Julie Billiart:

Seeker after Justice

Opening Song: Here I am, Lord Dan Schutte: Text based on Isaiah 6

Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, if you lead me,

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.

I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Reading 1: Luke 4:16-19

Reading 2: Undoubtedly part of the reason that both the bishop and Pere de Sambucy refused to let Julie leave Amiens was the fear that if she were to go to Namur, she and Francoise might decide to leave the house at Amiens and make Namur their motherhouse. With a school established, and Pere de Sambucy perceiving himself the founder of the Sisters of Notre Dame, both men wanted the sisters to stay in Amiens . . .

When Pere Cottu brought a proposed rule to Julie which he said had been approved by the bishop, and which for the most part had been written by Pere de Sambucy, it was clear that what was being proposed was contrary to the original intention of both foundresses. Françoise wrote that the bishop “. . .said quite clearly that he did not wish a mother general and that he wanted us to be limited to his diocese, which meant that our Mother would have to abandon the sisters she had sent to other dioceses."

As for Mere Julie's visitations of the secondary houses, he thought them a mere waste of money; and many other things which were not at all in accord with the ideals our founders had worked out long before we were connected with the bishops."

Julie was convinced that God had inspired her with the words "a light to the nations" during her unforgettable experience on February 2, 1806, when she was lifted out of herself. So real was that moment for her that she believed the Sisters of Notre Dame were not meant to limit their ministry to any one place; they were to go wherever they were needed. Roseanne Murphy,SND Julie Billiart, Woman of Courage, pp.93-94

Reading 3:

And then all that has divided us will merge

And then compassion will be wedded to power

And then softness will come to a world

that is harsh and unkind

And then both men and women will be gentle

And then both women and men will be strong

And then no person

will be subject to another's will

And then all will be rich and free and varied

And then the greed of some

will give way to the needs of many

And then all will share equally

in the earth's abundance

And then all will care

for the sick and the weak and the old

And then all will cherish life's creatures

And then all will live

in harmony with each other and the earth.

And then everywhere will be called Eden once again. --Judy Chicago, artist and author

For Reflection/ Discussion:

  1. What had particular resonance for you in the reflections of St. Julie on justice?
  2. How do we understand doing justice to ourselves, in our families, in our workplace, in our relationships? An example, a story?
  3. How for our own time can we understand and respond to the challenge of injustice in institutions, structures and systems?

Closing Prayer:

Leader: "When we look for every possible way to help our people feel empowered, liberated, hopeful, we find that we, "the givers" become we, "the receivers." We discover that the suffering of our people, the incredible resilience of so many, fill us with a peculiar energy that can turn into a passion to confront the political and economic structures that are causing poverty." Helen Wright SND, Crossing the Threshold in Faith, p 54

All: Gracious God, give us hearts "wide as the world." Help us in all our works to make known your goodness. Give us the grace to take our stand with poor people, especially poor women and children, in the most abandoned places. Help us to proclaim justice to all. Amen.

Closing Song: Here I am, Lord Dan Schutte: Text based on Isaiah 6

Here I am, Lord, Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, if you lead me,

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of Wind and Flame, I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

Celebrating Ntre Dame