Saint of the Month - August 2014: Saint Jeanne Jugan

St. Jeanne Jugan

Silent Bearer of the Cross

Feast: August 30th

Jeanne Jugan was born on October 25, 1792, to a poor family from Cancale, France. Her father, a fisherman, passed away when she was only 4 and her mother supported the family through farming. When she was 16, the young maiden began work as a maid in the home of a very devout woman, who took Jeanne with her on errands of mercy and charity. Her mistress’ pious example, together with her own worthy upbringing, influenced her deeply, and ingrained in her a desire to serve those who were less fortunate than herself.

At 25, Jeanne left her mistress to follow an inner calling from God… she worked odd jobs to support herself and volunteered her spare time at local hospitals. Whatever earnings she made, she kept enough that was necessary and used the rest for her personal ministry with the poor. At this time, Jeanne also made a private vow of chastity as she felt an inner conviction that married life was not her vocation... and that the Lord had other plans in store for her. Life went on for Jeanne in a relatively routine manner until she was about 45-years-old when she finally discerned the Lord’s call to found a new religious congregation.

An icon showing various scenes from the

life and works of St. Jeanne Jugan.

Her various charitable works had attracted several young women and she organized them into group that came to be called the "Little Sisters of the Poor". The sisters went door to door begging for food, money, and used goods, which they in turn distributed during their visits to the sick and to the poor. The apostolate proved to be extremely successful and the congregation grew quickly under Jeanne's administration - she took the name “Sr. Mary of the Cross“, to honor her devotion to Our Lady and to Christ Crucified.

The founder served the Little Sisters as superior until she was forced to retire in 1852 by a misguided priest. The unfortunate man wanted credit for the success of her work and he did his best to distort the history of the congregation. He went so far as to have Sr. Mary of the Cross transferred in order to lessen her influence with the older sisters. During this period of personal trial Sr. Mary of the Cross maintained admirable patience and silence, edifying her spiritual daughters with her humility and resignation to God's plan for her.

After Sr. Mary died of natural causes on August 29, 1879, the truth could no longer remain hidden - the history of the congregation eventually surfaced bringing to light her sanctity and crucial role as the true founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Jeanne Jugan (a.k.a. Sr. Mary of the Cross) was declared a Saint of the Church on October 11, 2009.

A Reflection

Our daily crosses, if accepted with faith and resignation, can serve to bring us closer to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A Short Prayer

O Lord, grant us the faith, patience, and fortitude that we need to embrace and carry life's little crosses.  May our crosses - big and small - serve to make us holy.  Amen.