Sister Rosalie (Jeanne-Marie) Rendu was born on 9th of September 1786, in the village of Confort in Ain, France. From a young age, she was educated in the exercise of charity and was naturally drawn to serving the poor. On 25th of May 1802, she was admitted to the seminary in the mother house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. Due to illness, she was sent to a house in the Mouffetard neighborhood, a very poor area in Paris, where she remained for 54 years until her death. She was particularly committed to visiting the poor at their homes. During the civil wars of 1830 and 1848, she played a significant role. The nuns’ house became a refuge for the poorest in the neighborhood. Sister Rosalie also guided many in the exercise of charity, including a group of young university students, among whom were Blessed Federic Ozanam and the venerable Léon Le Prévost. They started the “Conferences of Saint Vincent de Paul”. Sister Rosalia passed away on 7th of February 1856 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 9th of November 2003.
Invitatory Antiphon: The Lord is the King of virgins: Come Let us adore Him.
Hymn
God's blessed Spirit moved his virgin saint
To wield strong weapons in a lifelong fight,
To make a lonely journey from the flesh,
That she might live unfettered in his sight.
She turned her face towards the cross of Christ,
And he himself prepared her as his bride;
She bore the Holy Spirit's timeless fruits
By which God's pledge of love is ratified.
Her life showed forth the kingdom of the Lord,
When humbly for his sake she dwelt apart,
To wait on him in silence with the poor,
The chaste of body and the clean of heart.
O Blessed Trinity, the virgins' crown,
They sing your praises with unending song,
Rejoicing in the hope you have fulfilled,
Lord God, unfailing strength of all the strong
Antiphon 1: I will bear witness to Christ; it is Christ that I seek; with Christ I desire to be united.
Antiphon 2: Virgins, bless the Lord; he who planted his wisdom in you, now crowns the fruit that you have borne.
Antiphon 3: The saints will rejoice in glory; their victory shines forth in their bodies.
Scripture Reading
Song of Solomon 8:7.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
Short Responsory
V. My heart has said of you: I have sought your presence, Lord.
R. My heart has said of you: I have sought your presence, Lord.
V. It is your face that I will continue to seek.
R. My heart has said of you: I have sought your presence, Lord.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. My heart has said of you: I have sought your presence, Lord.
Benedictus Antiphon: See the wise virgin has gone to Christ; she shines among the choirs of virgins like the son in the heavens.
Intercessions
With joy, we celebrate the memory of our sister, Blessed Rosalia Rendu. We ask God, the Father of mercy, to make us imitators of living the gospel of charity- a rule of life as indicated by Saint Vincent:
R. Guide us, O Father, in love for our brothers.
May we receive this day from Your hands and return it to You, enriched with works of fraternal charity. R.
Just as Your Son moved among people, healing and benefiting all, grant us readiness to serve our brothers and sisters. R.
Open our eyes and hearts to the needs of others, teaching us sincere love and mutual assistance. R.
May our virtues express our spirit, proclaiming the wonders of Your love through both words and deeds. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who gave blessed Rosalie Rendu,
the gift of Your Spirit of love,
that she would be of help to those in need and are abandoned,
grant us too, following her example,
the joy of finding Christ in the poor,
and to serve Him with tireless charity.
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever
Hymn
O Jesus, thou the virgins' crown,
Thy gracious ear to us bow down,
Born of that Virgin whom alone
The Mother and the maid we own.
In thee, their Bridegroom and their Lord,
The virgins find their bright reward,
And wheresoe'r they footsteps wend
With hymns and praises thee attend.
O gracious Lord, we thee implore
Thy grace into our minds to pour;
From all defilement keep us free,
And make us pure in heart for thee.
All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
With whom the Spirit we adore,
Forever and for evermore.
Antiphon 1: I will keep myself chaste for you, I will meet you, the bridegroom, carrying a brightly shining lamp.
Antiphon 2: Blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.
Antiphon 3: My firm hope will not be moved; it is based on Christ like a house on a rock.
Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 7:32,34.
The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
Short Responsory
V. The virgins come before the King, singing for joy.
R. The virgins come before the King, singing for joy.
V. They enter the temple of the King.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
R. The virgins come before the King, singing for joy.
Magnificat Antiphon: Come, bride of Christ and receive the crown, which the Lord has prepared for you.
Intercessions
To God the Father, the source of charity, we offer our filial supplications. May the Church and civil society become bearers of His love to all who suffer:
R. Lord, make us instruments of Your love.
We thank You for giving us Your Son, filling us with the riches of Your word and knowledge. R.
May the Christian people live their vocation coherently, serving unity in the bond of peace. R.
Through Your glorified Son, lift up the poor, heal the sick, and free the prisoners, extending redemption’s benefits to all. R.
Confirm those who have abandoned everything to follow Christ, making them living gospels and authentic witnesses to the Church’s holiness. R.
May Your mercy embrace our departed, permitting them to rejoice with Mary and the saints in the joy of paradise. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who gave blessed Rosalie Rendu,
the gift of Your Spirit of love,
that she would be of help to those in need and are abandoned,
grant us too, following her example,
the joy of finding Christ in the poor,
and to serve Him with tireless charity.
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
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