November 28th - St. Catherine Laboure,
Born at Fain-les-Moûtiers (near Dijon), Côte d'Or, France, May 2, 1806;
died
in Paris, December 31, 1876; beatified in 1933; canonized 1947; feast day
formerly December 31. Though Saint Catherine was called a "silly old
thing"
by the Republic, and as "matter of fact, unexcitable, insignificant, cold,
and apathetic" by her superiors, you should know her story if you are one
of
the millions of Catholics now wearing a Miraculous Medal.
She was baptized Zoë Labouré, daughter of a yeoman farmer in the Côte
d'Or.
Without complaint she took over the running of the household at age 8,
after
the death of her mother and the departure of her elder sister, Louisa, to
join the Sisters of Charity. After a few years, she worked as a waitress
in
her uncle's café in Paris. For this reason she was the only one in the
family who never learned to read or write.
From the age of 14, she felt called to the religious life, to follow her
elder sister. Overcoming opposition from her father, she was finally
allowed
to join the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul at
Châtillon-sur-Seine in 1830 (age 24), taking the name of Catherine. She
was
a model sister, practical, and unemotional by temperament.
After her postulancy, she went to a convent in the rue du Bac, Paris. She
arrived several days before the translation of relics of Saint Vincent
from
Notre Dame to the Lazarist Church in rue de Sèvres.
Almost immediately she began experiencing the series of her famous visions
of the Blessed Mother. In one of them the Blessed Virgin told Catherine
that
within her lifetime the archbishop of Paris would be brutally put to
death.
(This indeed happened in 1871 with the death of Msgr. Darboy.)
The first of three major visions took place three months later. She was
awakened about 11:30 p.m. on July 18 by a "****ning child," who led her to
the chapel. Our Lady appeared and talked with her for hours, telling her
that she would have to undertake a difficult task.
On November 27, Mary appeared in the same chapel in the form of a picture,
standing on a globe, with shafts of light streaming from her hands,
surrounded by the words "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who
have
recourse to thee!" The picture turned around, and on the reverse side
appeared a capital M with a cross above it and two hearts, one
thorn-crowned
and one pierced with a sword, beneath. Catherine heard a voice asking her
to
have a medal struck, promising that all who wore the medal would receive
great graces. This or similar visions were repeated several times up to
September 1831. From that time until her death, Catherine led a life that
was outwardly uneventful tending the sick.
Catherine confided in her confessor, Father Aladel, and he, convinced of
her
sincerity, persuaded Archbishop de Quélen of Paris to give permission for
a
medal to be struck. In June 1832, the first 1,500 of the millions of
medals
to be made-now known to Catholics as the 'Miraculous Medal'-were struck.
The popularity of the medal grew, especially after the conversion of
Alphonse Ratisbonne in 1842. Alphonse was an Alsatian Jew who, having been
persuaded to wear the medal received a vision of Our Lady in the church of
Sant'Andrea delle Frate at Rome, became a priest, and founded the
religious
congregation known as the Fathers and Sisters of Zion.
In 1836, the archbishop initiated a canonical inquiry into the alleged
visions. Catherine refused to appear, wi****ng her identity to be kept a
secret. Fr. Aladel pleaded to be allowed to keep her name anonymous. The
tribunal, basing its opinion on the stability of her confessor and
Catherine's character, decided to favor the authenticity of the visions.
After her year of extraordinary grace, Catherine was sent to the convent
Enghien-Reuilly on the outskirts of Paris. There Catherine served as
****tress until her death, engaging in menial tasks such as looking after
the
poultry and overseeing the aged living in the Hospice d'Enghien. Not until
a
few months before her death did she speak to anyone about the visions
except
her confessor; she confided in her superior, Sister Dufé.
Saint Catherine Labouré was not canonized because of the favor God showed
her through this apparition. Her sanctity was revealed through her
self-effacement and humility, through her seeking holiness in the little
things of everyday life. Her incorrupt body remains in the convent chapel
at
the rue du Bac, where miracles were re****ted at her tomb (Attwater,
Attwater
2, Benedictines, Bentley, Coulson, Delaney, Engelbert, Farmer, Walsh,
White,
Yves).
Saint Quote:
He who loveth God with all his heart feareth not death, nor punishment,
nor
judgment, nor hell, because perfect love giveth sure access to God. But he
who still delighteth in sin, no marvel if he is afraid of death and
judgment.
-Thomas à Kempis
Bible Quote:
Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for... he will receive the
crown
of life which God has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12
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Daily Thoughts and Prayers for Our Beloved Dead
The Souls in Purgatory appreciate the things of God more fully than
we.
Enlightened by divine love, they understand the respect and obedience
which
God merited from them, and the ingratitude and baseness of their sins.
SEVENTH DAY
Pray: One Our Father, Three Hail Mary's, one Gloria and De Profundis
(Psalm
129)
De Profundis
Out of the depths, I have cried to Thee,
O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive to the
voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark my iniquities,
O Lord, who shall stand it?
For with Thee there is merciful
forgiveness: and by reason of Thy
law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word; my soul
hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until
night; let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy;
And with Him plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from
all its iniquities.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light ****ne upon them:
May they rest in peace. Amen.
O Lord Jesus Christ, Whose adorable Heart sighs for the love and
happiness of Thy banished children, we beseech Thee to remember the souls
of
Thy servants for whom we pray: Command them, we beg of Thee, to be
received
by Thy holy Angels and with them eternal happiness and glory in Heaven.
Amen.
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