-- 1 John 4:20-21 –

[Weedy]

-- 1 John 4:20-21 –

If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For
he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God,
whom he seeth not?
[21] And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God,
love also his brother. [1 John 4:20-21] DRV
========================
It is easy to say we love God when that love doesn't cost us anything
more than weekly attendance at religious services. But the real test
of our love for God is how we treat the people right in front of
us--our family members and fellow believers. We cannot truly love God
while neglecting or ignoring those who are created in his image.

<<>><<>><<>>
6 October – Blessed Marie Rose Durocher S.N.J.M

Religious Sister, Founder of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus
and Mary, Teacher, Catechist, Apostle of Charity, evangeliser – born
on 6 October 1811 at Saint Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada as
Eulalie Durocher – died on 6 October 1849 at Longueiul, Quebec, Canada
of natural causes. Patronage – the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus
and Mary.

The tenth child of Olivier and Geneviève Durocher, Eulalie Durocher
was born on 6 October 1811 to a well-respected family in
Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu (Québec). Eulalie received her initial
education on the lap of her mother, a former student of the Ursuline
Sisters in Quebec City and from her grandfather, a former soldier and
defender of Fort Carillon. She went on to attend boarding school with
the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame in
Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu for two years. Despite her frailty, she was
a lively and joyous child. At the same time, health problems made it
impossible for her to continue her studies and her dream of religious
life seemed to be out of reach.

As a teenager, Eulalie proudly rode her beautiful horse Caesar to
visit friends, the sick, and the less fortunate in her village. She
also loved to spend time praying in the church and adoring Jesus
present in the Tabernacle. Eulalie was 18 when her mother died.
This was a very difficult time in her life but the young woman
courageously stepped in to take charge of the household.

Shortly afterward, her brother Théophile, who had been appointed
pastor of Beloeil, invited his father and sister to live with him in
the presbytery of St Matthew’s parish. Manager and hostess of the
presbytery, Eulalie welcomed visiting priests to the presbytery and
worked diligently for the parish and local community for 12 years
(1831-1843). In company with her friend, Mélodie Dufresne, Eulalie
visited the destitute, taught catechism to the children, organised
liturgical celebrations, supported families through difficult times
and mobilised other parish volunteers to concerted action.

With the arrival of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Saint-Hilaire,
in 1841, Eulalie lent her enthusiastic support to their evangelisation
efforts and founded the Association of the Children of Mary, the first
organisation of its kind in Canada. Her outreach and joyous
personality attracted and transformed many young women.

Her years in Beloeil marked a very important phase in her life. Keenly
aware of the political situation and the needs of the country, Eulalie
deplored the poor level of religious instruction and the lack of
schools, particularly for girls. Her desire to enter religious life
remained with her, and she dreamed of the day when small convents
could be established in the parishes. She was ready to join a
religious community that Bishop Ignace Bourget was planning to bring
to Québec from France.

To her great disappointment, the Sisters from Marseille were unable to
come to Canada. Aware of her hopes and abilities, Bishop Bourget asked
Eulalie Durocher to found a community herself. On 28 October 1843,
Eulalie and Mélodie Dufresne came to live with Henriette Céré, who was
already teaching at the parish school in Longueuil. Their house, which
was provided by the pastor, Father Moïse Brassard, would serve as the
cradle of the Congregation.

Being initiated into the religious life and starting an entirely new
educational project was not an easy task, particularly as its pioneer
women faced a series of obstacles from outright opposition, poverty,
criticism and a lack of understanding. However, a profound faith,
open-mindedness and an ardent love for young people enabled them to
lay a solid foundation for the Institute.

Under the name Mother Marie Rose, Eulalie was able to reach out to
talented women and to provide them with excellent pedagogical
preparation. The Brothers of the Christian Schools and the Oblates of
Mary Immaculate lent vital assistance. According to her vision, each
child must receive a well-rounded education: spiritually,
academically, artistically and socially.

During the lifetime of the foundress, four houses were established –
the convents in Longueuil, Beloeil, Saint-Lin and Saint-Timothée. In
an effort to make education available to many more, Mother Marie Rose
wanted a school to be built adjacent to each boarding school, where
the same program could be offered free of charge to others, thanks to
the income from the boarding schools.

Mother Marie-Rose provided leadership to the fledgling congregation
until her premature death in 1849. Testimonies gathered at that time
attest to the sanctity of her life, which was entirely dedicated to
God and to people around her. On the occasion of her beatification in
Rome on 23 May 1982, the Church declared Marie-Rose Durocher an
apostolic woman and a herald of new times.

Her remains have rested in the Marie-Rose Chapel at the co-Cathedral
in Longueil since 2004.

https://anastpaul.com/2021/10/06/


Saint Quote:
The Sacred Heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole
desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to
free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good
pleasure.
--St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Bible Quote:
And he spoke also to them a similitude: Can the blind lead the blind?
do they not both fall into the ditch? [40] The disciple is not above
his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.
[Luke 6:39-40] DRV

<><><><>
TAKE TIME

Take time to THINK—it is the source of power.
Take time to PLAY—it is the secret of
perpetual youth.
Take time to READ—it is the fountain of
wisdom,
Take time to be FRIENDLY—it is the road
to happiness.
Take time to LAUGH—it is the music of the
soul.
Take time to GIVE—it is too short a day to
be selfish.
Take time to WORK—it is the price of
success.
Take time to SEEK GOD'S WILL—it is the
only way to go.
Take time to PRAY—it is the greatest power on earth.
Take time to LOVE and BE LOVED—it is a
God-given Privilege.
Take time to LISTEN TO GOD'S CALL—it is the beginning of an exciting love-story.
by Father Donald