BL. MARIE ROSE DUROCHER, VIRGIN - 6 OCTOBER

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER 

Saints celebrated on the 6th of October

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

BL. MARIE ROSE DUROCHER, VIRGIN

[She was born Eulalie Durocher on October 6, 1811 at Saint Antoine-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada. Although she felt called to religious life, she initially worked as a housekeeper for her brother Theophile, who was a priest. 

Later, Eulalie was involved in founding the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, taking the name Marie Rose.] 

The Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary are a religious congregation founded at Longueuil, Quebec, December 8, 1844, under the patronage of Bishop Bourget, of Montreal for the Christian education of young girls. The mother-house is at Hochelaga, Montreal. 

The institute was incorporated by Act of the Canadian Parliament March 17, 1845. A Decree cum laude was issued by Pius IX, February 27, 1863, and the constitutions received definite approval June 26, 1901, and the institute was divided into seven provinces, May 11, 1894, later increased to nine, August 25, 1910. 

Under the direction of Rev. J. Allard three Canadian aspirants - Miss Eulalie Durocher, Miss Henriette Céré, and Miss Mélodie Dufresne - were trained according to the institute of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary established by Mgr. Eugene de Mazenod of Marseilles. 

They took simple religious vows at Longueuil, December 8, 1844, as Sisters Marie-Rose, Marie-Madeline, and Marie-Agnes. Bishop Bourget gave the institute diocesan approval and appointed Mother Marie-Rose general superior for life. The community at Marseilles supplied the title of the congregation and, with modifications, the habit and the rule.

Under Mother Marie-Rose, the congregation developed rapidly. 

(From Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)

Sr Marie Rose died on October 6, 1849. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 23, 1982.