Maddalena Morano was born in 1847, the sixth of eight children. When she was eight years old, her father and older sister died, and Maddalena went to work to support the family as the sole breadwinner. Her uncle was a priest who helped with her education, and by the time she was 14, she was hired as a schoolteacher. Though she felt a calling to religious life she continued to work for the next 12 years as a teacher and catechist. After raising her siblings and saving enough money to secure her mother’s future, she consulted St. John Bosco and he directed her to join the Salesian Sisters. She was sent to work directing a school, teaching, cooking, and training new teachers. By the time of her death at age 60, she had opened 18 new Salesian houses.
CHALLENGE
Blessed Maddalena Caterina Morano put her desire to live the life of a consecrated religious on hold, realizing that sometimes following God’s call means putting others first and that taking care of your family is doing God’s work. Today, spend at least half an hour in meditative prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can serve your family better.
In France in 1572, Jane Frances Frémyot was born to the president of the local parliament. Her mother died when Jane was only 18 months old, and her devout father ensured Jane was well-raised and educated. When she was 21 he arranged for her to be married to the Baron de Chantal, a son of one of his friends. Jane had four children before the Baron was killed in a hunting accident, and widowed at 28, she moved in with her father-in-law to secure her children’s inheritance. Under the spiritual direction of St. Francis de Sales she founded the Congregation of the Visitation, an order for women whose health or age prevented them from joining other orders. Jane was deeply devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and grew her order to 86 houses before her death at age 69.
CHALLENGE
St. Jane de Chantal faced many adversities in her life, but she found ways to turn adversity into fruits for God. Adversity comes in many forms. What matters isn’t the adversity you face, but how you face it. What adversity is a part of your life? Bring it to your spiritual director, and figure out how you can turn your adversity into fruits for God.
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