Feast of Saint Rose Philippine Duchense

November 18th Feast of Rose Philippine Duchesne 

Academy of the Sacred Heart - St Charles, MO

"All that is coming to us in the future.  We thank with our eyes shut, for the joys and sorrows - all that is unknown.  We may not have the presence of mind to do it then."

Janet Erskine Stuart RSCJ (1857-1914)

6th Superior General of the Society of the Sacred Heart

The above quote is taken from the perpetual spiral-bound calendar "The Life Lived" which celebrates the Centenary of Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ - (click here to order). And to order your very own Janet Erskine Stuart Centenary Memorabilia - click here.

Philippine, a Poem by Carmen Smith, RSCJ

Here in Chicago the weather has yet to be "spring" like and since it is National Poetry Month, I thought this poem found on the RSCJ site was most appropriate.  Enjoy!

Philippine at prayer by "Robin"

Philippine

Philippine, remind us of the green and growing moments.
Take us with you beyond the pain and winter 
cold to see you always young at heart.
Let us stand with you on the frontiers of our 
fears, sure, as you were,
that NOW is the acceptable time.
Touch us with your gallant spirit
that kept its youth until the very end
when you ran lightly as a girl to the God of your joy.
Your smile fills the words you left us as our heritage:
“I give you my heart, my soul and my life – oh, yes, my life – gladly.”
Make us daughters of such a mother, Heart of Jesus.
Keep us supple in spirit, growing in hope, rooted in your heart.
At the scent of water, may the oak break into bud
and put forth new branches as when it was first planted in America
In the strong young heart of Philippine.

                                                        --- Carmen Smith, RSCJ

Happy New Year...

photo taken at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

Wishing all Sacred Heart alums and their families peace, love, happiness and many blessings in the New Year!

January 1, 1827 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to her cousin Josephine Perier, Baronesse de Savoye-Rollin, "I beg the ever kind and generous Heart of Jesus to pay the debt I owe you and to give you a hundredfold for all you do for us."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

All Saints Day ... AASH Remembers our beloved Saints

On the Feast of All Saints...

Emil Frei window as seen at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles, MO
for further info on these windows click here

As Sacred Heart alumnae/i let us think of both Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne and Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat.

Below taken from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles...

The window above depicts what is probably the most cherished Philippine tradition. Kneeling in prayer on the Kansas prairie, her concentration is tested by an unnoticed Potawatomi who drops leaves at her feet. The established house in St. Charles at the top is contrasted with two tepees below. Blood flows from the wounds of Christ into a ciborium; and the Indian thunderbird symbol, upright in the upper portion, is toppled by the missionary's teaching.

Window by Emil Frei was once located at Barat College - this window can now
be seen in the Bolton Sullivan Library at Woodlands Academy 

St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Window

This magnificent stained glass window, depicting St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and a child, was commissioned for the Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest at the time of the building of the school’s chapel in 1924, twenty years after the building of Old Main. The window itself was one of three welcoming students to the Academy and to Barat College. Emil Frei, Sr., who was born in Bavaria and emigrated to the U.S. in 1889, designed all three windows. He founded The Emil Frei Art Glass Company, which still operates today and specializes in Munich antique glass figured style windows. 

The Madeleine Sophie Barat window is a gift to WoodlandsAcademy from the Barat Education Foundation. It has been installed in the Bolton Sullivan Library at Woodlands and was dedicated to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to Barat College Alumnae/i.

Written by Mother Duchesne in her office book

Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue
as seen on the campus of
Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

June 9, 1825 ~ Mother Duchesne writes in her office book, "Remember, O most loving Jesus, that it is unheard of through all ages that anyone ever had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart and implored Its help without obtaining relief.  Confiding, therefore, in Thy infinite goodness, I cast myself before Thee, O Heart, King of all hearts, and humbly supplicate Thee to hear my prayers, to receive my soul as Thy spouse, and to take upon Thyself the care of my salvation."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

St. Madeleine Sophie writes to Philippine Duchesne, "the Cross is the greatest of all treasures..."

Taken at the Shrine in St. Charles, MO

April 7 - 8, 1805 ~ St. Madeleine Sophie Barat writes to Philippine Duchesne, "You realize now that the Cross is the greatest of all treasures.  A large portion of it is in store for you, but be courageous and ready to accept it willingly, without, however, asking for it. You will have crosses that come from yourself, but there will be others far more painful to bear.  Only let your soul be steeped in love for Jesus, then no cross will be too heavy to carry."

Taken from the book, "Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne"

"Mickie" Ryan  (my mom and a treasure!) taken on Easter Sunday 1959

I received an email from a fellow alumna asking me,  "I have not received a blog notice from you… have you stopped posting????"  I responded with a short message stating, "The last blog I wrote was from Palos Hospital the day of my Mom’s surgery (3/15).  She fell and broke her hip and is now in rehab at..." Well, after two weeks in a rehab "Mickie" (my mom) developed a MRSA/VISA infection in her hip wound and was taken back to the hospital for treatment.  She is getting along but her road to recovery is a long one.  


St. Madeleine Sophie's words above are very meaningful at this juncture in my life, as well as my mother's - "Only let your soul be steeped in love for Jesus, then no cross will be too heavy to carry." 


I wish all a joyous and blessed Easter season!

To Mother Adeline Boilvin, American RSCJ

December 25, 1837 ~  Mother Duchesne writes to Mother Adeline Boilvin, "The Crib and Calvary are the dwelling places dearest to those that love Jesus. Pray to Him for me, that I may never withdraw from these dwellings."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Second Convent of the Society of the Sacred Heart opened in Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut, Grenoble

Former convent of the Visitation of Sainte Marie d'en Haut

December 13, 1804 ~ Arrival of St. Madeleine Sophie and two companions at Sainte-Marie-d'en-Haut, Grenoble, to found the second convent of the Sacred Heart and to admit Philippine Duchesne and her companions into the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

St. Madeleine Sophie to Mother Duchesne:

Window of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and child
(photo taken on December 8, 2008) and
Bishop George Rassas
 at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart

December 7, 1810 ~ St. Madeleine Sophie to Mother Duchesne: "Be docile and faithful, and even if you do not make great strides, go on trying without losing courage.  Can you refuse these efforts to the Infant Jesus, Who in His little crib preaches so eloquently, so persausively, the virtures of humility, meekness, obedience?"

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne


Below is a brief history of the window pictured above with Bishop George Rassas

The Woodlands Academy St. Madeleine Sophie Barat Window

Thanks to the generosity of the Barat Education Foundation, a historic Barat College stained glass window picturing St. Madeleine Sophie Barat and a young child now graces the Bolton Sullivan Library at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. A bequest from the William B. Traynor Estate to the Barat Education Foundation funded the restoration and installation of the beautiful floor-to-ceiling window, which was formally dedicated in December 2008 as part of Woodlands’ Year long commemoration of 150 years of Sacred Heart education in Chicago.

The St. Madeleine Sophie Barat window was dedicated to honor Barat College of the Sacred Heart faculty and alumnae/i. The engraved plaque next to the window reads:

"For the sake of one child, I would have founded the Society of the Sacred Heart."

-St. Madeleine Sophie Barat-

This window is dedicated to honor the Alumnae/i and Faculty of Barat

College of the Sacred Heart, 1918- 2005, each of whom is that one child.

The St. Madeleine Sophie Barat window was commissioned for the Academy of the Sacred Heart at the time of the building of the chapel at Barat College of the Sacred Heart. The chapel was built in 1924 by George Hellmuth of St. Louis, whose sister, Mother Mary Hellmuth, RSCJ was a faculty member at the Academy.

The window itself was one of three above the entrance to Old Main welcoming students to the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Barat College. All three windows were designed by Emil Frei, Sr., also of St. Louis. It was the Emil Frei Art Glass Company, still based in St. Louis, which undertook the window’s restoration.

Today, those who use the Woodlands library and pass through the hallway to its adjoining courtyard experience the window’s beauty and serenity, and are reminded of the Sacred Heart legacy that connects Woodlands Academy and Barat College.

Newman Center Blessing and Dedication to Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne

Photo highlights from the Blessing and Dedication of the Newman Center ~ Lindenwood University

Sr. Maureen Glavin, RSCJ, Head of School at the Academy of the Sacred Heart Saint Charles was greeted by an alum of the Academy and current student at Lindenwood University, as well as,  Dr. Lucy S. Morros, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Lindenwood University and former President of Barat College, Lake Forest, Illinois before the Blessing and Dedication ceremony this afternoon.  Sr. Glavin presented a beautifully framed portrait of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne to hang in the Newman Catholic Student Center.  Forty-Five percent of Lindenwood University students are catholic. Saint Louis Archdiocesan Auxiliary Bishop Edward M. Rice presided over the event. 

Prayer of Blessing of Image of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne  

Bishop Rice:  My brothers and sisters, as we dedicate this Newman Center to Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, we ask God's blessing upon this image. When the Church blesses a picture or statue and presents it for public veneration by the faithful, she does so for the following reasons: that when we look at the representation of those who have followed Christ faithfully, we will be motivated to seek the city that is to come; that we will learn the way that will enable us most surely to attain complete union with Christ; that, as we struggle along with our earthly cares, we will be mindful of the saints, those friends and coheirs of Christ who are also our own brothers and sisters and our special benefactors; that we will remember how they love us, are near to us, intercede ceaselessly for us and are joined to us in marvelous communion.  

Let us pray...

Lord,
We bless you for you alone are holy,
and because in your compassion for sinners
you sent into the world your Son, Jesus Christ,
the author and perfecter of holiness.

He sent the Spirit
to sustain his newborn Church,
a voice that teaches us the secrets of holiness,
a breeze that strengthens and refreshes,
a fire that sears our hearts with love,
the seed of God that yields a harvest of grace.

Today we praise you
for the gifts of the Spirit bestowed on Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne,
in whose honor we dedicate this image and this Newman Center.

May we follow in the footsteps of the Lord,
keeping before us the example of Saint Rose Philippine,
and grow to maturity
measured not by nature, but by the fullness of Christ.

May we proclaim his Gospel by word and deed
and, shouldering our crosses daily,
expend ourselves for others in your service.

As we carry out our earthly duties,
may we be filled with the Spirit of Christ
and keep our eyes fixed on the glories of heaven,
where you, Father, receive those who will reign with your Son,
for ever and ever.

Amen

To learn and read more about the Newman Center - click here