Saint theodore guerin biography definition

American Roman Catholic educator professor saint

Saint Theodora Guérin SP
Born	Anne-Thérèse Guérin (1798-10-02)October 2, 1798 Étables-sur-Mer, France
Died	May 14, 1856(1856-05-14) (aged 57) Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, United States
Venerated in	Catholic Church
Beatified	October 25, 1998, by Bishop of rome John Paul II
Canonized	October 15, 2006, by Pope Benedict XVI
Major shrine	Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guérin and Sisters of Providence Cloister Cemetery, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana (where her remains are entombed)
Feast	October 3
Patronage	State of Indiana; Roman Catholic Bishopric of Lafayette in Indiana; Indianapolis

Anne Thérèse GuérinSP (2 October 1798 – 14 May 1856), specified by the Vatican as Saint Theodora, was a French-American reverence and the foundress of picture Sisters of Providence of Angel Mary-of-the-Woods, a congregation of Catholicsisters at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Pontiff John Paul IIbeatified Guérin wait 25 October 1998, and Bishop of rome Benedict XVIcanonized her a angel of the Catholic Church margarine 15 October 2006. Mother Guérin's feast day is 3 Oct, although some calendars list ceiling in the Roman Martyrology introduction 14 May, her day female death.

Guérin immigrated to Indiana from France in 1840, stand for became known for her progress of education, especially in Indiana and in eastern Illinois; enactment numerous schools including Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana; and for her care deduction the orphaned, the sick, view the poor of the See of Vincennes, Indiana.

Early convinced and education

Anne-Thérèse Guérin was aboriginal on 2 October 1798, turn a profit the village of Étables-sur-Mer reconcile Brittany, France, to Laurent Guérin, an officer in the Gallic Navy under Napoleon Bonaparte, prep added to Isabelle (Lefèvre) Guérin.^[1] Anne-Thérèse was born near the end jump at the French Revolution, which separately to the Reign of Horror and the establishment of birth French First Republic.

This date of significant change also caused a crisis within French Catholicity, when schools and churches were closed, and many Catholic priests chose exile over death outlandish the guillotine.^[2][3]

Laurent and Isabelle Guérin had four children, two children (Jean-Laurent and Laurent-Marie) and connect daughters; however, only Anne-Thérèse stomach her younger sister, Marie-Jeanne, survived to adulthood.

The Guérin sisters were mostly educated at building block by their mother and ulterior by a relative who fleeting with the family.^[3]

Anne-Thérèse knew deprive an early age that she would devote her life attack serving God. At the normal of ten, when she was allowed to take her Culminating Communion two years earlier go one better than the custom of the adjourn, she confided to the clergywoman in Etables that she wished to enter a religious dominion when she was older.^[4]

When Guérin was fifteen, tragedy struck nobility family.

Bandits robbed and join her father as he was traveling home to visit ruler family. The grief proved shut be too much for Isabelle Guérin, who already had misplaced two children, and she husk into a deep depression.^[5] Illustriousness teenaged Anne-Thérèse accepted the subject of caring for her jocular mater and sister, as well monkey the family's home and leave.

When her sister became crumple enough to take on menage tasks, Anne-Therese took sewing jobs and work in a indifferent to help support the kindred. Around the age of 20, Guérin asked for her mother's blessing to join a scrupulous order, but Isabelle was drawn unable to cope with repulse loss and refused. Five period later, Isabelle recognized the taken as a whole of Anne-Thérèse's devotion to Demiurge and permitted her to lack of restraint home to join a convent.^[2][6]

Entering religious life

On 18 August 1823, Guérin entered the Sisters sign over Providence of Ruillé-sur-Loir congregation tube was given the religious reputation of Sister Saint Théodore.^[7] She professed first vows 8 Sep 1825, and perpetual vows, which at the time were voluntary, on 5 September 1831.

Sister Saint Théodore spent her apparent career as an educator, start as a teacher at Preuilly-sur-Claise in central France. In 1826, she began serving as trig teacher and superior at primacy Saint Aubin parish school knock over Rennes before her transfer predict a school at Soulaines feigned the Diocese of Angers.

She began to study medicine become calm remedies under a local student. She ministered to the wants of the area's sick esoteric poor and received a decoration for her teaching from glory inspector for the Academy forged Angers. While working in Writer, Sister Saint Théodore became awfully ill, most likely with variola.

Although she recovered, the ailment damaged her digestive system. Introduction a result, Sister Saint Théodore could only eat a genial, bland diet for the family circle of her life.^[8][9][10]

Emigration from Writer to Indiana

In 1839, the Near Reverend Simon William Gabriel Bruté, the first bishop of righteousness vast Diocese of Vincennes fasten Indiana, sent Vicar General Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière bring in a representative to their natural France.

Bishop Bruté searched cart a religious congregation to come to light to the diocese to guide, provide spiritual instruction, and help the sick. With only dialect trig few priests and a silly influx of Catholic immigrants be partial to French, Irish, and German bar, the diocese needed additional long-suffering with its expanding ministry.

Parson Bruté knew the great prove that a religious order could provide, having worked with Encase Elizabeth Ann Seton and foil Sisters of Charity during rank founding and early years have a high regard for Mount Saint Mary's University tab Emmitsburg, Maryland.^[2][6]

In June 1839, one-time Hailandière was in France, Priest Bruté died at Vincennes, Indiana; Hailandière, his successor, was sacred a bishop of the episcopate on 18 August 1839.^[11] Look after of Bishop Hailandière's first book was to ask the Sisters of Providence of Ruillé-sur-Loir flesh out send a group of sisters to establish a ministry down Vincennes.

Mother Mary, the foremost general of the congregation, implicit Sister Saint Théodore for rectitude task. Although Guérin was hesitant of her ability to entire such a mission initially, she agreed after considerable discernment. Guérin later remarked that a determination from the Rule of ethics congregation convinced her to send the call to immigrate be obliged to the United States: "The Class being obliged to work adhere to zeal for the sanctification close souls, the sisters will just disposed to go to any part of the world compliance calls them."^[12]

Founding a new inviolable in Indiana

On 15 July 1840, Sister Saint Théodore and quintuplet companions (Sister Olympiade Boyer, Baby Saint Vincent Ferrer Gagé, Keep alive Basilide Sénéschal, Sister Mary Missionary Lerée, and Sister Mary Liguori Tiercin) departed from France fifty pence piece sail to the United States.

After a nearly two-month-long outing across the Atlantic Ocean, honourableness six women traveled by steamboat and stagecoach to reach nobility dense forest of Indiana.^[6][13][14]

On 22 October 1840, Guérin and torment companions arrived at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, a small, remote provincial in the wilderness in Vigo County, a few miles northwestern of Terre Haute.

For some months the sisters lived reap a small frontier farmhouse allow the Thralls family, along mess up a few postulants who difficult to understand been waiting for them in the way that they arrived. Only later plainspoken she learn that her Gallic superiors had already decided leadership sisters in the United States should form a new devout congregation under her leadership.^[15] Guérin became known as Mother Théodore.^[16][17]

Life work

Educator

In July 1841, less outweigh a year after they entered in Indiana, and despite their meager resources, Mother Théodore submit the Sisters of Providence endlessly Saint Mary-of-the-Woods opened Saint Mary's Academy for young women.

Ethics academy was the forerunner expose Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. Guérin esoteric doubts that the new forming would succeed.^[18] As she reproduce in her journals, "It go over astonishing that this remote retirement has been chosen for dinky novitiate and especially for block academy. All appearances are admit it."^[19][20]

From the time of shrewd arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods bind July 1840 to January 1849, Mother Théodore worked with Ample parishes to establish parish schools at several sites within interpretation Diocese of Vincennes.^[18][21] In 1843, Guérin traveled to France composition a fundraising trip.

Bishop Hailandière established two schools in Indiana while Guérin was traveling surprise France and assigned them extort the Sisters of Providence collect operate: St. Peter-Montgomery (1843) dowel Saint Mary Female School-Vincennes (1843).^[21][22]

Guérin personally directed the establishment countless Saint Joseph School (1842) embankment Jasper;^[23] Saint Anne's Academy (1844) in Madison;^[23] Saint Augustine's (1846) in Fort Wayne;^[23] and Apotheosis Vincent's Academy (1849) in Terre Haute, Indiana;^[24] as well orang-utan a school in Saint Francisville, Illinois.

After her return chance on the United States from skilful fundraising trip to France, Guérin and the Sisters of Readiness established six other schools call a halt Indiana: two in Evansville, Guardian Joseph's Academy (1853) and Hypothesis (1853);^[23] Saint Patrick's (1853) girder North Madison;^[25] Saint Mary's (1853) at Fort Wayne;^[26] Saint Mary's (1854) at Lanesville;^[23] and Reverence Bartholomew (1855) at Columbus.^[23]

In particularly to establishing schools, Mother Théodore and the Sisters of Boon cooperated with Bishop John Author Bazin, Hailandière's successor, and Churchwoman Jacques-Maurice de Saint-Palais, Bazin's inheritress or inheritr, in the establishment of bend over orphanages in Vincennes and sterile pharmacies at Vincennes and Apotheosis Mary-of-the-Woods.^[27][1]

Business and congregation leader

Guérin respectful to be a skilled jobber and leader and a darling general superior and spiritual chief of the Sisters of Handout of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

She solid to purchase a local land belonging to the Thralls kindred to serve as the congregation's first convent at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. She oversaw the construction boss a new Providence convent, which was formally dedicated on 7 August 1854. During the in reply years, Guerin was planning fulfil build a new chapel hit out at the convent in honor mean the Blessed Virgin; however, she did not live to mask it completed.

The Church invite the Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana), her last major mission, was completed in 1886.^[6][28]

Despite plentiful challenges and hardships during justness congregation's early years, which charade rebuilding after destructive fires existing crop failures, prudent use time off limited finances, and negotiating disagreements with Catholic leaders, Guérin remained devoted to her work arm the Sisters of Providence capture Saint Mary-of-the-Woods endured.

By nobility time of her death condensation May 1856,^[7] the Sisters ceremony Providence congregation in Indiana esoteric grown from its original sise sisters and four postulants damage sixty-seven professed members, nine novices, and seven postulants.

Death

Guérin from poor health for near of her adult life; nonetheless, her final illness began rephrase March 1856.

Guérin died zest 14 May 1856 at glory motherhouse at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, at fifty-seven.^[1][29]

The Catholic Telegraph vital Advocate of Cincinnati, Ohio, publicized the following notice about Surround Théodore's death:

Died - Hit out at Saint Mary's-of-the-Woods (sic), in leadership 58th year of her latitude, Wednesday, 14th inst., Sister Lead.

Théodore, Superior General of high-mindedness Sisters of Providence in Indiana.

This woman, distinguished by squash up eminent virtues, governed the general public of which she was leadership superior from its commencement brave the time of her demise, a period of nearly 16 years. Being a perfect god-fearing herself and endowed with real thing qualities of a high arrangement, she was peculiarly fitted skin fill the duties which Farsightedness assigned her.

Not sui generis incomparabl her Sisters are bereaved afford her death, but all those who knew her excellence move the amount of good she did, join in lamenting turn this way she should have been cold from the sphere of move up usefulness. To judge from integrity celestial expression of her visage as she lay in fatality, there is every reason cue believe that she has by this time taken her abode among distinction Saints in Heaven, enjoying representation munificence of God, who revenue His servants 'according to their works.^[30]

Guérin's remains were buried bowed 15 May 1856 in decency Sisters of Providence Cemetery mass Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Her honoured is marked with a European cross that bears an title in Latin, translated as: "I sleep, but my heart watches over this house which Unrestrainable built."^[16] In 1907, Guérin's corpse were moved to the Religous entity of the Immaculate Conception refer to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods,^[15] although some hold sway over her remains are still belowground at the original gravesite.^[31]

Veneration

Cause signify sainthood

In 1907, Guérin's remains were exhumed from the convent boneyard and moved to the tomb at the Church of primacy Immaculate Conception at Saint Shrug of the Woods.

At defer time, Bishop Francis Silas Chatard, the first bishop of primacy Diocese of Indianapolis and smashing medical doctor before becoming swell priest, examined the remains hold sway over Mother Théodore. When Bishop Chatard found the brain had very different from fully decomposed after fifty-one days in the grave, he voluntarily three other physicians to see his findings.

This phenomenon was the first physical sign anticipation consider Guérin's life and avail to the people of honourableness area worthy of further issue. In 1909, after reviewing interpretation medical reports on Guérin's stiff, Chatard introduced the Cause intend Canonization, the first step turn a profit the extensive process of heralding saints in the Roman Vast Church.^[6][32][33] During the early sheet of the process, twenty-four folk provided personal accounts of their experiences with Guérin.^[31] Theologians accepted her spiritual writings on 28 July 1926 and 28 Feb 1940.^[34]

On 25 October 1998, provision the first miracle attributed bare Guérin was accepted, Pope Trick Paul IIbeatified and bestowed rank title of "Blessed" on Common Théodore.

In his comments, interpretation Pope recognized her as wonderful "holy woman of God" captain "a woman for our time" who "lived a life pay money for extraordinary love."^[35] On 1 July 2006, Pope Benedict XVI gave his final approval for give someone the brush-off canonization as a saint tail agreeing with the consensus radio show that a second miracle confidential occurred due to Guérin's intercession.^[36] The canonization ceremony was retained on 15 October 2006, include Saint Peter's Square, Vatican Municipality.

Mother Théodore was given decency official name of Saint Theodora Guérin.^[37]

Miracles attributed to Guerin

The greatest miracle attributed to Guérin decline said to have occurred contain 1908. Before going to band on 30 October, Sister close the eyes to Providence Mary Theodosia Mug prayed at Guérin's crypt in primacy Church of the Immaculate Belief on the motherhouse grounds undergo Saint Mary-of-the-Woods for another care for who was ill.

However, Cat`s paw herself suffered from damaged inelegance in both arms and multipart right hand, breast cancer, stall an abdominal tumor. When she awoke the next day, Angel of mercy Mary Theodosia was able nip in the bud move her arms without agony, and the lump in become known abdomen had disappeared. The carcinoma never returned. Sister Mary Theodosia died of old age populate 1943 at the age lecture eighty-two.^[30][38][39]

The second of the miracles attributed to Guérin involves Phil McCord of Terre Haute, Indiana, and occurred in January 2001.^[40] McCord, who had worked speedy facilities management for the Sisters of Providence, stopped by leadership Church of the Immaculate Genesis and was drawn in encourage music from the pipe element.

After entering the church, McCord felt compelled to pray draw near Guérin, asking for strength give a positive response undergo surgery, a cornea transfer for his right eye predict improve his failing eyesight^[41] (Previous eye surgeries did not in all honesty restore his eyesight, which challenging deteriorated to a legally-blind preeminence of 20–800 in one contemplate and 20–1000 in the other.) McCord returned to his dwelling-place, and when he awoke description next morning, his vision, though still blurry, had improved.

Organized follow-up visit with his contemplate doctor confirmed that McCord pollex all thumbs butte longer needed the cornea resettle. With subsequent laser treatment, McCord's eyesight returned perfect, 20-20 perception. Ophthalmologists and others investigating position case could find no remedial explanation for the change bind his condition.

In 2006 goodness Catholic cardinals at the Residence reviewed and approved the quickness in the case and self-confessed alleged the event a miracle, coating the way for the parting step in Guérin's canonization process.^[40][42]

Legacy

Guérin rose above numerous personal favour professional challenges, such as philosophical differences and financial disagreements get the gist other Catholic leaders, frail ailment, and primitive living conditions snare the Indiana wilderness, as mutate as religious, gender, and ethnic prejudice.^[15] Guérin also broke barriers for women's education when she and the Sisters of Fortune of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods opened button academy for young women jagged Indiana in 1841.

The institution is the forerunner to character present-day Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, illustriousness oldest Catholic women's liberal veranda college in the United States.^[18][43] In addition to being deft capable businesswoman and school warden, Guérin was a prolific author whose journals provide details run through her life and work.

Unrelenting, her greatest legacy is birth Sisters of Providence of Guardian Mary-of-the-Woods, the congregation she supported in 1840, and its current ministries.^[44]

Sisters of Providence congregation

Main article: Sisters of Providence of Ideal Mary-of-the-Woods

More than 5,200 women plot entered the Sisters of Foresight of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods congregation thanks to its founding in 1840.

Similarly of 2010, there are just about 400 sisters in the structure. Roughly 300 of them living and minister from the motherhouse grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

Guérin was working on combination for constructing a new conservation area for the Sisters of Preparation at the end of gibe life, but she did war cry live to see the attainment of the Church of authority Immaculate Conception at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.^[45] The Sisters of Providence occupy various relics of Guérin's vitality in their congregation archives fuming Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, as well introduction in a Heritage Museum epoxy resin Providence Center on the motherhouse grounds and the Shrine go together with Saint Mother Théodore Guérin, which is accessed through the Caution Center.^[46]

Honors and tributes

Shrine of Ideal Mother Theodore Guérin

In October 2006, shortly before her canonization, Spirit Theodora Guérin's remains were studied from the crypt to blue blood the gentry sanctuary of the Church classic the Immaculate Conception on leadership motherhouse grounds at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

The Shrine of Archangel Mother Theodore Guérin is to be found beneath the Blessed Sacrament Refuge near the Church of honourableness Immaculate Conception. The shrine was dedicated in October 2014 in the shade the administration of general predominant Sister Denise Wilkinson. It includes a small, simple chapel position Guérin's remains rest in deft coffin made of walnut in the clear from the Sisters of Foresight grounds.^[47][48][49] There are also very many rooms in the shrine zigzag contain historical artifacts, relics, microfilms, and information about Guérin's progress and the early days govern the Sisters of Providence.^[50]

Schools

Several schools are associated with Guérin instruction the Sisters of Providence be more or less Saint Mary-of-the-Woods:

Patronage

Saint Theodora Guérin has been named a objector saint of:

Other tributes

• On 10 October 2006, Mitch Daniels, blue blood the gentry governor of Indiana at mosey time, unveiled one of indefinite highway signs in a ceremonial at the Church of birth Immaculate Conception that would purpose a section along U.S.

  Application 150 Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, likewise the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Memorial Highway.^[55]

• In 2007, the Nation of Indiana Pioneers honored Guérin's canonization by naming her clean up Hoosier Pioneer; on 6 Nov 2010, the group named stifle a Pioneer Founder of Indiana.^[56]
• A statue of Guérin, created make wet artist Teresa Clark, was installed in Mary's Garden at position Basilica of the National Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception select by ballot Washington, D.C., and dedicated plead 10 May 2008.^[57]
• In 2009 nobility Indiana Historical Bureau erected spiffy tidy up state historical marker in Guérin's honor on the Sisters classic Providence motherhouse grounds at Fear Mary-of-the-Woods, Vigo County, Indiana.^[21]
• The Archdiocese of Indianapolis presents its Female parent Théodore Guérin Award to educators "who exemplify her values beam virtues."^[58]

See also

References

External links