A Missionary and Trailblazer

This week the Church celebrates Rose Philippine Duchesne, one of the founding members of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Rose was a French religious sister and educator whom Pope John Paul the Second canonized in 1988. A native of France, she emigrated as a missionary to America and is recognized for her care and education of survivors of the United States Indian Removal program.

Rose Duchesne was the daughter of a prominent lawyer. She attended the best schools and was well-educated. Her family included a financial supporter of Napoleon, a prime Minister of France, and a President of France. She was raised in an enormous family home across the street from Parliament in Grenoble. At the age of 19. She entered a monastery dedicated to the Visitation of Holy Mary, which was severely damaged during the French Revolution.

Over a period of ten years, she rebuilt the monastery and eventually merged her community with another group to form the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. In 1818, Duchesne headed out to the United States with four other sisters of the society to help evangelize and educate the Indian and French children who were part of the Louisiana Purchase. They settled in what is now Missouri, established a convent, and opened schools.

Within ten years, the society had grown into six communities operating many schools, including one in Grand Chateau, Louisiana, and it still exists. She spent the later part of her life living in solitude, in prayer, praying for the Indian people to whom she had dedicated her life. Saint Rose Philippine Duchenne pray for us.