CELEBRATING: Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne ~ 200 Years Crossing Frontiers

photo taken in November 17, 2006

November 18, 1852 ~ "The death of Blessed Philippine Duchesne occurred at noon on this day as the Angelus bell was ringing."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Mass ~ Live Stream

200 Years Crossing Frontiers

November 18, 2018 will mark the close of the Bicentennial celebration of the Society of the Sacred Heart in the United States and Canada. In 1818, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and four companions arrived in St. Charles and within days opened a school in a log cabin, the first free school west of the Mississippi and the beginning of the Society’s mission of education in the Americas. This festive Eucharist will include the premiere celebration of the Mass in honor of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, RSCJ, composed by Michael Joncas for the occasion.

The Most Reverend Robert J. Carlson, Archbishop of Saint Louis, will be presiding.

Mass Live Stream Link

#OnThisDay in 1852 Mother Duchesne writes to Madeleine Sophie Barat

The above icon was commissioned by Sacred Heart Schools Chicago
and the original hangs in their Chapel.
by Artist and Iconographer Patricia Reid, RSCJ

November 10, 1852 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to Madeleine Sophie Barat: "I come to say farewell to you, though God alone knows the moment when death will come.  There is much I should like to say to you about the suffering I have caused you - if you were less indulgent and I were in a condition to express myself better. But God has humbled my pride by loss of memory and continual forgetfulness.  I humbly beg pardon for all the suffering I have caused you.  I think I shall never do so again. 

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

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

To Mother Eugenie de Gramont, R.S.C.J

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
from Lawrence OP

December 8, 1823 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to  Mother Eugenie de Gramont, RSCJ, "Our retreat was a time of spiritual abundance.  The devil was jealous, however, so he arranged for the delivery of nine large hogs we had bought.  They arrived on the second day of the retreat.  As somebody had to take up the disgusting work of caring for them for two days, I was the willing victim. The days that followed were peaceful and that happy retreat closed on the feast of the Immaculate Conception."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

Philippine Duchesne to her sister Amelie, Madame Constans de Maudauit

August 8, 1842 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to her sister Amelie, Madame Constans de Maudauit. "My beloved Sister, suffer all in silence after the example of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  How much poor mother-hearts must suffer! I have all the sentiments of a mother for your children . . . Seek consolation only in the meek and humble Heart of Jesus Christ and you will find it in its enduring form."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

To St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

Painting of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
The Sacred Heart School of  Montreal
2014 AMASC Congress Host School

July 28, 1819 ~ Philippine Duchesne writes to Madeleine Sophie Barat, "We do not talk among ourselves about our privations in order to express complaints, but to add fuel to the fire of our sacrifice and so renew it." 

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

Quotation from Father Joseph Varin, S.J.

Father Pere Joseph Varin, SJ

July 27, 1820 ~  Quotation from Father Joseph Varin, S.J. "Who is the Master we serve? One Whose Heart is full of goodness and love, Who might command, but Who chooses to request, our service.  He is a Master Whose Heart, says the great Apostle, is filled with all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

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

Quotation from Father Jean Crasset, S.J.

 Shrine of St. Philippine Duchesne
photo taken prior to the Corpus Christi procession in 2011

July 8, 1852 ~   A favorite quotation of Mother Duchesne from Father Jean Crasset, S.J. "I am where God wills me to be, and so I have found rest and security.  His wisdom governs me, His power defends me, His grace sanctifies me, His mercy encompasses me, His joy sustains me and all will go well with me."

Taken from the book: Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne


Today, I celebrate my birthday and I just happen to be in St. Charles for a meeting.  To be here at the Shrine on this special day is awesome!  Yes, "I am where God wills me to be" today.  With loving gratitude for my mother and all the RSCJ "Mother's" in my life.

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

To Mother Adeline Boilvin, American RSCJ

June 1, 1837 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to Mother Adeline Boilvin, "To satisfy fully the love and longing of the adorable Heart of Jesus, the heart you desire to give Him must be prepared for this divine union by marks of resemblance to His Heart.  What special resemblance? He Himself has told us: 'Learn meekness and humility from Me'."

Taken from the book: Through the Years 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 her sister Euphrosine, Madame Jean-Joseph Jouve

February 27, 1820 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to her sister Euphrosine, "I have just received a letter from you well calculated to rejoice a heart as sensitive to affection as mine is.  My heart suffers in knowing you are so isolated at the country home.  May you find peace for your heart and solace for your soul! These graces often make for happiness in the midst of suffering."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne

To St. Madeleine Sophie Barat

September 1945 - Sacred Heart Lake Forest, IL

February 15, 1819 ~ Mother Duchesne writes to Mother Barat, " If our Sisters in France imagine us surrounded by savages, they are quite mistaken.  I have seen only a few old ones . . .  But to compensate for our disappointment we have new employments: we dig in the garden, water the cow, clean out her little stable, carry away manure - and we do all this with as much joy as we would have if we were teaching Indians, for God wills it this way."

Taken from the book:  Through the Year with Philippine Duchesne