A LIFE FOR PRIESTS

In this month before Advent, I thought it a good idea to focus on saints  who dedicated their lives to the salvation of priests.  Knowing of my prayers for our priests, I was recently given THE SACRED HEART AND THE PRIESTHOOD, written by VENERABLE LOUISE MARGARET CLARET de la TOUCHE a Visitation nun  who was commissioned first by Our Lord, then by her religious superiors to write  of her conversations with the Lord. 

She  had to overcome many and great obstacles all through her life to do God's will. She suffered to a heroic degree in many ways and was truly a victim soul. Our Lord revealed to her His plan of infinite love for the world for which He needs the help of His chosen souls, the priests of the world.

The  purpose of this work is to strengthen the souls of priests in the love of their sublime vocation and unite them more than ever to Jesus Christ, the eternal Priest.  The Holy See has declared her writings to be in conformity with the teachings of the Church and has sanctioned the organization of priests, which she had drawn up under the name of The Priests Universal Union of the Friends of the Sacred Heart.  

Margaret Claret de la Touche was born in 1868, at Saint Germain-en-Laye, where  he father was Customs' Officer. Her parents wanted a son, especially her mother, who had prayed so fervently to the Blessed Virgin and lit so many candles at her altar that she believed she would certainly obtain her petition. Her disappointment was so great that it was feared that she would die.

Margaret at 4

Careless treatment by an incompetent nursery-maid ruined her health for life and nearly killed her. Her mother made a spontaneous vow to Our Lady and Our Lady saved her. This illness subsided but was to return again. Margaret's childhood was full of love from both parents but in 1875 her doting father died at the young age of 47 from inflammation of the lungs. Her mother hired a governess to look after Margaret at home while she traveled bringing her older sister with her. A year later her mother declared her intention of getting married again.  

The family was wealthy having a winter home in Valence and a summer home in the country, often spending spring and autumn in Paris or travelling abroad. Her home was a social meeting point for family friends who would take turns to put on some musical entertainment or hold a dancing party or some little comedy.

Margaret though living in the world kept herself from the world to a large degree because deep down she had not given up an idea of religious life. Around the age of 15 she experienced a hunger in her heart that nothing seemed to satisfy until  she was to later enter religious life. During the summer when they stayed in the Castle of Arbods the family would read, take long walks, have discussions but always attended Sunday Mass. Over the next few years Margaret struggled to pray and hold on to her hopes of a vocation. Meeting the author of a scandalous novel gave her a new conversion and in 1886 a severe illness required the help of a nursing Sister who encouraged Margaret to persevere in her desire for religious life and taught her how to pray better. 

Margaret at 17

Margaret knew that she had a vocation but realized that her mother would not consent and that she would have to wait until she reached her 21st birthday. The thought of continuing on in the worldly life she was living was daunting. She asked her mother to let her attend college to get a diploma in the hope of escaping from the life she was living but her mother refused. Disheartened she returned again to the same old lifestyle but did not give up her hopes.

She entered the Visitation convent in 1890 at Romans. Her motto would now be “Let nothing of me remain, but a humble servant of Jesus Christ always ready to obey His divine will”. Many felt she would not last, due to her upbringing and to her health. 

In 1902 she asked: My Jesus, tell me what are the desires of Thy Heart? He replied to her:  ‘The world is becoming frozen; egoism is contracting men’s hearts; they have turned away from the source of Love, and they think they are very far from God; nevertheless, I, Infinite Love, am quite near, and the bosom of divine Charity, all swollen with love, must needs open. Allow Me to love you and, through you, to descend to the world.’”

Sr. Louise Margaret replied: “My Jesus, what can I do for the world, since I am separated from it?” And Jesus said: “I will explain to you this mystery which is beyond your power to comprehend. I became incarnate in order to unite Myself to men; I died to save men; My sacrifice was of sufficient efficacy to redeem the whole human race, and infinitely more; but because man is endowed with free will, he must co-operate in the work of his own salvation. The superabundance of My merits obtains for him sufficient grace for that; however, there are many who reject My graces. Then, I take souls, I invest them with myself; I continue My passion in them, I separate them from others for My work I unveil to them the mysteries of My Love and Mercy, and making them like purified channels, I pour out on the world a new abundance of grace and pardons.”

Sr. Margaret 2nd from righ

Sr. Louise Margaret replied her consent: “My Savior, I belong to Thee, do with me according to Thy will.”

In 1902 of the Feast of the Sacred Heart Jesus made His presence felt to Margaret and she asked Him to send some new novices that she could train for Him but Jesus said to her:

“I will give you souls of men.” She was astonished at these words which she could not understand and Jesus said: “I will give you souls of priests.”

Still not understanding Jesus said to her: “No, It is for My clergy that you will immolate yourself.”

She wrote her Autobiography from 1904-1905 as ordered by Father Alfred Charrier, her spiritual director. She was named superior of her convent two years later and retained the position until 1913. In July 1914 Mother Louise wrote to Fr Charrier to tell him about the attack of the very painful illness known as Bright's disease and which proved to be fatal. She endured this illness from July 1914 until her death in May 1915. For several months before she died she was unable to either stand up or to lie down and spent all her time confined to an armchair.  Only her confidante and successor had knowledge of some of the agony she was going through every day and night and also understood something of her heroic virtue in continuing her daily duties of Reverend Mother, Novice Mistress and Spiritual guide to the community right up to three hours before she died.

From her appearance during the nights her superior recognized that there was a supernatural aspect to her illness and that she had the appearance of one crucified. After a life full of suffering she passed away peacefully after pronouncing the Sacred Name of Jesus at three o'clock in the afternoon on Friday the 14th of May which was the day after Ascension Thursday in 1915.

The message of Venerable Louise Margaret is the infinite love of God for us  and His desire to renew a world full of hate with His outpouring of love and specifically to entrust this mission to His priests by inviting them to enter His Heart and to draw love from there (same message as in In SInu Jesu). Only after having had the experience of being loved by Christ can priests change the world by sowing His love.  Entrusting themselves to this love, priests can fulfill a mission of love in the world.