Saint of the day October 3, 2024

St. Mother Theodore was a woman of courage, determination, and compassion. From a young age, she faced many challenges. Her trust in Providence – the protective care of God – helped her accomplish many things.

Born Anne–Therese Guerin in the village of Etables–sur–Mer in Brittany, France, she spent many years taking care of her mother and sister after the tragic deaths of both her brothers and her father. At age 25, her mother allowed her to follow her dream and devote her life entirely to God.

St. Mother Theodore entered religious life with the Sisters of Providence of Ruille–sur–Loir, France. It was around this time that she began having health issues that would plague her for the rest of her life. This did not deter her.

As a new sister St. Mother Theodore was sent to various parishes in France where she taught, helped the poor, and cared for the sick. When the bishop of Vincennes, Indiana requested sisters to come to the New World to help with the influx of Catholic immigrants, St. Mother Theodore was thought to be the only woman who could undertake such a demanding mission.

The journey was long and difficult. After traveling for nearly three months St. Mother Theodore and her five companions arrived, only to discover they were in the remote wilderness of Indiana known as Saint Mary–of–the–Woods. There was not a village or a house in sight. Life was not going to get any easier.

Despite the obstacles, St. Mother Theodore opened an academy for girls in less than a year. Once this was done, she established schools throughout Indiana and eastern Illinois. She also opened two orphanages in Vincennes and a free pharmacy at St. Mary–of–the–Woods and Vincennes.

St. Mother Theodore died May 14, 1856. On October 15, 2006, at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Mother Theodore was canonized and received the title, “Saint” from the Catholic Church. She is designated in the Vatican’s official record as St. Theodora.

Reflection

From France to Indiana, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin (St. Theodora) lived an impactful life that still continues to inspire. She is remembered as a woman devoted to prayer, an educator, a caregiver, and a leader. She was a champion of justice and was empathetic to those who suffered, inspiring the work of her Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods today.

God’s work gets done by people ready to take risks and to work hard—always remembering what Saint Paul told the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.” Every holy person has a strong sense of God’s Providence.