Homily: Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (Lk. 19:45-48) “She Who Prays Always”

When I went to St Meinrad in Indiana I was always impressed with its long history. The Benedictine monks came to the Indiana wilderness in the 1850’s. The first priory was a log cabin, and the conditions were harsh. Diseases and the harsh climate were a real threat to the survival of the community.

The Benedictine Monks of St. Meinrad were not alone in their struggles. Many religious women came to the United States and went out to the frontier to start various institutions.

St. Rose Duchesne was one of them. St. Rose was part of an affluent family, but she entered the Visitation of Mary convent when she was nineteen. This was at the time of the French Revolution. Convents of sisters including Rose’s community were disbanded. Some sisters were even killed because they lived a religious life. The woman who suffered these injustices either left religious life or carried on as best they could in secret. St. Rose stayed true to her vocation.

After the Revolution her community could not regain its footing so she joined the Society of the Sacred Heart sisters. A short while after she joined the Bishop of New Orleans put out a call for religious sisters to help him in his diocese. St. Rose responded to this call along with a handful of other sisters.

St. Rose traveled through New Orleans and then up the Mississippi river to St. Louis. The whole journey took eighteen weeks. When St. Rose and her sisters arrived in St. Louis they expected to work with Native Americans, but that did happen. The bishop sent them to St. Charles, Missouri where there were few people other than the pioneers who were in route to the west.

St. Rose and her community started a school and had some success in their ministry, but conditions were extremely harsh. Years later St. Rose began her work among the Potawatomi in Sugar Creek Kansas. She was 72. Because of her age, she found it hard to learn the language, but she prayed for the success of her mission for hours each day. She died at the age of 83. Her perseverance to her calling should inspire us all.

Questions:

1.    Would I have given up on my vocation if I were St. Rose? How dedicated am I to my Christian call?

2.    St. Rose prayed when she could not do active ministry. Do I see prayer as important as active ministry?

 Dear Parishioners,

           Sr. Rose teaches us about the power of prayer. We have much to pray for at Sacred Heart right now. We can pray about the study that is taking place in the diocese that concerns the possible consolidation of parishes.  We have the Eucharistic revival going on in the United States right now. People Francis is leading a worldwide synod. And we have our building project that is an ongoing concern.

          We could also bring up broader issues like the war in Ukraine, climate change and the polarization in our politics. Truly, there is much to pray about.

          St. Rose was labeled, “The Women Who Always Prays” by the Native Americans who new her. If we have the same spiritual fervor perhaps all our many projects will be greatly blessed.

          May Our Lady of Peace pray for an end to all conflicts today.

          Fr. Mark