Tuesday, September 04, 2018

Memorial of Blessed Dina Bélanger

The Canadian Church celebrates today the optional memorial of a very holy Canadian woman, a contemporary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known as the "Little Flower of Canada": Mary, Margaret, Dina, Adelaide Bélanger was born in Quebec on April 30, 1897 and baptized the same day.

When Dina’s brother died at three months old, her grieving mother started visiting the poor and ill bringing nourishment and compassion. Dina often went with her. Discovering she didn’t have a patron saint, she resolved to be the first St. Dina.
Gifted with music, she studied piano at the Conservatory of Music in New York from 1916 to 1918. But instead of becoming a concert pianist she entered the Congregation of Jésus-Marie at Sillery on August 11, 1921 and as Sister Marie Sainte-Cécile de Rome took her final vows on August 15 1928. Teacher of music, she contracted scarlet fever after caring for a sick pupil and developed tuberculosis. For the rest of her life she taught whenever she was not too ill to do so. Died of September 4, 1929, age 32. A great mystic who entered into the mystery of love at the heart of the Trinity, she revealed her intimacy with God in her diaries and autobiography written at the request of her superiors. Beatified in 1933 by Saint John Paul II.


PRAYER COLLECT

O God, the source of all holiness, who raised Blessed Dina Bélanger to the heights of divine love and made known to her the treasures of the heart of your Son, grant that, through her prayers and her example, we may faithfully carry out your will in all that we do. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.


For further information:

http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/belanger_dina_15E.html
http://www.mysticsofthechurch.com/2010/09/blessed-dina-belanger-mother-ste-cecile.html