|
Dedication of the Basilicas
of Apostles Peter and Paul in Rome
This feast as been commemorated on November 18th since the eleventh
century. Constantine built the first basilica over the tomb of St. Peter
around 330 A.D. On November 18, 1626 the current basilica was consecrated.
St. Paul's on the Via Ostiense was begun by Valentinian II in 386 A.D.
This basilica took the place of the smaller one built by Constantine. The
basilica built by Valentinian II was destroyed by fire in 1823. The new
basilica was consecrated December 10, 1854 by Pope Pius IX who joined the
celebration of these two basilicas together.
Both original basilicas were completed by Pope Sylvester and Siricius in
the fourth century. These basilicas are two of the four major basilicas in
Rome which include the basilica of St. John Lateran who dedication is
celebrated on November 9th and the basilica of St. Mary Major whose
dedication is celebrated on August 5th.
source:
http://www.thesacredheart.com/feastgen.htm
Saint Rose Philippine
Duschene Also known as:
The Lady of Mercy; Woman Who Prays Always
Born to family with wealth and political connections; her father, Pierre
Francois Duchesne, was a lawyer, businessman, and prominent civic leader
in Grenoble, and her mother, Rose Perier, was a member of a leading family
from the Dauphine region. From age eight she had a desire to evangelize in
the Americas, sparked by hearing a Jesuit missionary speak of his work
there. She received a basic education at home from tutors, and religious
education from her mother. Educated from age 12 at the convent of the
Visitation nuns in Grenoble, she joined them in 1788 at age 19 without the
permission or knowledge of her family. Initially they were violently
opposed to her choice, but finally gave in.
Religious communities were outlawed during the Reign of Terror of the
French Revolution, and her convent was closed in 1792. She spent the next
ten years living as a laywoman again, but still managed to act like a good
member of her Order. She established a school for poor children, provided
care for the sick, and hid priests from Revolutionaries. When the Terror
ended, she reclaimed her convent and tried to reestablish it with a group
of sisters she had maintained in Grenoble. However, most were long gone,
and in 1804 the group was incorporated into the Society of the Sacred
Heart under Saint Madeline Sophie Barat. They then reopened the convent of
Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut as the second house of Sacred Heart nuns. Rose
became a postulant in December 1804, and made her final vows in 1805.
In 1815 Mother Duschene was assigned to found a Sacred Heart convent in
Paris. On 14 March 1818 at age 49 she and four sisters were sent as
missionaries to the Louisiana Territory to establish the Society's
presence in America. Diseases contracted during the trip to America nearly
killed her, and after she recovered in New Orleans, the trip up the
Mississippi nearly killed her again. She established her first mission at
Saint Charles, Missouri, a log cabin that was the first free school west
of the Mississippi River. She eventually opened six other houses in
America which included schools and orphanages. She ran into some
opposition as her teaching methods were based on French models, and her
English was terrible; her students, however, received a good education,
and her intentions were obviously for their best.
She was ever concerned about the plight of Native Americans, and much of
her work was devoted to educating them, caring for their sick, and working
against alcohol abuse. Finally able to retire from her administrative
duties, Mother Duchesne evangelized the Pottawatomies and in the Rocky
Mountains at age 71, and taught young girls of the tribe. This work,
however, lasted but a year as she was unable to master the Pottawatomie
language. She was known to the tribe as "Woman-Who-Prays-Always".
She spent her last ten years in retirement in a tiny shack at the convent
in Saint Charles, Missouri where she lived austerely and in constant
prayer.
Born
29 August 1769 at Grenoble, France
Died
18 November 1852 at Saint Charles, Missouri, USA
Beatified
12 May 1940 by Pope Pius XII
Canonized
3 July 1988 by Pope John Paul II
Patronage
opposition of Church authorities, diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau
Missouri
Readings
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.
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I live now in solitude and am able to use my time reflecting on the past
and preparing for death. I cannot put away the thought of the Indians and
in my ambition I fly to the Rockies.
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintr20.htm
|
