Feast of St. John Francis Regis

St. John Francis Regis (1597-1640)
as seen in the Round House located on the grounds of the 
Academy of the Sacred Heart - Saint Charles, MO

June 16, 2013 ~ Today is the Feast of St. John Francis Regis.  The significance of this feast day is the affection St. Rose Philippine Duchesne had for him.  Regis was considered to be Philippine's favorite Saint. Additionally, Regis School of the Sacred Heart in Houston, Texas is one of twenty-two Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States that bears his name.

Jean Francis Regis was born in the southern region of France, he began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628 and entered the Society of Jesus at age thirty-one.  In 1640 Regis became ill and died of pneumonia at the age of forty-three on December 30, 1640.  He was beatified in 1719 and canonized on April 5, 1737.  He is known as the patron saint of lace makers as he helped many young girls living in the country establish themselves in the lacemaking and embroidery trade which kept them away from the cities and a life on the streets living as prostitutes.

Prayer to St. John Francis Regis:

Zealous worker for souls, you wrought many miracles and labored for all classes of people, but especially to convert the Huguenots. To you St. John Vianney of Ars attributed both his vocation and his spiritual successes. Make social workers go about doing good not as mere humanitarians but as messengers of Christ who have a supernatural love for their clients. Amen.

To the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Paris

St. John Francis Regis (1597-1640)
window is located in the Round House 

January 8, 1836 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to the Religious of the Sacred Heart in Paris, "The lowliness to which the infant Jesus abases Himself at this season, which is consecreted to the memory of His profound humiliations, will make you welcome the greetings and good wishes from the least and most obscure of all the Convents of the Sacred Heart.  But this house is expressly dedicated to St. Francis Regis and we have here at Florisssant the shrine promised by vow in France to obtain his protection on our Amercian mission."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Journal of Mother Duchesne, 1818-1840

St. John Francis Regis
as seen in the Round House, located on the grounds of the
Academy of the Sacred Heart - Saint Charles, MO

September 17 1819 ~ Mother Duchesne writes, " Among so many holy priests I find no one for a spiritual director. I feel as if my soul were quite alone, but I am too numb to be distressed about it. I do not know what the condition of my soul is.  I taste only the sweetness of Jesus, and the strongest conviction I experience is that of God's goodness to me. My soul is, as it were, in mid-air, with no movement except towards Jesus, Mary, and St. Francis Regis.

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Journal of Mother Duchesne, 1818-1840

St. John Francis Regis
(1597 - 1640)

September 9, 1818 ~ Mother Duchesne writes in her journal, "We placed in the chapel a picture of St. Francis Regis, before which prayers for the American mission had so often been said. He has been chosen as special patron of the house in accordance with a promise made in Paris with our Mother General's permission, on condition that he obtain this favor for us."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne