April 30, 2009
At the time of her beatification in 1982, Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, was hailed by Pope John Paul II as a woman of prophetic intuition whose spirituality and apostolic message were timelier than ever. At a morning consistory on February 21, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI announced that this humble French woman who established an international religious family dedicated to the care of the needy elderly will officially become a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on October 11, 2009. With the population of older persons growing at an exponential rate, Jeanne’s work and her message are even more relevant today than they were when John Paul II beatified her over a quarter century ago. As a patroness of the elderly, Jeanne Jugan is truly a saint for our time.
The Little Sisters of the Poor trace their roots to very humble beginnings in Brittany, France. On a cold winter’s night in 1839 in the Breton village of Saint Servan, Jeanne Jugan recognized the presence of Jesus Christ in the person of an elderly, blind and infirm woman who suddenly found herself alone and in need. Jeanne carried her home and placed her in her own bed. In the days and weeks that followed, more old women arrived at her doorstep. Jeanne was joined by a small group of young women who were willing to help with the care of her elderly guests. The Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor was thus born from a single, hidden act of hospitality. One hundred seventy years later, over 2,700 Little Sisters of the Poor care for more than 13,000 needy elderly persons in 202 family-like homes around the world. Thirty-two of those homes are located in North America.
Much has changed since 1839, but for the Little Sisters the essential has remained the same—to provide the needy elderly with a home where they may experience love and happiness as their earthly journey nears its completion. As the Little Sisters rejoice at the long awaited news of their foundress’ canonization, they marvel at her prophetic intuition and the relevance of her message. Well in advance of her time, Jeanne Jugan sought to foster sharing and solidarity between persons, communities and generations. She understood the inner needs and aspirations of the aged, especially their desire to be respected, esteemed and loved, their longing to feel useful and their fear of loneliness and dependence. Despite extraordinary advances in society, older persons today experience the same desires and fears. Jeanne’s vision is all the more timely in the face of the threats posed by today’s culture of death—the marginalization of the weak and vulnerable, euthanasia and assisted suicide. The Little Sisters believe that in Saint Jeanne Jugan, the elderly will have a faithful friend and intercessor.
For Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, provincial superior of the Little Sisters’ Baltimore province, Jeanne Jugan’s canonization this year has special significance. “This is an awesome time in the history of our Congregation,” she muses. “It is a gift and a grace to be alive and to be able to witness this event, as many a Little Sister has longed to see this day. Those of us who are here to experience it feel exceptionally blessed and humbled.” She continues, “For me personally it has special meaning because I entered the Little Sisters of the Poor in 1982, the year Jeanne Jugan was beatified in Rome. Now in the year of her canonization, I am celebrating my silver jubilee—twenty-five years of religious profession. How amazing God is!”
At 96, Mrs. Rose Dente is one of the oldest Residents of St. Martin’s Home in Baltimore. In fact, she was already a Resident of the home when Sister Loraine Marie entered the Congregation in 1982, and she had the privilege of attending Jeanne Jugan’s beatification in Rome. “The moment that stands out in my memory,” she reminisces, “was when they unveiled the paintings of Jeanne Jugan and her companions with the elderly. That was a scene that words can’t quite describe.” As Rose celebrated Saturday’s news with Sister Loraine and all the Residents and Little Sisters of St. Martin’s Home, she expressed sentiments which are surely shared by all those who look to the Little Sisters’ foundress as an intercessor and friend: “In my heart, I always knew Jeanne Jugan was a saint,” she said. “Now the whole world will know it!”
The Little Sisters of the Poor serve the needy elderly of our area at the Little Sisters of the Poor at 1028 Benton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.. For more information on Jeanne Jugan and upcoming canonization celebrations, contact Sister Mary Vincent, Administrator, at 412-307-1100.
