SAINT OF THE DAY -- April 8 - Saint Julie Billiart
April 8
St. Julie BilliartPatron Saint of Overcoming Poverty and Sickness(1751 - 1816)
"I ought to die of shame to think I have not already died of gratitude to my good God."
- Saint Julie Billiart
Born in Cuvilly, France, into a family of well-to-do farmers, young
Marie Rose Julia Billiart showed an early interest in religion and in
helping the sick and poor. Though the first years of her life were
relatively peaceful and uncomplicated, Julie had to take up manual work
as a young teen when her family lost its money. However, she spent her
spare time teaching catechism to young people and to the farm laborers.
A
mysterious illness overtook her when she was about 30. Witnessing an
attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed and
became a complete invalid. For the next two decades she continued to
teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice and
attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness.
When the French
Revolution broke out in 1789, revolutionary forces became aware of her
allegiance to fugitive priests. With the help of friends she was
smuggled out of Cuvilly in a haycart; she spent several years hiding in
Compiegne, being moved from house to house despite her growing physical
pain. She even lost the power of speech for a time.
But this
period also proved to be a fruitful spiritual time for Julie. It was at
this time she had a vision in which she saw Calvary surrounded by women
in religious habits and heard a voice saying, "Behold these spiritual
daughters whom I give you in an Institute marked by the cross." As time
passed and Julie continued her mobile life, she made the acquaintance
of an aristocratic woman, Francoise Blin de Bourdon, who shared Julie's
interest in teaching the faith. In 1803 the two women began the
Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the
poor as well as young Christian girls and the training of catechists.
The following year the first Sisters of Notre Dame made their vows.
That was the same year that Julie recovered from the illness: She was
able to walk for the first time in 22 years.
Though Julie had
always been attentive to the special needs of the poor and that always
remained her priority, she also became aware that other classes in
society needed Christian instruction. From the founding of the Sisters
of Notre Dame until her death, Julie was on the road, opening a variety
of schools in France and Belgium that served the poor and the wealthy,
vocational groups, teachers. Ultimately, Julie and Francoise moved the
motherhouse to Namur, Belgium.
Julie died there in 1816. She was canonized in 1969.
Comment:
Julie's
immobility in no way impeded her activities. In spite of her suffering,
she managed to co-found a teaching order that tended to the needs of
both the poor and the well-to-do. Each of us has limitations, but the
worst malady any of us can suffer is the spiritual paralysis that keeps
us from doing God’s work on earth.
Novena Prayer:
Saint Julie,
through your great devotion
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
you were miraculously cured
and favored by many graces.
By your powerful intercession
obtain for us, above all,
great trust in God
in all the difficulties of life,
the strength to accomplish
the Will of God in all things and
the special grace we now
ardently ask of you . . .
Amen.
(Then say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.)
Source: American Catholic Organization
Many great miracles have been associated with
the Rosary throughout history. The tremendous power of the Rosary can
overcome any problem, be it small or large, personal or worldwide.
Miracles continue to the present day.
The Rosary is a powerful prayer!
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?