Dina Bélanger

Maria Dina Adelaide Bélanger was born on 30 April 1897 in Quebec, Canada, daughter of Octave (Olivier) Bélanger and Séraphia (Serafina) Matte. Practically an only child—her brother, born seventeen months later, died at about three months—she was baptized the same day and called Dina in the family. Sensitive and spirited by nature, she might have grown self-centered amid comfortable means, yet her devout parents formed her by quiet generosity: they aided the poor in secret, visited the afflicted with patient encouragement, and took little Dina with her mother on works of charity.

At six she entered the school of the Sisters of Notre-Dame, later continuing secondary studies at Jacques-Cartier. On 2 May 1907, at age ten, she made her First Communion and was confirmed, writing afterward, "Jesus was in me and I in Him." On Holy Thursday, 20 March 1908, she first clearly heard the Lord's interior voice, gentle and melodious, flooding her with happiness. In 1911 she boarded at the Bellevue convent of the Sisters of Notre-Dame, ranking first in examinations. On the first Friday of October 1911 she consecrated her virginity to the Lord, already burning with the desire to give herself wholly to Him.

From the age of eight she studied piano with marked talent. In 1914 she earned the superior-class diploma and a teaching certificate. In October 1916, at nineteen, she went to New York for two years of advanced study in piano, harmony, and composition at the conservatory under the Sisters of Notre-Dame, living at Our Lady of Peace; her record was marked "Excellent." From March 1917 a severe interior trial—the passive night of the senses—lasted six years: doubts and assaults of the enemy tormented her, yet she clung to the Heart of Jesus. Returning home in 1918, she continued correspondence courses, gave charity concerts to warm applause, and never abandoned her ascetical and mystical life. She also became a Third Order Dominican under the name of St. Catherine of Siena.

On 11 August 1921 she entered the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary at Quebec, founded by St. Claudine Thévenet. She received the habit on 15 February 1922 as Sister Marie of Saint Cecilia of Rome and began the novitiate at Sillery. A month later, on 25 March, she was permitted private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; public profession followed on 15 August 1923. Assigned to teach music at St. Michel and Sillery, she soon suffered scarlet fever that degenerated into tuberculosis, forcing long periods in the infirmary. In obedience to her superior she began her Autobiography in March 1924, recording her mystical encounters with Christ. On 15 August 1924 she heard the Lord say she would make profession and, a year later on the Assumption, He would come for her—understood first as physical death, then as mystical death: God absorbed her entire being so that Christ lived in her place.

Between 1923 and 1927 she composed ten musical works expressing her union with God. Despite advancing tuberculosis she pronounced perpetual vows on 15 August 1928. Her spirituality was Christ-centered and Marian, rooted in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and in the Eucharist. From 30 April 1929 she remained permanently in the infirmary at Sillery, still advising music teachers and writing scores from her bed, resigned and united to God in every suffering. She died on 4 September 1929 at thirty-two years of age, after eight years of religious life, surrounded by a reputation for uncommon holiness. Her body was buried in the convent church.

Pope John Paul II beatified her on 20 March 1993 in St. Peter's Square.

May Blessed Dina Bélanger obtain for us a share in her joyful self-offering, and let us practice today the virtue of loving surrender in illness and hidden duty.

CONFIRMATION OF BLESSED DUNS SCOTUS AND PROCLAMATION OF BLESSED DINA BÉLANGER

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Saturday, 20 March 1993

\"We entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain\" (2 Cor 6:1).

1. With these words, proclaimed a moment ago, the Apostle Paul reminded the faithful of Corinth of the great gift they had received with the proclamation of the Gospel and, at the same time, placed them before their grave responsibility as free persons capable of accepting or resisting such grace. Just as in human experience the gratuitous offer of a gift implies an implicit invitation to gratitude, so too in the relationship with God the free initiative of the heavenly Father, good and generous, places man before a choice: to recognize the gift received and accept it with gratitude or to reject it by shutting himself up in his own stifling selfishness. This is precisely what the Apostle intends to emphasize.

2. \"In everything,\" he adds, \"we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through great patience\" (2 Cor 6:4). Dearest Brothers and Sisters, how timely these words appear for us believers who have now reached the threshold of the third millennium of the Christian era! Our era is in urgent need of authentic witnesses of the Gospel; humanity awaits, even if often in an unconscious way, the unfolding of a renewed and courageous evangelization. For the men of contemporary society as well, the grace of God must not remain in vain. It is necessary that it bear abundant fruits of life, peace, and spiritual progress. The Lenten season, in which we have already been for some weeks, is truly \"the acceptable time\" (2 Cor 6:2), in which the Church invites us to experience the \"desert.\" Prayer and penance characterize this itinerary of conversion and renewal, in the never fully satisfied yearning to encounter the Lord. An intimate and personal encounter, free from earthly distractions and selfish compromises. An encounter that transforms the frenetic rhythm of daily life into an harmonious response to Christ's constant call through the events and circumstances of every day. The Apostle's exhortation not to receive the grace of the Redeemer in vain is thus renewed this evening for every faithful soul, so that he may make himself capable, with the Redeemer's help, of bearing fruits of good and may worthily prepare himself for the celebration of the Easter feasts.

3. Accompanying us and spurring us on in this commitment to correspond to God's grace are two brothers of ours in the faith, who sought to put to good use the gifts of nature and grace received from divine Providence. During this evocative liturgy, indeed, I have had the joy of proclaiming Blessed Dina Bélanger, Religious of the Congregation of Jesus-Mary, and of declaring the recognition of the Liturgical Cult of John Duns Scotus, Franciscan. Far apart in time, these two \"successful\" personalities of believers have given witness to a prompt and generous correspondence to divine grace, bringing about in their lives a blending of natural talents and heavenly gifts that arouses our admiration. Born in Scotland around 1265, John Duns Scotus was called \"Blessed\" almost immediately after his pious passing, which occurred in Cologne on 8 November 1308. In that diocese, as well as in those of Edinburgh and Nola, in addition to within the scope of the Seraphic Order, a public cult was paid to him over the centuries which the Church solemnly recognized on 6 July 1991 (cf. AAS 84 [1992] 396-399) and which she confirms today. To the particular Churches mentioned, which are present this evening in the Vatican Basilica with their most worthy Pastors, as well as to the entire great Franciscan Family, I address my greeting, inviting all to bless the name of the Lord whose glory shines in the doctrine and holiness of life of Blessed John, singer of the Incarnate Word and defender of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

4. In our age, although rich in immense human, technical and scientific resources, but in which many have lost the sense of faith and lead a life far from Christ and his Gospel (cf. Redemptoris missio, 33), the Blessed Duns Scotus presents himself not only with the acuity of his genius and the extraordinary capacity of penetration into the mystery of God, but also with the persuasive force of his holiness of life that makes him, for the Church and for all humanity, a Master of thought and life. His doctrine, from which, as my venerable Predecessor Paul VI affirmed, "clear weapons will be drawn to combat and drive away the black cloud of atheism that darkens our age" (Epist. Apost. Alma Parens: AAS 58 [1966] 612), vigorously builds up the Church, supporting her in her urgent mission of new evangelization of the peoples of the earth. In particular, for Theologians, Priests, Pastors of souls, Religious, and in a special way for Franciscans, the Blessed Duns Scotus constitutes an example of fidelity to revealed truth, of fruitful priestly action, of serious dialogue in the search for unity, he who, as John Gerson affirmed, was always moved in his existence "not by the contentious singularity of winning, but by the humility of finding an agreement" (Lectiones duae "Poenitemini", lect. alt., consid. 5: cit. in Epist. Apost. Alma Parens: AAS 58 [1966] 614). May his spirit and his memory illuminate with the very light of Christ the toil and the hopes of our society.

5. This light also shines on the face of her whom the Church will henceforth venerate as blessed, Dina Bélanger, of the Congregation of Jesus-Mary. At the hour of evening prayer, it is good for us to turn our gaze toward this ardent soul, who reached such a high degree of intimacy with God that she noted, from the time of her novitiate: "My hunger for communion kept growing. A day without bread, is it not a day without sun, hours whose evening is slow to come?". She indeed wanted to see Jesus alone living in her, so that her whole being might be annihilated in his.

Dina Bélanger approaches the admirable ideal that Saint Paul makes us meditate upon, when he cries out: "It is no longer I who live, it is Christ who lives in me". In a congregation whose purpose is "to make Jesus and Mary known through Christian education", Sister Mary of Saint Cecilia of Rome leads her life and her action in such a way as to let Christ act in her and to be nothing more than an instrument totally placed in his hands.

Her sufferings allowed her to know the identification she sought. Passing through the cross of illness and death, she consummated her offering to Him who was and who remains today the sole goal of her life, the Light that enlightens every man who comes into this world, the brightness in the heart of darkness and night, the voice that speaks in our soul.

Here are the words of the Pope in our Italian translation.

5. This light also shines on the face of her whom the Church will henceforth venerate as blessed, Dina Bélanger, of the Congregation of Jesus-Mary. At the moment of evening prayer, let us turn our gaze toward this ardent soul, who has reached such a high degree of intimacy with God, that she felt from the time of her novitiate: "My hunger for communion kept growing. A day without bread, is it not a day without sun, are they not hours whose evening is slow to come?" Indeed she wanted only to see Jesus live in her, so that all her own being might be annihilated in his. Dina Bélanger approaches the admirable ideal on which Saint Paul makes us meditate, when he exclaims: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). In a congregation whose purpose is "to make Jesus and Mary known through Christian education", Sister Mary of Saint Cecilia of Rome conducts her life and directs her conduct in such a way as to let Christ act in her and to be nothing other than an instrument totally entrusted to his hands. Her sufferings allowed her to know the identification she sought. Passing through the cross of illness and death, she offered her gift to Him who has been and who continues to be today the sole purpose of her life, the light that enlightens every man who has come into this world, the light in the heart of darkness and night, the voice that speaks in our soul.

6. The intimacy of Christ's presence in Dina Bélanger, the life of the Holy Trinity within her, appear particularly in her spirit of offering to the Heart of the Son of God. Jesus is, she writes, the \"life of my life,\" as she always strives to let her heart beat to the rhythm of His. She knows she is accompanied at every moment, in the eternal present that makes Saint Paul say: \"Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.\" Entirely stretched out in the desire to correspond to the divine will, she lives no longer except in the freedom granted by God to His children, in the spirit of her motto: \"Jesus and Mary, the rule of my love, and my love the rule of my life.\" From this fidelity to the intentions of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of His Mother spring the simplest and most beautiful traits of charity toward her Sisters. As if she had received the grace of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who left this world the very year of her own birth, Dina Bélanger wants to \"consume the whole world in love\"; she becomes an apostle and a missionary according to the heart of God.

Her message is delivered to us this evening, Brothers and Sisters, with a marvelous purity and limpidity. The reception of Jesus into our life, the union of His heart with ours, the love of the Most Blessed Virgin, the fraternal spirit in communities—such are the graces we can ask of the Lord through the intercession of Dina Bélanger, she who leaves us as her ultimate motto: \"To love and let Jesus and Maria act.\"

Here are the Pope's words in our translation into Italian. [Note: The source text includes a transition into Italian before continuing the papal homily]

6. The intimacy of Christ's presence in Dina Bélanger, the life of the Holy Trinity in her, show themselves in a particular way in their spirit of offering to the Heart of the Son of God. Jesus is, she writes, the \"life of my life,\" since she always strives to make her own heart beat to the rhythm of His. She knows she is accompanied at every instant, in the eternal present that makes Saint Paul say: \"Ecco ora il momento favorevole, ecco ora il giorno della salvezza!\" (2 Cor 6:2). Entirely stretched out in the desire to obey the divine will, she lives in nothing else than the freedom granted by God to His children, in the spirit of her motto: \"Jesus and Mary, the rule of my love, and my love the rule of my life.\" From this fidelity to the intentions of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of His Mother, spring the simplest and most beautiful aspects of charity toward her Sisters. As if she had received the grace of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, who left this world in the very year she was born, Dina Bélanger wants to \"consume the whole world in love\"; she becomes an apostle and missionary according to the heart of God.

Her message is given to us this evening, Brothers and Sisters, with a marvelous purity and limpidity. The welcoming of Jesus into our life, the union of His heart with ours, the love of the Most Blessed Virgin, the fraternal spirit in communities—these are the graces we can ask of the Lord through the intercession of Dina Bélanger, who leaves us as her last motto: \"To love and let Jesus and Mary act.\"

7. \"We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.\" Dearest Brothers and Sisters, let us return, as if guided by the hands of the two new Blesseds, to the invitation that today's liturgy repeats to us with pressing insistence. We are all called to holiness; we must all build in our life that dialogue of love and union with God that leads to true happiness and to the full fulfillment of the most intimate aspirations of the human heart. The itineraries to follow the evangelical call can be diverse, according to the inexhaustible richness of supernatural grace. Yet the goal is unique: to reproduce in one's own existence the very image of the Son of God. Authentic spirituality is founded upon this elementary and decisive condition: translating the Gospel message into concrete reality, responding without hesitation to the saving action of the Lord.

8. "Behold, now is the acceptable time, behold, now is the day of salvation!" Now is the time of our conversion. Dina Bélanger, a young follower of that Claudine Thévenet whom tomorrow I will have the joy of proclaiming a Saint, stimulates us with her example to love God's plans in the simplicity of daily living. John Duns Scotus reminds us that active love toward our brothers and sisters is born from the search for truth and from its contemplation in the silence of prayer and in the unshadowed testimony of full adherence to the Lord's will.

Dearest brothers and sisters, just as the grace of God was not in vain in their lives, may it also be so for us. We ask this with confidence of the Lord through their very intercession.

Blessed Dina Bélanger, Blessed John Duns Scotus, pray for us!