Saint Theodore Guerin was a French nun who worked tirelessly to educate and care for the poor and sick.
St. Theodore Guerin: 5 Things To Know About Her
- The ocean brought Saint Theodore to God.
While looking at the vastness of the ocean, Saint Theodore found herself contemplating God. She visited the water’s edge, meditating on God and praying to Him. This led to her decision to dedicate her life to God.
“For true hearts there is no separating ocean; or, rather, God is their ocean, in Whom they meet and are united.”
ST. Théodore Guérin
- That decision? It was made when Saint Theodore was only TEN.
Saint Theodore was just 10 years old when she knew her life would be lived for God. She wanted to become a nun.
Her dreams were put on hold at the age of 15, when her father and brothers died unexpectedly. Saint Theodore spent the next 10 years of her life in charge of the household. Finally, at the age of 25, Saint Theodore entered the Sisters of Providence. These nuns served in difficult and dangerous areas, teaching and caring for the sick and poor.
- Saint Theodore almost died shortly after joining the Sisters of Providence.
Saint Theodore became very ill from smallpox. The medication she was given saved her life, but damaged many of her internal organs. This left her very weak and only able to consume simple foods, liquids, and broths.
- Saint Theodore was personally selected to travel to America to help educate Catholic immigrants.
The Bishop of Indiana asked the Sisters of Providence to travel to the United States to help open schools and care for the sick. Several sisters volunteered to go, but Sister Theodore was not one of them. She worried she would be a burden because of her illness. Saint Theodore did not realize that without her, none of the sisters would take part in this mission. It was believed she was the only woman who would be able to handle the tough job and demanding conditions. When Sister Theodore heard this, she agreed to take part in the mission.
- It took three months to get from France to Indiana.
The woman boarded a luxury aircraft and comfortably traveled in the first-class section of the plane. JUST KIDDING – this was the 1800s! The sisters traveled by ship, train, boat, and horse-drawn carriages as they made their way from France to the United States. When they finally arrived in Indiana, they found themselves in the middle of the woods, surrounded by wilderness. There was little food, warmth, or money.
Despite the hardships and harsh conditions, the Sisters – led by the unflappable Saint Theodore Guerin – successfully opened schools, parishes, and orphanages. The first school founded was Saint Mary of the Woods College, which still thrives to this day!
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