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"I never pray so well as I did in the street", she said.
Her faith, solid as a rock and clear as a spring, revealed Jesus Christ in all circumstances. She daily experienced this conviction of Saint Vincent: “You will go and visit the poor ten times a day, and ten times a day you will find God there… you go into their poor homes, but you find God there”. Her prayer life was intense, as a Sister affirmed, “…she continually lived in the presence of God. She had a difficult mission to fulfill and we were always assured of seeing her go to the chapel or finding her on her knees in her office”.
“If love is a fire, then zeal is its flame!”
As the one responsible for her Community, Sister Rosalie received the mission of accompanying each of her Sisters, of supporting them, providing formation for the new members and providing leadership for their Community life. She carried this out with the greatest of care, communicating her love and joy of service. To be convinced we need only give from those who witnessed this:
She had the art of discernment and leadership. Sister Angelique recounts: “As I was the youngest and the most robust, Sister Rosalie gave me the district the furthest away and the most populated. You will have the best part, she would tell me. It is in the Golden City where all that is mediocre gathers in Paris. You will meet many drunkards. Walk along modestly and diligently, without great haste. Ask all the children you meet if they go to school. There is much good to be done! It is a true place for a Daughter of Charity.”
“Humble in her authority, Sister Rosalie would correct us with great sensitivity. It would generally go something like this: ‘Our Lord asked this of you… did you not understand it?’… “She was precise in the way in which we were to receive the poor. They are our Lords and Masters! Did you think of that, my Sister, when you so harshly sent that poor person away?”… “If, at the conclusion of an inquiry, we brought back a favourable response, she would send us to tell the concerned families, so that we would have a part in their joy and in this way encourage us not to tire in doing good for the poor. We can never do enough, my Sisters!”
“Sister Rosalie saw God in her companions who had been chosen as God’s spouses. She loved them tenderly like a mother”…. “When the weather was bad or a storm came up while we were out, she would always find a moment to put our slippers near the warmth of the fireplace… she herself would make sure that we did not have wet feet and that our clothing was warm!!”
“If love is a fire, then zeal is its flame!” would say Saint Vincent. The little Community of rue de l’Epée de Bois, supported by prayer and sisterly love, was ready to face the great poverty of this tormented century.
“To give humanity its dignity…”
“The poor people are dying of hunger and are damned” said Saint Vincent de Paul. Such was the situation in the countryside in 17th Century France.
It was a similar situation – perhaps even worse!... noted the young Sister Rosalie upon arriving in the Saint Médard District of Paris. Poor lodgings, hunger, and exploitation, the Poor were being pushed into decline and rebellion.
“The poorest district of Paris; where two-thirds of the population lacked firewood in winter, where more chestnuts were thrown at the ‘Foundlings’, had the sickest in the Hôtel Dieu, had the most beggars in the streets… the most workers out of work in the squares and the most accused before the Police magistrate.” Honoré de Balzac.“Hunt down poverty in order to give humanity its dignity”, such was Sister Rosalie’s objective for 54 years!
With her Community, she untiringly cared for, fed, visited, consoled and soothed others! Gifted with a keen sensitivity, she had empathy for all suffering. “There is something that is choking me”, she said, “and takes away my appetite… the thought that so many families lack bread”… and her feminine intuition would suggest what to do, the solution to create. For the service of the Poor, such as it was, she dared to undertake everything with intelligence and boldness.
Nothing would stop her if it concerned putting someone back on their feet.
Sister Rosalie lived to the letter, each day, these recommendations of the Founders:
“I should not judge the poor according to their exterior nor by their apparent capacities… but turn the medal and you will see by the light of Faith that the Son of God is represented to us through these poor people… He who hardly had the appearance of a human being in His passion... ” Saint Vincent de Paul.
“We must love them tenderly and respect them deeply.” Saint Louise de Marillac
Sister Rosalie did not question the established order nor did she support rebellion, that was not her way. In order to fight against injustice and poverty, she awakened the conscience of those in power or those with money, she worked toward the education of the children and the youth of poor families and, to respond to emergencies, she encouraged sharing. She “organized charity”.
“There are many ways of providing charity”, she would say. “The assistance of money or assistance in-kind that we give to the poor will not last long. We must aspire to a more complete and longer lasting benefit: study their abilities, their level of instruction and try to get them work to help them out of their difficulties”. Sister Rosalie showed great clear-mindedness! Joyfully, she supported and counseled her friends committed to social reforms, but by choice, the servant joined the poor, “her masters” on the fields of poverty.
“When the fire spreads…”
The correspondence of Sr. Rosalie and the witness of her Sisters reveal her concern for young people and her talent as an educator. It was not far from the Mouffetard District to the Latin Quarter! At times young people from all the schools, aspiring to all sorts of careers could be seen in her office – students of law, medicine, education and engineering, each coming to seek a “good work” to accomplish or give an account of some service rendered.
Tenderly and respectfully Sr. Rosalie would personally accompany them, be concerned about their life situations, support them, assure a link with their families, and, as a good educator, she would ask each one what they could give to the service of the poor – to one, their pen, to another, their activity and to another, their words and to each one, a few moments of their time to bring assistance to those in need. She recommended patience, leniency and courtesy to them. “Love the poor, do not blame them too much… remember that the poor are even more sensitive to your behavior than to help.”
The relationships continued when the students left for the countryside. News would then arrive at rue de l’Epée de Bois and was shared with those interested, thanks to the diligence and discretion of Sr. Rosalie who continued to encourage the vocations she had aroused.
In this way, Sr. Rosalie awakened and developed lay and priestly vocations for charity.
“So that the network of charity may grow…”
In the days following the Revolution of 1830 the agitation of the people was great: anxiety, a thirst for a more just world, a desire for change in society and the commitment of Catholics… During this time there was at the Sorbonne a very studious group of young people who wanted to breathe new life into this sick society.
A small group of students gathered together as a sort of study club called the “Conference of History”. The meetings took place at M. Emmanuel Bailly’s home, professor of Philosophy and editor of the Newspaper “La Tribune Catholique”. Among the regulars of this group were Ozanam, Lamache, Letaillandier, Léon Le Prévost, Lallier … and others. One day a student directed this challenge to them: “…You who brag of being Catholic, what do you do?” This challenge made the group reflect. One of them suggested, “Let’s create a Conference of Charity”. This idea pleased them all, but they needed a guide. M. and Mme Bailly knew Sr. Rosalie well and sent the students to rue de l’Epée de Bois. Sr. Rosalie taught them how to make home visits to the poor. With her they learned to see Our Lord in the poor. Giving them families to visit, she would give them advice on the Christian way to go to them, to respect them and to consider them as brothers and sisters, rich in humanness.
Founded in April 23, 1833, at St Etienne du Mont, the Conference of Charity became, in February 1834, the Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, whom they chose as mentor and model. The membership of the Conference grew quickly. In 1835 M. Le Prévost suggested dividing the Conference in two and creating one at St. Sulpice. Others would follow. There was a great deal of discussion – the opinions were much divided! Agreement came when the one making the suggestion said that the idea had come from Sr. Rosalie. The Conferences quickly multiplied in Paris and in the countryside. Frédéric Ozanam dreamed of “encircling the world in a network of charity”.
“A road to reconciliation…”
The little parlor at rue de l’Epée de Bois was never empty! The Community was at the center of a vast network of mutual aid where each person could come and ask or offer. Rich or poor, weak or powerful, Sr. Rosalie knew them all. She was responsible for the Community and was called “Mother”, for she was truly that to all, ready to bring assistance, at any moment, to the suffering.
Charity House, rue de l'Epée de Bois where Sister Rosalie lived
Some facts related by her biographers allow us to appreciate the beyond the ordinary straightforwardness, courage and extraordinary freedom of this woman.
The “Three Glorious Days”, July 27, 28, 29, 1830, the people are in a rage! Paris is covered with barricades. While they were busy with the wounded – rioters or soldiers – at rue de l’Epée de Bois, Sr. Rosalie left in search of General Montmahaut, a benefactor of the poor, reported as missing. Risking her life, she crossed the barricades. She found him seriously wounded on the square of Hôtel de Ville… she revived him. He was saved!
Justice following the days of the Revolution was often severe! People who were jeopardized during the riots came seeking refuge at Sr. Rosalie’s who protected them and facilitated their escape. An order was given to the Chief of Police, M. Gicquel, to arrest Sr. Rosalie. “Impossible!” said the officer charged with this duty. “All the people will take up arms!” Never mind! The Chief would do it himself! Making his way through the crowd he asked to speak to Sr. Rosalie. Very kindly he was asked to wait his turn. The following dialogue ensued:
- “How may I help you? she asked.
- Madam, I have not come to ask a service of you but have come for you. I am the Chief of Police and I want to know how dare you rebel against the law?
- Chief, I am a Daughter of Charity. I help the unfortunate everywhere… I promise you that if you are ever being pursued, I will bring you help!
- Don’t begin again! replied the surprised Chief.
- That I cannot promise you! A Daughter of Charity never has the right to fail in charity.”
February 1831, Sr. Rosalie brought some bread to an elderly man, but he refused it. “Thank you, Sister; I don’t need any bread. Tomorrow we are going to pillage the Archbishop’s residence”. The next day the Archbishop’s residence was in flames but Archbishop Quélen and a group of priests found refuge at rue de l’Epée de Bois.
On several occasions cholera appeared! Fear reigned everywhere and fear gave rise to suspicion. Physicians and pharmacists began being accused of spreading the disease through hate of poor persons and a desire to kill them. Doctor Royer-Collard was bringing a sick person to the hospital. He was stopped! He protested… but anger was blind! Then he cried out to these decent people of the Mouffetard District: “I am a friend of Sr. Rosalie!” The anger receded and he was allowed to continue his journey!
A little girl was crying at school because her father had been taken to prison. Sr. Rosalie knew the family. This man, an honest worker, was led astray by agitators. General Cavaignac, who held Sr. Rosalie in great esteem, often came to rue de l’Epée de Bois. This day she suggested a visit to the school. While all the wondering eyes of the children turned toward the visitor with the uniform decorated with gold braids, Sr. Rosalie spoke to a little girl. “My child, here is the gentleman who, if he wants to, can bring you back your papa”. – “Sir, please send my father back! We need him at home!” – “But, he must have done something bad?” – “Oh, no! Mother says he did not… and, if he did, he will never do it again, I promise you. Please give him back to us! I will love you ever so much!”
Who was moved the greatest? A few days later – undoubtedly thanks to Sr. Rosalie’s intercession – the prisoner was sent back to his family.
1848! Once again the horizon was filled with clouds! The middle-class wanted to rule and the people wanted to live other than in poverty! Events unfolded as in 1830 – fighting in all the streets of Paris! A mighty barricade was set up at the intersection of rue Mouffetard and rue de l’Epée de Bois. It was well defended! An officer of the anti-riot police climbed the barricade with his troops… but all of them fell in a hail of bullets from the protestors. He alone remained in the midst of the enraged rioters. He quickly ran to the little courtyard of the Sisters house with the guns of the protestors aimed at him. Sr. Rosalie intervened in yelling out:
“We do not kill here!” – “No, not here – we’ll do it outside! Let’s take him!” Sr. Rosalie refused. The men, drunk with blood, were going to fire over the shoulders of the Sisters surrounding the condemned man. But Sr. Rosalie fell to her knees and said: “In the name of all that I have done for you, your wives and your children, I beg the life of this man!” The guns were lowered… some men were crying… the officer was saved! - “Who are you, Sister”, he asked?
- “No one, Sir, just a simple Daughter of Charity.”
- "Nothing more than that!”
YES! A simple Daughter of Charity…nothing more than that! But truly that!
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