BEGINNINGS – The life of Euphrasie Barbier

“Life is either a daring adventure, or it is nothing.”

                                                                                                              [Helen Keller]

The fourth day of January 1829 dawned with dark ominous clouds threatening  to shower and engulf the earth with their burden of snow.  A cold fierce wind howled angrily around the sturdy walls of a small second floor flat trying in vain to dislodge the windows and door that rattled and wriggled in strong objection.

Louis Barbier, a shoemaker, lived with his wife, Adele in this small but cosy flat. They were French and their humble flat was in a small town called Caen in the northern province of Normandy

As the weather wreaked havoc outside on this cold January morning, Adele, Louis’ wife, was experiencing the pain and pangs of giving birth to their first child, helped by her mother and grandmother.

Louis sat beside the fire worried and distressed, trying to feel useful, poking, stirring and feeding the fire as he waited……anxiously waited.

Then, faintly, in the midst of the wind’s wail a small cry was heard and, breathing a sigh of relief together with a grateful prayer, Louis knew that the ordeal was over.  But was it?

Later, as he stood looking down proudly on the dark head of his new little daughter, the initial elation he felt was slowly ebbing away for he knew that something was wrong.  She was very small and was finding it hard to breathe.  She seemed almost too tired and weak to breathe by herself.  Yes something was seriously wrong.

Fearing the worst, Adele begged that the baby be baptised.  So, in spite of the sleet and snow and battling against the wind, which tore at their clothes, Louis, Adele’s mother and grandmother, carried the baby to the church of St. Giles. There they were met by the parish priest who agreed to baptise the child there and then.

“What is her name Louis?” He asked.

“Her name is Adele Euphrasie”, he said.

The adventure had begun!   Her destiny was now firmly in the hands of a loving God.

However, in the darkness of the winter days that followed, Louis and Adele were haunted by fear for their baby’s life. Even with all the love and care that they lavished upon her, little Adele Euphrasie was barely surviving.

What were they to do?

Then grandmother made a suggestion,

“Why don’t you come and stay at our farm in Louvigny, at least until the winter is over.  The farm is always warm and little Euphrasie will get nourishing food.”  Louis and Adele Barbier, who were, by this time, desperate, gladly accepted this invitation and soon after moved to Louvigny, a pretty little village, built on a sunny hillside and consisting of a cluster of clean, white, stone houses overlooking rich farmland.

Within weeks, in this environment, the tiny baby was gaining weight and becoming stronger.  They knew with certainty that this was all down to the warmth at the farm, the good country air and to the fresh food – eggs, milk, fruit and vegetables that were readily available.

Euphrasie, though small for her age, grew into a happy if mischievous toddler.  She was still little more than a baby when a little sister, Nathalie, joined the family and a couple of years later another little girl, Noemi, was born.  Euphrasie was soon trying to mother her younger sisters endeavouring to emulate her mother’s ways.

Though it was a struggle to feed and clothe a growing family, Adele, Euphrasie’s mother, was a kind and generous neighbour.  She could always find something to give or something to do for anyone in trouble or need. She taught her children to be kind and generous as well as truthful and obedient. Euphrasie quickly became her mother’s principal helper, though her natural gifts sometimes landed her in trouble. Her childish sense of responsibility often made her quite bossy and because of her intelligence and liveliness she easily became impatient and downright stubborn.

God was already shaping and preparing her for the great adventure he was planning for Euphrasie in later years.  No doubt these natural gifts and the problems they brought her would stand her in good stead and help her to face the many difficulties that lay ahead.

Sister Louise Shields, Rndm