Sophie-tide: GIFT and three miracles

My parish, not far from Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith - one of 'our' schools - has a great many past and present pupils and staff, and others with connections to the school, in its midst. And so, when I realised that St Madeleine Sophie's feast day would fall on a Sunday, and be a double-celebration, due to the 100th anniversary of her canonisation, I asked our parish priest if he could say something to acknowledge this, maybe at the start of Mass or in the newsletter. On Saturday night I received a message - would I like to say something about Sophie at the end of the 11am Mass? Did I think I could begin to do her justice in just a few minutes?

I said yes, of course - and then consulted Sophie herself. How would she like me to sum up her long life and legacy in a very short time? She swiftly reminded me of a conversation I'd had that afternoon with some other sisters, and of something I'd written back in 2017. And thus I managed to do Sophie some kind of justice, via three miracles. If you'd like to see what I said, you can watch the livestream recording, from 1.10.16...

And the GIFT? After Mass, someone who taught at Sacred Heart for many years told me to look at the Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) noticeboard. This being May, the family catechesis group had been sharing photos of rosaries... and there, nestled within one rosary, this small image of Sophie; unnamed, and probably unrecognised, except by those who look closely and know her well. And a single child at her side, serving as a reminder of her declaration - almost an unofficial motto for many - that for the sake of one child, she would have founded the Society. 

And I was sure that Sophie was smiling at this. Yes, her statue is in St Peter's, in Rome; her relic in the new main altar in Notre Dame in Paris... poems and praises have been sung in tribute to her... The Sacred Heart family - sisters and students, alums, colleagues and associates - has been celebrating her inspiration and legacy throughout the world... But in life Sophie was a humble, self-effacing woman; though one who would also understand the love and affection poured into tributes. She would have also seen the affection with which this photo was taken, and thus, I could imagine this almost anonymous little picture on a church noticeboard would be a source of quiet joy for her... just as the unexpected sight of it instantly brought a huge smile to my own face. 

Be humble, Sophie once advised, be simple, bring joy to others - and in the warm surprise of seeing her in that almost unremarked photo, I found myself whispering those words back to her.