Blessed Mary of the Incarnation - April 18th
Beautiful Barbara Acarie was a French girl who was married when she was seventeen. God sent her six children, and her home was a happy one. She was a very good wife and mother. All her children, her husband, and her servants, too, learned from her a great love for prayer and works of charity.
Once, when her husband was accused of a crime, Barbara herself saved him. She went to court, and all alone proved that he was not guilty.
Although she was so busy with her own family, she always found time to feed starving people, to teach heretics about the faith, to help the sick and dying, and to encourage sinners to change their ways.
When her husband died, Barbara entered the Carmelite Order. Her three daughters were Carmelites, too. Barbara’s new name as a sister was Sister Mary of the Incarnation. She joyfully worked in the kitchen among the pots and pans. When her own daughter became a superior, Blessed Mary willingly obeyed her. So humble was she that as she was dying, she said: “The Lord forgive me the bad example I have given.” But the truth was that she had only done good all her life.
God gives everyone the grace to become a saint in his state in life. Let us, then, pray so that we will do in life what god wants us to do.
