In his book A Biblical Walk through the Mass, Catholic author, speaker, and theologian Dr. Edward Sri explains that “Christianity is ultimately about the imitatio Christi—the imitation of Christ.” He continues, “It is not enough to avoid breaking the rules. We must learn to love like Jesus. We must put on Christ and his virtues. . . . Jesus does not want us merely to avoid sin; he wants us to grow in his self-giving love.”
That self-giving love is evident in the lives of saints, which is why we are given them to emulate. And on January 12, we celebrate the life of a woman who had a beautiful understanding of this self-giving love. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys was a 17th century French missionary who risked her life to educate native people and settlers in Canada.
Inspired by our Blessed Mother
Marguerite was born to a French middle-class family in 1620. At the age of twenty, she attended a procession for the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. When the statue passed by her, Marguerite felt it gaze at her with love, and this connection compelled her to dedicate her life to God and to resolve to emulate our Blessed Mother.
Marguerite soon joined the Congregation of Notre Dame, a religious community of sisters whose mission was to educate the children of poor families. She eventually became the leader of this community, and at the age of thirty-three, she traveled to Canada to grow their ministry. She and her fellow sisters encountered much adversity, but they built schools and educated children. According to reports, “Marguerite believed that education in the faith, in literacy and in the life skills were the most important building blocks for survival. She created a community that reflected that spirit of the Visitation of Mary, who was pregnant with Jesus, to Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist.”
Education in faith is indeed one of the most important building blocks we need in life, and it’s an incredible gift that we can and should give to our children because, without our faith, we have nothing. Without our faith, we feel lost, isolated, purposeless, and alone. Sure, we may have moments when we feel happy or content, but those feelings don’t last. What lasts is our faith and the joy we feel in Christ and in knowing that we can live for eternity with Him.
As parents, it is our responsibility to pass our faith to our children. We do this from the time they are small. Like Marguerite, we become teachers. Indeed, we are our children’s first teachers. But it’s not enough to talk to them about our faith. We must live it in every instance. And that is what Dr. Sri meant when he said we must grow in self-giving love.
Fulfill the needs of the vulnerable
How can we emulate the saints and live this self-giving love? We look around at the needs of those in our families, in our communities, and in our parishes, and we take action. We live out the Corporal Works of Mercy by visiting the sick or imprisoned, by feeding and clothing the hungry, by caring for single moms, and by sheltering the homeless. We learn to love by giving of ourselves to make someone’s life better. This is what God expects of us, as we know that faith without works is dead.
Marguerite “created a community that reflected that spirit of the Visitation of Mary,” meaning she looked at the love Mary had for the baby growing inside her, and she sought to pass that love and reverence for human life to others. She knew the immense gift that Mary carried, but she also understood that all human beings are gifts from God and that we must cherish them and cultivate their faith. That is why she taught children; she longed to bring them closer to God and to nourish their souls.
So as we prepare to celebrate Marguerite’s feast day, let us look to her life for inspiration for how to live our own lives and how to nourish the souls of those near us. And knowing that we have nothing if we don’t have God, let us resolve to prioritize religious education for our children and give of ourselves not just to them but to all around us.
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