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Theresa Riley Shaw has always been enthralled with the audacity and perseverance of the earliest missionaries of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. She believes children have a right to the firm religious education and understanding of God’s mercy that would include the children of American and French immigrants as well as the native Americans and children of slaves. Even today, Theresa Riley Shaw believes so much in Mere Duchesne’s philosophy that she accompanied Dr. Martin Luther King on his march to Selma, Alabama in 1965. At the 50th anniversary, she received the Congressional Medal of Honor for being a “foot soldier of justice.” She wrote this book to honor and celebrate the French religious sister and educator Mere Duchesne, who was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on July 3, 1988.

As a child of the Sacred Heart, Mrs. Shaw has been trying to carry out the fruit of her Sacred Heart education by teaching English and Religion to Mexican immigrant families. In 1962, she went to Honduras Central America to teach the Catholic faith and also in summer in 1964, she taught catechism to the Spanish-speaking Catholics of Mosquero, New Mexico and thus began the Spanish mission within Ascension Parish, Chesterfield, Missouri.

When Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in Grenoble, the beautiful gateway to the French Alps, in 1769, no one knew she’d eventually canonized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church.

When she went to the Sisters of the Visitation convent, Ste. Marie d’en Haute, to study for her First Holy Communion at age twelve, she consecrated herself to God. That was the happiest day of her life.

At age eighteen, she asked to join the sisters, and while her father did not approve at first, he eventually began to realize how happy Philippine was.

During the French Revolution, the government outlawed any and all religious congregations, so all convents, monasteries, and Catholic schools were closed. Philippine kept busy teaching her cousins, visiting the sick, and teaching catechism to the poor children she met in the streets.

Finally, after twelve years of praying and hoping to go to the New World, in 1817, Bishop William Valentine DuBorg, bishop of Louisiana, came to visit the convent to ask for help for his American missions.

Philippine threw herself at Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat’s feet and begged to go, and against all odds, she established 12 religious academies in America to spread the Word of the Lord.

“The Canary in a Coalmine

Author Theresa Riley Shaw invites readers in the shoes of Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, in her book, “Mademoiselle Duchesne, RSCJ” a nun who withstood the ravages of the French Revolution in her service to God despite the odds, she was able to establish communities in the United States to spread the Lord’s word.

The story begins when Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in a beautiful passageway to the French Alps. No one would expect that her future of becoming a canonized saint by the Roman Catholic Church would be inevitable. Philippine sought guidance and went to the Sisters of the Visitation convent in Ste. Marie D’en Haut to pursue studies for her First Holy Communion at the tender age of twelve, consecrated herself to God, which was the most memorable and happiest day of her life. At eighteen, she asked to unite the sisters, and while her father did not approve it the first time, he gradually realized how happy her daughter was.

Amid the French Revolution, the government has ceased and outlawed all religious gatherings, all of the convents, monasteries, and Catholic schools shut down. Philippine kept herself preoccupied with teaching her cousins, house visits of the sick, and provide teachings of catechism to the less fortunate children or whoever she meets in the streets.

Lastly, after more than a decade of patiently praying, waiting, and hoping to migrate to the New World in 1817, Bishop William Valentine DuBourg, the bishop of Louisiana, paid a visit to the convent to seek assistance for his American missions. Philippine found opportunity and threw herself at Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat’s feet and pleaded to be invited. Despite all odds and trials, she was able to establish 12 academies in the United States to help promote and lay seeds of the word of God throughout the nation.

Her story was an inspiration and showed the determination needed during those challenging times. With faith and divine guidance proved that everything is possible no matter what the odds lay ahead. For those looking for guidance and motivation, this book is a perfect pickup and a fine addition to your collection.”