A Saint for our Time

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 10:55 am Post subject: A Saint for our Time

A New Saint for Our Timeâ€¦

This is posted on behalf of the "Little Sisters of the Poor," as many prayers were answered with this announcement.

Great news! Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has announced that he will canonize Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, on October 11th, 2009. How awesome that this beautiful saint--who lived in joyful simplicity and who had such a profound respect for frail human life--will be raised to the altars, as her witness offers such an important message for our time. Young women who are discerning a religious vocation should be sure to check out the beautiful charism of prayer and service lived by her religious community.

Following is the full test of the official press releaseâ€¦

For immediate release

Jeanne Jugan: a Saint for our time

Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor to be canonized October 11, 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 deathâ€”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 Marguerite McCarthy, superior of the Little Sisters' San Pedro, California home, Jeanne Jugan's canonization has special significance. Through an unexpected phone call in 2002, she became involved in the canonization process in a singular way. A woman from Nebraska whom she had never met was calling to share with her the remarkable account of her husband's healing following a novena made to Jeanne Jugan on his behalf. "That call placed me on a path of great faith," she explains. "From first learning of the novena to Jeanne Jugan to the final declaration of the miracle, I have witnessed God's Divine power and the Holy Spirit's guidance along the way. God opened an avenue of opportunity that, with patience and persistence, has culminated in the recognition of our foundress as a saint of the Catholic Church. This brings enormous joy to all of the Little Sisters of the Poor who have longed for this day. I continue to feel blessed by my experience of encountering those of great faith who offered their prayers, witnessed the miracle, and believed in Jeanne Jugan's powerful intercession. We await with great joy her canonization day."

Dr. Edward Gatz, who lives in Omaha, Nebraska, and whose miraculous cure from esophageal cancer paved the way for Jeanne Jugan's canonization, spends winters with his wife in southern California. Dr. and Mrs. Gatz joined Sr. Marguerite at the Jeanne Jugan Residence in San Pedro this weekend to await the announcement of the date for the canonization and they plan to attend the canonization ceremony on October 11. Anticipating the event during a speech in January, Pope Benedict said that it will show "how sanctity is a healing balm for the wounds of humankind." For Dr. Gatz, God's healing balm came through the intercession of this humble French woman. The Little Sisters hope that the canonization of their foundress will inspire more and more sick and elderly persons to look to her as a friend and loving intercessor.

For more information on Jeanne Jugan, upcoming canonization celebrations, or vocation discernment opportunities with the Little Sisters of the Poor, contact Sr. Carolyn Martin at (303) 594-7420 or vcdenver@LittleSistersofthePoor.org.