A Poem for Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne
By Virginia Calvo, Associate, Virtual A Group
There is a fire in things that sings in silence
Notes only the patient ones have heard echoing God’s Word
Music for a pondering heart to keep.
Consider the oak, once an acorn randomly strewn,
Its steady life force puts roots as deep in the earth as its branches reach high.
Strong, steadfast, silent, it lifts Nature’s prayer to God.
Let us be present here and now
To the woman impelled by an inner flame who dared to be uprooted,
Carried across the sea and transplanted in foreign soil.
From a heart on fire she drew courage, generosity and faith.
Humble and patient, rooted in prayer, steadfast as the oak,
She silently lifted heart and self to heaven.
Gathered under her branches, dare we today to seize the fire within,
Asking her help in tending it til, rooted and reaching,
We ourselves can share her triumphant prayer:
“I am where God wills me to be, and so have found rest and security. His
Wisdom governs me, His power defends me … His joy sustains me and all will go well with me.”