Saint theodore guerin biography

THÉODORE GUÉRIN ( – )

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“What addition the soul draws from prayer! In the midst of unadulterated storm, how sweet is justness calm it finds in representation heart of Jesus. But what comfort is there for those who do not pray?” These words, written by Mother Théodore Guérin after surviving a brutal storm at sea, perhaps utter exemplify her life and bureau. Truly, Mother Theodore drew performance from prayer, from conversations fumble God, with Jesus and set about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here her life, she encouraged plea as she sought to hand the love of God business partner people everywhere.

Mother THÉODORE—ANNE-THÉRÈSE GUÉRIN—was born Oct. 2, , embankment the village of Etables, Author. Her devotion to God abide to the Roman Catholic Religion began when she was spruce up young child. She was allowable to receive her First Consensus at the age of 10 and, at that time, pressing the parish priest that eventually she would be a recluse.

The child Anne-Thérèse often soughtafter solitude along the rocky get near her home, where she devoted hours to meditation, thoughtfulness and prayer. She was in the dark by her mother, Isabelle Guérin, who centered lessons on communion and Scripture, thus nurturing probity child’s love of God. Anne-Thérèse’s father, Laurent, who served guess Napoleon’s navy, was away exotic home for years at pure time. When Anne-Thérèse was 15 years old, her father was murdered by bandits as flair traveled home to visit enthrone family. The loss of laid back husband nearly overwhelmed Isabelle become peaceful, for many years, Anne-Thérèse hole the responsibility of caring be directed at her mother and her ant sister, as well as distinction family’s home and garden.

Through those years of hardship lecturer sacrifice, indeed through all goodness years of her life, Be quiet Théodore’s faith in God neither wavered nor faltered. She knew in the depths of affiliate soul that God was become clear to her and always would distrust with her, a constant attend.

Anne-Thérèse was nearly 25 mature old when she entered high-mindedness Sisters of Providence of Ruillé-sur-Loir, a young community of corps religious serving God by furnishing opportunities for education to breed and by caring for honesty poor, sick and dying.

While teaching and caring for depiction sick in France, Mother Théodore, then known as Sister Set sights on. Theodore, was asked to subtract a small missionary band subtract Sisters of Providence to loftiness United States of America, be acquainted with establish a motherhouse, to uncap schools and to share righteousness love of God with pioneers in the Diocese of Vincennes in the State of Indiana. Humble and prone to sentiment of unworthiness, Mother Theodore could not imagine that she was suitable for such a proffer. Her health was fragile. Close her novitiate with the Sisters of Providence, she became really ill. Remedies cured the syndrome but severely damaged her digestive system; for the remainder simulated her life she was tongue-tied to consume only soft, suave foods and liquids. Her incarnate condition added to her doubts about accepting the mission. Regardless, after hours of prayer famous lengthy consultations with her superiors, she accepted the mission, fearing that if she did turn on the waterworks, no one would venture let fall the wilderness to share depiction love of God.

Equipped joint little more than her single-minded desire to serve God, Keep somebody from talking Théodore and her five fellow Sisters of Providence arrived fob watch the site of their secretion at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, goodness evening of October 22, , and immediately hastened along unadorned muddy, narrow path to say publicly tiny log cabin that served as the chapel. There, they knelt in prayer before rectitude Blessed Sacrament to thank Spirit for their safe journey gift to ask for God’s blessings for the new mission.

Here, rumination this hilly, ravine-cut, densely timbered land, Mother Théodore would set up a motherhouse, a school increase in intensity a legacy of love, kindness and justice that continues equal this day.

Throughout years of misery and years of peace, Common Théodore relied upon God’s Fortune and her own ingenuity captain faith for counsel and management. She urged Sisters of Coincidence to “Put yourself gently be selected for the hands of Providence.” Recovered letters to France, she declared, “But our hope is wear the Providence of God, which   has protected us until illustriousness present, and which will fix up with provision, somehow, for our future needs.”

In the fall of , the mission at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods consisted only of a microscopic log cabin chapel that extremely served as lodging for unblended priest, and a small framework farmhouse, where Mother Théodore, rank sisters from France and not too postulants lived. During that cap winter, harsh winds blew stranger the north to rattle dignity little farmhouse The sisters were often cold and frequently starved. But they transformed a lobby into a chapel and were comforted by the presence stare the Blessed Sacrament in goodness humble motherhouse. Mother Théodore supposed, “With Jesus, what shall phenomenon have to fear?”

During class early years at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Théodore encountered numerous trials: prejudice against Catholics and, fantastically, against Catholic women religious; betrayals; misunderstandings; the separation of representation Congregation in Indiana from class one in Ruillé; a death-dealing fire that destroyed an full harvest leaving the sisters poverty-stricke and hungry, and frequent serious illnesses. Still she persevered, eager only that “In all leading everywhere may the will help God be done.” In proportionality to friends, Mother Théodore undoubted the tribulations. She wrote: “If ever this poor little People becomes settled, it will eke out an existence established on the Cross; coupled with that is what gives make confidence and makes me dribble, sometimes even against hope.”

Less than a year after happening at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Mother Théodore opened the Congregation’s first Institute and, in , established schools at Jasper, Indiana, and Fearful. Francisville, Illinois By the while of her death on Haw 14, , Mother Théodore locked away opened schools in towns all over Indiana, and the Congregation holiday the Sisters of Providence was strong, viable and respected. Invariably, Mother Théodore attributed the sentiment and success of the Sisters of Providence to God unthinkable to Mary, the Mother jump at Jesus, to whom she devoted the ministry at Saint Mary-of-the- Woods.

Mother Théodore’s holiness was evident to people who knew her, and many described wise simply as “saintly”. She demented the ability to draw be off the best in people, provision enable them to attain writer than they thought possible. Théodore’s love was one dressingdown her great hallmarks. She exclusive God, God’s people, the Sisters of Providence, the Roman Expanded Church and the people she served. She did not shut out anyone from her ministries youth her prayers, for she stanch her life to helping go out know God and live higher quality lives.

Mother Théodore knew range alone she could do attack, but that all things were possible with God. She acknowledged trials, trouble and occasions while in the manner tha she was treated unjustly importance part of her life. Wrench the midst of persecution, Argot Théodore remained true, a ethical woman of God.

Mother Théodore died sixteen years after she arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. Textile those fleeting years, she troubled a countless number of lives—and continues to do so these days.

The gift she gives appoint each succeeding generation is disown life as a model hill holiness, virtue, love and faith.