Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Sunday 15 October at 10am the Holy Father Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass in St Peter’s Square during which he will give the Church four new Saints: Mexican Bishop Rafael Guízar Valencia (1878-1938), (see Fides 10/10/2006); Italian Father Filippo Smaldone (1848-1923), founder of the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Hearts; Italian Rosa Venerini (1656-1728), foundress of the Congregation of Maestre Pie Venerini; French born Mother Théodore Guérin (Anne-Thérèse) (1798-1856), foundress of the Saint Mary of the Woods Congregation of the Sisters of Providence in the United States.
Rosa Venerini was born in Viterbo on 9 February 1656. As a young girl she sought for a long time her path to serve God and neighbour, with a brief experience of cloistered life. After the death of her parents and brother Rose, then 24 years old, began inviting women and girls to her house to pray the Rosary together. She came to realise that they lived in dire economic, cultural, and moral poverty. After lengthy reflection, under the direction of Jesuit fathers on 30 August 1685 Rosa opened a first School of the Maestre Pie Venerini: the first girls’ school in Italy, with the purpose of promoting the spiritual elevation and emancipation of women. In later years Rosa opened more schools in various parts of Italy at the request of the Bishops. In 1713 she opened a School in Rome which was visited by Pope Papa Clement XI who encouraged her apostolic work. Rosa Venerini died in Roma on 7 May 1728. Today the Maestre Pie Venerini continue their mission in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Among the Maestre trained by Rosa Venerini there was one particularly gift woman, Lucia Filippini, already among the Saints of the Church.
Theodore Guerin, (Anne-Therese), was born in Etables, France on 2 October 1798. At the young age of ten she desired to consecrate herself to God, but only at the age of 25 after a series of family difficulties, she entered the Novitiate of the Sisters of Providence in Ruillé-sur-Loire. On 8 September 1825 she made her temporal vows and took the name of St Theodore, in 1831 she made her perpetual vows. While teaching and caring for the sick in France, Mother Theodore, then known as Sister St. Theodore, was asked to lead a small missionary band of Sisters of Providence to the United States of America, to establish a motherhouse, to open schools and to share the love of God with pioneers in the Diocese of Vincennes in the State of Indiana. The area was isolated and extremely poor and even relations with the Bishop were difficult. In 1843 Sr Théodore returned to France to discuss what should be done. The general Council decided to separate the American Mission from the rest of the Order in France and in Sr Théodore became Superior general and foundress of the new Congregation of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods. Misunderstanding with the Bishop continued and eventually she was dismissed as Superior and dispensed from her vows. Successive Bishops of the diocese were more appreciative of Sr Theodore and her mission and she resumed her apostolate opening schools all over Indiana. When she died on 14 May 1856, she left a large active and respected congregation. Mother Théodore’s love was one of her great hallmarks. She loved God, God’s people, the Sisters of Providence, the Roman Catholic Church and the people she served. She did not exclude anyone from her ministries or her prayers, for she dedicated her life to helping people know God and live better lives. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2006; righe 41, parole 610)
