Feast of St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul, co-founder of the Daughters of Charity, was a man of many talents. Talents which have been emulated throughout the past four centuries by organizations around the world. Many of these groups attach Vincent's name to their programs for impoverished people and his name has become a symbol of charitable service and ingenuity.

The Daughters of Charity were one of the first three groups who worked under the inspiration of Vincent. The Ladies of Charity began in 1617, the Vincentian priests (the Congregation of the Mission) in 1625, and our sisters (the Daughters of Charity) in 1633. All three groups have remained international and active since their founding.

Among his many talents, Vincent was able to draw other people into sharing whatever gifts they had to facilitate programs which assisted desperate populations. Rich ladies gathered up and cared for abandoned infants. Government officials provided access to helping prisoners. Wealthy patrons provided the money to support country ministries and poor country girls served those who were homeless and sick in the city. There was always a balance of Vincent's audacious creativity and the resources he made available through people invited to help make those ideas a reality.

The sisters continue to do the direct service so dear to our hearts. However, we also follow Vincent's lead and continually invite others to help make that service possible. Little can be done without the resources, skills, influence, and collaboration that results in both effective service for the immediate problem and the systemic change that prevents or reduces the problem in the future. This "now and later" approach was Vincent's and is now ours. It means, for example, that programs do not just feed the hungry, but offer education or job preparation. It means not only respect for the dignity of each person, but also advocacy for equality in our laws.

We serve under the banner of St. Vincent de Paul because his example of organized service systems is as important and effective today as it was in 17th century France.

St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

Written by Sister Mary Louise Stubbs, D.C.

St. Louise de Marillac

Shall I start with disclaimers first?

Who am I to write about, much less introduce, our Foundress?
At first thought there are so many other historians, musicians, sculptors, writers, poets and biographers among us that have portrayed her so very well in sundry ways. (I still hold on to that thought of “Who am I?”!) It is only after entering the Daughters of Charity that I grew to love this Louse de Marillac of a mysterious family of origin, of early formative years, of an unknown extended family and of yearnings to follow her heart’s deepest desires. I could say “…late have I loved thee” for want of recognizing her during my own early days in the Daughters of Charity. But then the days and the months and the years exposed me to these wise women who model Louse de Marillac so very well…. these Daughters of Charity as formators, as Spiritual Directors, as wise women figures who teach more by example than any words could convey: as Louise probably did. Given these living examples of Louise, I’ve probably learned even more about her from Grant Writing, Advancement initiatives,  Case Studies, Project research, Proposal preparations and anything else to further efforts to support those whom we serve…….. Our Poorest!

I’ve learned that Louise could never ignore her innate unyielding call to give herself totally to God…...the whispers of her heart could not be ignored nor submerged. Given her own 16^th century of birth this mystical little girl could have grown up uneducated, dependent upon her family’s situation, marry, have children and die. For Louise this could have been her life, but for her “Father’s” claiming her as his natural daughter but not his legal heir. His status allowed for her elite schooling among the nobility as she continued to listen to her heart’s yearnings.

Fast forward to 1635 and Louise is a widow! She meets Vincent de Paul (the rest is history!). So here’s where the Advancement initiatives come into play (what would Louise say?). Overwhelmed with orphans to feed, legend has it that Louise made and sold jam to cover the costs. As needs surfaced, Louise collaborated with others (Friend Raising and Fund Raising!). Legend also tells of Louise making wine out of untended grape fields (pretty creative!) as a new sources of income for growing expenses. Louise’s innate organizational skills with a keen sense of one’s talents were the catalyst in addressing her day’s challenges…so catalyzing that these skills continue for our today! And in the midst of all of this, Louise continued to be urged by the Charity of Christ Crucified in serving: our motto, our tag line for today’s Daughters of Charity.

So!  Lessons for us from Louise de Marillac for today………. Can you

1.    Listen to your heart?


2.    Seek out good advice?


3.    Use your God given talents?


4.    Follow those you serve as they show you what they need?


5.    Use your God given talents to make it happen?

6.    Listen to your heart?

Written by Sister Marge Clifford, D.C.

Story of Mother Seton

A young mother died unexpectedly. Her death left her precious toddler scarred emotionally. A year later, the child's younger sister, barely a toddler, also died. As an adult, Eliza still recalled herself, at four years of age, sitting on the doorstep gazing at the clouds, hoping to see her deceased loved ones in the sky.

Numbed by pain from early childhood issues, Eliza felt her father's absence keenly when he was abroad for professional study. At times, she wondered if he loved her. As emotional waves surged, confusion mixed with sadness, troubled her adolescent heart. Feeling alienated and alone, Eliza considered taking a drug overdose but she decided not to take laudanum, an opiate derivative. Later, she rejoiced in her choice--not to do the "horrid deed." Hope soon dissipated her melancholy and restored her lively spirit.

Beguiling once again, Eliza met and fell in love with William Magee Seton. They married and had five children but the mature Eliza lost her beloved husband to tuberculosis. Catholic friends introduced the young widow to the Catholic faith, its liturgical worship, and personal devotions. Catholic beliefs, particularly the Eucharist and Blessed Mother, attracted Eliza. She longed for interior peace and the gift of true faith, which she discerned through reading, study, consolation, and conversations on religious matters. Friends and family argued against her considering Catholicism. The more they dissuaded, the more she felt called to religious conversation as "the earnest desire of my Soul."

Should she or shouldn't she become Catholic? Her discernment left her in a whirlwind of emotional turmoil. Hers was a heart-wrenching struggle to discover God's plan. Eliza longed for God: "If I am right, O teach my heart still in the right to stay; if I am wrong, thy grace impart to find the better way."

She sought divine truth: "I seek but God and his church and expect to find my peace in them." When the Church retold the story of the Magi following a star to find the Promised Savior, Elizabeth wrote plaintively: "Alas, where is my star?" In making her profession of faith, Eliza found her inner peace as a Roman Catholic. As foundress of the Sisters of Charity, she encouraged her sisters to: "Meditate on peace before Jesus, the sweet King and Prince of peace--let us desire it, make it a great part of our perfection, a capital point of our vocation of love."

Points to ponder:

• What is the earnest desire of my soul?
• What helps me discern God's will when faced with significant choices?
• Where is my star? How does its brilliance touch my heart?
• How shall I live my vocation of love?

Written by Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C.

Foundation of the Little Company

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

We sometimes harbor the illusion that the saints "had everything figured out" in their lives as though they possessed some kind of heavenly GPS plotting their journey of life from its beginning to its final destination. Actually, the saints were often as unsure as the rest of us. Many of them needed to pray for God's guidance each day and waited for Him to reveal His will one step at a time. This was certainly the case for St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, who founded the Daughters of Charity on November 29, 1633.

After St. Vincent delivered an inspiring sermon about the desperate need of a poor family in his parish at Clichy in 1617, parishioners flocked to the home to see how they could help. This experience led St. Vincent to the then-revolutionary idea of organizing charitable efforts for the poor. He gathered influential women together in groups which he called Confraternities of Charity (now known as Ladies of Charity) and asked St. Louise to visit, mentor, and oversee their efforts.

As time passed, the women, who were unaccustomed to menial tasks, began sending their servants instead of going themselves into the homes of the poor. St. Vincent and St. Louise recognized that another approach was needed. The solution came with the appearance of a simple peasant girl, Marguerite Nasseau. She, with her companions, was very willing to carry out the necessary, humble tasks. St. Louise realized that these young women needed support and training. In 1633, she welcomed them into her home. This was a shocking departure from the social norms of the day.

Through their faithful following of the Lord's guidance step-by-step, St. Vincent and St. Louise became the founders of a new type of religious community for women where the sisters were free to venture outside of the walls of a convent to minister directly to those in need.

Ten years later, St. Vincent would say to the Daughters gathered for his conference: "Who would ever have thought that there would be Daughters of Charity? ... I did not think of it ... God thought of it for you," (Conferences to the Daughters of Charity, June 14, 1643). In 1654, he elaborated further: "Now, dear Sisters, the fact is that no one on earth can say, 'I did that.' Mademoiselle [Louise] can't say it, neither can M. Portail, no anyone else. No, Sisters, no one can say, 'I'm the one who did this work,'" (Conferences to the Daughters of Charity, May 25, 1654).

Both St. Vincent and St. Louise recognized the presence of God in the events and circumstances with which they were faced and counted on Him to guide them step-by-step along the right path to accomplish His will. He continues to guide us in the same way, one step at a time.

Are you wondering about God's plans for your future? Trust Him to show you the path He wants for you, one step at a time.

Written by Sister Chris Maggi, D.C.

Feast of St. Catherine Laboure

Catherine Laboure was born May 2, 1806 in the town of Fain-les-Moutiers in Burgundy, France. She was the eighth child of a devout couple, Pierre and Madeleine Laboure.

When Catherine was nine years old, her mother died. She was brokenhearted and she went to the kitchen, took a small statue of our Lady, and said: "From now on, YOU will be my Mother."

The eldest of the Laboure children, Marie-Louise, taught Catherine and her young sister, Tonine, how to care for the household chores. Before too long, the girls were able to assume these responsibilities. So, when Marie-Louise announced she was going to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Daughter of Charity, Catherine and Tonine were ready to take care of the house.

Catherine was a devout child and would often walk four miles to attend mass in the church there. When Catherine was 12, she made her First Communion in that church where she had been attending daily mass.

Catherine wanted to follow in Marie-Louise's footsteps and become a Daughter of Charity. She knew she had to be able to read and write and she had not been able to attend school as a child. When she was 18, she asked her father is she could go to Chatillon to live with her cousin who had a finishing school. There, she learned to read and write.

Catherine began her postulancy with the Daughters of Charity in Chatillon when she was 24. Three months later, she went to Paris to become a seminary sister. In her daily life, there was nothing to distinguish Catherine from the other young sisters.

From the time that Catherine was young, she had a great love and devotion for our Blessed Mother. In fact, she had a great desire to SEE her and often prayed for this. On July 18, the novice directress spoke about St. Vincent de Paul's devotion to the Blessed Virgin. That evening, when Catherine went to bed, she had a feeling she would see Mary that night.

Around 11:30 that night, Catherine was awakened by a small child who told her to get up and get dressed as the Blessed Mother was waiting for her in the chapel. When she arrived there, she noticed it was all lit up. as it was for midnight mass. Before long, the Blessed Mother appeared and sat in the chair which was usually used by the director. Catherine knelt and placed her hands on the Blessed Mother's lap. They spoke for about two hours, during which the Blessed Mother told Catherine that God wanted to give her a "mission."

On November 27, Catherine was in the chapel with the sisters for evening prayer. Suddenly, Catherine saw the Blessed Mother. This is the simple account given by Catherine:

"She held an orb in her hands representing the earthly globe... Her face was utterly beautiful... And suddenly, I saw rings on her fingers covered with precious stones, one more beautiful than the other...At that moment, an oval frame formed around the Holy Virgin and on it were the words in gold letters 'O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.' Then, I heard a voice saying to me 'Have a medal struck on this model; everyone who wears it will receive great graces; the graces will be inexhaustible for all those who wear it with confidence.' The picture suddenly turned and I saw the reverse of the medal with the letter M surmounted by a cross and, below it, two hearts, one encircled with a crown of thorns and the other pierced with a sword."

Sister Catherine, after receiving her habit, was sent to a hospice in Enghein. There, she cared for retired servants of the royal houses of Orleans. She spent 50 years caring for these retired men, treating them kindly but was firm with them when it was necessary.

In November of 1876, Sister Catherine's health declined. She was no longer able to leave her room. She knew she would not see the new year and asked to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. On evening of December 31, Sister Catherine died quietly. Her face was radiant!

Let us pray the Prayer of St. Catherine Laboure:

Whenever I go to the Chapel,
I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to Him,
"Lord, I am here.
Tell me what You would have me do."
If He gives me some task,
I am content and I thank Him.
If He gives me nothing,
I still thank Him
Since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that.
And then, I tell God
Everything that is in my heart.
I tell Him about my pains and my joys,
And then I listen.
If you listen, God will also speak to you,
For with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen.
God always speaks to you when you approach Him plainly and simply.

Let us allow God to speak to us in this way! Happy Feast of St. Catherine Laboure!

Written by Sister Camille Cuadra, D.C.

Blessed Ghebre Michael: Pilgrim, Seeker, Ethiopian, Scholar, Martyr

Who is Blessed Ghebre Michael? He was a pilgrim, a seeker, an Ethiopian, a scholar, and a martyr for the faith.

He differs in three major ways from the other canonized and beatified members of our congregation. First, he was not European, but African. Second, we was not born Catholic, but an adult convert. And third, he was not a confrere.

Born in Ethiopia in 1790, Ghebre Michael was a pilgrim in life, always seeking truth. He became a monophysite monk at the age of 19 and was a gifted student. He remained restless in his search for the truth. He made a long pilgrimage from Ethiopia to Cairo to Rome to Jerusalem. It was on this pilgrimage that he met Justin de Jacobis for the first time. It was also on this pilgrimage in Rome that he found himself very attracted to the Catholic Church.

Ghebre Michael shared his desire to be received in the Catholic Church with Justin de Jacobis. He joined the Church in 1844. Six years later, Justin asked him to consider becoming a priest and Ghebre Michael agreed. He was ordained in January 1851.

Ghebre Michael helped enormously in the foundation of the clergy. He composed a dictionary of the Ge'ez language used in the liturgy. He wrote a source book about the Catholic faith which was simple and clear. He produced a textbook in dogmatic theology.

But Ghebre Michael was destined to suffer greatly. Just before being ordained, he had been imprisoned for two months at 60 years of age. Later, when persecution broke out, he was imprisoned again. This time, so was Justin de Jacobis. Justin was treated better than Ghebre Michael because his former colleagues among the Orthodox seemed to have a special hatred toward Ghebre Michael. He was tortured repeatedly and urged to renounce Catholicism. He was led from place to place in chains and, bloodied by beatings, presented before crowds. He was knocked to the ground often and, when he rose to his feet again and again, the people proclaimed him a second St. George, the saint who was said to have had seven lives.

The king, because of political pressure from the British and perhaps also because of the esteem Ghebre Michael had among the people, decided not to execute him. Rather, he decreed that Ghebre Michael must carry his chains to the end of his life. He trudged in procession from town to town behind marching soldiers, resisting appeals to renounce his faith. Finally, exhausted by the ordeal that lasted 13 months, he died on the roadside and was buried nearby at the end of August 1855. Many have tried to locate his grave, each without success.

Justin often referred to Ghebre Michael as "the generous athlete of Christ." Some years after his death, Justin sent a drawing of Ghebre Michael to Jean Baptiste Etienne, the Superior General. In the accompanying letter, he wrote:

"I beg you to accept the picture which I have the honor to send you. It catches the likeness of the subject so exactly that, when you consider the lack of skill in the matter of drawing on the part of the Abyssinian priest who did it, you must admit that it is really an extraordinary picture. To this picture of the Abyssinian martyr, Ghebre Michael, I have added an inscription in Latin in which I refer to him as a Vincentian seminarist. In fact, he was only a postulant because the time of his vocation could be counted only from the moment when he would have begun his intern seminary; by the date which had been arranged he was already in prison; however, in his heart, he already belonged to the Congregation."

Ghebre Michael was beatified as a martyr in 1926.

Written by Sister Patty Evanick, D.C.

The Assumption of Mary

Mary's Assumption! What does it mean? Why did it happen?

Let's go back to Mary as a young teen in Nazareth. It is believed that she led a very ordinary life with lots of hard work helping her mother with household chores. The family was an integral part of the local village, so Mary could be counted on to participate in the events.

Imagine, one day being totally taken aback by this stranger greeting her and telling her that she has found favor with God. So much so that she was asked to participate in God's plan to bear His son to the world. She questions and then accepts. "I am the servant of the Lord, I will do as God wills."

If that wasn't enough, she hears about her cousin, Elizabeth, who is pregnant although late in life. She drops all and goes on foot to care for her during the last three months before her baby is born.

Her own delivery would not be easy. She and Joseph go on a long journey to Bethlehem, his family's origins, to register for the census. Scarcely arrived when the baby is due, but where to go? In an animal shed, she gives birth to the Son of God. Both she and Joseph are awed by the visits of shepherds and kings to see this baby boy.

Shortly after the circumcision, Joseph is warned in a dream to take Mary and the child and flee to Egypt. Once again, a long journey, this time with a newborn to unknown places and situations.

So it was throughout Jesus' life: teaching Him His duties as a young Jew, accompanying and supporting Him as He began His ministry. How could Jesus not know and love this beautiful, loving mother? Even in His horrible sufferings and death, Mary was present. She remained with the disciples in prayer as they received the Holy Spirit. John had taken her into his home as his own mother. Her life of giving, loving, and supporting continued until her death. What better gift could Jesus give her to show His love for her than to bring her to His side in heaven?

Remember her mantra from the very beginning with the angel, "Be it done to me according to your will." It followed Mary on earth and is with her in heaven as she does whatever God asks of her. May we follow in Mary's footsteps.

Happy Feast of the Assumption of Mary!

Written by Sister Marian Hamwey, D.C.

Rosalie Rendu: On Fire with Love for the Poor

She was born Jeanne-Marie Rendu on September 9, 1786 in Confort, France, not far from Geneva. The eldest of four girls, Jeanne-Marie came from a family of small property owners which brought along a certain affluence and respect throughout the area. She was baptized the day she was born in the parish church of Lancrans.

Jeanne-Marie was three years old when the French Revolution broke out. Starting in 1790, it was compulsory for the clergy to take an oath of support for the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. Numerous priests, faithful to the Church, refused to take this oath. They were driven from their parishes, some being put to death while others hid to escape their pursuers. The Rendu family home became a refuge for these priests. The Bishop of Annecy found asylum there under the assumed name, Pierre. Jeanne-Marie was fascinated by this hired hand who was treated better than the others. One night, she discovered him celebrating Mass.

It was in this atmosphere of solid faith, always exposed to the dangers of denunciation, that Jeanne-Marie was educated. This exceptional environment forged her character. One night, in the basement of her home, lit by candlelight, Jeanne-Marie made her First Communion. 

Later, the deaths of her father and youngest sister just two months apart shook the entire family. Jeanne-Marie, aware of her responsibilities as the eldest, helped her mother, especially in caring for her sisters. Six years later, on May 25, 1802, 16-year-old Jeanne-Marie arrived at the Daughters of Charity Motherhouse in Paris. This was just 17 months after the reopening of the seminary, free from suppression by the Revolutionaries. Upon entering the community, she was given the name Rosalie.

Prodigious worker and organizer model of the 21st century for empowering the Vincentian legacy, Rosalie experienced incarnational mysticism. Rosalie lived her spirituality every day, much of which she received from the poor she served. She meditated on the words of St. Vincent de Paul and on the holy card she received and used for prayer and examination of conscience.

Like Vincent, Rosalie knew how to be a friend to the rich and the poor. The poor loved her deeply because they sensed that she lived out precisely what she asked of the sisters who accompanied her. She asked of them, in the words of one of the witnesses: "welcome everyone, speak to the poor with both kindness and dignity, do not make them wait. 'Treat them,' she said, 'as you would treat your father, brothers, and sisters.'"

Why is Rosalie significant for us today? She developed a network of charity. This tender woman was fearless although she lived in turbulent times. Rosalie lived her spirituality every day, much of which she received from the poor she served.

Elizabeth Johnson writes: "...paradigmatic figures who emerge in the course of history are like a Milky Way thrown down from heaven to earth ... a shining river of stars spiraling out from the center of the galaxy ... to light a path through the darkness. They are women and men who shine like the sun with the shimmer of divinity, showing the community the face of Christ in their own time and place. They distill the central values of the living tradition in a concrete and accessible form. The direct force of their example acts as a catalyst in the community, galvanizing recognition that yes, this is what we are called to be."

That is precisely what Rosalie Rendu says to us today.

Written by Sister Michelle Loisel, D.C.

Feast of St. John: Apostle and Evangelist

John and his older brother, James were the sons of Zebedee and Salome. Salome was the sister of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. This made John and James Jesus' cousins. Jesus invited them to follow Him during His first year of public ministry. Jesus referred to the brothers as "sons of thunder." It is believed that John was the youngest of the Apostles.

John was the only one of the 12 Apostles who did not forsake Jesus during His crucifixion. He stood faithfully beside the cross with Mary. There, Jesus made him the guardian of His Mother. Sometime after Jesus' death and resurrection, Mary took to Ephesus to live until her Assumption.

John was very involved in the beginnings of Christianity. This fact did not go unnoticed by the Roman authorities. In the latter part of the first century, when Christians were still being persecuted, John was exiled to the prison island of Patmos where it is believed that he wrote the Book of Revelation. John is often credited with writing the Gospel of John, the three Epistles of John, and the Book of Revelation. However, his authorship has often been debated. It is almost certain that he is the author of the Gospel of John and the first Epistole of John.

The writer of the Gospel of John is referred to as the "disciple whom Jesus loved." John 21:24 claims the Gospel of John is based on the "Beloved Disciple's" testimony. These two references are cited several times in this Gospel but are not used in any other New Testament accounts.

St. John is called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue he had learned from his Savior and which he repeatedly encouraged by word and example. The "Beloved Disciple" died an old man in Ephesus around 98 AD, the only disciple to die peacefully.

It is fitting that John is the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendship, and authors.

John was a consummate model of love and loyalty. He was loyal to Jesus, even risking his life to be with Him at the cross. His writings and letters were about love, so much so that a disciple once asked him why he didn't write about other topics. John replied, "There is nothing greater than love."

The power of love is no myth! We have heard and seen many examples in our lifetime: someone who is miraculously saved from a tragedy because someone else reached out for help; the kindness of a stranger that gives hope to another; and so on. Each of us can do our part in this world! After all, we are all disciples of Jesus, too!

Written by Sister Cynthia Fox, D.C.

The Feast of Christmas

The following is a reflection on Luke 2:1-20.

It surprised me when I recently opened the place in Scripture concerning the birth of Jesus. So much of the Christmas Story in Luke's gospel deals with the shepherds. Only two verses briefly describe Mary:

"She gave birth to a son...wrapped him in swaddling clothes...laid him in a manger."

I wondered why the author paid so much attention to the shepherd. But, more than that, what could I learn and better understand about my life? What does this passage mean for me in my everyday life?

As I began to reflect on Luke's story, my eyes caught on the phrase that the shepherds were:

"in the fields keeping guard over their sheep."

It seemed to me that the shepherds were doing what they were supposed to be doing. Of course they were! The shepherds were living in the present moment, watching their flock. I asked myself, am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing? I felt the desire to look more closely at whether I was attentively engaged in what was before me. Am I attentive to the persons, the circumstances, the events, the conversations taking place in my here and now? Or do I find my attention zooming forward to something in the future or mulling over things in the past? And when questions come into my life, how will I know whether what I want to do or where I want to go is truly pleasing God?

As I read further into the passage from Luke, the shepherds were afraid at first, but the angel of the Lord spoke with them. He brought them:

"news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people."

While they were tending their sheep, they were given news of great joy. Their experience of joy was a gift. Joy is not something that can be planned or prepared for. It seems to me that I cannot say that, "Today, I will prepare to have JOY!" The gift of joy and the surprise of joy, happens as a result of doing what I am supposed to be doing: living in the present moment.

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us take time to focus our thoughts and energies on being especially attentive to the present moment, attentive to the presence of each person before us. May we be surprised with the joy that was experienced by the shepherds in Bethlehem!

Written by Sister Helen Brewer, D.C.

The Season of Advent

Two years ago, during the Advent season, I showed the story A Small Miracle by Peter Collington to preschoolers. Peter Collington is a master at painting rich, narrative tales without a single word. I told the children that we would read the story with our own eyes and our own hearts. The children were attentively looking at the pictures and excitedly telling the story when I asked, "What do you see?" or "What do you feel?"

The story was about an elderly woman who asked for alms on a winter day but no one paid attention to her. She sold her musical instrument but a thief stole her money. The thief also tried to steal the money from the poor box at a church. She fought him and saved the money for the poor. She returned the money to the church and rebuilt the nativity scene which had been knocked down by the thief. We stopped the story at the scene of the elderly woman asleep in the snow on her way home and I asked the children to draw a picture of what they would like to give to Jesus and to the woman for Christmas. Some drew houses, blankets, food, stoves, bathtubs, etc. However, Andrew shared his picture and said, "This is a tiger. And he is a nice tiger for Jesus." This reminded of me Isaiah 65:25: "The wolf and the lamb shall pasture together."

Advent is the special season when we often ponder the Incarnation, the mystery of Emmanuel, God among us. Two thousand years ago, He came to us because He loves us and wants to be with us. His love and presence is ever the same. But what about our love and our presence to Him in us, in our families, in our workplaces, in our world, in "social justice," and in the Eucharist?

Advent is about immersing ourselves in God's boundless love. It is about renewing our identity and our call, "Emmanuel, God among us."

God is already here! He is knocking at the door of our heart. He waits patiently for our love and our response, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

Let us respond to God's love in our daily lives with faith, love, and courage as Mary and Joseph did. And let us imitate a child's spirit of simplicity, eagerness, and enthusiasm to welcome our Lord Jesus!

May you have a spiritual Advent preparation!

Written by Sister Truc Nguyen, D.C.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day of celebration that is traced as far back as 1610 to Virginia when it was chartered "that the day their ships arrived shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."

Later, in 1621, the settlers held a harvest feast after a successful growing season at the Plymouth Plantation. Squanto, a Patuxent Native American, was kidnapped by the English and brought to England where he learned English. After escaping, he returned to America to find his tribe had been massacred. He lived with the Wampanoag tribe and taught the pilgrims how to catch eel and to grow corn. His tribal chief had given food to the colonists during the first winter when supplies brought from England were insufficient. They celebrated at Plymouth for three days after their first harvest. Those present included 50 individuals who were on the Mayflower and 90 Native Americans. Together, they expressed their gratitude to God for His bountiful blessings on them.

Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving in 1863. However, it wasn't until the 1870s, after the Reconstruction was completed after the Civil War, that there was a nationwide Thanksgiving date.

Today, Thanksgiving is the day when:

• More food is eaten than any other time of the year;
• The Macy's Day Parade is on TV in the morning;
• The meal is planned around the football schedule;
• Two turkeys are given the presidential pardon;
• Communities offer free Thanksgiving dinners for those in need;
• Food is collected for pantries;
• And most especially, families and friends gather for a large dinner to give thanks to God for the blessings of the past year.

The tradition of giving thanks is continued in many forms. Churches offer worship services and events on Thanksgiving themes during this week. Families begin the Thanksgiving dinner by saying a prayer before and/or after the meal. Before praying, it is common for each person to tell one specific reason for which he/she is thankful to God. Many families hold hands until the prayer concludes.

Not too long ago, I remember Oprah Winfrey encouraging people to reflect at the end of their day on something for which they are thankful, not just on Thanksgiving. Among religious, this is our daily general examen during evening prayer. Where did I see God in my life today? How did I respond? For what am I grateful? For what am I sorry?

In today's world, there seems to be so much violence that it's easy to miss the goodness around us. Even the major news networks, after showing the problems in our world, end their programs with an uplifting story.

I currently live on the Navajo Reservation. Since being here, I have come to know the Hopi as well and am struck by their gratitude. Here are a few examples.

• The homes of the Navajo fast the east, where they can greet the morning sun to thank God for another day.
• When a baby is born into the Hopi tribe, the mother and infant are kept in a darkened room for 28 days. The mother-in-law comes daily to bathe the infant. The mother is given certain foods that will help her body to be healthy and strong. In the morning of the 29th day, the grandmothers offer the infant to God, just as the sun begins to rise, thankful for this beautiful gift and to ask for blessings on the child and the family.

Another experience occurred when I was on the Southside of Chicago in and African-American parish. One of my responsibilities was to visit the elderly. Every single individual had what they called a "prayer chair." It was well-worn and always near a window so they could keep an eye on the neighborhood. Next to the arm of the chair, they kept a prayer book with holy cards, favorite sayings, and a Bible. Every morning when they opened their eyes, they would thank God for giving them another day. After breakfast, they would sit in their chair and pray for their family, their church, their pastor, their friends, our country, and the world. I loved visiting them! Because they were at their windows, they were my guardian angles, watching over and protecting me.

Our parish was the second oldest African-American parish in Chicago. These elders had lived through times of hate and prejudice in our country and in our Church. They could have been bitter old people, yet their hearts were full of praise, gratitude, and thankfulness for the blessings God had given them. Our mass on Sundays would last a minimum of an hour and a half. A big celebration could last three hours. Crime was spreading in the neighborhoods, as well as poverty and gangs. Our church was a haven in the midst of it all!

Thanksgiving Day began many years ago with our Native Americans and pilgrims sharing a meal and thanking God for a bountiful harvest. Despite the stream of bad news that can inundate our lives, let us use this time of year to recall the ways our God has been with us. Let us celebrate the companionship God has given us in the twists and turns of our daily lives. May we take time to recall those experiences that call us to gratitude and wonder.

May we never forget the Generous One who loves us unconditionally and be thankful!

Written by Sister Mary Rogers, D.C.

When Jesus Gets in Your Boat

I have a confession to make. I have always feared the sufferings of martyrdom...at least when I am honest with myself. John Gabriel Peroyre, CM, is a martyr who touches that fear. His sufferings in China under the Manchurian emperor, Quisling (1840) were extraordinary. Yet I feel strangely connected to him.

On one of my many trips to our Motherhouse in Paris to lead workshops on "the new digital technology," I was assigned to a room on a corridor that I didn't know existed. It turned out to be the room St. John Gabriel Perboyre used when he served as Novice Master for Vincentians in 1832. I distinctly remember laying wide awake in a bed that could very well have been his given its age. I was filled with awe at being in the presence of one who had given his all.

In the years since then, I have often reflected on that week in his room. Recently, I discovered a gem from Bishop Robert Barron. (Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith)

"We need saints in order to come to a richer understanding of God, for each saint reflects in his or her particular manner something of God's perfection."

There are different kinds of saints. There are also different kinds of martyrdom and each reflects something different about God.

On Christmas Day 1648, St. Vincent said: "I'm well aware, dear Sisters, that some among you, by the grace of God, love their vocation so strongly that they'd prefer to be crucified, torn apart, and hacked into a thousand pieces rather than tolerate anything contrary to it--and there are a good number of you, by the mercy of God" (CCD:IX:359).

But Vincent de Paul also applied the word "martyr" to the Daughters of Charity who had left behind their family and gave their life to God in order to serve the poor in the different places where they were sent.

"Your vocation is the greatest in the Church of God, for you are martyrs; whoever gives his or her life for God is regarded as a martyr, and it's certain that your lives are shortened by your labors; consequently, you are martyrs" (CCD:IX:361-362).

Pastor Delbert Young tied these various strands together in a sermon "When Jesus Gets In Your Boat."

"Every boat ride Jesus took was eventful. You might catch a boat load of fish or run into a storm or run into a demon, but something will happen when Jesus steps into your boat. It's not only the ride of your life. It will change your life."

We don't get to choose whether or how we will be called to be witnesses of God's love. But inviting Jesus into our lives will change our lives...and the lives of others. We are each called to manifest something of God's perfection.

Written by Father John Freund, CM (the first male contributor, our brother, who considers himself "blessed among women")

Frederick Ozanam

FREDERICK OZANAM
Born: 1813; Died: 1853; Beatified: 1997
He was the fifth of 14 children, a husband,
a father, a lawyer, an educator (Professor
at the Sorbonne), and Founder of the
Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

In Frederick's eyes, faith without charity has no meaning. He once wrote, "The earth has become a chilly place. It is up to us as Vincentians," as Catholics, "to become a great flame again and to bring warmth back into our society." Can we remain blind and deaf and dumb in a world where human tragedy is
all around us? Where war is more common than peace? Where hatred out measures love in so many and varied ways?

We see today's issues of human trafficking and the insensitivity to those immigrants trying to find a better life for themselves and their children. We see neighbors killing neighbors in drug wars and gang violence. Guns are easily accessible to all people. Drugs are killing family members and friends. Sadly, this is the chilly place that Frederick spoke of.

If Frederick was here today, he would tell us that we need to love God so we can love our neighbors into that warmth that will change society back to what was always intended in God's eyes and the message of Jesus in the Gospels. And when we struggle to God for whatever reason, Frederick would tell us to love our neighbors, to love the strangers among us for, in doing so, we will surely see God in their faces, in their eyes, in their struggles, in their sadness, and in their lives. Frederick said this in his time and would now in ours. "My Lord and my God, You are our Master and we will be Your servants. You are, for us, the sacred image of the God that we cannot see. May we see you in those you put before us to nurture and to serve!"

Written by Sister Catherine Kelly, D.C.

The Transfiguration of the Lord: An Invitation to Deep Communion, Listening, and Discipleship

"This is my beloved Son, listen to Him." Mark 9:7

The Transfiguration of the Lord is Christ's personal invitation to prophetic witness to all of us--lay, single, married, or consecrated--to transformation and transfiguration. This prophetic call beckons us to cultivate the ability to hear God's voice through Scripture, the signs of the times, and to respond courageously to the needs of society. It summons us to allow ourselves to be vulnerable and empty, to be drawn to a deeper communion with the Trinitarian God, and with the prophets and the saints who have gone before us in faith. It invites us to hone our senses to recognize the gentle consistent nudges or tugs in the depths of our heart and soul, and to respond to the call of love with daring discipleship.

Throughout His life, Jesus served as a model of taking time away to be in communion with His Heavenly Father, whom He loved and trusted with His whole being, and to seek His will. He consistently turned to God to find strength and courage to face excruciating moments of His life. Jesus revealed to us His complete adoration and love of God and for all humanity in His "yes" to love until His last breath on the cross. He urges all of us to take up our crosses and follow Him, to have complete trust in God, and to let go of all doubts, fears, pride, self-reliance, wounds, resentments, etc. so that God can heal us with the grace to become an instrument of healing and hope for humanity.

The meaning of this feast has deepened significantly for me over the last 25 years as a Daughter of Charity. It has challenged me to strive to live up to what I have claimed to embrace. In the Constitutions and Statutes of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, 8a, it states: "Christ is the Rule of the Daughters of Charity. They endeavor to follow His as Scripture reveals Him to them and as their Founders perceived Him: Adorer of the Father, Servant of His Loving Plan..." If Christ is truly "the Rule" of my life, how can I say "no" to an invitation to a new ministry that requires my complete trust and dependence on God's grace and guidance and stretches me to love and serve more boldly?

May our God, the source of all being, lead us from the high mountain to seek Christ in our brothers and sisters who are ignored by society. May the grace of today's feast bring us to a deeper relationship with Christ, to listen to Him more deeply, and to share generously all that we are have been given. May our humble and loving service transfigure and restore wholeness to all who are deprived of freedom, respect, and dignity.

Written by Sister Trang Truong, D.C.

The Daughter of Charity Martyrs of Arras

During the French Revolution in the late 1700s, a number of Daughters of Charity were among the hundreds of faithful priests, religious, and ordinary catholics who were killed because they would not take the oath required by the revolutionary government of France. This oath separated those who took it from the Catholic Church in Rome. June 26 is the feast day of these five Daughters of Charity who were guillotined by the revolutionary government. The focus here will be on the four Daughters of Charity from Arras who were martyred in 1794. One other sister, Sister Marguerite Rutan, was guillotined in the city of Dax.

The House of Charity at Arras was founded by St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. The sisters served those in poverty with great zeal and creativity until the time of the French Revolution. Seven Daughters of Charity were serving there, visiting those in need in their homes, providing a free school of girls, and serving the sick in a dispensary. Benefactors were generous, the sisters were esteemed, and the ministries were in a prosperous condition.

This was all to change drastically. A government came to power that was hostile to the monarchy and

to the Catholic religion. In 1789, the Motherhouse of the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers was pillaged. Superiors wrote to the sisters, encouraging them to remain faithful to the service of those in poverty for as long as possible, but to be willing to lay aside the habit in order to continue their service of love. In 1792, all religious congregations were suppressed by the government. The Motherhouse was transformed into a barrack for soldiers. A number of sisters returned to their families and some were helped to escape to Belgium.

At Arras, four Daughters of Charity continued their service: Sister Madeleine Fontaine, local superior, age 71; Sister Mary Frances Lanel, age 48; Sister Theresa Madeleine Fantou, age 46; and Sister Jean Gerard, age 41. They were unwilling to take the oath and so they were arrested on February 14, 1794. Confined for several months to various prisons, they ministered to their fellow prisoners with great kindness.

Then, they were summoned to the revolutionary tribunal in the town of Cambrai. On the road from the prison to the tribunal, they prayed, sang spiritual songs, and consoled the other prisoners, repeating several times that their blood would be the last shed at Cambrai. Their peace was remarkable on the way to the scaffold. They were guillotined, but the prophecy of Blessed Madeleine was fulfilled--they were the last to be executed at Cambrai.

God rewarded their daily fidelity to His will with the extraordinary grace of martyrdom. They were beatified by the Church on June 13, 1920. May God also give us the wisdom to make good decisions about the situations that demand our response and the courage to embrace the daily sacrifices that are asked of us!

Written by Sister Marjory Ann Baez, D.C.

The Nativity of John the Baptist

"He will be great in the sight of the Lord; and many will rejoice at his birth" (Luke 1:15;14)

The life of St. John the Baptist in this reflection will be examined in three areas: in the liturgy, in sacred scripture, and in God's plan of salvation.

John the Baptist in the liturgy:

Besides the birthday of Jesus, there are only two saints whose birthdays are celebrated in the church's calendar: the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist. This emphasizes the important roles of these two figures in God's plan.

This year, the church is celebrating the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist on Sunday, June 24, six months before the birthday of Jesus.

John the Baptist in sacred scripture:

What do we know about John?

Similar to the birth of Jesus, the birth of John was announced by the angel Gabriel to his father, Zachariah. John was given to his parents, Zachariah and Elizabeth, when Elizabeth was already past the age of childbearing. Yet, with God's gracious intervention, Elizabeth was able to conceive and give birth to John.

His name was also designated by the angel Gabriel before his birth: "you must name him John," (Luke 1:13). In Hebrew, John means God's grace/favor.

John was sanctified specially by God's grace: "...from his mother's womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit," (Luke 1:15). Inside his mother's womb, he experienced the presence of Jesus when Mary, pregnant with the Lord, visited Elizabeth. The gospel says when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb, "leapt for joy," (Luke 1: 41; 44). Some in the church understand this as the moment John was freed from original sin.

John the Baptist in God's plan of salvation.

John the Baptist arrived at the period of critical transition between the Old and New Testament. Like many people of the Old Covenant, he had lived and longed for the promise of the Messiah to be fulfilled. However, as one of the people of the New Covenant, he had seen the Messiah, labored for Him as His messenger and prophet, and he enjoyed the grace of redemption which Jesus granted him ahead of time.

The gospels portray John the Baptist as a simple and humble person and the messenger for the Messiah. He regarded others as better than he was. "...[He] who ranks ahead of me...; he must grow greater, I must grow smaller," (John 1:30; 3:30). John's zeal in carrying out his mission led him to his martyrdom. He was beheaded as a result of his boldness of speaking the truth against the adultery of King Herod and Herodias.

Celebrating the Nativity of John the Baptist is celebrating God's favor and God's redemption. It also calls us to meditate on his virtues of humility and simplicity, virtues that our founder, St. Vincent de Paul, repeatedly reminded us to keep making an essential part of our lives.

Written by Sister My Hanh Cao, D.C.

Blessed Marta Anna Wiecka: Gave Her Life for Another

Marta Anna Wiecka (January 1, 1874 - May 30, 1904) was born in Nowy Wiec in what is now Poland (then, the Kingdom of Prussia). She was the third of 13 children of Marceli Wiecki, a wealthy landowner, and his wife Paulina Kamrowska. Marta entered the Daughters of Charity in Krakow on April 21, 1893 and began working to care for not only the corporal needs of the sick, but also their spiritual needs. Conversions occurred as a result of her care.

While working at Sniatyn, Sister Marta learned of a hospital worker who was given the job of disinfecting the rooms of those with highly contagious typhoid fever. Knowing this worker was a young father, she volunteered to take his place and subsequently fell ill with typhoid fever. After a brief course of illness, at the young age of 30 on March 30, 1904. Her funeral was an occasion of grief for people of many religions including Catholics, Greek Catholics, and Orthodox, and some with no religion at all.

The beatification of Sister Marta Anna Wiecka, D.C., took place on May 24, 2008 in Bohdan Chmelnicki Culture Park in Lviv, Ukraine.

Written by Sister Regina Hlavac, D.C.

Who is St. Joseph?

Just who is this St. Joseph about whom we hear so much but read so little in the Gospels? In Gospels, all we really learn about him is:

• He and Mary were engaged to be married.
• He was a dreamer.
• He was a carpenter.
• He was of the House of David.

From these four facts, we may be able to draw more information. Let's take what we know, imagine them as paintbrushes, and create a fuller picture of Joseph--the man, the saint, and the foster father of Jesus.

Joseph and Mary were promised to one another. They were engaged but not married when Mary learned that she was pregnant. Joseph knew he was not the father of this child, but he did deeply love and respect Mary. In that day, Mary could have been cast out and/or stoned to death for having a child outside of marriage. Joseph did not want that to happen. In the midst of his turmoil, Joseph had a powerful dream in which an angel appeared to him, telling him that he should have no fears about taking Mary as his wife. The angel told him that the child she carried had been conceived by the Holy Spirit and would save his people from their sins. Joseph--proving to be a man of deep faith, strong character, and great integrity--took Mary into his home as his wife and cared for her.

Joseph continues the trend of watching over and caring for Mary on their long journey to Bethlehem. It was here that Mary's child, Jesus, was born and that Joseph receives another important message in his dreams. This time, from God, telling him that King Herod wanted to kill his child because he feared the child would take away his power as king. Without questioning this message, Joseph immediately responded by moving with Mary and Jesus all the way to Egypt. The little family settled in this foreign land, trusting that God, who had led them all along, would continue to give them the signs and inspiration needed to do His will.

From these instances, we learn that Joseph always kept his heart open to hear what God was asking of him. He see this again when God speaks to him again through a dream. This time, God tells Joseph that Herod is now dead and it is time to take the family back to their home country. Again without hesitation, Joseph does so and they settle in the little town of Nazareth. Here, Joseph continued to support, protect, and care for his family through his carpentry trade--which he shared with Jesus as he grew up.

It is this fuller picture of St. Joseph that allows us to understand why he has become a model for us in so many ways. He is a model of:

• Willingly listening to God's call.
• Hearing God's call and having the courage to follow it.
• Loving, caring for, and protecting those who are vulnerable.
• Using his God-given skills and talents to help others.
• Having the faith, courage, strength of character, and integrity to go against the norms of the world in order to do what God is calling us to do.

So, just who is this St. Joseph? He was a man chosen by God to be the husband, best friend, protector, support, and confidant of the woman chosen to carry and give birth to Jesus Christ. He was chosen to be the earthly father figure of the Son of God and the Savior of the World.

St. Joseph has always been a strong patron of the Daughters of Charity and the entire Vincentian family. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton named her "beloved valley" St. Joseph's Valley and her very first sisters were called the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. He is the patron of vocations to our "little company." St. Joseph, pray for us.

Written by Sister Mary Louise Zellers, D.C.

From Slave to Saint

Each person forced into slavery has a personal story--a story of struggles, hopes, and dreams. The story of St. Josephine Bakhita is a story of a survivor of human trafficking.

St. Josephine Bakhita was born in southern Sudan in 1869. As a young girl, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid and Karthoum, she was subjected to brutal treatment from her captors. She did not remember the name given to her by her parents. Rather, Bakhita, meaning "fortunate one," is the name she was given by her captors.

In 1883, she was bought by an Italian diplomat who sent her to Italy to work as a maid for the daughter of a family friend who was studying with the Canossain Daughters of Charity. It was there that Bakhita came to know about God whom "she had experienced in her heart without knowing." In 1890, she was baptized and received the name Josephine.

Years later, the Italian family came to take their "property" back to Africa, but Josephine expressed her desire to stay. When the family insisted she go, she remained firm, later writing "I am sure the Lord gave me strength at that moment." With the support of the Superioress of the Canossian Sisters and the Cardinal of Venice, she won her freedom and, later, entered the novitiate. For the next 50 years, Josephine lived a life of prayer and service as a Canossian Sister before her death in 1947.

St. Josephine was canonized in 2000 and her feast day is now February 8. She is now the patron of Sudan.

St. Josephine Bakhita once said, "If I were to meet the slave-traders who kidnapped me and even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for if that did not happen, I would not be a Christian and religious today..."

St. Josephine, provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith. Help all survivors find healing from their wounds. Click here to learn more about modern day slavery.

Written by Sister Michelle Loisel, D.C.