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Patron Saints of the CongregationSaints Dates
Other Significant Dates
Our Lady is the name given to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She is often called “Our Lady of Compassion”. When our congregation was first established in Hiruharama (Jerusalem, Whanganui River, 1892) it was thought that it would be part of the Third Order of Mary, with its headquarters in France, but this was not to be. Archbishop Redwood of Wellington decided to establish a new congregation, and chose the title himself saying: “Since you are called to compassionate every form of human misery, your title must be “of Our Lady of Compassion”. Therefore, when the first Home of Compassion was built at Island Bay, Wellington in 1907, it was fitting that it was called Our Lady’s Home of Compassion, as it was also the “Mother House” of the whole congregation. Our Lady of Compassion is the Sisters of Compassion’s principal patron saint, reflecting the charism of the Congregation. Joseph was a carpenter of Nazareth, the husband of Mary, and the foster-father of Jesus. He provided for his family by the work of his hands. Mother Aubert took the name Joseph as her religious name, and relied on him for all her needs. All those men who helped her in her apostolate, as well as the men whom the sisters cared for were always called “Saint Joseph”. Saint Joseph is the patron Saint of the poor, the sick, families, many parishes and schools in New Zealand, and he is one of the principal patron saints of the Sisters of Compassion. John Marie Vianney became renowned throughout the Catholic world for his sanctity and asceticism. After converting his own little village parish, his magnetic fervour gradually attracted people from every part of France, especially the Diocese of Lyons. He had a great influence on our Foundress, Suzanne Aubert. She sought his guidance in her way of life, and during the four years that she visited him, he foretold that she would go to the Antipodes and start work there. Mother Aubert was still alive when he was canonised in 1925, but even before that date, John Vianney was already a patron of the Congregation. He died on the 4th of August 1859. St. Raphael is honoured as an angel who protected people on their journey through life. He appeared to Tobias in the form of a human being, and accompanied him on his journeys. Our home for disabled children in Carterton was named St. Raphael’s Home of Compassion. He is the Patron Saint of travellers and the disabled. St. CamillusOriginally, Camillus was a soldier, but after his conversion he devoted his life helping the sick. He himself suffered an incurable ulcer on his leg, so he would make a good patron for the Ulcer Clinic. He spent all his life establishing places where the sick poor could be cared for, and so became the Patron Saint of Hospitals and of those who cared for the sick. St. Vincent de Paul founded the Sisters of Charity in Paris where the poor and the needy were cared for, and neglected children were given a chance to live a better life. Our home for unmarried mothers in Auckland was known as St. Vincent’s Home of Compassion. St.Vincent is the Patron Saint of the poor and needy. St. Pius X was born Joseph Sarto to a poor family in Italy. He was Pope when Mother Aubert went to Rome to plead for her Institute in 1913. During an audience with him, he told her to have courage, and to pray to St. John Marie Vianney who was beginning to work miracles. He was regarded as the patron saint of children and our first school at the Home of Compassion was named after him – Pius X School. St. Mary MagdalenIn Mother Aubert’s time, Mary Magdalen was confused with the “woman taken in adultery” spoken of in the Gospel. Recent Scripture scholars say that her correct title was Mary of Magdala, a place on the shores of Lake Galilee. She would have been chosen as the patron of women who were treated badly, and wanted to be recognised. 19 June & 1 OctoberBoth these dates are significant because of their association with Suzanne Aubert – her birthday, and then the anniversary of her death. Special prayers are usually said on these days, and a commemorative liturgy is held in all our Centres and Homes. 14 OctoberThe Sisters commemorate this date as the Foundation of the Congregation, as it was this date in 1892, that Mother Aubert received official recognition from Archbishop Redwood that the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion was a separate institute in the Archdiocese of Wellington. |
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