From:
richarra@gmail.com
Grace bear us
"'My yoke is easy and my burden light.' ... The prophet says this
about the burden of sinners: 'Because my iniquities lie on top of my
head, so they have also placed a heavy burden on me' (Psalm 38:4)'
...'Place my yoke upon you, and learn from me that I am gentle and
humble of heart.' Oh, what a very pleasing weight that strengthens
even more those who carry it! For the weight of earthly masters
gradually destroys the strength of their servants, but the weight of
Christ rather helps the one who bears it, because we do not bear
grace; grace bears us. It is not for us to help grace, but rather
grace has been given to aid us.'
(excerpt from INCOMPLETE WORK ON MATTHEW, HOMILY, the Greek fathers).
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June 17th - Saint Emily de Vialar
(1797-1856)
Saint Emily de Vialar was a virgin of the Church, caregiver to the
poor, and foundress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph “of the
Apparition,” a holy order still thriving today. Emily’s favorite
testament was “Love One Another,” which she practiced without
exception, seeing Christ in all around her, and tirelessly loving and
serving those in need.
Saint Emily was born to an aristocratic family in Gaillac, France, the
eldest of 3 children. As the French Revolution had just passed, and anti-Christian sentiment was still in full force in France, Emily was
baptized by her parents in secret, and her mother undertook religious instruction in the home.
At age seven, Emily began attending a local school. During that time,
she developed a keen insight into the fact that she was an attractive
child, and wishing to curb the possibility of vanity, removed the
mirrors from her room and refused to view her reflection. She further
refused new clothes and jewelry, so as not to draw attention to
herself. Rather, Emily preferred to spend her time in prayer.
When her mother died, Emily was sent to boarding school at age 13, but
returned to Gaillac a few years later. At that time, trying to mend
the harm done by the Revolution, Emily began catechizing the local
youth. When her father attempted to arrange a marriage for her, Emily
refused. She would later report that during that time, "God became my director.” Emily privately consecrated her life to God, deciding to
remain a virgin, and increasing her prayer life. On one occasion she
had a vision of our Lord pointing to the wounds of His passion. This
experience moved her deeply and had a lasting effect on her life. Upon inheriting her grandfather’s large estate, Emily moved from her
father’s home with sorrow, knowing the difficulty it would bring to
her father. She wrote in her memoirs, “it was only in doing violence
to my heart that I decided to leave him, knowing what affliction it
would cause him.”
Emily took up residence in a large building she purchased in Gaillac,
and along with three like-minded women, began ministering to the
needy, sick, and poor. Soon, eight others joined the cause, and
through the assistance of a local priest, the group was eventually
granted the religious habit. In 1835, the original three had grown to
nearly 40 members, known as the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint
Joseph of the Apparition. They took their vows in 1835 and dedicated
themselves to “all works of charity,” specifically the instruction of children and the care of the sick at home, in hospitals and in
prisons.
Saint Emily was especially moved by the mystery of the Incarnation,
which she contemplated in prayer frequently. In particular, she was
taken with the role of Saint Joseph, in accepting the message of the
Lord delivered via an angel. Emily felt strongly that the Incarnation
should be the core of her congregation, the inspiration for her
mission. She would tell her sisters that without Joseph taking on the
role of caregiver and earthly father to Jesus, the Incarnation would
not have been complete. This, she likened to her call to care for
others, allowing Jesus to thrive in the world.
Saint Emily wrote in the laws she established for the congregation at
Mother Superior: "The spirit of this Congregation is to dedicate the
Sisters to the practice of the different works of charity. In order to
acquire this divine virtue, they meditate every day of their lives on
the immense charity which fills the Heart of Jesus Christ; and they
strive to imitate his zeal for the salvation of souls and his great
mercy towards the neighbor. They dwell frequently on the adorable
wounds of the Savior, so that, reflecting unceasingly on the love of
God for men, they maintain and increase each day the sentiments of
compassion and zeal with which they must be animated towards their
fellow men."
Soon thereafter, Saint Emily looked to extend the congregation,
traveling to Algeria where her brother had settled and built a
hospital with his own money. He had written o his sister, stating his
need for assistance in staffing the hospital, and Emily and her
congregation were all to happy to help. They arrived in Algeria and
worked tirelessly to treat the population, suffering from a violent
cholera outbreak. Their charity and selflessness won the hearts of the
people, and soon their mission spread from the hospital to other
regions of the country, assisting the poor, uneducated, hungry, and
sick.
She wrote at that time: "The Lord causes to burn within me that same
fire which He enkindled long ago, and I rejoice in this grace, for if
God did not breathe into me the spirit of zeal, my heart would cease
to be quickened and then I would not be able to do anything. May He,
in His goodness, grant that as long as I live this divine fire may not
be extinguished."
Financial difficulties followed soon thereafter for the order, and
Emily lost her entire fortune in keeping the work of the Lord
progressing. She was forced to move the mother house of the order from
Gaillac to Toulouse, and the following years were spent in extreme
poverty and tireless service and obedience. Emily was certain that the
Lord would provide, and He did, and often made light of her troubles.
"I have plenty of trials," she wrote, "but God is always there to
support me." Saint Emily died at age 59, from long-standing
complications of a hernia suffered in her youth while helping the
poor. Four years after her death, her mortal remains were found
intact, incorrupt. By the time of her death, she had formed 42
foundations of her Order--most of them by herself--not only in Western
and Eastern Europe and Africa, but in the Middle East, the Far East,
and Australia. Their work continues today on every inhabited
continent, living the motto penned by Emily, “Love of God is service
to the poor.”....
The life of Saint Emily de Vialar was not always easy, but was always
committed to doing good in the world, extending the touch and love of
Jesus to all she encountered. Like Saint Joseph, who following the
message of the angel, readily did as the Lord instructed, Saint Emily
remained steadfast and obedient throughout her life, striving
constantly to improve the lives of those she came into contact with.
What has each of us done lately to improve the lives of those in need?
How can we continue to miraculous work that began at the Incarnation?
by Jacob
Saint Quote:
"Quietly to trust in God is better than trying to safeguard material interests—I learned that by bitter experience."
—Mother Emily de Vialar
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Meditation:
Are you ever driven by anger, rage, or revenge? The first person to
hate his brother was Cain, the son of Adam and Eve. God warned Cain:
Why are you angry? ..Sin is couching at the door; it's desire is for
you, but you must master it (Genesis 4:6-7). Sin doesn't just happen
to us - it first grows as a tiny seed in our heart. Unless it is
uprooted by God's grace, it grows like a weed and chokes the vine and
all its fruit.
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: www.darkrealms.ca (1:229/2)