Woman of the Ardeche

A little girl
A ray of hope
Bringing joy
and gladness
to her war-wearied parents
family and friends

It all happened
More than two hundred years ago
At Le Mas in Sabliere
The birth of
this child
a little girl
Marie Victoire Couderc

I see her laughing
playing
running
in the front yard
in the back yard of her family home

She carries
wood for the fire
water from the “source”
fruit from the earth

She’s a little child
a strong mountain girl
a teenager
aglow with love
afire for LOVE

She grows and matures
Her hands darkened by summer’s sun
She works in the garden
She peels and chops
vegetables and fruit
for her family’s next meal

She is gentle and sweet
singing lullabies
as she cradles
her brothers
her sister to sleep

So young is she
So wise
She already knows the secret of life
She yearns for what she knows
God is All

She ages gracefully
She grows in wisdom
She marries Goodness
never separate
ever present
always together
in sickness
in health
through death do they live forever

She cries during her final days
longing for death
for suffering to end
Jesus, have mercy on me!

Her Beloved hears her cry
He hears her plea
He is with her
Her Divine Good Master is with her
hand outstretched
to bring her home

She cannot reach His hand
Nor can she touch His finger
He comes closer now
close enough
to lift her broken body
and carry her home
over the threshold
from earth to eternity

A determined young woman now
She dreams of the future
wife
mother
Lover of God

God sets her gaze on God’s own Self
She leaves her home
her family and friends
the only world she has ever known

She kneels before her Beloved
clothed as a “Bride of Christ”
God is All
Yes, God is All

A new life
A new home
Marie Victoire no longer
Therese is her new name
a simple name
a valiant woman
is her patron

Teresa will teach her
the ways of the Lord
She will learn well
day after day
year after year
All for the greater glory of God

How much she longs
to make her God known and loved
How hard she works
at her desk
in the garden
alone or with her sisters

She journeys up and down
rugged mountain roads
No matter the weather
she is filled with zeal
To make Jesus known and loved
She preaches
She prays
ever so quietly
ever so humbly
serving the good God
whom she loves and adores

She is there now
in that heavenly home
enjoying the Banquet of the Lord
Her gaze now and always
is forever on her Beloved
Divine Good Master

Her gaze is on us as well
her family on earth
her family
gathered together in the Cenacle

Though we see her not
she walks with us
she intercedes for us
even when we are unaware

She is mother
sister
friend
companion
                  to us all
who embrace our spiritual journey
as women and men of the Cenacle

All for the greater glory of God
her mission
and ours

YES!
God is Good
GOD is very Good
God is Goodness
AMEN!