St. Marie of the Incarnation was born October 28, 1599, in France and died on April 30, 1672, in Canada. Earlier this month, she was
canonized by Pope Francis.
Marie’s story is a difficult one to understand at times. A relatively wealthy widow with a son, she chose to become an Ursuline nun when she was thirty. She left her son, who was about ten, in the care of her sister and brother-in-law. Ten years later, she felt called to serve in Canada, then known as New France.
Marie and her son, who became a priest, had an active correspondence, but it does not appear they ever saw each other again after she left France.
St. Marie of the Incarnation said: “O my great God, you can do all things and I can do nothing! If you wish to help me, I am ready. I promise to obey you!”
It’s hard to imagine the Lord calling a mother away from a young child, isn’t it? 
Fortunately, He doesn’t ask many of us for that sort of sacrifice. But as we head into the holiest time of the year, give some thought to what God is asking of you… and how you can answer the call, as difficult as it seems.
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