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A Litany of Saints
A favorite IHM custom of mine is the prayers of the faithful during Mass during which time we remember by name our sisters who have died on or near that day. The name of the sister is read along with the year that she died. This custom reflects a profound sense that are sisters who have died are still truly with us albeit in a new way. As an IHM community, we trust in their love and prayers as we continue God’s mission as IHM sisters.
I was thinking about this custom because today we have a long list of saints to celebrate. We celebrate not only the memory of them and how they lived the Gospel, but we also celebrate how they continue to be with us, encouraging us on our journey, praying with and for us.
We are blessed to have 6 new saints in our midst! On October 17, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI canonized the following women and men:
- Saint Mary MacKillop (1842-1909), an Australian religious and first Australian saint
- Saint André Bessette (1845-1937), a Canadian religious
- Saint Stanislao Soltys (1433- 1489), a Polish religious
- Saint Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (1845- 1912), a Spanish religious
- Saint Giulia Salzano (1846- 1929), an Italian religious
- Saint Battisat da Varano (1458- 1524), an Italian religious
In addition to these newly minted saints, we celebrate today the feast day of the North American Martyrs, Jesuit missionaries who were martyred in the 17th century.
- Saint John de Brébeuf (1649)
- Saint Noël Chabanel (1649)
- Saint Antoine Daniel (1648)
- Saint Charles Garnier (1649)
- Saint René Goupil (1642)
- Saint Isaac Jogues (1646)
- Saint John de Lalande (1646)
- Saint Gabriel Lalemant (1649)
We give thanks for all those saints (canonized or not) who have gone before us and who continue to be with us on our journey.
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{ 7 comments }
What a holy coincidence that you should post this today. One of our sisters died yesterday. She was a religious for 73 years and had spent the last 7 bedridden where she worked so very hard in the ministry of pain and suffering, giving us her sisters as well as the nursing staff ample opportunities to be of service. She also was so amazing near the end, nearly non-verbal yet moving her lips as we prayed countless Hail Marys with her, or humming along when the sisters would sing.
When I went to visit with her after she died, it seemed that I was looking at a candle whose light had gone out. I knew that the spark that was our Sister Mary Adonza was celebrating her new life with her Spouse. She is now hale and whole and walking, no, dancing! into Eternal Life.
We have that same custom, Sr. Julie, of announcing the name and date of each sister who had died on her anniversary. When we have the annual summer gathering for retreat, jubilees, and prayer, we go to the cemetery and share something about each sister there. For the week of All Souls Day, we place all their pictures near the altar, remembering that they are all still with us in the Communion of Saints.
As the funeral liturgy says so beautifully, “Life is changed, not ended.” Amen!
A small correction:
St Mary of the Cross Mackillop was born in 1842 and died in 1909
Many thanks for the correction, Christine. I changed 1901 to 1909 in the original post. Appreciate it! And, we will be doing something more thorough on Saint Mary sometime in the next couple weeks.
Hi Julie,
I’m so pleased that you noticed that Australia has got our very own Saint now – and a religious woman too!!
I also just wanted to ask your prayers and to let you know that I’ll be taking my first vows on November 20th as a Good Samaritan Sister (or, more properly, a Sister of the Good Samaritan of the Order of Saint Benedict… what a mouthful!)
It’s an exciting time, and graced, but not always easy!
Thanks for your ministry here. I’ve found it so helpful, especially in the early days of my discerning, to hear another voice in the conversations on contemporary religious life. Thank you. Peace and blessings, Sarah
Yea, Sarah! We will keep you in your prayers! And be sure to send us links/photos/whatever!
another sister julie,
what a long and amazing life she led! i’m so sorry for your loss.
people think i’m nuts because dead bodies kind of give me hope, for exactly what you noted above: you can see that something not of the body has gone–that light, that spirit, that soul. when one sees a shell, one knows the truly alive part has moved on.
peace.
and congratulations, sarah! i’ll think of you on november 20th.