Loving Jesus Above All Things (3)

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Loving Jesus Above All Things (3)

Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as
others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will
or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to
Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone
can help you when all others fail.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 7

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SEP 5 – BL ALCIDE-VITAL LASTASTE, OP
APOSTLE OF PRISONS, FOUNDER OF THE DOMINICAN SISTERS OF
BETHANY FOR FEMALE EX-CONS & ABUSED WOMEN

(1832-1869)
Alcide-Vital Lastaste was born in Gironde, France, on September 5,
1832. As a teenager, Alcide felt a call to the priesthood, but as is
the way of adolescence, sometimes there can be distractions. Alcide
began courting a young lady named Cecilia de Saint-Germain while
attending secondary school.

Cecilia and Alcide soon declared their love for each other and planned
to get married as soon as possible. However, Alcide’s father, Vital,
thought the couple was too young to be getting so serious. He voiced
his great displeasure at their deep involvement, and the couple agreed
to not see each other for a year. Incredibly, during that year,
Cecilia suddenly passed away. The young man was heartbroken.

Alcide turned to his young faith for comfort. He joined the St.
Vincent de Paul Society, and the visits to the downtrodden and
homeless opened his eyes to the plight of the poor. At the same time,
the call to the priesthood once more erupted within him. In 1857 he
entered the Dominican Order. Alcide was ordained a priest on February
8, 1863, and took the name Jean-Joseph. His unexpected spiritual
journey was about to take flight and reach heights no one could have
ever imagined.

In 1279, Charles of Anjou discovered the allegedly true relics of
Saint Mary Magdalene in the small town of
Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, and along with her grave were also
found the grave of Saint Maximinus , the first Bishop of Aix. Karl of
Anjou built the Gothic cathedral there to have a worthy repository for
these relics. He also built an adjacent monastery, where he installed
the Dominicans as guardians of the tomb. The monastery was named “The
Royal Monastery” (Le Couvent Royal). During the revolution, the
Dominicans were expelled from the monastery, which is now converted
into a hotel. It was there that Brother Jean-Joseph Lataste would
deepen his spiritual life and become acquainted with Mary Magdalene,
who became the inspiration for his role as founder.

On May 20, 1860, a large party was held on the occasion of the
translation of Mary Magdalene’s relics. Lacordaire, who had
reintroduced the Dominicans to France after the revolution, was
unfortunately absent due to illness, and Brother Jean-Joseph was
honored to kiss the saint’s skull, which for him would become a deep
and significant spiritual experience. That thought was nailed to his
mind, that so great love for the saint could be too great a sin, and
he adopted Mary Magdalene as a special patron saint for his future
work among sinners.

On September 15, 1864, after being a priest all of 18 months, Father
Jean-Joseph Lataste was sent by the prior of the monastery in Bordeaux
to conduct a four-day retreat for the inmates of a woman’s prison in
the town of Cadillac. This experience would change his life forever.

Suddenly he found himself amid 400 women prisoners, most of them
abused and abandoned with nowhere to go. In most cases, these women
were poor, uneducated, and without family. Living on the streets
forces one to live in survival mode. That means stealing and
soliciting and doing whatever one must do to breathe another day. They
had been discarded and treated like criminals. This was 1864, and they
fit the cliché “out of sight, out of mind.”

The atmosphere of hopelessness and despair at the prison was
overwhelming. He wondered what he could do for these women who were
often called “the lost women.” Would they even sit and listen to him?
He was frightened of the possibilities, but he was also filled with
faith.

Father Jean-Joseph stood before the women, stretched out his arms, and
began, “My dear sisters –” That was shocking in itself because no one
ever truly spoke to these people. Dogs and cats were treated better.
His gentle, brotherly greeting got their attention. He spent the next
few days guiding them to a special place. It was a place where Hope
existed. They had forgotten what that even meant, if they’d ever known
at all.

He introduced them to God’s infinite mercy by telling them about the
woman caught in adultery and how Jesus forgave her. He spoke about
Hell and conversion and embracing freedom. He shared with them the
Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, and lastly, he spoke to
them of Heaven. He could not believe how many women embraced the offer
of forgiveness and began going to Confession. The chapel was filled
each evening for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. His own heart
became filled with a new purpose. He wanted to begin a ministry to
serve these women.

The women asked that he come back, and one year later he did just
that. This time there was only one sermon a day because the demand for
Confession was so high. The last night of the retreat, most of the
women attended Adoration. Some stayed the entire night, remaining
until dawn. Using the words of St. Catherine of Siena, Father Lataste
wrote in his closing notes about the retreat: “I have seen the secrets
of God; I have seen the wonders.”

From that point on, he was determined to find a way to help these
women. In 1866, he wrote a pamphlet called Rehabilitated. He sent
copies to as many journalists and government officials as he could. He
knew that the reason so many of those being released failed was
because no one trusted them or gave them the slightest chance. He was
determined to reshape public opinion.

He announced his intentions of starting an order where women leaving
prison could begin a religious life in a contemplative setting. This
order was approved and is known as the Dominican Sisters of Bethany.
Bethany was the village in Judea where Jesus’ three friends
lived—Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, the sinner who became a contemplative
soul. Father Lataste, following the Latin tradition exemplified by
Saint Augustine and Saint Gregory the Great, identified Mary Magdalene
with Mary of Bethany. Jesus loved to come and stay with them. The
Order still flourishes and serves many women in different countries
around the world.

However, for French society in the 19th century, the nature of the new
foundation was surprising, even scandalous. Hostile reactions came
particularly from the Dominican Third Order Regular communities, onto
which Father Lataste intended to graft Bethany. These religious,
usually dedicated to the education of girls, were afraid of public
opinion confusing them with repentant sinners. The provincial chapter
of the Order informed Father Lataste that the very principle of his
foundation raised objections. The founder was not discouraged. This
opposition seemed to him to be the sign of divine blessing, given
through the cross. In the end, the difficulties faded away, and the
foundation continued its course.

The Dominican Sisters of Bethany, contemplative women religious who
welcome among them women from various paths, have four houses
today—two in France, one in Switzerland, and another near Turin. They
visit nearby prisons. The heart of their community life is
contemplation of the Divine Mercy, centered on the adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament, in keeping with Father Lataste’s wishes.

Tuberculosis took the life of Alcide-Vital Lastaste (aka Father
Jean-Joseph) on March 10, 1868. He was only 36 years old. As he died,
he could be heard softly singing the Hail, Holy Queen, “Salve Regina.”

Dominicans sing the Salve Regina at the end of Compline as the last
hymn before holy silence for evening (and emptying dishwashers, yes,
plural, novice joke) until morning, when “O Lord, open my lips, and my
mouth shall declare your praise.” is intoned to begin Matins.


Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry,
Poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
Thine eyes of mercy toward us;
And after this our exile,
Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

https://soul-candy.info/category/september/page/2/
by Matthew


Saint Quote:
Go and exhort men to penance for the remission of their sins and for
peace. You will find some among the faithful, mild and good, who will
receive you with pleasure, and willingly listen to you; others, on the
contrary, without religion, proud and violent, will censure you, and
be very hostile to you; but make up your minds to bear all this with
humble patience and let nothing alarm you. Be patient in tribulations,
fervent in prayer, and fearless in labor.
--St. Francis of Assisi

Bible Quote
The Lord gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his
covenant upon the head of Jacob.
[26] He acknowledged him in his blessings, and gave him an
inheritance, and divided him his portion in twelve tribes. [27] And he
preserved for him men of mercy, that found grace in the eyes of all
flesh. [Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 44:25-27] DRV

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To Obtain the Grace of the Holy Spirit

O GOD, before Whom every heart lies open, to Whom every will speaks,
and from Whom no secret is hidden, purify, we beseech Thee, our hearts
by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, that we may come to love Thee
perfectly and praise Thee worthily. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.