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
