We would like to invite you to the centenary celebration of the death of the Foundress of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales, Saint Léonie Aviat (Mother Frances de Sales) at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church 1009 Stafford Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401,on Friday, January 10th at 7:30pm.
Please join us for Solemn Vespers and a presentation on her life, followed by a reception in the Parish Life Center.
We will also celebrate this important event with the parish community of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes in Drexel Hill, PA on Sunday, January 19th after each of the Sunday Masses. Together we will reflect on the life of this holy woman who co-founded our Oblate community with Blessed Louis Brisson and whose relic is in our Saint Mary altar. Join us in discovering how she lived the maxim, “Let us work for the happiness of others.”
If you can join us for either celebration, we will be honored by your presence.
For more information on the Oblate Sisters of St. Frances de Sales, please visit www.sosfs.com or email oblatesisters@gmail.com.
BIOGRAPHY
Centenary of the Death of St. Leonie Aviat, Mother Frances de Sales
Although September 16, 1844 seemed like any other day, it was destined to be known as the birth date of a saint! For on that day, Leonie Aviat was born in Sezanne, in the region of Champagne, France. She attended the Visitation School in Troyes, where Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis and Father Louis Brisson exerted a profound influence on her. It was there that she was being formed for her life’s mission: the foundation of a congregation committed to Salesian spirituality and to the evangelization of young women.
In 1866, large industrial concerns were attracting an underpaid labor force to cities like Troyes where fabric mills drew young girls from the countryside. In 1858, the zealous apostle, Father Louis Brisson, opened residential and recreational centers for these young ladies. To insure their stability, he established the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales to direct this important work. He found in Leonie Aviat an incomparable co-worker and an ardent apostle like himself and so entrusted both this work and the new community to her care and direction.
Leonie was affected by the plight of young factory workers and felt called to minister to them. The congregation was strongly influenced by the Visitation Sisters and placed itself under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales, identifying completely with the spirituality and the educational principles of the holy Bishop of Geneva. Under Leonie’s guidance, the community grew in numbers, the social apostolate flourished, and girls’ schools were opened. In Paris, the first residence for young ladies was started, an establishment which Mother Aviat directed for eight years. Thus, the apostolate of the Oblate Sisters extended to the different classes of society and to diverse forms of education.
After a period of difficulty through which so many foundresses must live in order to put down solid roots of holiness for their Congregations, Saint Leonie Aviat guided her Sisters through the religious persecution in her native France and developed the works of the Congregation in Europe, South America and Africa. When the anti-clerical French government dissolved the Congregation, Mother Aviat and the Sisters worked to maintain the establishments that could be continued in France and transferred the Motherhouse to Perugia, Italy, guaranteeing its future.
On January 10, 1914 she died in Perugia after entrusting herself totally to God. To her last breath, she remained faithful to the resolution she had taken at the time of her profession: “To forget myself entirely.” To her daughters and all those who would come to know of her, she left, for all time, the very Salesian precept: “Let us work for the happiness of others.” She was beatified in 1992 and canonized on November 25, 2001.
After her death, the Congregation opened a foundation in the United States, where the miracle needed for her canonization took place. The Sisters staff two schools in America: Mount Aviat Academy in Childs, MD and Holy Cross Academy in Fredericksburg, VA and one of the Sisters serves on the faculty of DeSales University.
After 100 years, this example of selfless love endures. May we, like Saint Leonie, see the needs around us and reach out so that we also may “work for the happiness of others.”
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Liturgy for the Mass
Mass for the Feast of Saint Leonie Aviat
January 10
(Common of Religious)
INTRODUCTORY RITE
Saint Leonie Aviat received blessings from the Lord: she found grace before God her Savior. She belongs to the people that long to see his face.
Ps. 23:5-6 (Common for Holy Men and Women – Religious #8)
OPENING PRAYER
God of all goodness, you put into the heart of Saint Leonie Aviat an ardent desire to live humbly like Jesus, your Son. You taught her to surrender her will to yours and to have a constant charity toward all. Inspired by her example, may we too forget ourselves entirely so that we may serve you better and work for the happiness of others.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
First Reading: Colossians 3: 12-17 (#740-11) Page 212 Ritual Masses
Responsorial Psalm: 15: “You are my love, O Lord, you are my joy!”
(#739-2) Page 199 Ritual Masses
Alleluia Verse: Matthew 11:25 (#741-4) Page 218 Ritual Masses
Gospel Reading: Matthew 18: 1-5 (#742 – 7) Page 223 Ritual Masses
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord, may the gifts we bring to your altar on this feast of Saint Leonie Aviat be acceptable to you. Free us from the things that keep us from you and teach us to seek you as our only good.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
COMMUNION RITE
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord; blessed is the one who hopes in God. (Ps 33:9)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord, by the power of this sacrament, and the example of Saint Leonie Aviat, guide us always in your love. May the good work which you have begun in us reach perfection in the day of Christ Jesus who is Lord for ever and ever.