St. Rose Philippine Duchesne B
"The Woman Who Always Prays"
orn on Aug. 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France, to a prominent lawyer, the On Nov. 18, we celebrate the feast day young Philippine was educated by tutors of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne. During and her own mother, as well as by the her long life of service, she confronted Visitation nuns in Grenoble. By 1788, many hardships, and played an the 19-year-old Philippine had become important role in bringing the Catholic completely devoted to the Catholic faith to the new American frontier. Her faith, and she joined the Convent of the Visitation — by some accounts, against endless devotion to prayer and lifelong her family's wishes. desire to help those in need provides us However, by 1792, the convent was with a beautiful example of stewardship closed due to the Reign of Terror during and faith in the face of great adversity. the French Revolution — an era that witnessed the outlawing of all religious her companions in the Society at a reservation of organizations in France. While no longer a member of a convent, Philippine remained fully the Potawatomi nation, in Sugar Creek, Kan. A active in providing service and ministering to those major influence on this decision was Philippine's in need — even selflessly putting herself at great risk disgust with the treatment of the native people by helping to hide priests from the Revolutionaries. by the American government. She felt that by By the time the Reign of Terror ended and the serving the reservation, she could concentrate on Concordat between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII was ministry and prayer in a setting far removed from signed in 1801, Philippine attempted to restart the European influence. Unfortunately, Philippine's health had already convent, but without success. However, in 1804, she learned of the Society of the Sacred Heart of begun to fail, and at Sugar Creek, she could do Jesus, and with several of her companions, became little more than continually pray in the reservation a novice in the Society. By 1815, Philippine was chapel. Nevertheless, her strong faith and spirit elected secretary-general of the Society but had profoundly moved the Potawatomi people, and they already expressed a strong desire to minister outside affectionately referred to her as Kwahkahkanumad, or "the woman who always prays." of France and Europe. As her health continued to deteriorate, Such an opportunity was presented just three years later, as Bishop William Dubourg requested Philippine was soon recalled from Sugar Creek. She missionaries at his large diocese in Louisiana. would spend the final 10 years of her life quietly Philippine, along with a group of four companions, working to spread the Catholic faith throughout sailed to New Orleans in May 1818. By that September, North America. Philippine died on Nov. 18, 1852. Philippine and her companions had opened the first Her companion, Anna du Rousier, was by her side at her death. Anna would carry the mission free school for girls located west of the Mississippi. While Philippine found great difficulty adjusting of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus into to an unfamiliar culture in what was still largely South America, assuring that Philippine's faithful uncharted North American territory, she nevertheless devotion to ministry and prayer would continue to continued to oversee several struggling convents. inspire and influence long after her passing. In recognition of Philippine's contributions to the And despite her uneasiness with the language and culture, Philippine worked to maintain a unified Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as to spirit within the Society as it spread throughout the the spread of the Catholic faith in North America, she was beatified on May 12, 1940. And on July 3, new American territory. By the early 1840s, Philippine decided to join 1988, St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was canonized. 6
