THE FEAST OF ST ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, RELIGIOUS.
FEAST OF ST ROSE PHILIPPINE DUCHESNE, RELIGIOUS.
"At that time Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.
When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
And he came down quickly and received him with joy.
When they saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord,
“Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
And Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham.
For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19: 1 - 10).
Tuesday 18th November 2025 in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Rose Philippine Duchesne. (1769 - 1852). French. Virgin and Religious.
The French Revolution disrupted the religious formation of Blessed Rose.
She waited for 11 years to join a new Congregation: The Society of the Sacred Heart.
At the age of 49, St Rose undertook her missionary journey to America. She founded schools to educate girls.
St Rose Philippine Duchesne left her native country France at the age of 49 to travel to America. She heard the urgency of the Gospel to educate little girls in America and show them the way of the love and peace of Christ.
The Lord blessed her ministry. 170 years after the death of St Rose Philippine Duchesne, Duchesne Academy continues the work of educating girls in America.
We remember today also the Dedication of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in November 18, 1626.
Our Scripture for today is from Luke 19: 1 - 10.
Listen to what Zacchaeus says:
"But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
Zacchaeus says: If I have cheated you in any way, come forward and lay down your case. I am willing and ready to make full restitution and more.
Unfortunately, we don't know whether anyone took up the challenge.
Because Zacchaeus is a tax collector, many commentators decide that Zacchaeus is a corrupt man. The text of the Scripture does not say that. It is like saying that every politician and every lawyer is a liar and corrupt.
God says: "I do not judge a man from his lofty height and stature. I read the heart." (Cf 1 Samuel 16: 7).
Many thieves and fraudsters who are caught red handed try to negotiate the terms of the settlement. Not Zacchaeus. His attitude is: Lord, I give up everything to be a part of You and Your Enterprise.
Taking a cue from the conversion of Zacchaeus, the Church teaches:
"Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."......... It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life." (CCC 1427).
"Above all there is My Holy Mother, My all-beautiful and Immaculate Mother Mary. She is where I am. She is close to the priest who is close to Me in the Sacrament of My love. Nothing gives so much joy to her Immaculate Heart as seeing one of her priest sons in adoration before My Eucharistic Face. She opens her hands over him—as she is doing over you at this very moment—and causes a shower of graces to fall into his soul. Love My Mother, love My Mother more and more. You will never approach the love of My own Heart for her by yourself, but I, by My free gift, can and will unite you to the love of My Sacred Heart for her. Thus will you come to experience the ineffable union of our two Hearts in your own heart." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday April 14, 2008).
November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.
St. Alphonsus Liguori: “The clients of this most merciful Mother (Mary) are very fortunate. She helps them both in this life and in the next, consoling them and sponsoring their cause in Purgatory… See how important it is then to have devotion to this good Lady, because she never forgets her servants as long as they suffer in these flames.”
For Catholic Church's teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:
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