IMPORTANT FACTS:
Amid the Anti-Catholic persecutions,Jeanne's mother strove to provide them secretly with Religious Education.She made sure that all of them keep the Faith and prayer daily.Jeanne's life was never sweet but while she helped the widow of the Viscount was a devout Catholic and taught Jeanne to visit the sick and the poor which made Jeanne learn more about serving the
poor.She told her mother that God had other plans and was calling her to work for Him.
Jeanne Jugan was also a shy and quiet girl but her love for God was always seen in her helping the poor elderly.There was a time during winter,she met Anne Chauvin,an elderly woman who was blind,
partially paralyzed and had no one to care of her needs.Jeanne was moved to compassion and carried her home to her cottage so that Anne could stay with her.Jeanne gave Anne the very bed she had and slept on the floor in the attic.
After Jeanne encountered Anne,she was moved to help more poor and abandon elderly.Soon the mission that God bless Jeanne was joined by many young women who wanted to help her in serving the poor elderly.Jeanne begged daily in the streets which often came with insults from many people but she offered it up to Jesus until it was able to establish 4 more homes for their mission.
Jeanne was then known in Religious Life as Sister Mary of the Cross.Later she was forced out of her Leadership role by Father Auguste Le Pailleur,who had been appointed Superior General of the Congregation.Jeanne was ordered by the priest to retire and accept a life of being unknown for 27 years.She was asked to live silently in prayer...
When Father Auguste took charge of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor,it restricted Jeanne from doing many things her way to glorify God.Father Auguste handle the Congregation slightly different from Jeanne which caused her deep sorrow.During this time,Jeanne went closer
to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and often found comfort.
Jeanne often said:
“Jesus is waiting for you in the Chapel.Go and find him when your strength and patience
are giving out,when you feel lonely and helpless.Say to him: ‘You know well what is happening,
my dear Jesus. I have only you.Come to my aid ...’ And then go your way.
And don’t worry about knowing how you are going to manage.
It is enough to have told our Good Lord. He has an excellent memory.”
When Jeanne died,there were about 2,400 members serving internationally but Jeanne Jugan died without being known as the Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor.She was buried in the graveyard at House of the Cross at Saint Servan and the motherhouse where she lived her last 23 years.
Soon God gave her back her Glory by removing Father Auguste by the Holy See in 1890.Many people came forward with stories about Jeanne Jugan as the Founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor.People wanted justice for Jeanne Jugan and God blessed Jeanne Jugan through her beatification by Pope Saint John Paul II who gave recognition to Blessed Jeanne Jugan as
The FOUNDRESS OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR on October 3,1982.
During her Beatification,Pope Saint John Paul II said that:
" God could glorify no more Humble a Servant than she"
October 11,2009: Pope Benedict XVI canonized Blessed Jeanne Jugan to become Saint Jeanne Jugan
Pope Benedict XVI said that said:
"In the Beatitudes,Saint Jeanne Jugan found the source of the
spirit of hospitality and fraternal love, founded on unlimited trust in Providence,
which illuminated her whole life."
Quotes of Saint Jeanne Jugan:
- God wants me for himself, he is keeping me for a work which is not yet founded.
- If God is with us, it will be accomplished.
- Little,very little,be very little before God.
- Let us sing the glory of our risen Jesus.
- My good Jesus,I have only you.
- Making the elderly happy – that is what counts!
- If you keep the spirit of humility and simplicity,never seeking the world’s esteem,then God will be glorified and you will obtain the conversion of souls.”
PRAYER TO SAINT JEANNE JUGAN:
O Admirable Saint Jeanne,you who were known for your kindness towards the elderly and founded the Little Sisters of the Poor.Grant us the grace to respect our elders and those who are poor.Saint Jeanne,you respected the poor highly and even gave the very bed you had to the ones most in need and slept on the floor for the sake of their comfort.Help us to give respect to the poor and console those abandon who need consolation;help us to show the face of Jesus to those in need.May we become a great help to this world which is drying out of love and respect for the poor in our midst.
Amen.
Saint Jeanne Jugan,Most Humble Servant of the Poor,pray for us to see Jesus in the poor!
