Friday, April 8, Fourth Week in Lent
ST. JULIE BILLIART (b France 1751, d Belgium 1816)
Nun, Founder of the Sisters of Notre Dame
A farmer's daughter, Julie showed early signs of holiness, which found practical expression in making
laces and linens for her parish church and being a catechist to children and to farm laborers. At age
30, she was paralyzed by a mysterious illness, which did not keep her from continuing with her work
as catechist nor from dispensing spiritual advice for which she soon gained quite a reputation. During
the years following the French Revolution, she had to be taken from place to place to avoid getting
caught in the murderous wave of anti-Catholicism. In Amiens, she was sheltered by an aristocrat,
Francoise Blin de Bourdon, who came to admire Julie for her spiritual gifts. Eventually, they decided
to start a community dedicated to educating Christian girls and training catechists, which was to
become the Institute of Notre Dame. Julie, Francoise and two of their proteges professed their vows
in 1804, at which time, Julie was miraculously healed of of her paralysis, and was able to walk again
after 22 years. She travelled throughout France and Belgium establishing schools and convents. In
1809, she moved the motherhouse from Amiens to Namur in Belgium, when a new bishop wished to
impose rules to bring the congregation in line with ancient monastic orders. From 1804-1816, Julie
founded 15 convents, made 120 journeys, and carried on correspondence with her sisters now kept in
the convent at Namur. After her death, many miracles were attributed to her. A canonization process
was started in 1881, and she was beatified in 1906. She was finally canonized in 1969.
Readings for today's Mass: www.usccb.org/nab/readings/040811.shtml
OR today.
Two papal stories today: The Pope's sorrow over the latest deaths at sea of boat people fleeing Africa for Europe,
and his address to the bishops of India's Syro-Malabar Church at the end of their ad limina visit. Page 1 international
news: The UN asks the Libyan government for a ceasefire in Misurata due to heavy civilian casualties; Abidjan, the most
important city in the Ivory Coast, has become a battlefield between forces loyal to defiant ex-president Ngagbo and
those supporting President-elect Ouattara; Haiti still prostrate from the earthquake catastrophe of 15 months ago
(in contrast, a story in the inside pages tells of the recovery of Italy's L'Aquila region from a major earthquake
two years ago).
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
The Holy Father attended the third Lenten sermon by the Pontifical Preacher, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa,
at the Redemptoris Mater Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.
After that, he met with
- Four more Syro-Malabar bishops (Group 5) on ad limina visit, including the Eparch of Chicago. Individual meetings.
- Participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Address in Spanish.
- Cardinal William Joseph Levada, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
START THE NOVENA FOR
THE POPE'S BIRTHDAY TODAY -
AND DON'T FORGET HIS
SIXTH ANNIVERSARY AS POPE
The prayers were provided by the PRAY A NOVENA initiative
entitled 84,000 NOVENAS FOR THE POPE'S 84TH BIRTHDAY.
www.praymorenovenas.com/novenas/84000-novenas-for-pope
In connection with ANNIVERSARY #6 of Benedict XVI’s Pontificate, which inaugurates his seventh year as Pope, this brief news item from KIPA-APIC news agency today.
Italian President to offer
anniversary concert for the Pope
ROME, April 8 (Translated from APIC) – On the occasion of the sixth anniversary of Benedict XVI’s Pontificate, the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitnao, will offer a concert in honor of the Pope on May 5 at the Vatican’s Aula Paolo VI.
The Orchestra and Choir of the Rome Opera, under the direction of Spanish conductor Jesus Lopez Cobos, will perform Antonio Vivald's
Gloria and Gioacchino Rissini’s
Stabat mater.
[Since he became President, Napolitano has presented a concert in honor of the Pope at least once a year, in some years even twice, to mark his birthday and/or the anniversary of the Pontificate.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 08/04/2011 21:06]