April 8th - ST. JULIE BILLIART By: Tia Sajeev

St.Julie Billiart was born in France in 1751. Though the first years of her life were relatively peaceful, Julie had to take up manual work as a young woman when her family experienced poverty. However, by the age of seven, she knew the catechism by heart, and used it to gather her companions around her to hear her recite it and to explain it to them. Witnessing an attempt to wound or even kill her father, Julie was paralyzed at the age of 30. For the next two decades, she continued to teach catechism lessons from her bed, offered spiritual advice, and attracted visitors who had heard of her holiness. During the French revolution, Julie was at risk because of her allegiance to fugitive priests. She was smuggled out her hometown and spent years on the move and in hiding. Later she met an another woman who shared her interest in teaching the faith. In 1803, the two women began the Institute of Notre Dame, which was dedicated to the education of the poor, young Christian girls, and the training of catechists. The following year Julie recovered from the illness: She was able to walk for the first time in 22 years. Julie died in Namur, Belgium in1816. She was canonized in 1969.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Saint Julie, through your great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, you were miraculously cured and favored by many graces. By your powerful intercession, obtain for us above all, a great trust in God in all difficulties in life, the strength to accomplish in all things the precious will of God, and special grace we now humbly ask for you. Amen