God’s Protective Care
What does it really mean to be a saint?
Last spring, I found myself faced with this question as I toured the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin at Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods near Terre Haute, Indiana.
Mother Theodore was an incredible woman who spent her life trusting in Providence – the protective care of God. She encouraged the Sisters of Providence to do the same, which called for courage and an openness to dependence.
Melissa and Josh visiting St. Mary of the Woods
In 1840, Mother Theodore, along with five sister companions, volunteered as missionary teachers to travel from France to Indiana in service of the Bishop of Vincennes. When they arrived, they were shocked to find no village or town in sight. They traveled into the deep woods where a small, two-room farmhouse was set off by itself. There, they would share one of the rooms, with the farmer’s family occupying the other room.
Courage to persevere and trust in God was demanded of them. Now, they were in a foreign country where they didn’t speak the language and where no home awaited them.
Mother Theodore drew upon her tenacity. She proposed to purchase the small home to use as the mother-house and redirected the sisters’ future home that was currently under construction to become the first academy. The academy opened on July 4, 1841 and is still an active college today.
Hardship persisted beyond her early years taking many forms of suffering, including ongoing illness and struggles with the bishop, who unlawfully excommunicated her. After several weeks, the pope reinstated her upon acceptance of the bishop’s resignation.
Mother Theodore died on May 14, 1856 at the age of 58. She spent her life educating and advocating for the poor. She lived by the philosophy to “love the children first and then teach them.”This approach was rooted in her belief that we are to “love all in God and for God, and all will be well.” Mother Theodore was quick to give all credit for her success to God. In good times and bad, she trusted in Providence.
To me, this was her greatest attribute and one we should all strive for.
Melissa with Sister Martha Wessel
While visiting the shrine, I spent time with some of the sisters, one of whom is my aunt, Sr. Martha Joseph Wessel. She entered the Sisters of Providence when she was 18 years old. She is now in her seventies.
The influence Mother Theodore has had on my aunt is evident. Sr. Martha radiates God’s love and has placed her entire life in the Father’s hands. I’ve never seen her without a big smile on her face. She’s spent her years educating others about the love of God. Even when I was visiting, she gave me a three-hour tour of the museum, walking me through the life of Mother Theodore and the work of the thousands of sisters who followed in her footsteps.
In the museum, I stumbled upon a beautiful and profound quote from Mother Theodore, which serves well to answer the question - What does it really mean to be a saint?
“What must we do in order to be saints? Nothing extraordinary. Nothing more than we do every day. Only do it for His Love.”
Melissa Schmid
Want to learn more about saints? Join us every first Sunday from September-May at 10:30am in the Fellowship space for All Saints Club.