Julie Billiart, whose feast day we celebrate today, has a very interesting story. She was born in France to a prominent farming family in 1751. Since a youth, she was involved in teaching the catechism to farm laborers and to youth. She was stricken with a mysterious illness at the age of 30, which left her paralyzed and mostly bedridden. However, she still gave spiritual advice and taught the catechism. When the French Revolution started in 1789, she spent several years in hiding, since the revolutionary forces were aware of her allegiance to fugitive priests. She always stayed true to her faith. Later, her friendship with an aristocratic woman led to the founding of the Institute of Notre Dame in 1803, dedicated to the education of poor Catholic girls and to the training of catechists. She died at the motherhouse of the institute in Belgium in 1816 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1969.
The psalmist today prays: “O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you.” I think of the saint we celebrate today, St Julie Billiart, of how she endured so much physical illness in her life and so many obstacles, yet she endured to serve the Lord in teaching the faith to many who were poor and on the margins. The Lord hears our prayers and gives us the strength to face our obstacles and sufferings. May we always serve the Lord in perseverance and in hope.
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