February 13th - Blessed Bishop Ambrose Leblanc

February 13th - Blessed Bishop Ambrose Leblanc
Franciscan Provincial
(1884-1959)

Bishop Ambrose Leblanc was a prelate and missionary whose truly Franciscan
life brings great honor and gives serious inspiration to his beloved Order.
Born in 1884, he was the descendant of a deported Acadian family, which
later assembled with some fifty others of the exiles, to populate the newly
erected parish of Saint Jacques de Montcalm, Quebec. His pious mother,
during an epidemic, lost three of her four children in infancy or early
childhood, but saved Adolph, as he was then called, by a vow she made to
give him to the Franciscans if he survived. Admirable and generous parents,
the Leblancs were known for their charity to the poor. They adopted and
raised eleven girls, nine of whom became religious. Their unique little boy
was already "saying Mass" at a tender age, and making up little sermons for
his sisters.

When this cherished son entered religion in 1906, he chose the Franciscan
Order, and five years later was ordained a priest. One of his brothers in
religion said of him: "He made constant progress in virtue; to the
gentleness of his manners and the excellent education he received at home
and in the seminary, he added concern for perfection and a lively ardor for
intellectual labors. On the day of his ordination in July of 1911, he
already had a priestly mentality, with no other desire than to immolate
himself with Christ."

He soon was destined for the formation of youth; already he had played an
important role in the beginnings of his nine sisters' consecration to God.
He was a Supervisor for two years in the Seraphic College of Montreal, then
director of the same at Three Rivers; he was Master of Novices in Montreal
for seven years, then Definitor or Provincial Counselor until 1927. He
became the first Franciscan Provincial when the Province of Saint Joseph was
erected in Canada, and remained in charge for six years, then in 1936 left
for the missions of Japan, as ecclesiastical Superior. When he came back to
Canada after gaining firsthand knowledge of the situation, he recommended
the transfer of the prefecture to Tokyo.

He returned to Japan in 1939 as Apostolic Prefect to the Prefecture of
Urawa. The Japanese emperor had permitted the Church's establishment on
condition the direction soon be confided to native-born Japanese, and in
October of 1940 fifteen foreign bishops resigned. The two prefects
nonetheless remained in Tokyo. For a year they were not disturbed, but
finally all religious were imprisoned in a concentration camp. During this
time the Franciscan Superior was occupied like everyone else with garden
work, washing floors, and all menial tasks. There were 30 to 40 priests in
the camp for two years; a Japanese bishop came to give orders that only one
should say Mass each day, the others receive Communion. There were five or
six bottles of wine at their disposition during those two years. Bishop
Leblanc said to the priests: "A priest has the right to say his Mass every
day. Each of you, go ahead and say your Mass every day!" And never did the
wine run out. The prisoners considered this a miracle, however sparing the
use of the available wine may have been.

Never did their Superior lose his smile. "Never was there a word of
discouragement, criticism or impatience! He was always of an even temper and
with a sincere smile." One day, back in Canada, he himself would say: "My
life has been a perpetual enchantment." He would labor in Quebec for the
spread of devotion to the Virgin of the Smile, who cured little Saint
Thérèse of the Child Jesus when her sisters, having lost hope, cried out to
their Heavenly Mother for aid. He propagated replicas of the beautiful
statue, now known to every Catholic of the Province of Quebec. At the
Montreal Chapel Les Buissonnets, named in honor of the home of the Little
Flower in Lisieux, the 13th day of every month was consecrated to devotions
to the Virgin of the Smile, under the direction of Bishop Leblanc.

Finally there came for the Bishop "the most beautiful day of my life." As he
had composed a poem hymning Thérèse and her invitation to heroic sacrifice,
he also wrote an inspiring page addressed to the future day of his death, in
which his ardor and love of God overflowed. Here is an extract of this
beautiful text: "O blessed day, for me you will have the charm of my First
Mass. Until now, as a priest, I have been the sacrificer and Jesus the
divine Victim. On the day of my death, I will be the victim, and Jesus the
Sacrificer... You will be sweeter than the day of my birth, more joyous than
the day of my Baptism, greater than the day of my First Communion, more
memorable than the day I received the habit, more solemn than the day of my
Profession, more beautiful than the day of my Ordination, more grandiose
than that of my First Mass! O blessed Sister Death, do not delay; give me
the kiss of departure; lead me to my God, to my Jesus whom I cherish, whom I
love... O you who have known me, do not look for me among the dead; I am
going to the land of the living! ...Rejoice with me, sing with me the
mercies of the Lord, ending in a cry of gratitude the Te Deum which I will
intone when I expire!"

Bishop Leblanc was in an automobile accident on the evening of February 13,
1959, when his driver lost control of the car on a slippery road. He expired
in the ambulance which transported him to the hospital. Those who loved him
could not but rejoice with him, on this most beautiful day of his life.

Source: Magnificat magazine, Vol. XIX, Nos. 2-3, February-March 1984
(Editions Magnificat: St. Jovite)


Saint Quote:
"To fast is not a natural cause of sadness except for those who are yet too
feebly disposed; for those who desire to contemplate wisdom, fasting is a
delight. As long as the disciples were weak, it was wiser to wait until they
became stronger. This shows that it was not an invitation to gluttony but a
recognition of their weakness."
-St. John Chrysostom (Doctor, 347-407) - "An Aquinas Reader",

Bible Quotes:
"And Jesus said to them: Can the children of the bridegroom mourn, as long
as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom
shall be taken away from them, and then they shall fast" (Matt 9:15)

"But in all things let us exhibit ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in tribulation, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in
prisons, in seditions, in labours, in watchings, in fastings" (2
Corinthians 6:4-5)


<><><><>
THIRTY-ONE DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS
FROM THE PURGATORIAN MANUAL
(Imprimatur 1946)

Twenty-First Day

EFFICACY OF THE ROSARY FOR THE SUFFERING SOULS

St. Dominic declares that the redemption of the holy souls from
Purgatory is one of the principal effects of the Rosary. The Venerable
Alanus writes that many of the brethren had appeared to them whilst reciting
the Rosary, and had declared that next to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
there was no more powerful means than the Rosary to help the suffering
souls. Also, that numerous souls were daily released thereby, who otherwise
would have been obliged to remain there for years. St. Alphonsus Liguori
therefore says: "If we wish to be of material assistance to the souls in
Purgatory, we must always recommend them in our prayers to the Blessed

Virgin Mary, and especially offer the holy Rosary for them."

Let us then frequently and with devotion recite the Rosary, which is so
pleasing to our blessed Mother, recommended most especially by the Holy
Church, discloses to us a rich source of grace, and is so efficacious in
relieving the suffering souls and opening Heaven to them. Should our labor
prevent us from reciting the entire Rosary every day, let us, at least, say
it in part. This simple homage to the Queen of Heaven will draw down great
blessings upon us, and the holy souls will be wonderfully consoled and
relieved, if this devotion be offered in their behalf.

Prayer: Graciously hear, O Lord! the prayer we offer Thee in the holy
Rosary, in honor of Mary, Thy Virgin Mother, for the relief of the souls in
Purgatory, while by devoutly meditating upon Thy holy life and suffering, we
implore Thy divine assistance.Who livest and reignest, world without end.
Amen.

Special Intercession: Pray for the souls who were most devoted to the holy
Rosary.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon
them; may they rest in peace. Amen. (Three times)

Practice: Recite the Rosary for the suffering souls.

Invocation: My Jesus, mercy!

See entire 31day prayer at:
http://www.faithfuldeparted.net/prayers.html




.