“Let us realize that we are sinners Saint Rose Philippine Beginnings and have much to expiate, while Rose Philippine Duchesne was born August 29, others less culpable than we are Duchesne 1769, in , an ancient city, France’s suffer more than we do.” beautiful gateway to the Alps. One of eight Religious of the Sacred Heart children in a family of privilege, she was strong- —Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne 1769-1852 willed, impetuous and generous. Educated by the Visitation at Sainte-Marie d’En- Haut monastery, she was drawn to their life of contemplation. She entered the order when she was nineteen against the wishes of her family.

The soon forced the nuns to leave the monastery, and Philippine returned to her family. For eleven years, she risked her freedom and life by nursing prisoners, bringing priests to the faithful and teaching and feeding poor children. At the close of the war, she gained title to Sainte-Marie d’En Haut and Saint Madeleine Sophie sends Saint Philippine Bicentennial sculpture of Saint Rose opened a boarding school. Only a few other to America. Icon by Patricia Reid, RSCJ Philippine Duchesne 2018, by Gianfranco Tassara nuns returned, but they did not stay long. In in the garden of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis December 1804, she met , leader of a new , the Society of the Sacred Heart. Philippine Sowing the Seeds Shrine of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne immediately turned over Sainte-Marie d’En Philippine saw a chance to turn her missionary 619 North Second Street Haut and entered the Society. dreams to reality when Bishop William St. Charles, 63301 Dubourg visited the Society’s motherhouse rscj.org/shrine A deep friendship formed between these in . He had come from the United States two remarkable women of such different to recruit nuns to establish schools for the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine temperaments. For twelve years, the patient Native Americans and French children in 1 Rue St Francois wisdom of Sophie molded the ardent, steadfast his diocese of . On May 16, 1817, Florissant, Missouri 63031 Philippine into a religious called to glorify Philippine begged Sophie Barat on her knees OldStFerdinandShrine.com the Heart of Jesus. Philippine, whose greatest for permission to travel to the mission; at last joy was to spend whole nights in prayer, soon Sophie gave her consent. felt a call to serve as a missionary. Many times, Philippine shared with Sophie her dream of Philippine sailed from Bordeaux with four bringing the Gospel to the native peoples in other religious in March of the following year, America, but her skills were needed at home, providentially arriving in on first in the school at Sainte-Marie, and from the Feast of the Sacred Heart, May 29, 1818. 1815 as the Society’s secretary general. They later sailed up the to rscj.org • rscjinternational.org

SSH0321PDE at the Old Saint Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant, and her confidence in Madeleine Sophie Missouri.) She survived pioneer conditions, a Barat, the Society remained one congregation, bout with yellow fever and persistent feelings its internationality one of its strongest of failure. characteristics. Today, RSCJ serve in 41 countries. In the spirit Taking Root of Philippine, these educators prepare the The Society soon attracted new vocations and young for today and tomorrow; they seek out opened a . Before long, Philippine was the poor and those who have no voice in today’s responsible for six convents: St. Charles (which society. Every frontier we face cries out for reopened in 1828), St. Louis and Florissant pioneers who have the courage to follow God’s First house in St. Charles, Missouri, 1818 in Missouri, and Grand Coteau, St. Michael, call and the wisdom to pray always. and LaFourche in Louisiana. At this time, In recent years, the Society has also engaged St. Louis, Missouri, a trip of forty days, arriving unfortunately, the Society also was complicit in efforts of researching our history with on August 22, 1818. and participated in the enslavement of human enslavement and fostering reconciliation with beings. While difficult for us to imagine today, descendants of those enslaved by the Society in On September 14, 1818, Philippine opened this practice was entrenched in the economy these early years. a school in a log cabin, not in St. Louis, as and civil society of Missouri and Louisiana. expected, but across the in St. Charles, Missouri, the first free school Wishing to ensure continuity in mission, Philippine’s mission. Icon by Milton Frenzel • • • west of the Mississippi. A few weeks later, the Philippine ensured that the Plan of Studies Academy of the Sacred Heart was opened with was in place. The Religious of the Sacred Heart was called back to St. Charles because of her Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne died on three students. The frontier conditions were a (RSCJ) offered their students a well-rounded health. Although she was in Sugar Creek just a November 18, 1852, at the age of 83. She is challenge. After one year the school was closed curriculum, combining spiritual and intellectual short time, she made a deep impression on the interred in a shrine built in her honor at the and they opened a new school in the nearby training. Besides schools, Philippine opened the . Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles, town of Florissant, Missouri. first orphanage in St. Louis. Missouri. She was beatified in 1940 and canonized July 3, 1988. Despite never mastering the English language, Finally, in 1841, Philippine’s desire to serve Philippine’s Legacy Philippine served as both superior of her among the native people came to fruition. At Philippine once wrote: “We cultivate a very November 18 is the Feast of Saint Rose religious community and head of the school. the specific request of Fr. Peter Verhaegen, the small field for Christ. But we love it, knowing Philippine Duchesne. Nevertheless, she reserved for herself the most Jesuit in charge of the mission, she went with that God does not require great achievements, menial of chores: tending livestock, chopping three other RSCJ to Sugar Creek, Kansas, to but a heart that holds back nothing for self.” wood, gardening, mending shoes and clothing, establish a school for Potawatomi girls. At 72, nursing the sick and making soap and candles. she was too frail to be of much help with the In spite of her experience of many failures, In Florissant, she often slept in a small closet physical work, and she could not learn the her missionary spirit was the beginning of under the stairs so she could slip in without Potawatomi language. She spent much of her the Society of the Sacred Heart’s spreading disturbing others after her all-night prayers in time in prayer, gaining the name “Woman around the world. Because of her fidelity to the chapel nearby. (This room can still be seen Who Prays Always.” After just one year, she the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart