Above:  Bonny Thomas (January 17, 1965-October 14, 2019)

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My week of anniversaries has nearly ended.

1. Tuesday, October 11, marked one year, since I moved from Athens, Georgia, to Americus, Georgia.
2. Friday, October 14, marked three years since Bonny died.
3. Tomorrow–Monday, October 17–will mark one year since my first Sunday at Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, not as visitor.  (I had been in and out of this parish as a visitor from St. Gregory the Great, Athens from late 2006 to late 2019.)

These are only three of the plethora of changes in my life since October 14, 2019.  I have, for example, become thinner, gained more white hairs, and become the human guardian of a sweet and wild longhaired black cat I have renamed Boudicea Felicia Taylor.  Also, I moved into my new apartment in February this year.

Above:  Boudicea, September 17, 2022

Photograph by Kenneth Randolph Taylor

To notice some reactions upon hearing the feline’s name, one would think that “Boudicea” is an odd name for a cat and that many people have no idea who the original Boudicea was.  I am a history buff, though.  And the appellation suits the former “Ladybug,” however.  Such a feline deserves a warrior’s name.

“Ladybug” (already so named when my mother rescued her from the animal shelter in 2019) had been in and out of that shelter a few times during the first eight months of her life.  The cat was too wild for her humans up to that point.  I inherited Ladybug when my mother moved to Magnolia Manor, Americus, early this year.  Given that the Manor forbids pets, the illustrious wild feline moved to my new apartment.  The two of us have adapted to each other and come to know each other better.  Boudicea’s primary attachment has become the pair bond to me.

I do think about Boudicea’s psychology.  I suppose that, when I go away overnight (as on a short trip, perhaps for business), she may think that I have abandoned her.  Even my mother coming over to visit the cat and take care of cat sitting tasks may not prevent that feline fear.  Boudicea is an intelligent creature to whom I have responsibilities.

During the last twelve months, I have become active in Calvary Episcopal Church.  I have become a lector.  I have started the lectionary class that meets before the worship service.  I have also become the parish librarian, organized the library, and started to accept donations to the library.

My life today differs considerably from what it used to be four years ago, three years ago, two years ago, and one year ago.  I wonder what my life will be like one year from now, presuming, for the sake of discussion, that I will still be alive then.  Nobody knows when one will die.  I enjoy life and hope to continue for as long as possible.  But I know from the deaths of relatives and friends that we will all die one day–probably without warning.

Until then, I am here, trying to be the post possible version of myself in God.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

OCTOBER 16, 2022 COMMON ERA

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The Hail Mary is dew falling from heaven to make the soul fruitful. It is a pure kiss of love we give to Mary.

Above:  Trichet and Montfort

Image in the Public Domain

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SAINT LOUIS-MARIE GRIGNION DE MONTFORT (JANUARY 31, 1673-APRIL 28, 1716)

Founder of the Company of Mary (the Montfort Missionaries)

Founder of the Brothers of Saint Gabriel 

Co-Founder of the Daughters of Wisdom

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BLESSED MARIE-LOUISE TRICHET (MAY 7, 1684-APRIL 28, 1759)

Co-Founder of the Daughters of Wisdom

Also known as Marie-Louise of Jesus and the First Daughter of Wisdom

Alternative feast day = May 7

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–St. Louis de Montfort

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Your real superior is Mary; I am but her servant.

–Blessed Marie-Louise Trichet

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St. Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie-Louise Trichet come to this, A Great Cloud of Witnesses:  An Ecumenical Calendar of Saints’ Days and Holy Days, via the Roman Catholic Church.  Both saints share the same feast day on the Roman Catholic calendar because they died on April 28.  Furthermore, properly telling the biography of one saint is impossible without telling of the life of the other one.

MONTFORT (I)

 

St. Louis de Montfort became an advocate of Marian devotion.  He also had a strong devotion to angels, especially guardian angels.

Montfort, born in Montfort-sur-Meu, France, on January 31, 1673, was one of eighteen children of Jeanne Robert Grignion and notary Jean-Baptiste Grignion.  Our saint grew up on the family farm near Montfort-sur-Meu.  When twelve years old, he matriculated at the Jesuit College of Saint Thomas Becket, Rennes; an uncle was a parish priest there.  Montfort remained at the College of Saint Thomas Becket to study theology.  These were formative years for our saint, who developed his interest in missions and his devotion to St. Mary of Nazareth.

Theological studies continued at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, starting in 1693.  The scholarship proved inadequate, so Montfort lived among the poor of Paris in boarding houses.  His health also failed.  Somehow, our saint survived the bloodletting in the hospital in 1695.  Montfort, then appointed the seminary librarian, studied spiritual classics, especially of a Marian nature.

Montfort, ordained to the priesthood in June 1700, became a parish priest.  His first assignment was in Nantes.  Our saint, frustrated that he could not become a missionary to New France, felt stymied in fulfilling his vocation.  He became a Dominican tertiary in November 1700.  The following year, our saint began to serve as the chaplain of the hospital in Poitiers.  There he met Blessed Marie-Louise Trichet.

TRICHET (I)

Blessed Marie-Louise Trichet came from a pious Roman Catholic family.  She, born on May 7, 1684, was the fourth of eight children of Françoise Lecoeq and court magistrate Julen Trichet, of Poitiers, France.  One brother, Alexis, became a priest.  He, ordained in 1710, died the following year while ministering to plague victims in a prison camp.  One sister became a nun.  Another sister, Jeanne, paralyzed when thirteen years old, received healing during a pilgrimage to Notre Dame des Ardilliers, Samur, France, three years later.  Blessed Marie-Louise, educated by the Sisters of Sainte Jeanne de Lestonac, devoted her life to caring for the poor and the ill.

MONTFORT AND TRICHET (I)

Blessed Marie-Louise, seventeen years old, encountered Father Louis de Montfort at the Poitiers General Hospital in 1701.  He was the new chaplain; she was a volunteer.  Technicalities required Blessed Marie-Louise to enter the hospital as an inmate.  The pious, displeased mothe told her:

You will become as mad as that priest.

Blessed Marie-Louise did become as “mad as that priest.” effective February 2, 1703.  She moved into General Hospital, officially as an inmate.  Actually, she served as a nurse for a decade and helped Montfort administer the hospital.  Blessed Marie-Louise also expanded the hospital’s mission to include feeding beggars.

TRICHET (II)

Blessed Marie-Louise and Catherine Brunet departed Poitiers in 1715.  Brunet had joined Blessed Marie-Louise in hospital administration at Deux-Sèvres the previous year.  The women, accepting the invitation of the Bishop of La Rochelle, opened a free school for children of the poor in that city in 1715.

MONTFORT (II)

Despite all his good deeds to date, Montfort perceived that he was not fulfilling his vocation.  He wanted to serve as a missionary.  The priest consulted Pope Clement XI (r. 1700-1721), who assured him that he could fulfill that vocation in France.  The Supreme Pontiff also gave Montfort a new title:  Apostolic Missionary.  So, Montfort’s time as chaplain of the General Hospital, Poitiers, ended a few years after it had begun.  He became a traveling missioner.  Montfort also wrote books about Marian devotion.  He encouraged consecration to Jesus via Mary.  He also founded the Company of Mary (the Montfort Missionaries).

MONTFORT AND TRICHET (II)

On August 22, 1715, at La Rochelle, Montfort and Blessed Marie-Louise founded the Daughters of Wisdom.  Blessed Marie-Louise became Marie-Louise of Jesus.  The new order focused on teaching children and caring for the poor.

MONTFORT (III)

Montfort, aged forty-three years, had been a priest for about sixteen years when he died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvres, France, on April 28, 1716.  The priest had worn himself out.  His final sermon had been about the tenderness of Christ and the Incarnate Wisdom of God the Father.

Holy Mother Church has formally recognized Montfort.  Pope Pius IX declared him a Venerable in 1869.  Pope Leo XIII made our saint one of the beati.  Pope Pius XII canonized Montfort in 1947.

TRICHET (III)

Blessed Marie-Louise expanded and managed the work of the Daughters of Wisdom after Montfort’s death.  The order cared for orphans, as well as for the elderly and the handicapped.  The order also operated schools, and many members worked in hospitals.

Blessed Marie-Louise died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvres, on April 28, 1759–forty-three years to the day after her mentor’s death.  She, aged sixty-six years, never recovered from a fall from a horse.  Her tomb was next to that of Montfort.

Holy Mother Church has formally recognized Trichet.  Pope John Paul II declared her Venerable (1990) then Blessed (1993).

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

OCTOBER 1, 2022 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF ANTHONY ASHLEY COOPER, LORD SHAFTESBURY, BRITISH HUMANITARIAN AND SOCIAL REFORMER

THE FEAST OF CHUCK MATTHEI, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE EQUITY TRUST, INC.

THE FEAST OF MARIE-JOSEPH AUBERT, FOUNDER OF THE DAUGHTERS OF OUR LADY OF COMPASSION

THE FEAST OF RALPH W. SOCKMAN, UNITED METHODIST MINISTER AND SPIRITUAL WRITER

THE FEAST OF SAINT ROMANUS THE MELODIST, DEACON AND HYMNODIST

THE FEAST OF SAINT THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX, ROMAN CATHOLIC NUN AND MYSTIC

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Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses:

Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servants

Saint Louis de Montfort and Blessed Marie-Louise Trichet,

may persevere in running the race that is set before us,

until at last we may with them attain to your eternal joy;

through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

Micah 6:6-8

Psalm 15

Hebrews 12:1-2

Matthew 25:31-40

–Adapted from Holy Women, Holy Men:  Celebrating the Saints (2010), 724

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