"Woman Who Prays Always": The Eventful Life of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
- innerweavings
- Nov 19, 2019
- 4 min read
“Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”
Daniel 9:17-19
Today Innerweavings celebrates Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne. Born in Grenoble, France, on August 29th, 1769, to a large family, she was given religious education at a young age. She was brought up in a family that demonstrated religious convictions very strongly. Philippine felt the call to a religious life at a young age coupled with a desire to serve the poor.
At an age when many young women are marrying Philippine, against the wishes of her Father, entered the Visitation convent. She was eighteen at the time of her vocation.
She wished to serve the poor and serve God, but the French Revolution interfered with her plans. During this bloody time all religious houses were closed. The French Revolution was a Godless time and Philippine attempted to live by the dictates of her religious order, devoting her time and care to families suffering during the Reign of Terror. Her care extended to those poor souls imprisoned at the convent. It was her desire to reopen the convent one day when she would be allowed to do so, and she felt led to purchase the building to achieve this goal. Several young women joined her, but, sadly, did not last, as they were unable to sustain hope amidst the horrors of their daily lives. God was not done with Philippine and her quest to reestablish religious order would not go unrewarded.
In 1894 she met Madeleine Sophie Barat. Mother Barat had founded the Society of the Sacred heart in 1800. Mother Barat wanted to establish a new Sacred heart society in Grenoble. Rose Philippine Duchesne was thrilled at the idea of establishing the new society and she gladly entered the Society of the Sacred Heart. She became instant friends with Mother Barat, a relationship that would last throughout their lives as well as one that would change lives for Christ throughout the world.
Philippine desired to serve God in America and was particularly interested in bringing God to the native Americans. In March of 1818 she did just that, embarking on a ship that sailed to New Orleans. She travelled with four other members of her order. The small group arrived in New Orleans in time to celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Not content to stay in New Orleans she, along with the members of her group, sailed to Saint Charles, Missouri. It was here in St Charles that Bishop DuBourg had found a small home for the group.
It was also here where she opened the first Sacred Heart school outside of Europe. Additionally, It was the first free school west of the Mississippi.
She found running the school was a terrific challenge and an outright struggle at times. They were always on a shoestring budget and the school building was in need of many updates. In less than a year these struggles led to the relocation of the school to the town of Florrisant, Missouri. The new location was a success attracting students as well as those called to the religious vocation. In 1827, Philippine founded a school in Saint Louis known as the City House school. The school was not only a free school but also an orphanage.
Philippine had always felt led to serve the native people and her dream would come to fruition when she established, along with three others, a religious school for Potawatomi girls in Sugar Creek, Kansas. Philippine was already in her seventies when the school was founded. Although unable to do any real physical work she instead spent all of her time in prayer. She was given the name “woman who prays always” by the native girls at the school. At the time of her death she had been in America thirty four years.
This brave nun had been many things across the span of her lifetime including a pioneer and teacher. She possessed a zeal for spreading the word of Christ throughout the world but carried herself with humility and great strength. Even in the midst of the madness, chaos and death of the French Revolution she never took her eyes from God. Instead, she possessed faith and above all courage and when God called her to spread his word she humbly accepted. She founded schools and orphanages all the while focusing on God. At Innerweavings we invite you to join her and become a “woman who prays always.” If you do, you will be surprised at what God can achieve through you!
For more information on Rose Philippine Duchesne please visit:
You can visit shrine at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles, Misssouri.
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