To her niece, Mother Amelie Jouve, R.S.C.J.

Statue of Philippine Duchesne as seen at the
Academy of the Sacred Heart ~ St. Charles

October 1 & 2, 1847 ~  Mother Duchesne writes to her niece, "It was hard to see you leave me forever - for we can not hope to see each other again this side of Heaven.  So we must strive to reach there, you and I, but by such different paths - I doing nothing, and you accomplishing great things for God through the education of youth.  God has given you the necessary talents, and you must use them to produce a hundredfold in His service.  Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the cross as He did. We have no choice about it; we must take it up and carry it if we are to be saved."

Taken from the book Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Notes written by Mother Amelie Jouve, R.S.C.J.

Academy of the Sacred Heart ~ St. Charles, MO

September 19, 1853 ~  Notes written by Mother Amelie Jouve, R.S.C.J.,* "The convent of St. Charles is very pleasantly situated on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River.  The unpretentious little brick building has been enlarged on one side by a cloister chapel. Adjoining this is the small room in which Mother Duchesne spent most of her time during the last ten years of her life, now praying, now working.  The furniture of her room consisted of a low cot, a chair, a wooden box in which she kept her treasures: some instruments of penance, some spiritual notebooks, some letters of Our Mother General."  

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

* Mother Amelie Jouve, R.S.C.J. was Philippine's niece

To Mother Adeline Boilvin, American RSCJ

As seen in the Chapel at
Schools of the Sacred Heart Grand Coteau

August 31, 1838 ~ Philippine Duchesne writes to Adeline Boilvin, RSCJ, "The Jewels of Calvary are the cross, the thorns and the binding cords. Have courage!  Others have worn them before us and have seen them changed into treasures eternal and incomprehensible in value. In Corde Jesu, Phil."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Adeline Boilvin made her final vows on September 30, 1838 and she died on her 35th birthday, September 24, 1848 while in Canada under the care of Mother Amelie Jouve (Philippine's niece).  She was superior and mistress of novices at McSherrystown, Pennsylvania.  The school closed in 1846 and relocated a couple of times before its final location ~ Eden Hall (Torresdale, PA) which closed in 1968.