May 29, 2024

Hello John,

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat lived through turbulent times. At just 10 years old, she witnessed the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Both the rich and the poor suffered before a sense of normality returned to France. Born to some degree of privilege, Sophie received a good education and was grieved that many young girls were denied the same opportunity. She devoted herself to educating them, whether they were poor or well-to-do. We, who live in an affluent country, can follow her example by helping to ensure that others receive the blessings we have enjoyed. 

Reflecting on Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood, Mary is the image of what the Church herself is—a new community bound by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. As brothers and sisters of Christ, we have Mary as our spiritual mother.  

In today’s digital age, technology is likely a part of your daily life. Virtual spaces can sometimes be challenging environments for people of faith, overshadowed by negativity, consumerism, and bullying. Yet, we have the opportunity to spread the Gospel and the light of Christ if we choose to. 

I invite you to spend seven days with St. Anthony of Padua as your guide, helping you find yourself and your way to God. Through rich content, guided prayer activities, and probing questions drawn from his preaching and the stories of his life, you will not only learn about this Franciscan saint but also deepen your own spiritual life. 

Register below to receive seven consecutive daily emails beginning on Thursday, June 6. These emails will include text and narrated content, friar videos, and online resources from Franciscan Media, preparing you to celebrate our beloved saint on his feast day, June 13. We offer a sliding-scale fee to participate to ensure that everyone can join this transformative journey. 

Take a moment to listen to Fr. Dennet and Bro. Dominic share their insights on the importance of taking time for retreat and the significant impact St. Anthony has had on their lives. Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual journey. 

With prayers and blessings, 

Christopher Meyer
Director of Development 

P.S. Let St. Anthony guide you toward a deeper connection with God. Register now and embrace the journey of faith and discovery. 

Saint of the Day for May 29: Madeleine Sophie Barat

(December 12, 1779 – May 25, 1865)

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat’s Story

The legacy of Madeleine Sophie Barat can be found in the more than 100 schools operated by her Society of the Sacred Heart, institutions known for the quality of the education made available to the young.

Sophie herself received an extensive education, thanks to her brother Louis, 11 years older and her godfather at baptism. Himself a seminarian, Louis decided that his younger sister would likewise learn Latin, Greek, history, physics, and mathematics—always without interruption and with a minimum of companionship. By age 15, she had received a thorough exposure to the Bible, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church and theology. Despite the oppressive regime Louis imposed, young Sophie thrived and developed a genuine love of learning.

Meanwhile, this was the time of the French Revolution and of the suppression of Christian schools. The education of the young, particularly young girls, was in a troubled state. Sophie, who had discerned a call to the religious life, was persuaded to become a teacher. She founded the Society of the Sacred Heart, which focused on schools for the poor as well as boarding schools for young women of means. Today, co-ed Sacred Heart schools also can be found, along with schools exclusively for boys.

In 1826, her Society of the Sacred Heart received formal papal approval. By then she had served as superior at a number of convents. In 1865, she was stricken with paralysis; she died that year on the feast of the Ascension. Madeleine Sophie Barat was canonized in 1925. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on May 25.

Reflection

Madeleine Sophie Barat lived in turbulent times. She was only 10 when the Reign of Terror began. In the wake of the French Revolution, rich and poor both suffered before some semblance of normality returned to France. Born to some degree of privilege, Sophie received a good education. It grieved her that the same opportunity was being denied to other young girls, and she devoted herself to educating them, whether poor or well-to-do. We who live in an affluent country can follow her example by helping to ensure to others the blessings we have enjoyed.

Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat is a Patron Saint of:

Educators/Teachers

Spend seven consecutive days letting St. Anthony of Padua be your guide to finding yourself and your way to God. Through rich content, guided prayer activities and probing questions drawn from his preaching and the stories of his life, you will learn about this Franciscan saint but, even more important, about your own spiritual life.

Begins Thursday, June 6th!

Christ came among us as God and man by means of a human birth through Mary, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. In turn, we are born into new life in Christ through Mary who is Mother of the Church. In addition, Mary is also the image of what the Church herself is, namely, a new community whose bond is faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary. We, then, as brothers and sisters of Christ, have Mary as our spiritual mother.

We are spiritually reborn through the motherhood of Mary. Jesus says to us from the cross in the person of John the Evangelist, “Behold your mother.” And to his mother he says, “Behold your son” (or daughter, as the case may be). To believe that the spiritual motherhood of Mary is true for all of us takes the same kind of faith that Mary herself had when she said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

—from the book Nourishing Love: A Franciscan Celebration of Mary
by Murray Bodo, OFM

Experience St. Anthony's
gift of finding what is lost!

Dedicate seven consecutive days to the guidance of St. Anthony of Padua to discover yourself and find your path to God.

This newsletter is not free to produce! Please consider making a donation to help us in our efforts to share God's love in the spirit of Saint Francis.