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9 things you may not know about Saint Mother Theodore

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Mother Theodore‘s pocket knife is on display in the Shrine of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

  • She owned a pocket knife.
  • She loved all creatures except snakes and mosquitoes.
  • She had a special fondness for birds.
  • On her voyage to America, via the ship, the Cincinnati, she counted the teeth of a porpoise caught with a harpoon.
  • She was locked in a closet by a bishop.
  • Because of sickness, after becoming a sister, she was never able to eat solid foods again. She survived on only soft foods and liquids the rest of her life.
  • Nobody would have guessed that she was a little villain — not bad, but mischievous and leading all the pranks of the children in the neighborhood.
  • Her father died when she was just 15 years old. Afterwards she assumed responsibility of taking care of her mother and younger sister for many years.
  • During her life, several different sisters had seen a heavenly light in her room and in her office on the first floor of Providence Convent.

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Paul Beel

Paul worked for the Sisters of Providence for 10 years, first as a Systems Analyst in the Information Technology department and as a photographer/digital media/web developer in the Missions Advancement office. He is a graduate of Indiana State University with a degree in electronics technology.

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5 Comments

  1. Sr. Carol Nolan on October 16, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    Lovely, Paul! And of course she also loved dogs and cats, and had one of each.

    • Paul Beel on October 16, 2014 at 12:49 pm

      Thank you Sr. Carol!

  2. Michelle Davis on October 16, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Thank you Sr. Carol, my youngest had asked me if Mother Theodore had a cat or dog! :o)

  3. Dean Cole on October 19, 2014 at 9:00 pm

    Very interesting,thanks for sharing human side of a beautiful saint.

    • Paul Beel on October 20, 2014 at 8:47 am

      You are welcome Dean, thank you for the comment.

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