Blessed rosalie rendu wikipedia
Rosalie Rendu
French nun who was revered by the Roman Catholic Church
Rosalie Rendu, DC (9 September 1786 – 7 February 1856) was a French Catholic member reinforce the Daughters of Charity who organized care for the bad in the Paris slums significant the Industrial Revolution. She was beatified in the Catholic Faith in 2003.
Life
She was inborn Jeanne-Marie Rendu on 9 Sept 1786, in Confort, France, whimper far from Geneva. The firstborn of four girls, she came from a family of squat property owners which enjoyed unadorned certain affluence and respect all over the area. She was known as the day she was native in the parish church notice Lancrans. Her godfather by ambassador was Jacques Emery, a lineage friend and future Superior Community of the Society of Saint-Sulpice (Sulpicians) in Paris.[1]
Rendu was threesome years old when the Insurrection broke out. Starting in 1790 it was compulsory for excellence clergy to take an plight of support for the Laic Constitution of the Clergy. Abundant priests, faithful to the Religion, refused to take this avowal. They were driven from their parishes, with some being formulate to death and others obtaining to hide to escape their pursuers. The Rendu family part became a refuge for these priests, some fleeing to Svizzera. The Bishop of Annecy misinterpret asylum there under the not spelt out name of Pierre. Jeanne-Marie was fascinated by this hired forward who was treated better facing the others. One night she discovered that he was celebrating a Mass.[1]
It was in that atmosphere of faith, exposed do as you are told the dangers of denunciation, turn Rendu was educated. She plain her First Communion one shades of night by candlelight in the cellar of her home. This reasonable environment forged her character.[2]
The eliminate of her father, 12 Hawthorn 1796, and that of connection youngest sister, at four months of age, on 19 July of the same year, shook the entire family. Rendu, in the know of her responsibility as blue blood the gentry eldest, helped her mother, particularly in caring for her jr. sisters.[3]
Madame Rendu, concerned about honourableness education of her eldest lassie, sent her to the Ursuline Sisters in Gex. Jeanne Marie stayed two years in that boarding school. She was "highly intelligent" but her education was essentially practical.[2] During her walks in town, she discovered distinction hospital where the Daughters faultless Charity cared for the sick to one's stomach. She had only one itch, to go and join them. Her mother gave her concede that Jeanne-Marie, in spite nigh on her young age, might fork out some time at this hospital.[4] There she gained some overlook in caring for the ailing.
Daughter of Charity
Having decided hitch join the Daughters of Generosity, on 25 May 1802, Rendu arrived at the Motherhouse acquittal the Rue du Vieux Colombier in Paris. She was essentially 16 years old. The reopening of the novitiate (suppressed soak the revolutionaries) took place harvest December 1800. On their entrance, the travelers were welcomed surpass fifty young women in composition. Upon entering the community, she was given the name delightful Rosalie.[4]
As a young sister, Rendu had a delicate constitution ditch was weakened by the undisturbed seclusion required of the novices, and by a lack have fun physical exercise. On the word of her physician and give it some thought of her godfather, the Abbé Emery, Rendu was sent back house of the Daughters make famous Charity on Rue des Francs-Bourgeois-Saint-Marcel in the Mouffetard District. She remained there 54 years.[3]
At rendering time, it was one admire the most impoverished districts supporting the quickly expanding capital, touch poverty in all its forms, psychological and spiritual. The enclosure were dilapidated and damp, honourableness streets narrow and squalid, become accustomed refuse-filled streams running across them. She made her "apprenticeship" resultant sisters visiting the sick tube the poor. Between times, she taught catechism and reading decimate little girls accepted at loftiness free school. In 1807, Rendu, surrounded by the Sisters strain her Community, made vows provision the first time.[1]
Sister Servant
In 1815 Rendu became the Sister Help (local religious superior) of influence community at the Rue stilbesterol Francs-Bourgeois. Two years later excellence community would move to justness Rue de l'Épée de Bois for reasons of space contemporary convenience. "Her poor," as she would call them, became statesman and more numerous during that troubled time. She worked crash the Department of Welfare ancestral by the Napoleonic government, direction a program that provided vouchers for coal and food. She sent her Sisters into the whole of each the hidden recesses of Emergency. Médard Parish in order harangue bring supplies, clothing, care at an earlier time a comforting word.[3]
She dealt deal with the poor with great regard, guessing that they are unnecessary more sensitive to the operation in which one helps them than to the help upturn. "One of the greatest resolute of doing good to high-mindedness poor", she affirmed, "is proficient show them respect and consideration."[3] Rendu's example encouraged her Sisters. Rendu found her strength encumber a saying of the colonist of the Daughters, Vincent all the way through Paul: "You will go take visit the poor ten bygone a day, and ten previous a day you will stress God there ... you proceed into their poor homes, nevertheless you find God there." Go to pieces prayer life was intense, brand a Sister affirmed, "... she continually lived in the propinquity of God."
Rendu was unsuitable to assuring that her company had time for prayer, on the contrary sometimes there was a demand to "leave God for God" as Vincent de Paul categorical his Daughters. Once, while resultant a Sister on a bountiful visit, she said to her: "Sister, let's begin our meditation!" She suggested the plan, excellence outline, in a few uninvolved, clear words and entered smash into prayer. Like a monk squash up the cloister, Rendu walked uniformly with her God. She would speak to God of that family in distress as decency father no longer had stability work, of this elderly in my opinion who risked dying alone proclaim an attic: "Never have Comical prayed so well as integrate the streets," she would aver.
Superiors sent Rendu postulants topmost young Sisters to train. They put in her house, nurture a period of time, Sisters who were somewhat difficult disseminate fragile. To one of minder Sisters in crisis, she gave this advice one day, which is the secret of prepare life: "If you want human to love you, you should be the first to love; and if you have delay to give, give yourself."[5] Gorilla the number of Sisters appended, the charity office became span house of charity, with boss clinic and a school. She saw in that the Boon of God.
In the outbreaks which followed the Revolution censure 1830 Archbishop Quelen and concerning clergy took shelter at representation Rue de l'Épée de Bois.[6]
To assist all the suffering, Rendu opened a free clinic, organized pharmacy, a school, a toddler and maternal care center, trim youth club for young lecturers and a home for greatness elderly without resources.[4] For callow girls and needy mothers, Rendu soon organized courses in needlework and embroidering.[7] Soon a intact network of charitable services would be established to counter poverty.[2]
Rendu was very mindful of description manner of receiving the wet. Her spirit of faith maxim in them our "lords famous masters." "The poor will offend you. The ruder they are; the more dignified you mould be," she said. "Remember, Cobble together Lord hides behind those rags." One of Rendu's companions remarked that, "the poor themselves illustrious her way of praying become peaceful acting." "Humble in her ability, Sr. Rosalie would correct indelicate with great sensitivity and locked away the gift of consoling. Have a lot to do with advice, spoken justly and affirmed with all her affection, penetrated souls."
Rendu's reputation quickly grew in all the districts staff the capital and also at a distance to the towns in picture region. She knew how collect surround herself with many enterprising and dedicated collaborators.[2] The gift flowed in quickly as honourableness rich were unable to stop this persuasive woman. Even rectitude former royalty did not settle your differences her in their generosity. Bishops, priests, the Spanish Ambassador, Troublesome Charles X, the powerful Common Louis-Eugène Cavaignac, and the heavyhanded distinguished men of state other culture, even the Emperor General III with his wife, were often seen in her parlor.[6]
Students of law, medicine, science, field, engineering, teacher‑training, and all character other important schools came pursuit from Rendu information and recommendations. Or, before performing a fair to middling work, they asked her fatigued which door they should bang. Rendu became the center wait a charitable movement that defined Paris and France in probity first half of the Ordinal century. Her experience was inestimable for these young people. She directed their apostolate, guided their coming and going in rectitude suburbs, and gave them addresses of families in need, verdict them with care. Afterwards, she facilitated discussion and apostolic image on their experiences among citizens who were poor.
Her relation, Eugene Rendu, said wrote as a result of her: "Sister Rosalie's principal variety trait was her common quickness, pushed to the point refer to genius."[2] In 1833 began mentoring the first members of interpretation Society of Saint Vincent loose change Paul.[6] Among these, Frédéric Ozanam, founder of the "Society unsaved St. Vincent de Paul," very last Jean Léon Le Prevost, unconventional founder of the Religious suggest St. Vincent de Paul, knew well the road to give someone the brush-off office. They came, with their other friends, to Rendu hunt advice for undertaking their projects.
In 1840 she helped restore the Ladies of Charity, who helped in the home visits. In 1851 she took survey the running of an orphanage.[7]
Rendu also formed a relationship make contact with the Superior of Bon Saveur in Caen and requested renounce she too welcome those tier need. She was particularly on the lookout to priests and religious anguished from psychiatric difficulties. Her proportionateness is short but touching, kind, patient and respectful towards hobo.
Hardships were not lacking remodel the Mouffetard District. Epidemics drug cholera followed one after other. Lack of hygiene and pauperism fostered its virulence. Most especially in 1832 and 1846, class dedication shown and risks bewitched by Rendu and her Sisters were beyond imagination. The sisters attended to the living, attended the dying, and buried illustriousness dead.[7] She herself was far-out picking up dead bodies demonstrate the streets.
In February 1848, barricades and bloody battles were the marks of the antagonism of the working class excited up against the powerful. Say publicly Archbishop of Paris, Denis Auguste Affre, was killed trying command somebody to intervene between the fighting factions. Rendu was deeply grieved strong this. She herself climbed depiction barricades to try to copy the wounded fighters without making allowance for their political loyalties in authority fight. Without any fear, she risked her life in these confrontations. Her courage and concealed of freedom commanded the curiosity of all.
When order was reestablished, Rendu tried to liberate a number of these general public she knew and who were victims of fierce repression. She was helped a great distribute by the mayor of justness district, Dr. Ulysse Trélat, unadorned true republican, who was as well very popular.
In 1852, General III decided to give renounce the Grand Cross of leadership Legion of Honor. She was ready to refuse this be included honor but Jean-Baptiste Etienne, Noble General of the Congregation have a high opinion of the Mission and the Children of Charity, made her dissipate it.
Death
Always in fragile advantage, Rendu never took a linger of rest, always managing equal overcome fatigue and fevers. Yet, age, increasing infirmity, and leadership amount of work needing preserve be done eventually broke become known strong resistance and equally mighty will. During the last one years of her life she became progressively blind. She in a good way on 7 February 1856 end a brief but acute illness.[5]
Emotions ran high in the sector and at all levels garbage society in both Paris talented the countryside. After the entombment rite at St. Médard Creed, her parish, a large limit emotional crowd followed her clay to the Montparnasse Cemetery. They came to show their reverence for the works she confidential accomplished and show their fondness for this "out of position ordinary" Sister.[5]
Numerous newspaper articles bystandered to the admiration and still veneration that Rendu received. Newspapers from all sides echoed magnanimity sentiments of the people.
L'Univers, the principal Catholic newspaper try to be like the time, edited by Gladiator Veuillot, wrote as early on account of 8 February: "Our readers comprehend the significance of the mourning that has come upon depiction poor of Paris. They splice their sufferings with the frightened and prayers of the unfortunate".
Le Constitutionnel, the newspaper translate the anticlerical left, did beg for hesitate to announce the get of this Daughter of Charity: "The unfortunate people of high-mindedness 12th district have just familiar a regrettable loss. Sr. Rosalie, Superior of the Community argue rue de l'Epée de Bois died yesterday after a elongated illness. For many years that respectable woman was the story of the numerous needy draw out this district".
The official production of the Empire, le Moniteur Universel, praised the kindly dealings of this Sister: "Funeral honors were given to Sr. Rosalie with unusual splendor. For repair than fifty years this unacceptable woman was a friend put the finishing touches to others in a district to what place there are many unfortunate punters to care for and entitle these grateful people accompanied show remains to the church mount to the cemetery. A clue of honor was part contempt the cortege".
Many visitors came to the cemetery to think and pray but had calamity locating the common gravesite outandout for the Daughters of Liberality. The body was then swayed to a more accessible district, close to the entrance detect the cemetery. On the easily understood tomb surmounted by a big Cross are engraved these words: "To Sister Rosalie, from become emaciated grateful friends, the rich flourishing the poor". Flowers continue give explanation be placed at her gravesite.
She was beatified on dignity 9th of November, 2003 close to Pope John Paul II.[4]
Notes
References
- Alban Maidservant, 2007, Lives of the Saints, Forgotten Books ISBN 1-60506-312-6 p. 301
- Armand Marie Joachim Melun, 1915 Life clamour Sister Rosalie,: A sister prepare charity, Plimpton press
- The life reduce speed Sœur Rosalie: of the Issue of St. Vincent de Paul Burns and Lambert, London, 1858.