Statue at
St. Philippine Duchesne Memorial Park, located 20 miles south of Osawatomie, KS
St. Rose
Philippine Duchesne (inset) |
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Feast Day
November
18
St. Rose is
an interesting addition to the saints of November for MMG members. She is an
American saint with a familiar name. Like so many of us, she was a woman who
had great plans that didn’t quite fit in with what God had in mind. But, Rose
went where she was sent and accomplished what she could. She bloomed where she
was planted. Rose is a good example of the MMG motto: No matter the
situation, "It is not hopeless and we are not helpless" when God's love is an
integral part of our lives.
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Who Was
St. Rose
Philippine Duchesne?
Born in France, Rose was named for St. Rose of Lima, the first saint of the
new world, and Philip, the apostle. After the French Revolution, Rose
entered the congregation of the Society of the Sacred Heart. She wanted to
work with the American Indians. Finally, at age 49 she was sent to
Missouri and established schools for young women on the frontier. At age 72,
she went to a Potawatomi Indian school at Sugar Creek, Kansas. She couldn't
learn their language and teach, so she prayed instead. The Indians called
her “Woman Who Prays Always.”
She is buried in a church in St. Charles, MO where she
was known by her Indian name, "the woman who prays always."
Missouri included her first among the women on the
Pioneer Roll of Fame in St. Louis. The inscription reads: "Some names must
not wither." St. Rose Philippine Duchesne's was celebrated by twelve
thousand people in a Te Deum Service at the St. Louis Cathedral on her
beatification day. 3,500 Knights of Columbus processed to her shrine to
unveil the commemorative plaque. |
Quote by St Rose
“We cultivate a very small
field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great
achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self…The truest crosses
are those we do not choose ourselves…He who has Jesus has everything.”
Saint of the
Day Lives, Lessons and Feast By Leonard Foley, O.F.M.; revised by Pat
McCloskey, O.F.M.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you gave St Rose Philippine Duchesne the desire to make you known among all peoples.
Fill us with that same love and zeal to persevere in prayer for our beloved prodigals so that they might
open their minds and hearts to know You and return to Your Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen
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