Celebrating Jules Chevalier’s 200th birthday
As we celebrate birthdays, we do so in the light of the achievements of the person we are celebrating. Then, we remember, that on the actual birth day, it was an ordinary day, a child born to loving parents, but no guiding star shining in the heavens.
So today, we celebrate the day of Jules Chevalier’s birth, in central France, Richelieu, to his parents, Louise and Charles, joyful, but not anticipating how their son’s life would turn out, his simple background, his seminary studies, the discovery of the Heart of Jesus, his priestly commitment, his zest for parish life, the inspiration to start a missionary congregation, to name Mary Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, his gathering so many to himself but seeing them scattered by anticlerical laws throughout Europe, then far beyond, especially to the missionary lands of the Pacific, the Sister Congregations, the outreach to the Laity . And, the sadness of his last days, ousted from his Presbytery, yet faithful and, after 83 years of life, almost 53 years in his MSC vocation, he left us his heritage.
Reflection. Founder
From Charles Piperon: The foundation of a religious Congregation is not an ordinary work that depends on human will, or that a person may undertake or not just as he may wish, like the construction of a monument, the running of an estate, or any other operation that is left to our free choice in accordance with our natural talents. To think in this way would be to ignore an elementary truth about religion.
Founders receive their mission from on high. They receive the same instructions as Moses, “see that you build according to the model shown you” (Exodus 25:40). The success or not of their enterprise depends on their fidelity in responding to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. From this fact also arises a religious family’s obligation to preserve a lovingly the spirit it has received from its founder.
Reflection: Social reign of the Sacred Heart.
From his letter to Father Delaporte MSC, 16 February 1891.
No, I am a no means indifferent, as you seem to think, about the establishment of the social reign of the Sacred Heart. Nobody desires it more than I do – be sure of that. If time had permitted me, I would have written long ago a series of articles on that important subject in our Annals, for I consider it one of the principal works of our Congregation.
I have spoken around about many times concerning the matter, but nobody could or would take on the task. Since you were fully engaged in labour questions, in articles for the newspapers and in your periodical…, I refrained from asking you to take in hand this part of the program of our Annals. Since you can do it, I’m not only not opposed to it, but I wholeheartedly urge you to do so.
