St. Philippine Rose Duchesne (1769-1852)

Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne was born in Grenoble, France and died in St. Charles, Missouri. Along with Madeleine Sophie Barat, she founded the Society of the Sacred Heart. She was educated by the Visitation nuns, entered that order, saw its dispersion during the French Revolution‘s Reign of Terror, vainly attempted the reestablishment of the convent of Ste-Marie-d’en-Haut, near Grenoble, and finally, in 1804, accepted the offer of Mother Barat to receive her community into the Society of the Sacred Heart. From early childhood, the dream of Philippine had been the apostolate of souls. In 1818 Mother Duchesne set out with four companions for the missions of America. Bishop Dubourg welcomed her to New Orleans, when she sailed up the Mississippi to St. Louis, finally settling her little colony at St. Charles. “Poverty and Christian heroism are here,” she wrote, “and trials are the riches of priests in this land.” Other foundations followed, at Florissant, Grand Côteau, New Orleans, St. Louis, St. Michael; and the approbation of the society in 1826 by Leo XII recognized the good being done in these parts. She yearned to teach the poor Indians, and old and broken as she was, she went to labour among the Pottowatomies at Sugar Creek, thus realizing the desire of her life. Stirred by the recitals of Father De Smet, S.J., she turned her eyes towards the Rocky Mountain missions; but Providence led her back to St. Charles, where she died. She was canonized on July 3, 1988, by Pope John Paul II.
(From Wikipedia)