marianist.com/donate • 23 hen I look at the life of Blessed Mother Adéle, I see a model of hope. As Catholics, we are called to bear witness to God’s goodness and ultimate triumphs — a reality that may be scoffed at in a cynical world, but an important message for today. Adéle lived this message of hope throughout her life. I admire many of Adéle’s personal attributes: her confidence in God, her courage and her humility. Taking her cue from Father Chaminade, I appreciate how she discerned and responded to the world as she, too, read the “signs of the times.” I also am energized by her passion for mission and a life of simplicity that grounded her in hope. Adéle’s letters, even the mundane, illustrate her reliance on God’s grace and mercy. From an early age, she understood what it meant to trust God. The words, “God alone” appear frequently in her letters. For Adéle, every action, word and relationship was for God alone — the foundation of her hope. Courage fueled her hope. She was not one to shrink from a large task or become over- whelmed. Nor did she hold her tongue when speaking out was necessary. She often shared messages of courage in her letters. Writing to one Sister she wrote, “Courage, God will work with and for you. What can we not do with the help of [God’s] grace? Walk boldly.” Although Adéle never called attention to her gifts, reading her letters gives one a sense that she recognized her gifts and used them well. She never lost sight of her limitations, but did not allow them to hinder her. She entrusted them to God and moved on. This sense of humility enabled her to hope in God, the source of all gifts and the strength for her limitations. Adéle clearly saw the needs of those around her as well as those on the margins, and she responded. It is easy to feel hopeless when looking at the needs of the world, but when we, like Adéle, put ourselves into action, we can counter that discouragement. Adéle did this with enthusiasm, passion, energy and vivacity — all words used to describe her. She believed wholeheartedly in her mission — the mission of Mary — and she approached her calling with life-giving energy. Adéle lived a simple life. Unencumbered by possessions or distractions, she was free to hope. Her single-mindedness of purpose, the importance she placed on relationships and her focus on what was truly important, allowed her to live in hope. As we celebrate Adéle’s beatification throughout this year, I pray that others will learn more about this incredible woman of hope. We all could use a portion of her spirit in our lives. ■ Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI, is a Marianist Sister from Dayton, Ohio. BLESSED MOTHER ADÉLE: Adéle de Batz de Trenquelléon was born near Agen, France, on June 10, 1879. This summer, on her 229th birthday, this foundress of the Marianist Sisters and Father Chaminade’s collaborator, was beatified near her birthplace. Beatification is a declaration by the Pope that a deceased person lived a holy life and is worthy of public veneration. Beatified persons are called “Blessed.” A BEACON HOPE OF A reflection by Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI W