Too often we think of the saints as being role models of sanctity which we cannot ourselves achieve. Or we look for a saint ‘like us’, one that lives a normal life, but only find saints that lived in extraordinary circumstances. However, on April 18, we celebrate a saint who had all the ordinary challenges of life as a wife, mother, and friend in love with her God and her Catholic faith. She placed her hope in our Lord and her many sufferings in His crucifixion as she experienced her own type of passion enduring a cruel childhood followed by a riches-to-rags-to riches adult life.

Blessed Marie of the Incarnation

Known to us as Blessed Marie, she was simply Barbe to her contemporaries. However, the 16^th century Blessed Marie of the Incarnation should not be confused with St. Marie of the Incarnation, a 17^th century woman recently canonized by Pope Francis. Our Blessed Marie lived a holy life as wife and mother in Paris, as well as being a dear friend to St. Francis de Sales and St. Vincent de Paul. 

A mystic who eventually received the stigmata, her husband Pierre “was a hot-headed adventurer, indolent, and critical”, jealous of her spiritual growth and even maligned her with priests. Eventually Pierre was exiled for his defense of the Church and, unfortunately, his lack of prudence left the family near poverty. All children were sent away to various relatives and boarding schools, she went to live with a cousin, and their possessions were sold. However, her prudent management resulted in sorting out her husband’s various legal and financial issues, and the family was able to reunite once again. It is said that “Barbe never criticised her husband for his reckless ways and her love for him never faltered in spite of all the hardship he had caused her.” She didn’t malign her husband but, rather, focused on raising children of honesty, virtue and character. 

Her own home was open to clergy needing respite and to give spiritual advice to those who sought it. She opened monasteries in France for both the Discalced Carmelites and the Ursulines, opened a refuge for prostitutes and was known for her charity to the poor. Of their six children, three daughters became Carmelite nuns and their son a priest; at the end of her life (after her husband’s death) she joined the Carmelites as well. 

She is patroness of: 

• against impoverishment
• against loss of parents
• against poverty
• parents separated from children
• poor people
• widows

Blessed Marie’s prayer is most pertinent to our needs today. May we pray this together in communion through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Prayer to the Eternal Father (for the conversion of souls)

O Eternal Father, through the Divine Heart of Jesus, I adore You for all those who adore You not; I love You for all those who do not love You. I go in spirit through the whole world to seek for souls redeemed by the blood of Jesus. I embrace them in order to present them to you in His Sacred Heart, and in union with Your merciful Heart. I ask for their conversion. Amen.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 😊