Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher: Forming the Next Generation
Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher (+1849) is commemorated today along with Saint Bruno, a Canadian sister, who, under the inspiration of Saint Eugene de Mazenod and Bishop Bourget, founded the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, to educate young girls. She was born on this day, October 6th, in 1811, and christened Eulalie, the tenth of eleven children in those days when such large – and happy – families were the norm in Quebec, Eulalie had a normal childhood, owning a horse named Caesar (!), and grew up steeped in the earthy and realistic piety of her ancestors, which sowed the seeds of her religious vocation. She had originally hoped to join the Congregation of Notre Dame, but had to leave due to ill-health; she returned home to help her mother, then acted as housekeeper for her brother’s rectory.
It was not until 1844, after much discussion, that she, with two companions, entered as the first novices of the new Order which Bishop Bourget had asked her to found, to help in the education of young girls, a great need at the time. When they eventually opened their first school, the need nearly overwhelmed them, so great was it. But the young women were up to the task, with the grace that God gives, building on natural zeal. Within a few years, they had four convents, teaching hundreds of students – boys as well, in accord with their missionary intention, and their work continues to this day.
Plagued by ill-health, Sister Marie Rose died on October 6, 1849, hailed as a saint, and was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II on May 23, 1982, before an enthusiastic crowd in Rome. Her name is still held in honour in Quebec, with various schools and places named after this home-grown Canadian saint, Marie Rose.
There are a few other Orders that I know of currently taking on that noble task to teach the next generation to see God in all things, the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate being one of the foremost in our own Dominion of Canada, and any number of other private schools taking up the torch. That is where the real victory will be won – in the classroom, which in turn shapes the culture. The ravenous wolves wandering the streets are products of our current ‘educational’ system, which when it’s not explicitly Marxist, is woefully deficient. If the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world, we may say the same in spades for those who form the minds and the souls of future generations – in the truth, which will set us free.
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→