October 6th, in the United States, is the Optional Memorial of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin (1811-1849). She founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (S.N.J.M.) near Montreal, Quebec Canada, for the education of young women and economically disadvantaged persons. She was born Eulalie Mélanie Durocher in the village of Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec on 6 October 1811, the tenth of eleven children to a prosperous farming family. Three of her siblings died in infancy, three of her brothers were ordained as priests and one of her sisters became a Religious sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame. Marie-Rose was home-schooled by her paternal grandfather until he died when she was 10 years old. She was then sent to boarding school for two years at a convent run by the Congregation of Notre Dame. Upon receiving First Holy Communion at aged 12, she returned home to be privately tutored. During this time she owned a horse and became a competent equestrian. At aged 16, Marie-Rose entered the boarding school of the Congregation of Notre Dame in Montreal, where she intended to enter the novitiate as her sister had earlier done. However, she was unable to complete her education due to her poor health and she returned home after two years. Then her mother died when Marie-Rose was 19 years old and she assumed her mothers tasks as homemaker. A year later her brother priest, pastor of a parish in pastor of a parish in Belœil, Quebec Canada persuaded their father to move from the family farm to his residence, the rectory. Marie-Rose worked as housekeeper and secretary to her brother at his parish for 12 years. She became aware of the severe shortage of schools and teachers in the surrounding countryside of Quebec and discussed with her family and acquaintances the need for a religious community specifically dedicated to the education of children both rich and poor. In 1841 the parish priest of Longueuil, Quebec requested the Bishop of Marseilles, France, St. Eugène de Mazenod, who had founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a Religious Community of priests, to establish a mission in Quebec by sending a French women Religious Congregation known as the Sœurs des Saints-Noms de Jésus et de Marie. (Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary). Marie-Rose with her friend applied in advance to join the novitiate of the new congregation upon its arrival in Canada. However, the mission was never established and the Sisters never came. Instead, the French Bishop recommended to the Bishop of Montreal that he establish a similar congregation in Canada with the two women, Marie-Rose and her friend, who had been eager to be part of the French group. Priests of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, arrived in Montreal, opened a church at Longueuil in 1842 and conducted spiritual conferences, at which time they met Marie-Rose and one of the Oblate priests became her spiritual director. In 1843, this priest and the Bishop asked Marie-Rose Durocher to take a leading role in the founding of the new religious congregation dedicated to the Christian education of youth. She agreed to assume this role and on 28 October 1843, Marie-Rose began at the age of 32 together with two other women, her friend and a schoolteacher, at Saint-Antoine Church in Longueuil under the direction of an Oblate priest. Four months later the three postulants began their novitiate, assumed the religious habit and received their religious names: Sister Marie-Rose, Sister Marie-Agnes and Sister Marie-Madeleine. The Bishop gave the newly founded Religious Community diocesan approval with the same name as the French Community Marie-Rose had hoped to join: Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. The new Community adopted the Rule and Constitutions of their French namesakes, as well as a modified version of their habit. On December 8, 1844, the three novices professed religious vows and the Bishop named Sister Marie-Rose Durocher as Mother Superior, mistress of novices, and foundress of the new Congregation. Their apostolic mission of teaching quickly expanded which resulted in the Sisters establishing four convents between 1844 and 1849 in Quebec, Canada. These years were filled with poverty, trials, sickness and slander for Mother Marie-Rose. However, the qualities that were nurtured in her during her “hidden” life came forward—a strong will, intelligence and common sense, great inner courage and yet a humble submission and respect to those who directed her. She was strict with her sisters and even more severe on herself while having an unshakable love of her crucified Savior. In preparing for death, Mother Marie-Rose prayed frequently, “Jesus, Mary, Joseph! Sweet Jesus, I love you. Jesus, be to me Jesus!” Before she died, she smiled and said to the sister with her, “Your prayers are keeping me here—let me go.” Mother Marie-Rose Durocher died on October 6, 1849 at the age of 38 of wasting illness, a debilitating disease that causes muscle and fat tissue to waste away. She was beatified in 1982 by Pope St. John Paul II. Let us pray, Lord, who enkindled in the heart of Blessed Marie Rose Durocher the flame of ardent charity and a great desire to cooperate in the mission of the Church as a teacher; grant us that same active love, so that, in responding to the needs of the world today, we may lead our brothers and sisters to the blessedness of eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Blessed Marie-Rose, pray for us.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:56:35 +0000
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