transcript

Speaker 1:
[00:02] Saint-Servant, France, 1842. Jeanne's foundation for the poor flourishes under her charge, and praise for Jeanne and her friends rolls in from all over France and beyond. But not everyone is supportive. Will Jeanne's work be taken from her just as it starts to succeed?

Speaker 2:
[00:30] The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage, Jeanne Jugan, Episode 5, To the Mother House. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 3:
[00:52] Father Lepayeur wants us to come up with a name for our organization. Any ideas?

Speaker 4:
[00:58] We've always called ourselves Servants of the Poor, Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[01:01] And so we are, Fanchon. What do you think, Virginie? Should that be our name?

Speaker 4:
[01:07] I like it.

Speaker 5:
[01:09] But we're going to be called Sisters. Should that be in our name? Servants Sisters of the Poor?

Speaker 3:
[01:15] I like that. Marie?

Speaker 6:
[01:18] You always said humility should be the basis of everything we do. Maybe Humble Sisters of the Poor.

Speaker 3:
[01:26] That's good too. What do you think, Madeline?

Speaker 5:
[01:31] When we're humble, we're little. How about Little Sisters?

Speaker 3:
[01:37] Little Sisters of the Poor?

Speaker 4:
[01:39] That's exactly what the poor have been calling us.

Speaker 7:
[01:44] Please, please help me.

Speaker 4:
[01:47] Who's that?

Speaker 3:
[01:48] I'll see. Come in, Monsieur. You're shaking with cold.

Speaker 7:
[01:58] They say you're only helping women, but I need help too. I have no money, no food, nowhere to go.

Speaker 3:
[02:06] Come over by the fire. We'll get you something to eat.

Speaker 4:
[02:11] He fainted.

Speaker 3:
[02:13] Let's get him into one of the beds.

Speaker 6:
[02:15] But, Jeanne, we have no more beds.

Speaker 3:
[02:17] Dear Lord, what are we going to do?

Speaker 8:
[02:27] Jeanne, hello. What brings you to my office?

Speaker 3:
[02:31] We need a larger dwelling, Father Lepayeur.

Speaker 8:
[02:34] Please come in. Have a seat.

Speaker 3:
[02:38] Thank you. Every day, more poor elderly people come seeking help. Now it's men too, not just women.

Speaker 8:
[02:48] How can you afford a larger place? You can barely pay for the one you have.

Speaker 3:
[02:54] The Lord always provides.

Speaker 8:
[02:56] I know, but…

Speaker 3:
[02:57] The Daughters of the Cross just closed their convent. That would be perfect.

Speaker 8:
[03:02] If you had 20,000 francs…

Speaker 3:
[03:05] Perhaps the owner would take less.

Speaker 8:
[03:08] I doubt it.

Speaker 3:
[03:09] Do you know who owns it?

Speaker 8:
[03:11] A very clever banker named Pierre Farrar.

Speaker 3:
[03:15] I'll go and speak with him.

Speaker 8:
[03:17] With your begging basket?

Speaker 3:
[03:19] Yes, Father, with my begging basket.

Speaker 4:
[03:29] Twenty thousand francs?

Speaker 3:
[03:32] I met with the banker today, Fanchon. Monsieur Farrar has agreed to give us one year after we move in to pay the purchase price of the convent.

Speaker 5:
[03:42] Well done, Jeanne!

Speaker 4:
[03:44] Be it one day or one year, how could we possibly raise that much?

Speaker 3:
[03:49] It will be interesting to see God's plans. But…

Speaker 4:
[03:54] There's Father Lepayot.

Speaker 3:
[03:59] Come in, Father. Everyone's here.

Speaker 8:
[04:02] Good, because I need to speak with all of you. Greetings, Little Sisters of the Poor.

Speaker 4:
[04:09] Hello, Father.

Speaker 8:
[04:11] We need to discuss how the Little Sisters of the Poor are going to proceed.

Speaker 3:
[04:16] What do you mean?

Speaker 8:
[04:17] Jeanne, I congratulate you on your success with Monsieur Farrar. Hopefully, you'll be able to raise the necessary funds before the end of the year, so you don't have to move again. A monumental task, to be sure.

Speaker 3:
[04:32] I hope so, too.

Speaker 8:
[04:34] However, because you're so valuable in the outside world with your begging basket, I'm appointing another superior.

Speaker 4:
[04:42] Another superior?

Speaker 8:
[04:44] Marie will be your new superior.

Speaker 6:
[04:47] Me? But I'm only 23.

Speaker 5:
[04:50] Father Lepaille, with all due respect, our superior must be Jeanne.

Speaker 6:
[04:55] I agree. So do I.

Speaker 8:
[04:57] I understand your concerns. However, Marie will be your new superior. Because Jeanne cannot do everything. Can you, Jeanne?

Speaker 3:
[05:08] No. Father, you're right. I can't do everything.

Speaker 7:
[05:23] Get your fresh fish while we got it! Fresh fish!

Speaker 5:
[05:26] I'll be back. Within the month.

Speaker 3:
[05:28] Can anyone help the poor elderly? We'd be grateful for any food you can spare, any clothing you don't need, whatever it is.

Speaker 2:
[05:38] Excuse me, are you Jeanne Jugan?

Speaker 3:
[05:41] I am.

Speaker 8:
[05:42] I thought so when I saw you with that basket. I read an article in the newspaper about you.

Speaker 3:
[05:48] About me?

Speaker 8:
[05:49] Yes, and your new order, the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Speaker 6:
[05:52] You're now living in that old convent.

Speaker 3:
[05:54] We are. Thanks be to God.

Speaker 8:
[05:56] I understand you're in need of funds?

Speaker 3:
[05:58] We're always in need of funds and food and clothing. Can you help us?

Speaker 8:
[06:05] I would be honored to help you, Madam Jugan. Hopefully, this sum will be of assistance.

Speaker 3:
[06:12] Thank you, Monsieur. From the bottom of my heart, may the good God bless your generosity.

Speaker 4:
[06:30] I can't believe it!

Speaker 3:
[06:34] Hello, Fanchon. What's wrong? It looks like you're putting those vegetables under a guillotine.

Speaker 4:
[06:42] I was just thinking about what Father Le Payard has done to you.

Speaker 3:
[06:47] It doesn't matter. What matters is that the poor are being housed and fed. Look what I got today.

Speaker 4:
[06:55] May the good God be praised!

Speaker 3:
[06:58] It's enough to keep us living at the convent.

Speaker 4:
[07:01] That's incredible!

Speaker 6:
[07:03] What's incredible, Fan Xiong? Oh my goodness! You got all these coins today, Jeanne?

Speaker 3:
[07:10] It was like an angel suddenly appeared. I'll get it.

Speaker 9:
[07:20] This is for Madame Jeanne Jugan?

Speaker 3:
[07:22] That's me. Thank you.

Speaker 9:
[07:24] You're very welcome, Madame.

Speaker 4:
[07:26] Good day.

Speaker 3:
[07:26] Good day. And God bless you. Oh, no.

Speaker 4:
[07:36] Jeanne, what's happened?

Speaker 3:
[07:39] I don't want this.

Speaker 4:
[07:41] Jeanne, this is amazing! Marie, I mean, Mother Marie, look at this!

Speaker 6:
[07:49] This year's winner of the Montaigne Prize, which the French Academy awards annually to a French man or woman for outstanding meritorious activity, is Madame Jeanne Jugan, who serves the poor elderly in the town of Saint-Servant. What? Jeanne, this is an incredible honor!

Speaker 3:
[08:09] But think of all the publicity. Everyone will be putting me on a pedestal. I don't want that.

Speaker 6:
[08:15] You're already receiving publicity, and look how it's helping us. But listen, it goes on. The Montaigne Prize comes with an award of ten thousand francs. Ten thousand francs? Think what this will do for our elderly!

Speaker 4:
[08:30] Jeanne, we can put a new roof on the convent.

Speaker 6:
[08:34] We can purchase much-needed new beds, not to mention food.

Speaker 3:
[08:39] Yes, that's true. If it helps our poor, I'll endure the rest. How can I help you, gentlemen?

Speaker 9:
[09:11] Are you Jeanne Jugan?

Speaker 3:
[09:13] I am.

Speaker 9:
[09:14] I am Monsieur Bernard, the Mayor of Rennes, and this is Bishop Saint-Monc.

Speaker 7:
[09:20] I'm very glad to meet you, Madame Jugan.

Speaker 3:
[09:22] And I'm pleased to meet you both. Please, come in.

Speaker 7:
[09:30] The reason we're here, Madame Jugan, is that we'd like you to establish a home for the poor elderly in Rennes, but not here in Saint-Servan.

Speaker 3:
[09:40] You want the little sisters of the poor to come to Rennes?

Speaker 7:
[09:45] We do.

Speaker 9:
[09:46] Since you won the Montaigne Prize, everyone is talking about you. It's clear you and the little sisters have the skills needed and the desire to help the elderly poor in our town.

Speaker 7:
[09:58] People are suffering in unimaginable ways, Madame Jugan, with continuing unemployment, food shortages and sickness, and there is no one in Rennes capable of serving their needs on this scale.

Speaker 9:
[10:12] The poor old people who have been abandoned by their families are particularly at risk, as you know.

Speaker 7:
[10:19] I hope you'll consider coming to Rennes, Madame Jugan.

Speaker 3:
[10:22] I will. If the good God wants the little sisters of the poor in Rennes, we will go. Look at these letters, Jeanne.

Speaker 4:
[10:40] Mother Marie just showed them to me.

Speaker 3:
[10:43] This is from the Bishop of London.

Speaker 4:
[10:45] Yes, and it's addressed to you.

Speaker 3:
[10:49] They want us to establish a house for the poor elderly in England.

Speaker 4:
[10:54] They want you to establish it.

Speaker 3:
[10:57] If the Lord wants us in England, I'm willing to go.

Speaker 4:
[11:02] But take a look at the letter Mother Marie wrote back. She didn't even show it to you, did she?

Speaker 3:
[11:10] No, but she's the superior. She doesn't have to show me anything.

Speaker 4:
[11:15] Look at her signature.

Speaker 3:
[11:17] Mother Marie jamais superior the little sisters of the poor. What's wrong with that? Nothing.

Speaker 4:
[11:25] Look at the signature under hers.

Speaker 3:
[11:28] Father Auguste Lepayeur, founder of the little sisters of the poor.

Speaker 4:
[11:34] He calls himself the founder? That's outrageous. Jeanne, you are the founder.

Speaker 3:
[11:41] The founder of this work is the Lord, Fanchon. Be at peace.

Speaker 4:
[11:46] Father Lepayeur is making Marie do whatever he wants.

Speaker 3:
[11:51] We don't know that. Anyway, none of that matters. The poor are being taken care of. That's what matters.

Speaker 8:
[12:07] Mother Marie and I are pleased you could meet with us privately today, Jeanne.

Speaker 3:
[12:11] Of course, I'm happy to.

Speaker 6:
[12:13] Please sit down, Chen.

Speaker 8:
[12:15] Yes, you must be tired after being on your feet all day with your begging basket.

Speaker 3:
[12:21] Not really. The needs of our poor continue, and I love helping them.

Speaker 8:
[12:26] Of course you do.

Speaker 3:
[12:28] Most people are so generous and eager to give whatever they can. It's a blessing to witness, Father.

Speaker 8:
[12:36] I'm sure it is. It's also quite wonderful how our movement has spread. From our beginnings here in Saint-Servant to Rennes, Dinant, Tours, and now England.

Speaker 3:
[12:47] Yes, Father. Thanks to the good God.

Speaker 6:
[12:50] We now have more than a hundred little sisters and eleven homes looking after the elderly poor. It's been nothing short of miraculous.

Speaker 8:
[12:58] We all can be proud of what we've accomplished.

Speaker 3:
[13:01] The Lord has done a great work.

Speaker 8:
[13:04] Indeed He has. However, Jeanne, you've now reached the age of sixty. Too old to go on begging.

Speaker 3:
[13:13] I love going out with my basket, Father. And thankfully, my health is excellent. I feel strong enough to continue.

Speaker 8:
[13:21] I'm sure you do. But Mother Maureen, I must look out for your long-term well-being. The two of us have discussed your situation and agree that having reached the age of sixty, you should retire.

Speaker 3:
[13:37] Retire?

Speaker 8:
[13:38] Yes, to the mother house we've established for novices at Latour.

Speaker 3:
[13:42] But…

Speaker 8:
[13:43] There you can rest and pray and live out your days in peace. You've always wanted more time for prayer, haven't you, Jeanne?

Speaker 3:
[13:51] I pray constantly, Father, while I'm out begging, in front of the blessed sacrament, at home, during the night, when…

Speaker 8:
[13:59] Of course, of course. But one has to have respect for one's age. Don't you think?

Speaker 3:
[14:06] Mother Marie, do you agree with Father Lepayeur?

Speaker 6:
[14:12] Father is only thinking of what is best for you and all of us.

Speaker 3:
[14:18] I see.

Speaker 8:
[14:20] Furthermore, at Latour, you will no longer be known as Jeanne Jugan, but only as the religious name you've chosen for yourself, Sister Mary of the Cross.

Speaker 3:
[14:30] Yes, Father, but are you saying I'm not to work with our poor old men and women? I do have the energy and stamina to continue.

Speaker 8:
[14:40] Of course you have now, but…

Speaker 3:
[14:42] This is my life's work, to serve Jesus in His poor…

Speaker 8:
[14:47] Sister Mary of the Cross, Mother Marie and I have decided, you'll retire to Latour.

Speaker 1:
[15:16] Jeanne Jugan lived at Latour until her death at the age of 86. She lived humbly, like the poor she served. The work she did to found her order was not known even by her own sisters until after her death. She was canonized in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Today, the little sisters of the poor maintain homes for the elderly in 31 countries on five continents. Saint Jeanne Jugan, pray for us.

Speaker 2:
[15:52] Thank you for listening to The Saints. To listen to more thrilling adventures, go to thesaintspodcast.com.

Speaker 1:
[16:04] Merry Beggars is the Entertainment Division of Relevant Radio.