Mary Rose Julie Billiart was a strong, young girl of Belgium. In fact, when she was just seven, she used to explain it to other children less intelligent than she. When her parents became poor, she worked very hard to help support the family. She even went to help support the family. She even went to help with the harvesting in the fields. Yet she always found time to visit the sick, to pray, and to teach the catechism.
However, while she was still a young women, she became very ill and completely paralyzed. Although helpless, St. Julie offered her prayers for the saving of many souls. She was more united to God than ever and she kept on teaching catechism from her sickbed. She gave spiritual advice to everyone who visited her and encouraged all to receive Holy Communion often. Many young girls were inspired by her love for God. So they spent their time and money for good works. With Julie as their leader, they founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Once when a priest gave a mission in the town where Julie was, he asked her to make a novena with him for an intention which he would not tell her. After five days, on the feast of the Sacred Heart, the priest said to her: “Mother, if you have faith, take one step in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” Mother Billiart, who had been paralyzed for twenty-two years, stood up and was cured!
St. Julie spent the rest of her life training young girls to become sisters and watching over her Congregation. She had to suffer much from those who did not understand her mission, but she always trusted in God. Her favorite words were: “How good is the good God!” He assured her that someday her Congregation of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur would be very large. And that this is just what happened. Today there are a great many of St. Julie’s Sisters teaching young girls all over the world.
When something is worrying us, such as a test in school or troubles at home, let us often say: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!”
