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In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort Spring 2003 Volume 8, Issue 1 Blessed Marie-Louise and St. Louis Tercentenary of the Marie, with an emphasis, of course, on Daughters of her. In other parts of the world, similar events will be taking place. Wisdom The aim of all these celebrations and ebruary 2 saw the three events is not just to commemorate the Inside this Issue hundredth anniversary of the past, but to try to re-kindle or deepen F founding of the Daughters of the spirit which animated Blessed Wisdom. For it was on that day in 1703 Marie-Louise in her daughters, but also that Marie-Louise Trichet received the in all those who, in one way or another, Tercentenary of the draw inspiration from her life. She was Daughters of Wisdom grey habit from Father de Montfort that 1 was to become the dress of the a woman of extraordinary courage and Daughters of Wisdom for nearly three faith – the very fact of her having to hundred years. This date, therefore, is wait a further ten years before she could From the Provincial’s Desk 2 taken as the date of foundation of the make Religious Vows indicates this – female branch of the Montfortian and the Congregation she helped to Family. Indeed we may date the found, and led with such wisdom and News from Here and There Montfortian Family itself from that day strength for many years, has, during its 2 – the first member of the Company of three-hundred-year history, tried to Mary (Montfort Missionaries), Brother imitate that courage and faith. These Celebrating the 300th would certainly be among the virtues Anniversary of the Daughters Mathurin Rangeard, did not join St. 3 of Wisdom Louis Marie until two years later in that this year’s celebrations would hope 1705. to strengthen in all of us. A Story from Uganda In this issue of “Footsteps”, you will 5 find various articles on Blessed Marie- Louise and her legacy, which we hope In the Footsteps of Blessed all our Associates will find helpful in 6 Marie-Louise of Jesus the coming months, as we rejoice and reflect on what we are called to be as friends and followers of Blessed Marie- News from Here and There Louise and St. Louis Marie. 8 (continued) In particular, we offer our congratulations to the Daughters of Wisdom, here and elsewhere, on this great anniversary, and we are certain we can assure them of the prayers of all readers of “Footsteps” during this year, that it may be a year truly filled with grace and a year to remember. Let us All over the world, this year, the look forward to the next 100 years! Daughters of Wisdom will be Montfort Missionaries celebrating this important anniversary 28 Burbo Bank Road See next page for details in a variety of ways. In the British Isles, Blundellsands of the Pilgrimage to LIVERPOOL for example, among other events Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre L23 6TH planned, there is to be a pilgrimage to in September Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre and other places associated with the life of The Bulletin of the Associates of the Montfortian Family Spring 2003 the Company of Mary and Daughters of these religious would find it extremely From the Wisdom are quick to offer you difficult to function properly without Provincial’s Desk whatever help we can, especially in this active sharing and, dare I say, prayer and often in a personal word of partnership. You are essential to us and decided to look up in my old Latin consolation and encouragement: must we trust, by offering a place in our dictionary the meaning of ‘socius’ we not share our sorrows as well as our mission, we are to you. The Company I(from which ‘associate’ is derived). joys? of Mary and the Daughters of Wisdom I came up with the following: will be able to make the impact they In this way we rely on each other. must, only if you too see yourselves as Socius = companion, comrade, sons and daughters of St Louis Marie However, there are even closer ways we associate, partner, sharer. and Blessed Marie Louise, seeking to can share in the spirituality and mission, convince today’s Christians of the value which St. Louis Marie and Blessed And I thought “how very fitting!” I am of their baptism and the place of Divine Marie Louise have left as a legacy to delighted to be able to call you all my Wisdom in their lives. companions, sharing in all the joys and their congregations. The Extraordinary sorrows of the Company of Mary and General Council of the Company of These are not just pious sentiments. I the Daughters of Wisdom. When we tell Mary held a meeting in India last invite you to take a role in our mission you of those of our congregations who October. Those present agreed that our that is as real and dynamic as you are are suffering, or in hospital, or feeling associates are not just useful in helping able. Certainly, renew your intention to their advancing age - and sometimes the religious to carry out the mission pray for us - but also find if there is any their frustration that they can no longer given to them by the Church, but that active way in which you share in what take a full part in the active apostolate - the active participation of these we do. Do not hold back, you have the we can be sure that your prayers are associates is essential if this mission is talents that we may lack; you have the there to support us: are you not our to be fruitful in today’s world. strengths that we can share. Together comrades? we can play our part in bringing closer Already, in many of our houses and the coming of the Kingdom of God. In exactly the same way, when we learn convents, there are non-religious who of the illnesses, the difficulties our share in the daily prayers of the F. W. Scragg smm, Provincial. associates encounter, the religious of community and in the work and apostolate of the religious. Many of N ews From Here Pilgrimage and There to Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre Our Lady of Light, Clacton-on-Sea To celebrate the Tercentenary of the Foundation of the In the Summer 2000 edition of Daughters of Wisdom “Footsteps”, “An Item of Montfortian Interest” was mentioned. The item 18th – 27th September 2003 referred to the Parish Church of Our Lady of Light and St. Osyth in Clacton- With visits to Poitiers and La Rochelle on-Sea, Essex. By coach from Lytham St Annes (Lancashire) or Romsey (Hampshire) We make reference to it again. First of Price: £349 (including all travel and full board whilst in France) all to bring to the attention of our (Not included in price: Insurance, Meals whilst travelling) Associates that the Feast of Our Lady of Light is celebrated on the 27 May A few places remain available for Associates annually. Secondly this year 2003 is the Centenary of its opening. Building work Please send for a Booking Form to: on the Church started in 1902 and on 15 Bernard Glenholme October 1903 it was opened with 9, Chapel Lane Solemn High Mass. The Lady Chapel is Longton the same today as it was then. The Preston PR4 5WA present presbytery housed the old Tel. 01772-616944 original Chapel – in fact it is the room on the left as one goes through the front door. The presbytery in those days was Continued on page 8 2 . In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort he had still not found an opening for since they first met, but this was a tall Celebrating the this kind of work, and was acting in order: Marie-Louise was convinced that 300th Anniversary of obedience to his spiritual directors in she was to be a religious, and there were taking on this job, while still waiting for no religious working in the hospital. the Foundation of the a sign from God of what he was really However, after a couple of days of destined to do. reflection, she applied to the Bishop to Daughters of go and live in the hospital. After making enquiries, he told her there were Wisdom no vacancies for any more staff there, Fr. Paul Allerton, S.M.M. whereupon, to the Bishop’s immense surprise, she requested permission to be TOWARDS the very end of 1701 or the admitted “as one of the poor”. This beginning of 1702, a young woman of really was extraordinary, as Marie- 17 years of age presented herself to a Louise was from a respectable middle- priest in the confessional of one of the class family, with a home which was far churches in Poitiers, France, and started removed from the squalor prevailing in to make her confession. She had not got the hospital. But the bishop must have very far when the priest interrupted her recognised, as did St. Louis Marie, that to ask: “Who sent you to me?” The this was an extraordinary young woman young woman, who had been told of who was genuinely in search of God’s this priest by her sister, replied, “It was will for her, and he granted her request. my sister, Father.” “No,” said the priest, And so it was that Marie-Louise Trichet “ it was the Blessed Virgin!” This was began more than 10 years of living the first meeting of two extraordinary among the poorest of the poor, serving souls who together would found the them with all the love of which she was religious congregation known as the capable.