Endurance Petal Meeting

The Little Flowers went on pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Rose Philippine Duchesne in St Charles as she happened to be the featured Saint for our petal meeting. We learned all about how she endured many hardships, but never wavered in fulfilling what God willed for her life. We touched her prayer card to the floor boards she once walked upon and saw the room where she died. We prayed for her intercession at her tomb. The girls learned about the image of Mater Admirabilis, a favorite of those devoted to the Sacred Heart. Then we attended Mass at St Charles Borromeo where they were celebrating his feast day. Next we gathered around the round house where Rose was initially laid to rest and delved into what it means to be a missionary like St Philippine Duchesne, St Francis Xavier, and even our own St Therese. Finally, we walked to St Peter Church to enjoy a delicious sausage lunch. 

Wreath 4: Lesson 3

Virtue: Endurance Saint: Rose Phillppine Duchesne Flower: Hawthorn Country: France

Verse: “Because you have kept my message of endurance, I will keep you safe in the time of trial. (Rev 3:10)

Rose (1769-1852) born in France and became a Visitation Sister. She always wanted to be a missionary and especially serve Native Americans. Finally at age 49, her superior, Mother Sophie Barat sent her to the St. Louis area (First in St Charles and then in Florissant) where she set up schools and oversaw the spreading of the Society of the Sacred Heart throughout the United States.  Eventually she became a missionary to Native Americans in Kansas and became known as “The Woman Who Prays Always.” She died at age 83 on Nov 18 and is entombed at the shrine in St Charles. 

 The virtue of Endurance was seen in St Rose in the ways she persevered through smallpox, her family’s opposition to her joining the religious life, the French Revolution, difficult travels, and survival in the rugged frontier. She is the patron of perseverance amid adversity. 

The Hawthorn is the state flower of Missouri. It is a durable and beautiful shrub of the rose family that is thorny. It is thought it may have been used to make Jesus’ crown of thorns. It produces white flowers in the spring and red berries in the fall. It is often used in devotion to Mary. 

Because of missions and early explorers and settlers, we can find a lot of French influence in Missouri. We still have French architecture, food, language, dress, and products today. France is often known for baguettes, croissants, Monet (Impressionism), perfume, Debussy, Notre Dame, couture, coffee, macarons, Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower, wine and cheese, champagne, escargot, and the Renaissance.    

Missions Badge St Francis Xavier and St Thérèse

St Francis Xavier, a Jesuit of Spain is considered the greatest Catholic missionary. He traveled all over the world teaching the Gospel. HIs feast day is December 3.

St Therese, a Carmelite of France, lived much of her short life in a cloistered convent, yet is a patron of missions. She never went on a mission, but her prayers and letters were pivotal in the success of missionary work. Her feast day is October 1. 

We are blessed to have another local St Rose Philippine site nearby in Florisant at the Shrine of St Ferdinand. They have recovered from flooding and will be rededicating the altar at a Mass in honor of the feast day of St Rose on November 18th at 9 am. There will be another Mass at 7pm. More info found here: https://www.oldstferdinandshrine.org/news-events