Marie Lataste

Born at Mimbaste near Dax, France, 21 February, 1822; died at
Rennes, 10 May, 1847; was the youngest child of simple pious
peasants. According to her own narrative, written under obedience,
she was poor, lowly, country girl, knowing nothing but what her
mother taught her; hence, in the natural order, all her learning
consisted in being able to read, write, sew, and spin. Her
knowledge in the supernatural order long embraced merely the
principal truths of salvation. Little by little the light grew
like a vast furnace on which wood is cast, and towards which a
mighty wind blows from all sides. The Lord Jesus, the Light of the
World, had been the light of her soul. He had brought her up as a
mother does her child, with patience and perseverance; if she knew
aught she owed it to Him, she had all from Him. A troublesome
child, proud, ambitious, and self-contained, she was the constant
subject of her mother's anxious prayer, and her first Communion,
made in her twelfth year, was the turning point in her life. A
strong impression of the Divine presence on the great day, and
confirmation received soon after, strengthened her piety and
virtue, which thenceforward never faltered. About a year after
Marie saw at Mass, during the Elevation, a bright light which
seemed to inflame her love for the Eucharistic Lord and to
increase as that love increased. Soon, to prepare her for greater
favours, she was cast into the crucible of severe interior trials
and temptations, whence docility to her director brought her forth
victorious. He allowed her to make a yearly vow of virginity, and
the Blessed Sacrament became the central thought of her life.
According to her own narrative, towards the end of 1839, when she
was seventeen, she saw Christ on the altar. On the Epiphany, 1840,
this was repeated, and for three whole years every time she
assisted at Mass this grace was granted her. Almost daily she
received from the lips of Jesus instructions forming a complete
spiritual and doctrinal education. He explained in simple language
the principal truths of faith; sometimes he showed her symbolical
visions, or taught her in parables. He sent His Mother and angels
to her; at times He reproached and humbled her. Her progress in
virtue was rapid, her defects disappeared, and she exercised a
happy influence on those who approached her. She did not suspect
at first that hers was a singular privilege, yet she never
mentioned it except to her confessor.

In 1840 M. l'Abbe Pierre Darbins succeeded M. Farbos as cure of
Mimbaste. By Divine command Marie revealed her soul to him. Much
surprised, he tested his penitent by trying her obedience and
humility; he found her wholly submissive. Then he asked the help
of the director of the seminary of Dax. They agreed to order her
to put in writing everything supernatural she had heard and seen
in the past, and all she might hear and see in the future. In due
time this was accomplished; but the true text has been so much
interpolated by the editor that the "Works of Marie Lataste" are
not considered authentic. The Divine Master had made known to her
His will, that she should embrace religious life, and in the
Society of the Sacred heart, recently founded and wholly unknown
to her and her director. After many objections and delays, she
obtained permission and left for Paris, 21 April, 1844, alone,
under the guidance of Divine Providence. She was received at the
H�tel Biron by Madame de Boisbaudry, who had her examined by an
experienced spiritual guide. She was admitted as laysister on 15
May. With great joy she entered upon this new life. Humility,
charity, obedience, and fidelity to common life were her chief
characteristics. Her sisters' testimony was : Sister Lataste does
everything like every one else, yet no one does anything like
her." Still a novice she was sent to Rennes, in the hope that
change of air would improve her health. An active life succeeded
the quiet of the noviceship; she was infirmarian, refectorian,
portress, but her humble virtues shown the more brilliantly;
children, strangers, as well as her superiors and her sisters,
felt her hidden sanctity. Marie's vows had been postponed in the
hope of an improvement in her health. But on Sunday, 9 May, she
became suddenly so very ill that the end seemed near. She was
allowed to pronounce her vows, just before receiving the last
sacraments. Then the pent-up ardours of her soul burst forth in
ecstatic joy until her death on 10 May, 1847, at the age of
twenty-five. Her memory lives in benediction. Her remains have
been secured from desecration and now repose at Roehampton near
London.

ALICE POWER
Transcribed by Joseph P. Thomas

Dedicated to Sr. Madeline Laroche


From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright � 1913 by the
Encyclopedia Press, Inc. Electronic version copyright � 1996 by
New Advent, Inc.

Taken from the New Advent Web Page (www.knight.org/advent).

This article is part of the Catholic Encyclopedia Project, an
effort aimed at placing the  entire Catholic Encyclopedia 1913
edition on the World Wide Web. The coordinator is Kevin Knight,
editor of the New Advent Catholic Website. If you would like to
contribute to this  worthwhile project, you can contact him by e-
mail at (knight.org/advent). For  more information please download
the file cathen.txt/.zip.

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