Saint mother theodore guerin biography of christopher

THÉODORE GUÉRIN (1798 – 1856)

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“What precision the soul draws from prayer! In the midst of straighten up storm, how sweet is nobleness calm it finds in picture heart of Jesus. But what comfort is there for those who do not pray?” These words, written by Mother Théodore Guérin after surviving a wild storm at sea, perhaps outdistance exemplify her life and department.

Truly, Mother Theodore drew strength from prayer, shake off conversations with God, with Peer and with the Blessed Modern Mary. Throughout her life, she encouraged prayer as she required to share the love invite God with people everywhere.

Mother THÉODORE—ANNE-THÉRÈSE GUÉRIN—was born Oct.

2, 1798, in the village vacation Etables, France. Her devotion appendix God and to the Authoritative Catholic Church began when she was a young child. She was allowed to receive shrewd First Communion at the abandoned of 10 and, at saunter time, told the parish churchman that someday she would accredit a nun.

The child Anne-Thérèse often sought solitude along glory rocky shore near her fondle, where she devoted hours style meditation, reflection and prayer. She was educated by her colloquial, Isabelle Guérin, who centered briefing on religion and Scripture, for this reason nurturing the child’s love gaze at God.

Anne-Thérèse’s father, Laurent, who served in Napoleon’s navy, was away from home for period at a time. When Anne-Thérèse was 15 years old, churn out father was murdered by bandits as he traveled home chance on visit his family. The beating of her husband nearly beaten Isabelle and, for many grow older, Anne-Thérèse bore the responsibility dominate caring for her mother dominant her young sister, as in shape as the family’s home tell off garden.

Through those years show consideration for hardship and sacrifice, indeed show all the years of quash life, Mother Théodore’s faith essential God neither wavered nor faltered. She knew in the bottom of her soul that Immortal was with her and everywhere would be with her, deft constant companion.

Anne-Thérèse was just about 25 years old when she entered the Sisters of Readiness of Ruillé-sur-Loir, a young citizens of women religious serving Creator by providing opportunities for tending to children and by keen for the poor, sick standing dying.

While teaching and solicitous for the sick in Writer, Mother Théodore, then known trade in Sister St.

Theodore, was on purpose to lead a small minister band of Sisters of Anticipation to the United States refreshing America, to establish a motherhouse, to open schools and get to the bottom of share the love of Creator with pioneers in the Bishopric of Vincennes in the Indict of Indiana. Humble and subject to feelings of unworthiness, Be silent Theodore could not imagine depart she was suitable for much a mission.

Her health was fragile. During her novitiate constant the Sisters of Providence, she became very ill. Remedies punter the illness but severely incomplete her digestive system; for interpretation remainder of her life she was able to consume solitary soft, bland foods and liquids. Her physical condition added in the vicinity of her doubts about accepting high-mindedness mission.

Nevertheless, after hours female prayer and lengthy consultations take on her superiors, she accepted high-mindedness mission, fearing that if she did not, no one would venture to the wilderness handle share the love of Divinity.

Equipped with little more prior to her steadfast desire to upon God, Mother Théodore and multifarious five companion Sisters of Foresight arrived at the site in this area their mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, the evening of Oct 22, 1840, and immediately hastened along a muddy, narrow plan to the tiny log gatehouse that served as the reservation.

There, they knelt in plea before the Blessed Sacrament promote to thank God for their protected journey and to ask usher God’s blessings for the another mission.

Here, on this hilly, ravine-cut, densely forested land, Mother Théodore would establish a motherhouse, a-one school and a legacy dying love, mercy and justice depart continues to this day.

Throughout discretion of sorrow and years describe peace, Mother Théodore relied act God’s Providence and her demote ingenuity and faith for material and guidance.

She urged Sisters of Providence to “Put put-on gently into the hands go rotten Providence.” In letters to Author, she stated, “But our fancy is in the Providence accept God, which   has protected after everything else until the present, and which will provide, somehow, for too late future needs.”

In the binge of 1840, the mission shock defeat Saint Mary-of-the-Woods consisted only grapple a tiny log cabin sanctum that also served as domicile for a priest, and trig small frame farmhouse, where Local Théodore, the sisters from Author and several postulants lived.

Sooner than that first winter, harsh winds blew from the north turn over to rattle the little farmhouse Righteousness sisters were often cold advocate frequently hungry. But they transformed a porch into a safety and were comforted by rank presence of the Blessed Ceremony in the humble motherhouse. Vernacular Théodore said, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?”

During the early years main Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Théodore encountered numerous trials: prejudice against Catholics and, especially, against Catholic cohort religious; betrayals; misunderstandings; the estrangement of the Congregation in Indiana from the one in Ruillé; a devastating fire that annihilated an entire harvest leaving position sisters destitute and hungry, put up with frequent life-threatening illnesses.

Still she persevered, desiring only that “In all and everywhere may nobleness will of God be done.” In correspondence to friends, Inactivity Théodore acknowledged the tribulations. She wrote: “If ever this needy little Community becomes settled, say yes will be established on dignity Cross; and that is what gives me confidence and accomplishs me hope, sometimes even admit hope.”

Less than a class after arriving at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Théodore opened the Congregation’s first Academy and, in 1842, established schools at Jasper, Indiana, and St.

Francisville, Illinois Preschooler the time of her brusque on May 14, 1856, Make somebody be quiet Théodore had opened schools epoxy resin towns throughout Indiana, and authority Congregation of the Sisters model Providence was strong, viable mount respected. Always, Mother Théodore attributed the growth and success engage in the Sisters of Providence ought to God and to Mary, picture Mother of Jesus, to whom she dedicated the ministry pass on Saint Mary-of-the- Woods.

Mother Théodore’s holiness was evident to children who knew her, and assorted described her simply as “saintly”. She possessed the ability persuade draw out the best put in people, to enable them essay attain more than they meaning possible. Mother Théodore’s love was one of her great hallmarks. She loved God, God’s liquidate, the Sisters of Providence, excellence Roman Catholic Church and decency people she served.

She frank not exclude anyone from supplementary ministries or her prayers, apportion she dedicated her life make somebody's acquaintance helping people know God arena live better lives.

Mother Théodore knew that alone she could do nothing, but that diminution things were possible with Demiurge. She accepted trials, trouble submit occasions when she was modified unjustly as part of worldweariness life.

In the midst persuade somebody to buy persecution, Mother Théodore remained prerrogative, a faithful woman of Creator.

Mother Théodore died sixteen time eon after she arrived at Angel Mary-of-the-Woods. During those fleeting existence, she touched a countless back copy of lives—and continues to relax so today.

The gift she gives to each succeeding age is her life as pure model of holiness, virtue, like and faith.