Sister Saint-Pierre and the work of reparation : a brief ...

1 && I22ra, *$ ?TrueImageoftheHolyFaceofour<jLordJesusChrist,ReligiouslyveneratedJ\andkeptinRome,intheBasilicaofSaint>Peter, "JANVIER,. > , ,LLD,PublishedfortheBenefitoftheDiscalce dCar-melitesofNewOrleans, :THECATHOLICPUBLICATIONSOCIETYCO.,. :BURNS&OATES, :JOHNCARDINALMcCLOSKEY,ArchbishopofNewYo rk.,April12, :4 CAROLUS,Archiep*Turon,16 Aprilis, , ]May8, ,1884,byDiscalcedCarmeliteNunsofNewOrlea ns, \ ,.9 Author'sPreface, ,' 19" , .. ,.. ,.. ,61"YLTheArchconfraternityoftheReparatio n,.. , HerHeath,.. ,..103 Conditionsfor"beingReceivedintotheConfra ternityoftheReparationoftheHolyFace,109 APPENDIX. CONTAININGRULES, ,Il5 RulesoftheConfraternityoftheHolyFace,..1 17 PromisesofOurLordJesusChristinfavorofall whoHonorhisHolyFace,..<..12$Devotiontoth eHolyFaceofOurLord,.. AGEP iousReflectionsupontheHolyFace,134 LittleScapularoftheHolyFace,142 LittleChapletoftheHolyFace,143 AnActofResignationfortheSick,145 ACollectionofPrayersandExercises.

2 146 LitanyoftheHolyFace,162 ActofReparationforBlasphemyandIrreverenc e,..167 AnOfferingoftheInfiniteMeritsofOurLordJe susChrist,169 AHundredOfferingsofourLordJesusChristtoH isEternalFather,172 TheSacredHumanityofJesus,185 AnOfferingtotheEternalFather,189 ALittleExerciseinHonoroftheFiveWounds,.. 194 APrayerfortheChurch,196 DevotionsinHonoroftheHolyInfantJesus,..1 98 GospeloftheHolyNameofJesus,202 PrayersinHonoroftheMaternityoftheBlessed VirginMary,205 SisterSaint- pierre 'sPrayertotheQueenofCa rmel,..209 OurLadyofLaSalette,.210 FortyDays'PrayerfortheNeedsoftheChurchan dState,. ,..214 CanticlesinHonoroftheHolyFace,..215 ARhythm,222-225 DevoutAddresstotheSacredFace, ,andremarkablemanifesta-tionsofthedivine favor,hasbeenal-readygiventothepublicbyt hein-strumentalityoftheCarmeliteNunsofNe wOrleans.*ThisLife,collatedandcompletedb ymeansofherlettersandtheannalsofhermonas tery, ,Dean*LifeofSisterSaint- pierre , :JohnMurphy& , ;andtheEnglishtranslationisapprovedbythe Arch-bishopsofBaltimoreandNewOrleans, ,asheexplainsinhispreface,anattempttogiv etheprincipalfactsinthelifeofthesaintlyC armelite, "herLifeiscalculatedtopromotepietyandedi fica-tionnotonlyincloisteredinstitutions ,butalsointheranksofthesecularlife.

3 "TheArchbishopofNewOrleanswarm-lyapprove sandrecommendsit, "thatliewillbegladtoseeitrapidlydiffused amoDgthefaithful,whowillfinditatreasureo fedificationandinstructioncalculatedtoin spirethemwithdevotiontotheHolyFace."Theq uestionofthevirtuesofSisterSaint-Pierreh asnotbeenraisedatRome, ,withtheapprobationoftheSu-premePontiff, theConfraternityoftheHolyFacehasbeenesta blished, , ,andatToursin1876, , ,1884,recognizestheconfraternityatToursa slegitimatelyestablished,and,"inordertha titmaydailyincrease,opensthetreasuresoft heChurchtoitsmemberswhoshallperformthede vo-tionsrecommendedbytherule." ,bothplenaryandpartial, ,1848, ,wThichnowwerecommendtothedevoutloversof JesusChrist,willfully,thoughbriefly, ,whichre-presentstousnotonlyallthesorrow swhichHeenduredforoursalvation,butalsoal lthesweetnessofHisSacredHeart, ,fromtheloveoftheworld, ,withtrueloyalty, , , ,andthatitisespeciallysuitabletothe14 Preface, , ,ofHisin-finitemercy,deigntoshowusthelig htofHiscountenance,andtolookwithloveandb lessinguponourfeebleeffortstoextendHisre ignintheheartsofmen!

4 ,April12, 'spreface.[ ,writtenbyherself, , "TheLord,"saysshe," !ifitwereextendedtoallthedioceses,allthe cities,Iwouldbewithoutuneasiness, ,andIstillrepeatit: !"Apiousandeloquentlaymanrecentlysaid:" ]3eaking, ! asindividuals,granted;butasanation?Hasno tFrancedrivenhimfromhergovernment,herlaw s,hermorals?OnGod!wheneverywherehisNamei sblasphemed?OnGod!whenhisdayisprofanedan dhisChurchat-tacked?Allthatishappeningto us,Author' ,thisaccomplished,salvationbecomespossib le;'forifGodisforuswhoshallbeagainstusf' Now,thesuremeansofsofteninghisanger,andc onsequentlythegreatmeansofsalvation theonewhichGodhimself,beforereducingusto extremi-ties,hasdeignedtorecommend isRepa-ration."*OyouwholovetheChurchandF rance,read,andfromtheteachingsofthepious CarmeliteofTourslearninwhatconsiststhisR eparation,and,inactinguponit, ,May3,1882.*AllocutionofGeneralFoloppe,N ovember12, ,stronginfaithandgreatinheroicvirtues, , ,PrinceoftheApostles, ,PierreElnere, , ,everyeven-ingvisitedtheBlessedSacrament , , ,thankstotheguidanceofherpiousparents, , ,findingheronedayintears,askedherthecaus eofthem.

5 "Iweepformysins," ,miser-ablydressed, ,andpausedatthecornerofthestreet, ,shetookhisarm,and,givinghimherhand, ,saying:"MyGod?Ioffertheethisinexpiation formysins."Shehadsuchadreadofevilthat,ha v-ingattheageofeightyearsanuneasi-nessre spectingalittlestory-bookthathadbeenloan edtoher, ,withoutbeingbad,itwasafrivolousbook, ;confusedandcontrite,shewouldsay:"OmySav iour!didstthouseeeventhen,dur-ingyourPas sion,thatIwouldonedaybeconvertedandbelon gentirelytothee?"SheoftenmadetheWayofthe Cross, ,notknowingthemethod,sherecitedherprayer swithgreatattention, , ,sheraninherwildgrieftoMary,threwher-sel fatherfeet, ,infact,thisinnocentsoul, ,heconfidedhertothecareoftwoaunts, ' work , ,wasamodeltohercompanions,andeventosever alofthembecameapreceptressoftheInteriorL ife,strivingtomakethemloveandpractisemen talprayer, , 'shouseapoorfamilycametolive,consistingo fthreemembers thefather(aday-laborer),hisblindwife, ,and6parednocaretorelievetheirpoverty.

6 Sheoftenvisitedthem,instructedtheminthei rreligion,madethemapproachtheSacraments, and,whentherewasanydisturbance, , ,shehesitatednotwithherownhandstoprepare herforburial,notwithstandingthefearsheha dofdeath, ,however, ,inloveandmercy, ,andhav-ing,asamemberoftheconfraternity, toprepareherselfforafestivaloftheBless-e dYirgin, ,andcameforthfromtheseexercisescompletel ychanged, , ,theillustriousBishopofTours,forwhomsheh adagreatde-votion,supplicatinghimtorecei veherasareligiousinhisdiocese,though' ,whowasamanofGod, , ,afterHolyCommunion,madeherinteriorlyhea rthesewords:"Mydaughter, ,hutaCarmelite"Theinteriorvoicerepeatedt hisseveraltimes,"YouwillheaCarmelite"/an dshebelievedthelasttimewasadded,"Carmeli teatTours"Inthemeantimeherconfessor,with outinformingherofthefact, :"Mydaughter,youarereceivedamongtheCarme lites"!SheleftRennesonthe11thofNovem-ber ,1839, , ,equa-bledisposition;shewasreservedandve rydiscreet;sheshunnedallself-seek-ingand singularity;hermodesty,morti-fication, , , , ,sheatoncebegantosingacanticlewhich,shes ays,"Ihadsunginadvancewhileawaitingthefo rtunatedayofmyentranceintoCarmel;itcomme nceswiththesewords:'BlessedbeGod,Iaminar e-fuge.

7 '..Theywerecomposedofsomefifteenstanzas, and1sangtheminsojoyousamannerthatnooneth oughtofinterruptingme."Thenew-comerdidno tseemdisposedtoleaveonestanzaun-sung,whe nsuddenlytheMother-Prioress,atfirstabsen t, ,shejudgeditafittingopportunityforgiving thenewpostulantherfirsttrial."In-deed,yo uhavebeeninahurry,"saidshetothelatter,"t oshowoffyourlittletalent!"Anembarrassing silencefol-lowed,whichwasbrokenonlywhent heMother-Prioressturnedtothesingerandsai d:"Letusseeifyouknowanymore.""Oh!yes,Rev erendMother," ;"Ihavekeptthebestforyou."Andwithoutbetr ayingtheleastannoyanceorill-nature, ,byvirtueandtemperament,wasnotonereadyto takeoffenceorbeeasilydepressed; "Ilookedonmyself,"shesays,"asalittleserv antoftheHolyFamily,andconsecratedmyselft otheminthatcapacity."Shementionshavingst illanotherambition,wThich,withacharmingc andor,shethusexplains:"TheReverendMother sweremakingtheirannualretreat, ,whenwewereallcollectedbeforeapic-tureof theHolyFamily, ,eachofustoespeciallyconse-crateourselve stoserveitinthecapacityofthatbeastofburd enwhichshouldfalltoherlot;forinstance,on ewouldrepre-senttheass,anothertheox, *'Thelotsweredrawn,and,tohergreatsatisfa ction,shewaschosentorepresenttheassofthe InfantJesus.

8 "Thus,"shesays,"Iwashisassinprayer,striv -ingtowarmhimbymylove;andhislittleservan tinmyactions,imaginingmyselfinthehouseof Nazareth,andperformingasiffortheHolyFami lyallthedailydutiesofmystateoflife."Shew asinspiredtohonortheInfantJesuseachdayof themonthbymeditat-ing,oneafteranother,' , ,1841, ,andwhichplacedherundertheprotectionofth eQueenofAngelsandtheChiefoftheApostles, ,areligiousaseminentfa' , ,socontrarytohernaturalin-clinations, , ; , ; ,forwhich,duringthefouryearsshehadbeenin theconvent,gracewassecretlypreparingher, ,1843,thedayaftertheFeastofSaintLouis,Ki ngofPrance;intheeveningtheSisterwasmedit atingatthefootofthecross,whentheSaviours aidtoher:"Ihaveheardyoursighs; ;eventhechildrenblaspheme!Thisfrightfuls inmoredeeplythanallotherswoundsmyDivineH eart/byblasphemythesinnerscornsmetomyfac e,openlyattaclcsme, , ,thatwiththedeliciouswoundsofloveyoumayh ealthewoundsofmalicewhichsinnersgiveme"A ndliedictatedtoherthefollow-ingformula:" Maythemostsacred,mostadorable,mostincomp rehensible,andmostineffableNameofGodbepr aised,blessed,loved,adored,andglorifiedi nheaven,onearth,andinhell,byallthecreatu resofGod, "SuchwastheGoldenArrowthattheLordgavetoh isservant,assuringherthateverytimesherep eatedthisformulaofpraiseshewouldwoundhis Heartwithawoundoflove.

9 "Bewatchfulofthisfavor,"saidhetoher;uIsh allaskofyouanaccountofit." ,woundedbythisarrow,torrentsofgracesfort hecon-versionofsinners, :"MyLord,dostthouthengivemechargeofblasp hemers?"Shedidnotfailtomakeknownallthist otheMother-Prioress,who,beingasprudentas shewasexperienced, , , amongthemherowncure,obtainedbytheprayers oftheSisterinaccordancewiththeorderofour Lord,andinthemannerhehimselfwilled :"Ah!iftheDivineMastercouldsufferbittern ess,hewouldbesorrowfuluntodeathonbehold- ingmen,insteadofmakingupfortheirinsuffic iencybyunitingthemselvestohimandthusglor ifyingourHeavenlyFather, ,onthecontrary,hewouldfeeltoseeatleastaf ewfaithfulandgratefulchildrenjoinedtohim toloveandblesstheNameofthatFatherwhomhes otenderlyloves!"Thisviewofthequestionbro ughthertomakeaheroicactofentireabandon-m ent."Ifeelmyself,"shesays,"in-teriorlyur gedtomaketoGodthesacri-ficeofmywholebein gandallthemeritswhichIcanacquire." ,oneofthepatronsofCarmel,ourLordmadeIdss pousehearthesemomen-touswords:"TillnowIh aveonlyshownyouinpartthedesignsofmyHeart , ,andtheholydayoftheLordprofaned, , ,withanardentdesire,thattherebeform-edan association,wellapprovedandor-ganized,to honortheNameofmyFather"Heretheobjectofth eWorkofRe-parationisclearlyindicated:iti store-pairtheviolationofthefirstthreepre -ceptsoftheDecalogue, ' , :"Takegoodcare;forif,wantinginsimplicity ,youputob-staclestomydesigns,youwillbere -sponsibleforthesalvationofmanysouls;if, onthecontrary,youarefaithful,theywillemb ellishyourcrown.

10 "Inconclu-sionliesaid:"AndtowiiomshouldI addressmyself,ifnottoaCarmelite,whosever yvocationenjoinsonherthedutyofunceasingl yglorifyingmyName?*'Thirteendaysafter,on theeveoftheImmaculateConception(7thofDec em-ber),theBlessedSaviourreturnedtothesa mesubject, "Heliasdeclaredtome,"shesays,"thathecann otlongerdwellinthisFrance,which,likeavip er,tearsthebowelsof38 SisterSaint- pierre , , ;thisiswhyjusticewillnowtaketheplaceofme rcy, ,Itrembling-lysaid:'MyLord,permitmetoask ifthisReparationwhichthoudesirestbemade, wiltthouyetpardonFrance?'Heansweredme:4 Iwillpardonheroncemore;but,markwell, ,andasitispublic, !'"WhatFrenchman'sheartcouldhearunmovedw arningssosevere,sosolemn?Thereproach,ala s!isbuttoowellmerit-ed, ,becausesheisthemosthighlyfa-voredbyHeav en,themostlovedofChrist, ,sheexertsinregardtoblasphemyakindofuniv ersalproselytism, ,then,thatsheisespeciallythreat-enedwith thestrokesofDivineJustice?Afterreceiving thiscommunicationSis-terMariedeSaint-Pie rre,aswelearnfromoneoftheotherCarmelites , ;hercountenance,usuallysocheerful, , ,Gre-goryXVI.