Sep 23., 2018   /   Features, Homilies, News & Announcements, Soul Food, Updates and Activities

The Joy and Sufferings of a Saint

Homily of Fr. James Ucab at the Cenacle Retreat House, on Sept 23, 2018:

Good afternoon dear Sisters and Dear Brothers.

Today we are now on the 7th day of our novena as we prepare for the feast Of our dear St. Thérèse Couderc. And the theme is Joy.

St. Thérèse Couderc once said and I quote,

I experienced a joy and a happiness it is not possible to describe.

And on another instance she said,

We should never allow a single thought of sadness to come into our hearts, since we have within us the one who is the joy of Angels.

According to my source, the Saint underwent humiliations during her time as a nun for she was forced to resign from her position of Superior and was ridiculed and mocked due to false accusations made against her, though this softened towards the end of her life. Is my source correct, Sisters?

Again according to my source, after the death of the Fr. Jean-Pierre Etienne Terme, a scheming religious made an incorrect financial report in order to demoralize St Thérèse Couderc. Unfortunately, the fake news reached the Provincial of the Jesuits, Fr. Renault, and he removed her from her post and she was replaced by a Novice who was also removed later from the post. She was humiliated and was banished for some period of time.

This story is but a tiny information about her sufferings. I am curious and I wanted to read the correspondence she made which I know is tenderly kept by the Sisters. There maybe we can find more details of her suffering. Let me go back to my words earlier describing St. Thérèse Couderc: a Saint wearing the black habit living a holy, comfortable, and stress-free life.

The story of St Thérèse Couderc is not quite unique. There are also other persons who experienced a similar kind of experience. For instance, the Servant of

Yahweh in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah, the just person in our first reading today,Bl. Therese de Souberan a French founder of the Auxiliatrice Sisters, Sta. RafaelaMaria Porras the Foundress of the ACI Sisters, and of course our very own Jesus Christ

Going back to St. Thérèse Couderc, but what really made St. Thérèse Couderc a Saint and a person worth imitating? Is it her suffering and humiliations? Personal opinion lang po. I guess, it is unfair and it is not right to say that in order for us to become Saints, we need to experience humiliations and sufferings. Na, in order for us to become an exemplary religious or priest we have to become the “victim…” the famous pa victim effect.

I believe and I am convinced that what made St. Thérèse Holy and worth imitating is her commitment to do the will of God with joy despite the sufferings and humiliations she experienced as a Foundress and as a Consecrated person.