Saint-Servant France, 1842. Jean's foundation for the poor flourishes under her charge, and praise for Jean and her friends rolls in from all over France and beyond. But not everyone is supportive. Will Jean's work be taken from her just as it starts to succeed? The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Jean Jougain, Episode 5, To the Motherhouse. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com. Father LaPayeur wants us to come up with a name for our organization. Any ideas? We've always called ourselves Servants of the Poor, Jean. And so we are, Finchon. What do you think, Virginie? Should that be our name? I like it. But we're going to be called sisters. Should that be in our name? Servants sisters of the poor? Hmm, I like that. Marie? You always said humility should be the basis of everything we do. Maybe humble sisters of the poor. Oh, that's good too. What do you think, Madeline? Hmm, when we're humble, we're little. How about little sisters? Little sisters of the poor? That's exactly what the poor have been calling us. Please. Please help me. Who's that? I'll see. Come in, Miss Yaw. You're shaking with cold. They say you're only helping women, but I need help too. I have no money, no food, no where to go. Come over by the fire. We'll get you something to eat. He fainted! Let's get him into one of the beds. But, Jen, we have no more beds. Dear Lord, what are we going to do? Dear Lord, what are we going to do? Jen! Hello! What brings you to my office? We need a larger dwelling, Father LaPalle. Please, come in. Have a seat. Thank you. Every day, more poor, elderly people come seeking help. Now it's men too, not just women. How can you afford a larger place? You can barely pay for the one you have. The Lord always provides. I know, but… The daughters of the cross just closed their convent. That would be perfect. If you had 20,000 francs… Perhaps the owner would take less. I doubt it. Do you know who owns it? A very clever banker named Pierre Ferrar. I'll go and speak with him. With your begging basket? Yes, Father, with my begging basket. 20,000 francs? I met with the banker today, Fanchon. Monsieur Ferrar has agreed to give us one year after we move in to pay the purchase price of the convent. Well done, Jen. Be it one day or one year, how could we possibly raise that much? It will be interesting to see God's plans. But there's Father LaPalle. Come in, Father. Everyone's here. Good, because I need to speak with all of you. Greetings, little sisters of the poor. Hello, Father. We need to discuss how the little sisters of the poor are going to proceed. What do you mean? Jen, I congratulate you on your success with Monsieur Ferrar. 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. I hope so too. However, because you're so valuable in the outside world with your begging basket, I'm appointing another superior. Another superior? Marie will be your new superior. Me? But I'm only 23. Father LaPalle, with all due respect, our superior must be Jen. I agree. So do I. I understand your concerns. However, Marie will be your new superior. Because Jen cannot do everything. Can you, Jen? No. Father, you're right. I can't do everything. Get your first fish! Oh, we got it! Fresh fish! I'll be back. Within the month. 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. Excuse me, are you Jen Jougan? I am. I thought so when I saw you with that basket. I read an article in the newspaper about you. About me? Yes, and your new order, the Little Sisters of the Poor. You're now living in that old convent. We are. Thanks be to God. I understand your need of funds. We're always in need of funds and food and clothing. Can you help us? I would be honored to help you, Madame Jougan. Hopefully, this sum will be of assistance. Thank you, Monsieur. From the bottom of my heart, may the good God bless your generosity. I can't believe! Hello, Fancho. What's wrong? It looks like you're putting those vegetables under a guillotine. I was just thinking about what Father Lipaill has done to you. It doesn't matter. What matters is that the poor are being housed and fed. Look what I got today. May the good God be praised! It's enough to keep us living at the convent. That's incredible! What's incredible, Fancho? Oh my goodness. You got all these coins today, Jean? It was like an angel suddenly appeared. I'll get it. This is for Madame Jean Jougan. That's me. Thank you. You're very welcome, Madame. Good day. Good day, and God bless you. Oh no. Jean, what's happened? I don't want this. Jean, this is amazing! Marie, I mean, Mother Marie, look at this! This year's winner of the Montréal Prize, which the French Academy awards annually to a French man or woman for outstanding meritorious activity, is Madame Jean Jougan, who serves the poor elderly in the town of Saint-Servant. What? Jean, this is an incredible honor! But think of all the publicity. Everyone will be putting me on a pedestal. I don't want that. You're already receiving publicity, and look how it's helping us. But listen, it goes on. The Montréal Prize comes with an award of 10,000 francs. 10,000 francs? Think what this will do for our elderly! Jean, we can put a new roof on the convent. We can purchase much-needed new beds, not to mention food. Yes, that's true. If it helps our poor, I'll endure the rest. The Montréal Prize How can I help you, gentlemen? Are you Jean Jougan? I am. I am Monsieur Bernard, the mayor of Gain, and this is Bishop Saint-Manc. I'm very glad to meet you, Madame Jougan. And I'm pleased to meet you both. Please, come in. The reason we're here, Madame Jougan, is that we'd like you to establish a home for the poor elderly in Gain, as you've done here in Saint-Servant. You want the little sisters of the poor to come to Rennes. We do. Since you won the Montréal 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. People are suffering in unimaginable ways in the Dame Jougan, with continuing unemployment, food shortages and sickness, and there is no one in Rennes capable of serving their needs on this scale. The poor old people who have been abandoned by their families are particularly at risk, as you know. I hope you'll consider coming to Rennes, Madame Jougan. I will. If the good God wants the little sisters of the poor in Rennes, we will go. Look at these letters, Jen. Mother Marie just showed them to me. This is from the Bishop of London. Yes, and it's addressed to you. They want us to establish a house for the poor elderly in England. They want you to establish it. If the Lord wants us in England, I'm willing to go. But take a look at the letter Mother Marie wrote back. She didn't even show it to you, did she? No, but she's the superior. She doesn't have to show me anything. Look at her signature. Mother Marie Jaume, superior, the little sisters of the poor. What's wrong with that? Nothing. Look at the signature under hers. Father Auguste LePayeur, founder of the little sisters of the poor. He calls himself the founder? That's outrageous! Jen, you are the founder. The founder of this work is the Lord, Feichan. Be at peace. Father LePayeur is making Marie do whatever he wants. We don't know that. Anyway, none of that matters. The poor are being taken care of. That's what matters. Mother Marie and I are pleased you could meet with us privately today, Jen. Of course. I'm happy to. Please sit down, Jen. Yes, you must be tired after being on your feet all day with your begging basket. Not really. The needs of our poor continue, and I love helping them. Of course you do. Most people, they are not the only ones who are willing to help. I love helping them. Of course you do. Most people are so generous and eager to give whatever they can. It's a blessing to witness, Father. I'm sure it is. It's also quite wonderful how our movement has spread from our beginnings here in Saint-Servant to Rend in Narn Tours, and now England. Yes, Father, thanks to the good God. We now have more than a hundred little sisters and eleven homes looking after the elderly poor. It's been nothing short of miraculous. We all can be proud of what we've accomplished. The Lord has done a great work. Indeed He has. However, Jen, you have now reached the age of 60. Too old to go on begging. I love going out with my basket, Father, and thankfully my health is excellent. I feel strong enough to continue. I'm sure you do, but Mother Marie and 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 60, you should retire. Retire? Yes. To the mother house we've established for novices at La Tour. But... There you can rest and pray and live out your days in peace. You've always wanted more time for prayer, haven't you, Jen? I pray constantly, Father, while I'm out begging, in front of the blessed sacrament at home during the night when... Of course, of course! But one has to have respect for one's age, don't you think? Mother Marie, do you agree with Father La Paillure? Father is only thinking of what is best for you and all of us. I see. Furthermore, at La Tour you will no longer be known as Jen Jogan, but only as the religious name you've chosen for yourself, Sister Marie of the Cross. 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. Of course you have now, but... This is my life's work. To serve Jesus in his poor... Sister Marie of the Cross, Mother Marie and I have decided you will retire to La Tour. You have stolen my work from me, Father La Paillure, but I willingly give it to you. The Life of the Poor Jen Jogan lived at La Tour 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-Jean-Jugain pray for us. The Life of the Poor
