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Archbishop to celebrate Mass Nov. 1 for 'St. Jeanne Jugan' |
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By Julie Pfitzinger - For The Catholic Spirit
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Tuesday, 28 April 2009 |
“Love God very much, so that you can look after the aged well, for it is Jesus whom you care for in them” (Blessed Jeanne Jugan).
Blessed Jeanne
From the beginning, Blessed Jeanne Jugan’s mission was a simple one. In 1839, coming upon an elderly blind woman in her small village in Brittany, France, Blessed Jeanne brought the woman into her own home, carried her up a flight of stairs and placed her in a bed, where she lovingly tended to the woman’s needs.
Elderly women from the area soon began arriving at Blessed Jeanne’s
door seeking her gentle and respectful care, and before long, an
enduring ministry was born.
The Vatican recently announced that in October, Blessed Jeanne,
foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, will be canonized by
Pope Benedict XVI and become a saint of the Catholic Church, nearly
17 years after she was beatified by Pope John Paul II.
Upon her canonization, St. Jeanne Jugan will be recognized as patroness of the elderly.
Although several representatives from the Little Sisters’ Holy Family
Residence nursing home in St. Paul will travel to Rome for the
canonization, including its superior, Sister Theresa Robertson, local
events also are being planned to mark the occasion.
Archbishop John Nienstedt will celebrate a thanksgiving Mass at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, at the Cathedral of St. Paul, and on Nov. 14, “Theatre
of the Word” will present a play on the life of the new saint at
Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul.
Across the globe, the Little Sisters of the Poor warmly received the
announcement of Blessed Jeanne’s impending canonization.
“Joyfulness is being felt in all 202 of our houses worldwide,” said
Sister Beatrice Scully of the Holy Family Residence, where the Little
Sisters have served for 125 years.
“We believe it will touch so many in the world and hope that our
respect for life will have long-lasting repercussions,” she said.
According to Sister Beatrice, the message of Blessed Jeanne and the
Little Sisters of the Poor is more relevant today than it has ever been.
“To have our foundress canonized means that the church wants to give
the elderly their rightful place in the church and the world,” she
said. “Our vocation is a 100 percent unadulterated respect-for-life
vocation and mission. Just as life’s beginnings are sacred, so is
life’s ending.”
Praying for vocations
With nearly 3,000 Little Sisters of the Poor serving the world, Sister
Beatrice says they are praying that the canonization of Blessed Jeanne
will serve as “an attracting magnet” for other young women.
“Our vocation is lived in the heart of God and the heart of the church
in this millennium,” said Sister Beatrice, who has been a Little Sister
for more than 40 years.
“There are untold opportunities for those feeling called to pursue a
vocation of service to the poor and to life as it approaches its final
destiny.”
One of the most unique aspects of Blessed Jeanne’s canonization is the
fact that the beneficiary of the miracle that is leading to her
sainthood is an American man who is still living and will be attending
the Oct. 11 ceremony in Rome. Dr. Edward Gatz of Omaha, Neb., was cured
of esophageal cancer as a result of Blessed Jeanne’s intercession.
For more information about events, volunteer opportunities or
vocations, contact Sister Beatrice at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call (651) 227-0336.
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