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SKIT on Venerable Sr Anne Madeleine Remuzat, VHM
V+J
NARRATOR:
Sister Anne-Madeleine Remuzat was born in Marseille on November 29, 1696 into a very pious family and was baptized the very same day.. Very early on Madeleine manifested her desire to become a religious and after initially refusing, her parents finally allowed her to go to school at the second Monastery of the Visitation founded in 1652 where one of her relatives was a Sister.
Scene One
Mother Remuzat seated with 4 year old Madeleine reading her the Bible
Mother : Reads from Luke 1 Visitation scene
Madeliene:, TUGGING on her Mother’s sleeve: Mama, I want to be a religious when I grow up!
MOTHER: yes my child, but you are only 4 years old. We will see about it when you are older.
Let’s pray to Jesus about your vocation:
Both kneel and pray silently.
Mother gets up but the child Madeleine stays kneeling.
Mother : Come child, come to supper.
Madeleine,:Mama, I love speaking to Jesus and Mary
Mother: I promise after supper you can speak with them again. Your father just got home from work and he wishes to greet you.
Father enters door
Madeleine runs to her Father but as he tries to kiss her hello, she runs away.
Father: oh my dear modest daughter. Come to supper.
Madeleine:Papa, when can I enter the convent?
Papa: When you grow up!
Scene 2 – Narrator: 5 years later
Madeleine: Are we having a family meeting?
Mother: Yes dear Madeleine, you are now 9 years old and your father and I think you are old enough to go to the convent…….School!
Madeliene; Where Mama?
Mother: to the Visitation Monastery boarding school where you aunt is a nun.
Madeleine: Thank you Mama and Papa. Thank you Jesus and Mary! ( jumps up and down)Can we go right now?
Father: My dear Madeleine, just a little patience like the Visitation Founder St Francis de Sales, would advise! We will leave in a few days. Now go to your room and prepare a little suitcase.
Madeleine runs off
Father to Mother: I hope we are doing the right thing; Madeleine is so precocious, but I think the environment of regularity will do her vibrant spirits much good.
Mother: It is sad to part with our pious daughter but we must listen to the whisperings of God’s Will.
Scene 3: At Visitation Boarding School:
Narrator: At the sight of the walls of this blessed Monastery school,Madeleine’s joy redoubled, and arriving at the threshold of the door, she crossed it with liveliness and a face so radiant that her teacher nun, ,said: * This child is a wonder; I have never seen one come so happily to us. These external testimonies, however, were far from rendering the inner delights of which the soul of little Madeleine was inundated. When she saw the door close , it seemed to her, she said later that she entered into heaven, and the idea that she had entered the cloister made her give much attention to prayer,to study, to work, and soon made her a model in boarding school. But not without some mischievous incidents!
Mother Father Madeleine and Teacher at threshold of door.
Madeleine, Goodbye Mama and papa I am so happy!
Teacher: This child is a wonder; I have never seen one come so happily to us.
Mother: Kiss us goodbye dear Child
Madeleine does and the teacher takes her by the hand to a little desk.
Teacher: Here is where you will study your lessons.
Madeleine Do you teach about Jesus and Mary here?
Teacher: Teach about Jesus,? here my Child, we Visitandines “Live Jesus!”
Madeliene, I will learn to live Jesus by watching you, Sister!
Teacher: All the other children are now at recreation doing their embroidery. Come join them.
They do.
Children: Bonjour, Madeleine
Madeleine: Bonjour
Teacher: Madeleine, here is some work for you do like the others. I am putting the special supplies in this drawer and no one is to take it without my permission.
Does so.
Childfren: Yes Sister!
Teacher leaves the room.
Madeleine goes to the drawe r and takes out some supplies.
The children say : UH OH
Madeleine starts to use the needles etc when Sister appears at door. Madeleine hides what she took.
Sister goes to the drawer and sees things missing.
Sister: Now which of you opened this drawer and took something?
No one answers.
Sister: Was it you Madeleine.
Madeleine: No not me.
Sister: Until someone confesses none of you will be allowed to have playtime.
Now to your rooms!
As Madeliene gets up she sees a picture of the Sacred Heart.
Her guilt gets the better of her and she kneels down, cries and says
Jesus I am sorry.
She goes over to Sister and says “ I took it. Here it is. She is crying
Sister: I forgive you. Hugs her. I know you have already told Jesus and He forgives you too. You can go to confession to Father when he comes tomorrow.
Scene 4:
Narrator:
4 years later. Madeliene has graduated and is back home with her parents and still feels the call to religious life. The first monastery of the Visitation of Marseilles was then governed by Mother Anne-Theodore Nogaret, one of the most estimable superiors of our holy Order by her sanctity and her rare capacity., the eminently religious spirit and the sweet peace reigned in this blessed house, and the good odor of Jesus Christ exhaled it in the distance. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus had been flourishing for several years.
On the appointed day Madeleine went in again in the parlor of the Visitation, and she was examined by councilors Sisters, according to the customs. Sisterswere unanimousto accept her as a postulant. They
fixed her entry for October 2, 1711, the day of the feast of holy angels.
Councilor 1: Madeleine Remuzat, why do you want to enter this Monastery. You are only 15
Madeleine: I have felt called since I was 4 and I also attended Visitation Boarding school which confirmed my vocation. I am especially devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Councilor 2: Do you have your parents permission?
Madeleine Oui,yes I do.
Councillors: You may enter on the Feast of the Holy Angels
Madeleine: praised be God for His mercy towards me.
Narrator:Not toolong after Madeleine entered the Monastery and then within the appropriate time She became a Novice receiving the veil and her new name Anne Madeleine
Sr Anne Mad kneels on pre-deiu anas Bishop Belsunce places the veil on her head.
Bishop: You will now be called Sister Anne Madeleine.
A year later Sr Anne Madeleine pronounced her vows and Bishop gave her the cross.
Sr Anne Madeleine on predieu and Bishop gives her black veil and cross.
They all leave but Sr Anne Madeleine.Jesus appears to her(Picture)
Sr Madeleine says to Him: Yes Lord I will work for the Glory of Your Sacred Heart.
Scene 5: Mother Superior and Sr Anne Madeleine
Mother: Sister I am giving you the charge of meeting the faithful in the parlor and taking their prayer requests and helping them in their needs.
Sr Anne Madeleine: Yes Mother.
Mother: There are several people waiting for you right now.
They move to parlor where 3 people are waiting for her.
Person one; Sister my son is very ill.Please pray for him
Sister AM; I willand you go tour chapel and place your son in the Sacred
Heart of Jesus
Person 2: Sister, my husband has lost his faith.
SR Anne M- What is his name?
Person2: Marcel.
Sr AM; I willpray for your Marcel. You too go to the Chape land place Marcel in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Person 3: Sister I would like a baby but God has not sent us one.
Sr AM: I will pray that if it is Gods will you will have a child. Place your request in the loving Heart of Jesus.
Mother returns: Sister, these people are much calmer now.In addition to this work I assign you to the Boarding school as headmistress.
SAM: Thank you Mother. Whatever way God chooses to deal with me, to know that it is His good pleasure and that he is satisfied ought surely to satisfy me. Yes my God I promise Thee with all my heart that no matter what befalls me, be it ever so painful or irritating, I will always say “do just as it pleases Thee best, dear Lord. I submit willingly to all. I cannot say more
Narrator: In 1716, Sr Anne Madeleine saw the Holy Trinity whilst in ecstasy. Many visions and conversations with Christ followed. The next year, with the encouragement of Mgr de Bulsunce, she wrote the Statutes for the Association of Perpetual Adoration of the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. On March 30, 1718,the Rules and Exercises were printed with the approbation of the Bishop of Marseille and the Association came into existence in the month of April.
The subscriptions rapidly numbered thousands and a great number of Monasteries of the Visitation promoted the Association in their Churches. That same year, even though the Jansenism doctrines had spread through Marseille with virulence, Christ miraculously appeared in the Blessed Sacrament exposed in the Church of the Pères Cordeliers de l’Observance before a group gathered for prayer during the ‘Forty Hours’ before Lent. By supernatural means, Anne-Madeleine was warned in advance about a chastisement to come if the city didn’t render itself to the Mercy of the Lord. Anne-Madeleine confided this message to the Père Milley, her Spiritual Director who transmitted it to Mgr de Belsunce.
Scene 6:
Sr Anne Madeleine in prayer on prie deiu. Hold sign of the Blessed Trinity before her.
Sr Anne Madeleine, Yes, heavenly Father, Jesus, the Son and Holy Spirit, God in One, I will do as you say. I will make your Sacred Heart known throughout Marseilles.please give me the grace to do so. “May He reign, may I cease to be “Oh! That I had a new heart to love Thee with! Oh! That I had all the love of all the hearts in all the world, so that I might give Thee Thy desert of love
Mother Superior walks in. Sees her praying touches her, shakes her shoulder, Sr Anne Madeleine does not move.
Mother: our dear Sister is in esctasy again.I wonder what the Lord is saying to her.
She sits down and Sister AM comes to herself.
Sr AM: Mother?
Mother: yes child,my daughter.
Sr AM: I need to ask your permission to do as the ]oly Trinity has told me.
Mother: What is it child?
Sr AM:I am to form an association of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the lay faithful to come to know pray and revere His Loving Heart.
Mother: You have my permission but for this we need to speak to your spiritual director and the Bishop. I will write to them and post the letter by special messenger so they receive it today.
Later that evening:
Mother to Sr AM:and community:
I have received word that Bishop Belsunce gives his approval for the Association of the Sacred Heart.
SisterAM: God be praised.
Al lleave but SR AM goes to pray dieu. At first she is happy praying,
Thank you most Blessed Trinity for this favor. Now all Marseille wil lcome to know and love you.
Then she looks frightened and shaken.
SRAM: What my LordWhat?What kind of plague?
Oh Oh My Lord what can I do? I offer myself- my prayer, my sacrifice.//.,..my sufferings
Scene ends.
Narrator:
. In July of 1720 the Plague was declared in Marseille. In October whilst in Adoration, Christ revealed to Anne-Madeleine that the Plague would lead to the Institution of the Feast in honor of His Sacred Heart. Just a few days later, He made known to her the conditions. The message was immediately transmitted to Mgr de Belsunce who published an order on the 22nd establishing the Feast of the Sacred Heart in his Diocese and on the 1st November, for the first time in the world, he solemnly consecrated the city and the Diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Scene 7:
Mother and Sisters are sitting doing their crafts at recreation. A knock at the door.It is a neighbor all excited.
Neighbor: The Plague The Plague It Has struck! Mothers Sisters, pray for Marseilles. The ships in the harbor were quarantined but the plague broke out in the city anyway.
Mother gets up to calm the person.
Mother:My dear neighnbor,remain calm. We will pray and sacrifice. Our dear Sr Anne Madeliene already knows this is happening and we will intercede for all.
Neighbor: Bishop Belsunce has issued this decree and it has been placed under the parishioners doors. May I read to you?
Mother: yes of course
Neighbor: By the Order of our Diocese and in conjunction with the faithful I Bishop Balsunce, declare that this Diocese of Marseilles of the Holy Roman Catholic Church will institute a Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to honor His Love and Obey His commands. On November 1 of this year I ask the fsithful to gather in the Cathedral as we consecrate this city and Diocese of Marseilles to Jesus’ Most Sacred Heart. Signed, Bishop Balsunce
The SisterS: God be praised!
The plague abated and the Sacred heart of Jesus and consecration to him became central to the spiritual lives of the people of Marseilles. During her retreat in 1723,Sr Anne Madeleine was favored with a new vision of the Trinity. In 1724 she received the stigmatic imprint of the Passion, which at her request remained invisible.
SR AM at priedieu: ” I suffer in many ways, in the body, from the pains you know, and in the soul. by the pain of the souls in purgatory, which the Lord wants me to help free. What I suffer, surpasses all that I can tell you. God will make me what will please him. I do not worry. The internal occupation is always the same. It seems even to strengthen itself, in the inseparable dissipation of such a job. God communicates himself and lets himself be found everywhere .
Sr Anne-Madeleine fell gravely ill at the end of January and died on February 15, 1730. She requested that the Litany of the Sacred Heart that she had composed would be recited for her. She fell asleep in the peace of the Lord on the morning of February 15, 1730, after receiving the last sacraments. The Visitandines recited the Litanies of the Sacred Heart, which she composed by repeating various existing litanies and which became Litanies for the Universal Church.
Bishop Belsunce proceeded to the inhumation in the presence of the people of Marseille who repeated over and over, “The saint is dead!”. Numerous miracles have been attributed to her. She is considered as being the successor of St Marguerite-Marie Alacoque and has been entitled, the Apostle, the Propagandist of the Sacred Heart. The Church declared her Venerable and her cause for Beatification was introduced on December 24, 1891 and once again in 1921 without result. And then, on Holy Thursday, April 9, 2009, Mgr Georges Pontier, Archbishop of Marseille, named Mgr Jean-Pierre Ellul, Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the Church containing her heart, Postulator of the cause of her canonization.
t Marseille was the first in the world to have been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let us pray to the servant of God, Sr Anne-Madeleine Rémuzat so that she will lead us closer to Christ in prayer and Eucharistic Adoration, making of us witnesses of His mercy.
Allpray:
Lord, I give you thanks for your servant,
Anne-Madeleine Remuzat.
You chose her to promote the worship of the Sacred Heart of your Son which led to the consecration of the Diocese of Marseille to the Sacred Heart during the Plague of 1720.
You enabled her to practice the Evangelical virtues in her religious life at the Visitation and to find joy in abandoning herself to your love.
You called her to make known how the mercy and tenderness of the Trinity is revealed in the Sacred Heart of the Incarnate Word.
You so filled her with your love that she was recognized as a living sign of your beauty.
Accord us the joy of hearing her proclaimed Blessed and in your goodness, Lord, accord me through her intercession the grace of ………………… which I implore you with confidence, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
The End