transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:01] France, 1798. Torn apart by the bloody revolution, France's people suffer in poverty. Their Catholic faith is outlawed, and they are desperate for help. Some join the Navy in hopes of a better life, but life in the Navy takes fathers from their families, and some will never return. On the docks of a small coastal town, one girl waits for her father to come back home. This is the story of Jeanne Jugan.

Speaker 2:
[00:37] The Saints. Adventures of Faith and Courage. Jeanne Jugan. Episode 1. A Girl of Brittany. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 3:
[01:06] Look at the big ship coming into the harbor. Do you think Papa is on board?

Speaker 4:
[01:17] Watch the rigging.

Speaker 3:
[01:20] He's been gone so long.

Speaker 5:
[01:23] He has indeed.

Speaker 3:
[01:24] But we haven't lost hope. Have we? Yes, we have. Have we?

Speaker 5:
[01:27] No, my dearest, we never give up hope. Let's hurry, Jeanne. It looks like the sailors are starting to leave the ship.

Speaker 3:
[01:37] Oh, Papa, I hope you're one of them.

Speaker 5:
[01:47] Excuse me, Monsieur.

Speaker 4:
[01:48] Yes, Madame.

Speaker 5:
[01:49] I'm looking for my husband, Joseph Jugan. Is he on this ship?

Speaker 4:
[01:54] Joseph who?

Speaker 5:
[01:56] Jugan. Do you know him?

Speaker 4:
[01:59] Sorry, name's not familiar. What's he look like?

Speaker 5:
[02:02] Tall, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Speaker 4:
[02:05] That could be anyone. But the captain's right over there. Why don't you ask him?

Speaker 5:
[02:09] Thank you. I will. Come on, Jeanne. Captain.

Speaker 1:
[02:14] Yes, can I help you?

Speaker 5:
[02:15] Was a sailor named Joseph Jugan on your ship?

Speaker 1:
[02:19] Jugan?

Speaker 6:
[02:21] No, never heard of him.

Speaker 5:
[02:23] Oh, I see. Well, thank you, captain.

Speaker 1:
[02:28] I wish you a good day, madame.

Speaker 5:
[02:30] The same to you. All right, Jeanne, let's go home.

Speaker 3:
[02:33] It's always the same, Amon. Will papa ever come home to us?

Speaker 7:
[02:58] Jeanne, what happened?

Speaker 3:
[02:59] Jeannette fell down the mall. He's all right. He just bruised one of his knees. I'll put a salve on it.

Speaker 5:
[03:05] Thank you, Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[03:06] Come here, Jeannette.

Speaker 8:
[03:07] Climb up on my lap.

Speaker 3:
[03:09] Okay. This will make you feel better. Now, let's say a little prayer. Lord Jesus, heal Jeannette's knee. Amen.

Speaker 5:
[03:20] Amen. Did Jeanne make it all better, Jeannette?

Speaker 3:
[03:25] All better.

Speaker 5:
[03:28] Come, give me a hug. How's the soup, Jeanne?

Speaker 3:
[03:35] Almost ready.

Speaker 5:
[03:36] Good. When your brother and sisters get back from catechism class, we'll all eat, and then I have to go to work.

Speaker 3:
[03:42] I wish I could go to catechism class.

Speaker 5:
[03:44] You will, but the nuns don't want so many children at one time. It might attract attention. No one is supposed to be teaching the faith.

Speaker 3:
[03:52] You mean the gendarmes could arrest them?

Speaker 5:
[03:54] It's possible, and we don't want that to happen.

Speaker 3:
[03:58] No. Mama…

Speaker 5:
[04:00] What, my dearest?

Speaker 3:
[04:02] Papa isn't coming home, is he? I…

Speaker 5:
[04:07] I don't know.

Speaker 3:
[04:09] Can we keep going down to the harbor when the ships come in, just to make sure?

Speaker 5:
[04:14] Yes, Jeanne, just to make sure.

Speaker 3:
[04:24] Oh no, come on Belle, you've had enough grass. We've got to get home. Sophie, that means you too. The bells. What's going on? The cows are back in the bar, maman.

Speaker 5:
[04:51] Thank you, Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[04:53] What's happening? Why are all the church bells ringing?

Speaker 5:
[04:56] Because, thanks be to God, we can now worship freely again.

Speaker 3:
[05:00] What do you mean?

Speaker 5:
[05:01] Napoleon and the Holy Father have signed an agreement to restore the church in France. We won't have to go to mass in secret anymore.

Speaker 3:
[05:11] Oh, that's very good news!

Speaker 5:
[05:13] Very good news indeed, Jeanne. And it means you can finally begin studying for your first communion.

Speaker 3:
[05:20] The sisters don't have to worry about being arrested?

Speaker 5:
[05:23] Not anymore. Thank you, blessed Mother, for answering our prayers.

Speaker 3:
[05:29] The good God never abandons us, does He, Mama?

Speaker 5:
[05:32] No, Jeanne. He never does.

Speaker 7:
[05:45] Dear Lord, how beautiful your world is, especially up here on this cliff overlooking the bay. Thank you for my life, for my 16th birthday today, for...

Speaker 6:
[06:02] Jeanne!

Speaker 3:
[06:03] Louis?

Speaker 7:
[06:04] Oh, hello!

Speaker 6:
[06:08] I knew this is where I'd find you.

Speaker 7:
[06:11] It's my turn to watch the cows. They love the grass here. I thought you were working.

Speaker 6:
[06:19] Business was slow at the bakery, so Monsieur Lagrange let me leave early. Aren't I lucky? Now I get to wish you happy birthday in person. Happy birthday, Jeanne. You certainly have a beautiful day for it.

Speaker 7:
[06:31] I was thanking God for just that. Oh, Louis, look how the water sparkles in the bay. We're so lucky to live here. Yes, Belle, you're lucky too, aren't you? Oh, and you as well, Sophie. How I'm going to miss the Bay of Saint-Malo.

Speaker 6:
[06:59] Miss it?

Speaker 7:
[07:01] You're my oldest friend, Louis, so I'm going to tell you first. But you must promise to be glad for me. What is it? My uncle has found me a very special job in Saint-Colombe.

Speaker 6:
[07:19] Saint-Colombe?

Speaker 7:
[07:21] I'm going to work for the Viscountess of Chouet.

Speaker 6:
[07:26] I see.

Speaker 7:
[07:28] It's a wonderful opportunity.

Speaker 6:
[07:31] When will you be starting this special job?

Speaker 7:
[07:35] The week after next.

Speaker 6:
[07:37] So soon? But I'll miss you.

Speaker 7:
[07:41] Louis, you're leaving here, too. How long until your ship sails?

Speaker 6:
[07:47] Three weeks.

Speaker 7:
[07:48] And you'll be gone for how long?

Speaker 6:
[07:52] Two years, more or less.

Speaker 7:
[07:55] So you'll only miss seeing me here for one week.

Speaker 6:
[08:01] Why didn't you tell me about this before?

Speaker 7:
[08:03] I just found out.

Speaker 6:
[08:06] Jeanne, what about you and me?

Speaker 7:
[08:11] Oh, Louis, we'll always be friends.

Speaker 6:
[08:14] Of course, but I want to spend my life with you.

Speaker 7:
[08:20] Oh, I'm just not sure about marriage.

Speaker 6:
[08:28] I love you, Jeanne.

Speaker 7:
[08:30] Dear Louis, let's go on our separate adventures and talk about this when you return.

Speaker 6:
[08:37] I'd be happier going off to see if I knew you wanted to be my wife.

Speaker 7:
[08:42] Please be patient with me. I'll give you an answer when you come back. I've peeled all the potatoes, Charlotte. Should I start on the carrots?

Speaker 9:
[08:58] Jeanne, you're amazing. I've been working for Madame de la Chouet for six years. You've only been here six months, but already you're faster in the kitchen than I am. Fortunately, she likes my cooking. Jeanne, I need your help.

Speaker 7:
[09:16] Yes, Madame de la Chouet?

Speaker 8:
[09:17] The Jugan family could use the leftover sausage from last night. And some of those vegetables you're chopping. Can you put together a basket for them?

Speaker 7:
[09:26] Yes, Madame.

Speaker 8:
[09:27] And several loaves of bread as well.

Speaker 7:
[09:29] Of course.

Speaker 8:
[09:31] Charlotte, can you finish the dinner yourself? I can, Madame. Good. I'd like Jeanne to accompany me to the Durant's. Françoise Durand has no means of supporting herself and her six children.

Speaker 7:
[09:49] Lord have mercy on them all.

Speaker 8:
[09:53] Look at how poorly everyone lives here, Joan. These dilapidated houses, the ditches filled with sewage. No wonder there's so much sickness and death.

Speaker 7:
[10:04] If only there was a way to help all these people, Madame de la Chouet.

Speaker 8:
[10:09] At least today we'll try to help the Durand's.

Speaker 7:
[10:12] Yes. The little children are so sweet.

Speaker 8:
[10:16] You have a way of talking to them, Joan. It's comforting.

Speaker 7:
[10:21] I'm glad.

Speaker 8:
[10:22] I appreciate your presence on these visits.

Speaker 7:
[10:25] I'm grateful to come along.

Speaker 3:
[10:33] How can I thank you, Madame de Lachouet? This food will feed us today.

Speaker 8:
[10:38] And then we'll bring you more.

Speaker 7:
[10:40] May I hold the baby, Madame de Ronde?

Speaker 5:
[10:43] Oh, of course.

Speaker 7:
[10:46] Oh, hush, sweet Genevieve. The good God loves you. Here's a little song to make you happy. Have you wanted to see me, Madame de la Chouet?

Speaker 8:
[11:32] Yes, Joan. I notice you go to Mass every Sunday.

Speaker 7:
[11:37] Yes, Madame.

Speaker 8:
[11:39] Have you heard about the mission that's going to be held at our parish?

Speaker 7:
[11:43] No, I haven't.

Speaker 8:
[11:44] It's something we often do. Several priests from another diocese will be coming and speaking about the Lord. Would you like to hear them?

Speaker 7:
[11:54] Yes, I would very much.

Speaker 8:
[11:57] Then I want you to attend. Your kitchen duties will be suspended during this time.

Speaker 7:
[12:03] Oh, Madame, I couldn't leave Charlotte with all the work.

Speaker 8:
[12:07] You're a thoughtful girl, Jeanne. Don't worry about Charlotte. I'll be hiring someone to help her. You should go.

Speaker 7:
[12:16] Thank you, Madame. Thank you very much.

Speaker 4:
[12:28] Brothers and sisters, consider these words of our Lord in today's gospel. I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me in. I needed clothes, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you looked after me. I was in prison, and you came to visit me. At the end of the world, our Lord will come and will ask us for an account of our actions in this world. He will tell us, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Speaker 7:
[13:21] Yes. Jeanne! Maman!

Speaker 5:
[13:29] Oh, my dearest! How I've missed you!

Speaker 7:
[13:33] Oh, it's so good to be home again, Maman!

Speaker 5:
[13:36] Sit down, sit down. Let me make you a cup of tea.

Speaker 7:
[13:39] I would love that.

Speaker 5:
[13:41] So, Madame de la Chouet let you come home for a visit?

Speaker 7:
[13:45] I've left Saint-Colombe, Maman.

Speaker 5:
[13:48] Why? Was she unhappy with you?

Speaker 7:
[13:51] Not at all. She treated me as one of her family.

Speaker 5:
[13:55] Then why did you leave?

Speaker 7:
[13:58] Because Madame de la Chouet sees who I am, what I most desire. She's arranged for me to go to Saint-Servant to work in a hospital.

Speaker 5:
[14:08] Oh, Jeanne, my head is whirling.

Speaker 7:
[14:14] Mine is too, Maman. I went to a mission at Madame de la Chouet's church, and there I heard words that have changed my life. They went right into my heart, as though the Lord was speaking directly to me. Tell me, what you have done for the least of my brethren, you have done for me.

Speaker 5:
[14:40] How did these words change you?

Speaker 7:
[14:42] I know now how I want to spend my life, in service of the poor.

Speaker 5:
[14:49] How can you do that and be married?

Speaker 7:
[14:51] I can't.

Speaker 5:
[14:53] What about Louis?

Speaker 7:
[14:55] As soon as he returns from the sea, I will tell him I don't feel God is calling me to marriage.

Speaker 5:
[15:02] Oh, Jeanne, I had so hoped. But I want you to be happy.

Speaker 7:
[15:10] Maman, God spoke to me. I heard Him so strongly in my spirit. He said to me, Jeanne, I am keeping you for myself, for a work as yet unknown.

Speaker 5:
[15:33] What does that mean?

Speaker 7:
[15:35] I don't know. He said it's a work that has not yet been founded, something that is to come.

Speaker 2:
[15:57] Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Merry Beggars. Tune in to episode two, to St. Servan, to hear the next installment of Jeanne Jugan. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 1:
[16:15] The Merry Beggars is the entertainment division of Relevant Radio.