- Matthew 24:36-42 -
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven,
nor
the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be
at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people
were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day
Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until
the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the
coming
of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the
other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken
and the other left."
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord
will come."
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Christ's second coming will be swift and sudden. There will be no
op****tunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining. The choice we have
already made will determine our eternal destiny.
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April 8th - St. Julie Billiart
Marie Rose Julie Billiart was born July 12, 1751 at Cuvilly, Picardy,
France. Her moderately well to do father was a peasant farmer and
shopkeeper. The attempted murder of her father while she was sitting next
to
him produced a mysterious and very painful illness, which made her an
invalid for many years. The failure of her father's business and the
political and economic crises of France caused great suffering to her and
her family.
Despite all these tragedies, Julie, as family and friends knew her, grew
in
prayerfulness and peacefulness of heart. In 1791, Julie's influence
encouraged the people of the town to boycott the constitutional priest who
had replaced the curé of Cuvilly. Because she was known to help fugitive
priests find hiding places, Julie was taken to Compiègne where she
continued
to be a fugitive herself.
During the first cessation of the Reign of Terror, Julie was rescued and
taken to Amiens where she first met Françoise Blin de Bourdon, who would
become her life long friend and assistant. When the Reign of Terror
resumed
she and her friend fled to Bettencourt for safety and it was here that
they
met Father Varin d'Ainville.
He recognized Julie's great abilities and encouraged her and it was under
the direction of Father Varin that the foundations of the Institute of
Notre
Dame developed at Amiens.. Its focus was the care of poor children and the
Christian education of girls of all cl*****. Its Rule departed from that
of
women's communities of the time, by aboli****ng the distinction between lay
sisters and choir sisters.
In 1804, at the close of a mission retreat with the Fathers of the Faith,
Julie was healed of her 22-year infirmity. Now able to be fully active,
she
put forth great effort to consolidate and expand the new Institute. She
also
helped the Fathers of the Faith with their missions, until the secular
government obstructed this work.
The educational work of the sisters expanded rapidly and convents were
founded in Namur, Ghent and Tournai. In 1809 the motherhouse was moved to
Namur because of unfortunate judgements by Father Varin's replacement, a
young inexperienced priest. The difficulties were resolved, but Julie
chose
to keep the motherhouse at Namur. In all, Julie founded seven houses and
two
other congregations in Amersfoort, Netherlands and Coësfield Germany,
which
consider her their founder. Today the Sisters of Notre Dame have houses on
nearly every continent.
Julie died at the age of sixty-four on April 8, 1816, and was canonized in
1969. Her early life was one of tragedies which could have caused her to
become embittered and cynical, but her faith gave her the courage and
inner
peace to rise above calamity and physical suffering and enabled her to
give
hope, love and concern for those in need. Having lived through the terrors
of prejudice, hatred, injustice and inhumanity she learned compassion and
instead of fighting back with anger and hatred she chose to heal with
education and love.
Patronage: against poverty, bodily ills, impoverishment, poverty, sick
people, sickness
Saint Quote
"O ye souls who wish to go on with so much safety and consolation, if you
knew how pleasing to God is suffering, and how much it helps in acquiring
other good things, you would never seek consolation in anything; but you
would rather look upon it as a great happiness to bear the Cross after the
Lord"
-St. John of the Cross
Blessed William the Abbot saw, one night in a dream, some angels who were
weaving a crown of marvelous richness and beauty; and when he asked them
for
whom they were making it, they said that it was for him, and would be
finished when he had suffered enough.
(Taken from the book "A Year with the Saints". April - Patience)
Bible Quote
47 Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath
loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. (Luke 7:47)
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An Office of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ
At that time, Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted
a
crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on him a purple
robe,
and said, "Hail, King of the Jews." And they smote Him with their hands.
And
they spat upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head.
And the soldiers took Jesus, and He, bearing His Cross, went forth into a
place called the place of the skull, where they crucified Him, and two
others with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
After this, Jesus, knowing all things which should come to pass, said, "I
thirst." And they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop,
and
put it to His mouth.
And when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink, but said, "It is
finished." And He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.
And immediately the earth did quake, and the sun was darkened. And the
veil
of the Temple was rent, and the rocks rent, and the graves were opened,
and
those who slept arose. Which things, when the centurion saw, he said,
"Truly, this was the Son of God."
At length one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith
came thereout blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and we know
that his record is true.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, who for us sinners didst place Thy hands and Thy feet
and
Thy whole body upon the wood of the Cross; and didst bear the crown of
thorns, set upon Thy head by the soldiers in dishonor of Thy most holy
body;
and hanging upon the Cross didst suffer five wounds for the sake of us
sinners, and hast redeemed us by Thy sacred Blood, grant us we beseech
Thee,
O Lord, this day, and every day, the practice of penitence, abstinence,
patience, humility, and chastity, and light, sense, understanding, and
knowledge of the truth, even unto the end. Through Thee, Jesus Christ,
Saviour of the world, King of glory, who, together with the Father and the
Holy Spirit, livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.
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