transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:01] Saint-Servant, France, 1836. After Mirielle's death, Joan and Fanchon rent lodgings in Saint-Servant. Now 44 years old, Joan still waits patiently to find out the special work God promised her at 18. As a series of strangers come to her door, Joan begins to hope for an answer. After all these years of waiting, has she finally discovered her calling?

Speaker 2:
[00:35] The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Jeanne Jugan, Episode 3, Azeal for Souls. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 3:
[00:52] What's wrong, Fanchon?

Speaker 4:
[00:54] I probably stayed at my spinning wheel longer than I should have, but I want to get those skeins of yarn finished so I can sell them.

Speaker 3:
[01:03] You will. Your yarn is not only the best in Saint-Servan, but much in demand.

Speaker 4:
[01:08] Thanks be to God.

Speaker 3:
[01:10] But you shouldn't tire yourself in the process.

Speaker 4:
[01:13] That's the pot calling the kettle black.

Speaker 3:
[01:16] I suppose you're right. Meanwhile, when I'm out in the marketplace selling my cheese curds calling, curds, who wants curds? The little street children run around crying, curds, curds, hurry up or Jeanne will be dead.

Speaker 4:
[01:34] Oh dear. Do they really?

Speaker 3:
[01:37] I think they actually help with sales.

Speaker 4:
[01:39] And God bless them.

Speaker 3:
[01:48] Monsieur Croissant, hello. Fanchon and I missed seeing you at Mass today.

Speaker 5:
[01:54] Yes, I wasn't able to make it. I hope I'm not disturbing you.

Speaker 3:
[01:58] Not at all. Please come in.

Speaker 5:
[02:00] Thank you. As you can see, I've got a young friend with me.

Speaker 3:
[02:04] You're both welcome.

Speaker 4:
[02:06] Monsieur Croissant, how nice to see you. And your friend is?

Speaker 5:
[02:11] Virginie Tredaniel. I'm an old friend of her mother's, who unfortunately passed away some years ago and now, at the tender age of seventeen, she's just lost her father.

Speaker 3:
[02:22] Oh, I'm so sorry.

Speaker 4:
[02:23] Please accept our condolences, Virginie.

Speaker 6:
[02:26] Thank you.

Speaker 5:
[02:27] He was a sailor who was lost at sea.

Speaker 3:
[02:30] Like my father.

Speaker 7:
[02:31] Your father was a sailor?

Speaker 3:
[02:33] Yes. I was much younger than you when we lost him, but in my heart I still wait for him.

Speaker 4:
[02:41] Please, sit down, both of you.

Speaker 5:
[02:43] Thank you.

Speaker 6:
[02:44] Thank you.

Speaker 5:
[02:47] The problem is, Vergeny has no family.

Speaker 3:
[02:51] Oh. No brothers or sisters? No.

Speaker 5:
[02:56] She has no aunts or uncles either. Since her father's death, she's been living with an elderly woman from our parish who unfortunately can no longer provide a home for her. So I was wondering, what I mean is…

Speaker 3:
[03:11] Of course we would. If Vergeny would like to stay here, she'd be most welcome. Wouldn't she, Fanchon?

Speaker 4:
[03:18] Absolutely.

Speaker 5:
[03:19] I should add that Vergeny is young but already a talented seamstress.

Speaker 3:
[03:24] That's wonderful. I wish I knew how to sew. We only have two rooms here, Vergeny, but Fanchon and I would be happy to share them with you, if you'd like to stay with us.

Speaker 5:
[03:38] What do you think, Vergeny?

Speaker 6:
[03:41] Yes. Yes, I would.

Speaker 4:
[03:52] Hot cross buns! Hot cross buns! Who wants hot cross buns? Do you, madam?

Speaker 3:
[04:01] I'll take three, thank you.

Speaker 4:
[04:03] May God bless you, madam.

Speaker 3:
[04:06] God's blessing's on you as well. Will no one help me?

Speaker 8:
[04:13] I'm hungry! I'm cold!

Speaker 3:
[04:16] Here, I'll help you. But you're lying in the mud. Did you fall?

Speaker 7:
[04:21] It doesn't matter. Do you have anything to eat?

Speaker 3:
[04:24] Yes, I have a hot cross bun I can give you. But first, let me help you get up.

Speaker 4:
[04:30] I can't get up.

Speaker 9:
[04:30] I'm crippled.

Speaker 3:
[04:32] Give me your hand.

Speaker 4:
[04:33] I can't see.

Speaker 7:
[04:34] I just need something to eat.

Speaker 3:
[04:37] Here, I'm putting a bun in your hands.

Speaker 9:
[04:40] God bless you, madam.

Speaker 4:
[04:44] Oh, this is good.

Speaker 3:
[04:47] What's your name?

Speaker 7:
[04:48] Anne.

Speaker 3:
[04:50] Anne what?

Speaker 7:
[04:51] Anne Jovan.

Speaker 3:
[04:53] Where do you live, Anne? Here, on the street. Where's your family?

Speaker 7:
[04:57] They don't want me. Do you have another bun?

Speaker 3:
[04:59] Yes, but first we have to get you back to my house.

Speaker 7:
[05:01] I can't walk.

Speaker 3:
[05:02] Then I'll carry you. How? On my back.

Speaker 8:
[05:13] Fanchon, Virginie.

Speaker 6:
[05:15] Fanchon's asleep. What? Why are you carrying an old woman on your back?

Speaker 3:
[05:21] I found her on the street. She can't walk or see and has nowhere to live. I'm going to put her in my bed.

Speaker 6:
[05:28] Your bed? Then where will you sleep?

Speaker 3:
[05:31] In the attic. But just help me carry her.

Speaker 6:
[05:42] Fanchon, come and try my soup. Does it need more salt?

Speaker 4:
[05:48] No, it's perfect, Virginie. You can sew and you can cook. How did we ever get along without you? Joan, who's this with you?

Speaker 3:
[05:59] Her name is Isabel. She's homeless.

Speaker 4:
[06:02] You found her on the street, like Anne?

Speaker 3:
[06:05] Yes, but she can walk and see. She's just hungry.

Speaker 6:
[06:10] Isabel, sit down and try my soup. Thank you.

Speaker 4:
[06:15] Now we have two to take care of? Where will she sleep?

Speaker 6:
[06:18] In my bed. I'll join Jeanne in the attic.

Speaker 3:
[06:21] Our mission has always been to help the poor, Fanchon.

Speaker 4:
[06:24] I'm not complaining. I just didn't know they'd live with us, too.

Speaker 3:
[06:35] We're in luck, Virginie. There's a fisherman just coming in with his catch.

Speaker 6:
[06:40] I hope he has brown trout, or maybe grayling. Which do you prefer, Jen?

Speaker 3:
[06:47] Trout, if he has it.

Speaker 8:
[06:49] Virginie, Virginie, who's that?

Speaker 6:
[06:53] My friend Marie. We have the same confessor.

Speaker 3:
[06:57] That new associate priest?

Speaker 6:
[06:58] Yes, Father Lépailleux. Hello, Marie. How are you?

Speaker 8:
[07:04] I'm well, thanks.

Speaker 6:
[07:05] Jen, meet Marie Jamais. Marie, meet Jeanne Jugan.

Speaker 9:
[07:10] Virginie has told me about you, Jen, how you carried an old crippled woman home on your back.

Speaker 3:
[07:16] I'm afraid there was no alternative.

Speaker 9:
[07:18] And now another poor woman is staying with you.

Speaker 3:
[07:21] If only we had room for more.

Speaker 9:
[07:24] It must be difficult to take care of them. I mean, when you're all working.

Speaker 3:
[07:28] We take turns.

Speaker 9:
[07:30] Well, let me know if I can help.

Speaker 3:
[07:32] Thank you, Marie. We certainly will. In the meantime, come over whenever you'd like.

Speaker 6:
[07:39] How about dinner tonight? I'd love that.

Speaker 9:
[07:49] Virginia, that trout was delicious.

Speaker 8:
[07:51] Thank you, Marie.

Speaker 6:
[07:53] I'm glad you liked it.

Speaker 3:
[07:54] So did Anne and Isabel.

Speaker 4:
[07:56] They certainly did, Jeanne. In fact, I should go check on them.

Speaker 3:
[08:01] I'll come with you, Fanchon.

Speaker 4:
[08:03] Who in the world could that be?

Speaker 3:
[08:06] I'll go see. Oh, dear, come inside quickly.

Speaker 7:
[08:22] I heard you're taking care of two elderly women.

Speaker 3:
[08:25] Yes, we are.

Speaker 7:
[08:26] I'm only twenty-seven, but I'm ill, and I've no one to help me.

Speaker 6:
[08:32] Come over by the fire and get warm.

Speaker 4:
[08:34] Let me take off that wet coat. Here, sit down.

Speaker 3:
[08:39] What's your name?

Speaker 7:
[08:43] Madeleine, Madeleine Bourche. You see, there's a tumor growing in my breast, and I know I'm dying, but I have no one to turn to in my final days. If you help me, I'll leave you all the money I have, such as it is.

Speaker 3:
[09:03] Don't worry about money. We'll help you.

Speaker 7:
[09:06] Then can I stay?

Speaker 3:
[09:08] Of course, you can stay with us.

Speaker 7:
[09:11] Thank you.

Speaker 4:
[09:12] Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[09:13] The ladder up to the attic isn't that hard to climb, Fanchon.

Speaker 8:
[09:26] Jeanne, are you awake?

Speaker 4:
[09:29] Did you hear that?

Speaker 3:
[09:31] Yes, Fanchon, but Virginie's still sleeping.

Speaker 4:
[09:36] How can she sleep with thunder crashing right over our heads?

Speaker 3:
[09:40] She's young and tired.

Speaker 4:
[09:43] I'm tired too, but sleep is gonna be difficult, especially up here.

Speaker 3:
[09:49] I can't sleep right now either. Why don't we pray together?

Speaker 4:
[09:54] I'd like that.

Speaker 3:
[09:56] Dear Lord, thank You for Your love and mercy and provision. Thank You for bringing us Your poor and elderly and sick, and thank You for the opportunity to care for them.

Speaker 4:
[10:09] Yes, thank You, Lord.

Speaker 3:
[10:10] I pray for complete healing for Madeleine and Anne and Isabelle, and strength for Fanchon and Virginie and me, and now for Marie, who wants to join us. But Lord, with so many in need, we must find a larger dwelling.

Speaker 4:
[10:29] Yes, we must, Lord.

Speaker 3:
[10:31] We know You'll help us find the perfect place, for You are a good God, and we trust in You.

Speaker 4:
[10:37] We trust in You, Lord.

Speaker 3:
[10:39] In the blessed names of Jesus and Mary. Amen!

Speaker 4:
[10:43] Amen!

Speaker 3:
[10:52] Here, Madeleine, take this tonic. It's bitter, so be prepared.

Speaker 7:
[10:58] Oh, oh, what is it?

Speaker 3:
[11:01] Fenugreek and turmeric. I'm sorry about the taste, but it's good for you.

Speaker 7:
[11:06] Oh, doesn't matter. I'll take anything you give me. Before coming here, I thought I was dying from that tumor, but now, now it appears the good God has other plans.

Speaker 6:
[11:19] Jen, great news!

Speaker 3:
[11:21] What is it, Virginie?

Speaker 6:
[11:23] I found a place that's just come up for rent. It's by the harbor.

Speaker 3:
[11:27] Praise God! How big is it?

Speaker 6:
[11:30] Well, first of all, it used to be a bistro.

Speaker 3:
[11:34] A bistro?

Speaker 6:
[11:35] It's a bit dark and damp right now, but there's a large main room with a big fireplace and another large room behind that that can easily accommodate a dozen beds.

Speaker 3:
[11:46] Wonderful!

Speaker 6:
[11:47] And behind the large bedroom, there's a smaller one where we could all sleep, and adjacent to that, a small storeroom.

Speaker 3:
[11:54] How much do they want?

Speaker 6:
[11:56] One hundred francs a year.

Speaker 4:
[11:58] One hundred francs a year? We'll never manage it. We'll be left homeless ourselves, or we'll be locked up in debtors' prison.

Speaker 7:
[12:06] I can easily pay for at least the first few months.

Speaker 6:
[12:09] Do you think we could pay the rest, Jen, from what we all earn?

Speaker 3:
[12:13] If we put all our trust in God, He'll show us the way.

Speaker 2:
[12:24] Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Merry Beggars. Tune in to episode four, The Begging Basket, to hear the next installment of Jeanne Jugan. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 1:
[12:42] The Merry Beggars is the entertainment division of Relevant Radio.