St. Rose Philippine Duchesne

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was born Aug. 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France. As young as age 8, she knew she wanted to evangelize in America because she’d heard a Jesuit discuss his missionary work there. In 1788, she joined the Visitation nuns in Grenoble without her family’s knowledge. Her convent was closed in 1792 during the French Revolution, but she still lived as though in her order. St. Rose cared for the sick. She also began a school and hid priests during the revolution. When the Terror of the revolution was over, she tried to start up her order. However, the order was added to the Society of the Sacred Heart. St. Rose made her final vows as a member of that order in 1805. She left for the Louisiana Territory in 1818, finally fulfilling a dream she’d had since a child. Along with four other sisters, she tried to start the Society of the Sacred Heart in her new home. She opened schools and worked with American Indians. She died in Missouri in 1852. St. Rose is patron saint of the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo.