transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:01] Saint Servan, France, 1838. Jeanne and her friends have found a new place to live so they can help the poor and elderly in their care. But they have no idea how they'll afford the rent. What will happen to Jeanne's newfound mission if Faith can't pay the bills?

Speaker 2:
[00:28] The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage, Jeanne Jugan, Episode 4, The Begging Basket. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 3:
[00:44] Turn it, turn it.

Speaker 1:
[00:45] Left, left, left.

Speaker 3:
[00:46] The other way.

Speaker 1:
[00:47] They want these.

Speaker 4:
[00:48] Please be careful moving that bed frame, Monsieur. It's fragile.

Speaker 5:
[00:53] We're always careful, Madame.

Speaker 4:
[00:55] Ready.

Speaker 3:
[00:55] We appreciate your help.

Speaker 4:
[00:58] Oh, Jeanne, after all our hard work cleaning up this place, we're finally moving in.

Speaker 3:
[01:04] God is good, Fanchon. Jeanne, where should I put this cooking pot? Set it on the table for now, Marie. Thank you. Where's Madeleine? Bringing in the linens.

Speaker 4:
[01:15] I'm off to the kitchen. I want to make sure everything's put in the right place. But I'm still worried, Jeanne. This place is perfect. But what if we can't pay for it? What if…

Speaker 6:
[01:28] Excuse me.

Speaker 4:
[01:29] Yes?

Speaker 6:
[01:30] Is Madame Jeanne Jugan here?

Speaker 4:
[01:32] That's Jeanne. I'll be in the kitchen.

Speaker 3:
[01:35] How can I help you?

Speaker 6:
[01:37] My name is Brother Remy. I belong to the brothers of Saint John of God.

Speaker 3:
[01:41] Oh yes, I've heard of your order. You work with the sick. Please come in.

Speaker 6:
[01:47] Thank you. We've heard about your work as well. I see you're just moving in.

Speaker 3:
[01:51] Thanks to the good God who has provided a larger home, now we'll be able to take in more poor elderly who need us.

Speaker 6:
[01:59] Have you figured out a way to pay the rent, how to clothe and feed everyone?

Speaker 3:
[02:03] We trust in the Lord's providence, as I'm sure you do.

Speaker 6:
[02:07] We do. In fact, it's the Lord who sent me here to give you this.

Speaker 3:
[02:13] That's a very large basket.

Speaker 6:
[02:16] Well, it has to be large. It's a begging basket. This is the way we take care of all of our expenses. People give us food, clothing, money, whatever they can spare to help the sick. The Lord never fails to fill it.

Speaker 3:
[02:29] A begging basket. I like that. Thank you, Brother Remy.

Speaker 4:
[02:46] Huh, what do you want?

Speaker 3:
[02:49] We feed and clothe the elderly poor. I wonder if you could... Can anyone spare food for the poor? Old clothing? Money if you have it?

Speaker 6:
[03:06] I don't have anything for you.

Speaker 5:
[03:08] Try getting a job.

Speaker 3:
[03:12] My job doesn't pay enough to feed everyone we're taking care of. These are people who have nowhere to live, no one to help them.

Speaker 5:
[03:21] I despise these beckers.

Speaker 3:
[03:23] Shame on you both. This woman is clearly trying to help people. Here, take this loaf of bread. I have more at home. Thank you, Madam. Thank you very much. I have two apples I can spare. If you can use them. We can indeed. May God bless both of you.

Speaker 6:
[03:42] That man was rude. Here, take these coins.

Speaker 3:
[03:46] I'm very grateful for your generosity, Monsieur. God bless you.

Speaker 6:
[03:51] I wish I had more to give you. But see that big house next door? It belongs to Monsieur Blanchet, one of the richest men at Saint Servan. You should try him.

Speaker 3:
[03:59] Thank you. I will. Can I help you? I'd like to speak with Mr. Blanchet. Who should I tell him is here? Jeanne Jugan. Who is it? She says her name is Jeanne Jugan.

Speaker 6:
[04:19] Do I know you?

Speaker 3:
[04:20] No, monsieur.

Speaker 6:
[04:21] Then why are you bothering me?

Speaker 3:
[04:23] My friends and I house and feed the poor elderly.

Speaker 6:
[04:26] What has that got to do with me?

Speaker 3:
[04:29] I'm asking for your help.

Speaker 5:
[04:31] So you want money?

Speaker 3:
[04:33] Not for myself.

Speaker 5:
[04:34] Do you think I'm a fool?

Speaker 3:
[04:36] No, monsieur. I think you're a man who has the means to help the poor.

Speaker 1:
[04:42] Oh, I do. Do I? Why do you think that?

Speaker 3:
[04:46] Monsieur, I'm just asking…

Speaker 6:
[04:48] You're a filthy beggar!

Speaker 1:
[04:51] Get out of here!

Speaker 6:
[04:56] Did you hear what I said?

Speaker 3:
[04:59] Yes.

Speaker 4:
[05:01] Why are you looking at me like that?

Speaker 3:
[05:05] Your slap was for me. Now perhaps you'll give something to the poor.

Speaker 2:
[05:12] I…

Speaker 4:
[05:14] I…

Speaker 2:
[05:17] I'm sorry.

Speaker 6:
[05:19] I don't know what came over me.

Speaker 4:
[05:21] You…

Speaker 6:
[05:22] you're not really a beggar, are you?

Speaker 3:
[05:26] I'm just asking for your help in taking care of Saint Servan's elderly poor. God has obviously blessed you. Will you use those blessings to help others?

Speaker 1:
[05:38] I…

Speaker 6:
[05:41] wait a minute.

Speaker 1:
[05:47] Here, take this.

Speaker 3:
[05:50] That's very generous of you, Monsieur. May the Lord continue to bless you as you bless others.

Speaker 4:
[06:05] Jeanne, your basket is overflowing.

Speaker 3:
[06:08] It was a good day. Thanks be to God. We have company?

Speaker 4:
[06:14] That new priest, Father Lepayeur.

Speaker 3:
[06:18] Really? I wonder what he wants. Father Lepayeur, what a nice surprise.

Speaker 5:
[06:29] Your new home is perfect, Jeanne. Large enough for everyone.

Speaker 3:
[06:33] Yes, we love it.

Speaker 5:
[06:35] Vigini and Fanchang were just telling me how you go begging every day.

Speaker 3:
[06:40] It's not what I'd planned on, but the good God has His own plans. Today, thankfully, people were exceptionally generous. May the Lord be praised.

Speaker 5:
[06:51] Yes. It seems that more and more people in Saint Servan are hearing about what you're doing. Which is why I'm here. Our curé has assigned me to be your advisor.

Speaker 4:
[07:02] Our advisor?

Speaker 5:
[07:03] Yes. He and I think what you're doing is worthy of the Church's approval and help.

Speaker 4:
[07:08] But why do we…

Speaker 3:
[07:09] That would be much appreciated. Dear Lord, at last I see the beginnings of the work you promised. Thank you. Thank you. That was a beautiful homily, Father LaPierre.

Speaker 5:
[07:33] Thank you, Jeanne. Do you think we can arrange a meeting sometime this week to talk over a few things?

Speaker 3:
[07:39] Of course, whenever you'd like.

Speaker 5:
[07:41] Since we first began meeting together six months ago, you've taken in more and more of our poor elderly.

Speaker 3:
[07:47] The Lord brings us new people almost every day.

Speaker 5:
[07:50] It won't be long now before you'll need a larger dwelling.

Speaker 3:
[07:53] I think you're right.

Speaker 5:
[07:54] In the meantime, I have some ideas I'd like to discuss with you, with all of you.

Speaker 3:
[08:00] We'd love to hear them.

Speaker 4:
[08:10] I wonder why Father Lepailleur has called us all together.

Speaker 3:
[08:14] He is our advisor, Fanchon.

Speaker 4:
[08:17] An advisor who's 15 minutes late.

Speaker 3:
[08:19] I told him we needed to get everyone down for the night. I'm sure he'll be here any minute. Maybe he wants to discuss moving into a larger house. We'll soon need Juan de Genie. What do you think, Marie? Well, I am— Oh, there he is. I'll let him in. Thank you, Madeleine.

Speaker 5:
[08:42] Sorry, I'm late. That's all right, Father.

Speaker 4:
[08:46] Let me take your coat.

Speaker 5:
[08:49] Thank you, Madeleine. Hello, everyone. It's good to see you all again.

Speaker 3:
[08:57] It's good to see you, Father. Please have a seat. What was it you wanted to discuss?

Speaker 5:
[09:04] Forming a society.

Speaker 3:
[09:06] A society?

Speaker 5:
[09:07] Yes. First of all, the number of poor elderly your housing continues to grow.

Speaker 3:
[09:12] Thanks to the good God.

Speaker 5:
[09:14] Second, I'm hearing from young women who tell me they'd like to help the five of you take care of them.

Speaker 3:
[09:20] Wonderful!

Speaker 5:
[09:21] It is, Marie. But because of these two factors, Monseigneur Boucher and I feel that we need to put in writing the way of life you envision for your members.

Speaker 3:
[09:33] Is that necessary?

Speaker 5:
[09:35] In our opinion, it is.

Speaker 3:
[09:37] A formal organization.

Speaker 5:
[09:39] That would be best. Guidelines must be drawn up and a name must be decided on. What would you like to call yourselves?

Speaker 3:
[09:48] This is also sudden, Father. We need time to think it over.

Speaker 5:
[09:52] Begin thinking about your religious names as well.

Speaker 2:
[09:54] You mean, as in an order?

Speaker 5:
[09:57] Yes, Fugini, and the superior must be elected.

Speaker 2:
[10:00] Absolutely. There's no question.

Speaker 4:
[10:02] That's easy. Our superior would be Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[10:05] I completely agree. Wait a minute. We haven't finished discussing this.

Speaker 4:
[10:10] Jeanne Jugan, you're the most humble person I know. But if we're going to begin a congregation, an order, you'll be our superior because none of this would have happened without you.

Speaker 3:
[10:21] Well said. None of us and none of our poor would be here without you. But no buts, Jeanne.

Speaker 4:
[10:28] You have just become our superior.

Speaker 2:
[10:39] Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Merry Beggars. Tune in to episode five, To the Mother House, to hear the final episode of Jeanne Jugan. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 1:
[10:58] Mary Beggars is the Entertainment Division of Relevant Radio.