very small field for Christ but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements, but a heart that holds back nothing for self.
Today is the feast of Saint Philippine Duchesne. In the year 1818, at the age of 49, she finally was able to begin to fulfill her dream of going to the missions -- she was sent to the foreign land of America! However, it wasn't until she was 72 that she could fully achieve her dream of working with the Indians; she went to Sugar Creek, Kansas, and there she ministered to the Potowatami Indians. Finding it very difficult to learn their language, she nevertheless made a significant impact upon them; to the Potowatami she was "Woman Who Prays Always."
Humility is the virtue that requires the greatest amount of effort.
As missionary to the American frontier, she became the fourth American saint to be canonized (1988).
Let us bear our cross and leave it to God to determine the length and the weight.
While I was energetically avoiding the nun-thing, I solidly knew that once I got around to doing it, it would be with the Society of the Sacred Heart. Of course, here I am in the middle of Nowheresville, Indiana, so I'm still not totally sure what happened, but .... I still consider myself extremely fortunate to have worked for two years at the school in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. It was said to be holy ground, for Philippine had visited there twice; thus, saints had walked there.
We cultivate a very small field for Christ but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements, but a heart that holds back nothing for self.
Today is the feast of Saint Philippine Duchesne. In the year 1818, at the age of 49, she finally was able to begin to fulfill her dream of going to the missions -- she was sent to the foreign land of America! However, it wasn't until she was 72 that she could fully achieve her dream of working with the Indians; she went to Sugar Creek, Kansas, and there she ministered to the Potowatami Indians. Finding it very difficult to learn their language, she nevertheless made a significant impact upon them; to the Potowatami she was "Woman Who Prays Always."
As missionary to the American frontier, she became the fourth American saint to be canonized (1988).
posted by Steph Youstra at 6:13 PM
2 Comments:
I seriously considered the rscj's too. A great group.
What a great quote. And I never knew anything about St. Philippine, much less that she'd been in Coteau. Thanks - you've given strength for today. :)
Post a Comment
<< Home