September 19 | Saint Emily de Rodat

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine you belong to a super wealthy family. Your life is filled with high society parties, and you spend your days chasing nothing but worldly pleasures, until you turn 16, and suddenly, your entire world flips upside down. Today, we are talking about an incredible woman who traded in a life of luxury to embrace what she called a holy cheerfulness.

St. Emily was born on September 6, 1787, in the town of Rodez, France. Growing up in a wealthy family, she spent her early years totally focused on having a good time and enjoying all the privileges her money could buy. But at the age of 16, everything changed when she had a massive spiritual awakening, an experience that completely transformed her heart and made her realize she was made for more.

But figuring out what God actually wanted from her was a messy, frustrating process. Eager to dedicate her life to God, she joined a religious order. But it didn't fit. So, she packed up and tried a second one. Still not right. Emily entered three different religious orders, but none of them matched the life she felt called to live. Talk about discouraging. But instead of giving up and going back to her comfortable, wealthy lifestyle, she bravely kept searching. Her aha moment didn't happen in a quiet, peaceful chapel.

It happened out on a busy street. One day, while Emily was walking through town, she overheard a group of local mothers talking. They were heartbroken because they were too poor to afford to send their daughters to school. Hearing this tragic reality absolutely pierced Emily's heart. In a flash, the puzzle pieces fell into place. And she immediately knew that she had finally found her calling.

She didn't just offer them a sympathetic smile. She jumped right into action. With the help of some other women and her spiritual advisors, Emily began teaching these poor children herself. But she didn't stop there. Emily actually went on to start her very own religious order, which she named the Religious Congregation of the Holy Family of Villefranche.

And guess what? Her mission exploded. What started as a small school for girls expanded as the order began to also care for the elderly, visit prisoners, and take in orphans. Her religious order faced many intense challenges, but they always managed to overcome their circumstances.

On a personal level, Emily carried a heavy and painful physical cross. She suffered from a constant maddening ringing in her ears, and was eventually diagnosed with cancer. Did she let the pain stop her? Not a chance. She continued to work tirelessly and care for others right up until she died from the cancer on September 19, 1852, in Aveyron, France. By the time she passed away, she had successfully started 38 different charitable institutions.

She was canonized as a saint on April 23, 1950, by Pope Pius XII. Emily left us with some pretty awesome advice that we can use when life gets tough. Her personal motto was this, keep your enthusiasm, be brave, put all your trust in God, and always maintain a holy cheerfulness. Today, when you face something annoying, try to tackle it with a cheerful attitude instead of complaining. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.