On Personal Humility [ll]

[Traudel]

On Personal Humility [ll]

Restrain an inordinate desire for knowledge, in which is found much
anxiety and deception. Learned men always wish to appear so, and
desire recognition of their wisdom. But there are many matters,
knowledge of which brings little or no advantage to the soul. Indeed,
a man is unwise if he occupies himself with any things save those that
further his salvation. A spate of words does nothing to satisfy the
soul, but a good life refreshes the mind, and a clean conscience (I
Tim 3:9), brings great confidence in God.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Bk 1, Chapter 2

<<>><<>><<>>
25 May – St Madeleine Sophie Barat RSCJ

Virgin, Religious, Foundress of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus, a worldwide religious institute of Teachers. Born on 12
December 1779 at Joigny, France and died on Ascension Thursday, 25 May
1865, aged 85 at Paris, France of natural causes. Patronage –
Teachers. Her body is incorrupt.

She was a delicate little girl, spoiled, bubbling over with life and
intelligence. Born during the night of 13 December 1779 in the little
Burgundian town of Joigny in the glimmer from a neighbour’s burning
house, she was premature and so frail that she was Baptised at dawn.
She was the third child in a family of craftsmen, barrel-makers and
vine-growers, who lived comfortably enough, in a small house in the
rue du Puits-Chardon (today, 11 rue Davier). When she was seven, she
became the pupil of her brother Louis, eleven years her senior. He was
teaching in the local college until he was old enough to be able to be
Ordained Priest. Under his austere direction, she made astonishing
progress in all her subjects, both secular and religious, yet she
regretted hardly having time to play with friends her own age, even at
the time of the grape harvest and traditional holiday in the country
of vineyards! Her family’s Jansenistic severity might have crushed and
destroyed her liveliness but, fortunately, she kept her spontaneous
vivacity and joyful character.

During the Revolution, Sophie was a courageous adolescent. She, who so
loved study had to work as a seamstress and became an excellent
embroidress. She had to be the link between her father, a good workman
but illiterate and her mother, more refined, sensitive and cultured.
Above all, she had to sustain the courage of her family when her
brother was made prisoner by the revolutionaries and only escaped the
guillotine by the intervention of providence. It was then that Sophie
discovered devotion to the Sacred Heart and now, she put all her trust
in the love of Christ.

Still very young, she gave proof of resolve and generosity, when her
brother, liberated by the fall of Robespierre, asked her to come to
Paris to continue her education. Certainly it cost her dearly to tear
herself away from her mother’s tenderness but she was resolved to give
herself entirely to God. The Revolution had closed all the Convents
and her brother’s offer ,opened to her a way of renunciation and
generosity. For five years she lived in Paris, a life of prayer and
study, giving herself to catechising the children of the Marais
quartier.

In 1800 her brother introduced her to Fr Varin who was trying to
establish a congregation of religious women, founded on the
spirituality of the Heart of Christ and vowed to education. She had
wanted to enter Carmel but the appeal of Fr Varin made her reflect.
The exceptional culture she had acquired, the needs of a society that
was gradually coming out of the revolutionary torments and which
lacked guidelines, were these not signs of the Will of God for her?

On 21 November 1800, in Paris, she made her first religious
commitment. A year later, a first community was established at Amiens,
of which she was soon named Superior. While for political reasons, the
Congregation could only take the name of Society of the Sacred Heart
in 1815. II spread gradually, to Grenoble, then to Poitiers where the
first noviciate was opened. She was named Superior General at the age
of 26. Henceforward, Madeleine Sophie’s life merged with that of the
Society of the Sacred Heart, which she governed. She crossed France
and Europe, going wherever she was asked to found Boarding Schools.
And she insisted on opening a free school, or sometimes an orphanage,
alongside each one, to which poor girls came flocking, since at that
time, there were no communal schools.
This long religious life from 1800 to 1865 was filled with prayer,
work and suffering but also with deep joy.

First, prayer, intense and prolonged for seven hours, day and night
sometimes. Faith in the Love of God, manifested in the Heart of Jesus,
was so important for her, that what counted was to respond to this
Love by adoration and making it known and loved by all, throughout the
world.
This prayer animated her immense work and her entire life. To bring up
children and young people one must first love them, seek to understand
them, respect their budding personality, instruct them in awakening
their faculties, exercising their judgement, affirming their will and
developing in them, the sense of responsibility. It was in that spirit
that she formed the Religious of the Sacred Heart to be Teachers. Her
task was varied. She had to open schools, to negotiate with religious
and civil authorities, buy or rent property, construct or adapt
buildings. She also had to send groups of religious to various places,
at a time when these had to assume almost single-handedly, all the
tasks of teaching, administration and material work.

Once she had established Convents, she had to visit them. But journeys
at that time, by coach hired with much trouble, were long, difficult
and sometimes dangerous. There was also a large correspondence to
maintain, so as to keep in touch, advise and encourage. She opened 122
Convents. Several disappeared, suppressed as a result of war,
persecution by hostile regimes or simply because certain foundations
had not been wise.

At her death in 1865, 89 of them were flourishing. Thousands of young
people were being educated there, by 3,500 religious. These houses
were dispersed throughout 16 countries of Europe, Africa, North and
South America. In 1818, she had sent St Philippine Duchesne to the
United States, where she opened the first schools in very hard
conditions and in great poverty.

These results that might make one think of a triumphant development,
should not create an illusion – they were only obtained in the midst
of great trials and at the price of suffering,: long and repeated
illnesses, epidemics which ravaged entire regions, decimating
religious and pupils alike. 1350 Religious of the Sacred Heart died
before their foundress. Political troubles, revolutions and
persecutions, chased the religious from Northern Italy and
Switzerland. Mother Barat was also faced with contradictions and even
calumnies against herself and her work, dissensions at the interior of
the Congregation, as a result of misunderstandings and
incomprehension. Twice, from 1809 to 1815 and from 1839 to 1843,
crises put in peril the very existence of the Society of the Sacred
Heart. Madeleine Sophie rose above them all with her usual weapons –
silence, humility and the prayer which united her ever more closely to
Jesus Christ. From Him she drew an unshakable hope and full
forgiveness for those who made her suffer.

What can one say of the joys, which, on the other hand lightened her
life – her union with God, the approbation and support of the Church,
to which she was so deeply attached, the esteem and affection which
responded to her loving devotedness, for she had a truly exceptional
gift of communion with others and friendship. She welcomed everyone in
the same way – Ecclesiastical dignitaries, Princesses, men
distinguished by their culture or their power, workmen, religious,
pupils and their parents. She showed so much interest, such a quality
of listening and sympathy that one left her conscious of having been
understood and comforted. Her preferences were for the poor and the
deprived, for whom she always had time, help and delicate attention.

In her old age, the only relaxation she allowed herself was to see the
Junior School of the Rue de Varenne, brought to see her by their
mistress. They came across the garden to the Mother House, Boulevard
des Invalides and sat round her under a great cedar tree, whence
ensued joyous exchanges. Saint Madeleine Sophie listened to them,
asked them questions, answered their questions and passed round
sweets. It was mutual joy; for the children knew well who loved them.

Saint Madeleine Sophie died in Paris on 25 May, 1865. Ascension Day.
She was buried in the cemetery at Conflans. In 1904, when the French
Sisters were expelled by the Combes laws, her body was transferred to
the Sacred Heart at Jette, Brussels. Since her Beatification in 1908
by St Pius X, her well-preserved body has been exposed in a Shrine.
She was Canonised on 24 May 1908 by Pope Pius XI

Today nearly 4,000 religious try to follow her example and continue
her work. All over the world, thousands of pupils, former pupils and
all sorts of people, benefit, often without knowing it, from her
influence, her holiness and her love. St Madeleine Sophie Barat, pray
for our children, pray for us all! Thanks be to God, amen.

https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/25/

Saint Quotes:
“More is gained by indulgence,
than by severity.”

“Let us leave acts, not words.
No-one will have time to read us.”

“Give only good example,
to the children; never correct them,
when out of humour or impatient.
We must win them
by an appeal to their piety
and to their hearts.
Soften your reprimands with kind words;
encourage and reward them.
That is, in short, our way of educating.”
--St Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865)

Bible Quote:
A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and a man of understanding is even-tempered.
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue. (Proverbs 17:27-28 )


<><><><>
O my Jesus, Immaculate Lamb sacrificed on the Cross for me! Let not
all that Thou hast suffered for me be lost, but accomplish in me the
object of Thy great sufferings! O bind me entirely with the sweet
chains of Thy love in order that I may not leave Thee, and that I may
nevermore be separated from Thee: "Most sweet Jesus, suffer me not to
be separated from Thee, suffer me not to be separated from Thee!
Amen.
--From The Passion And Death Of Jesus Christ, by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori