From the time she was a little girl, Jeanne knew how it felt to be in need. Her father was a fisherman who was lost at sea. Her mother struggled to find ways to support her family in their small French village. Jeanne’s mother raised her children with faith and love.
When Jeanne was a teenager, she took a job as a maid in the home of a wealthy Christian family. The woman of the house often took Jeanne with her when she went to visit the sick and elderly people in the village. The woman taught Jeanne the importance of putting her faith in practice by showing love for her neighbor.
Later, Jeanne worked in a hospital, but after six years, the demands of the job had exhausted her. She went to work for an elderly woman. Jeanne and the women prayed together everyday and performed charitable works. They also invited the neighborhood children into the home to teach them the Catholic faith.
After the woman died, Jeanne and two other women rented a room in a small cottage. They devoted themselves to daily Mass and caring for people in need, especially old people who were alone and sick. It is said that Jeanne even slept on the floor so that the people they welcomed into their home could rest in a bed. Jeanne and her friends begged for money in the streets and by going from door to door. This was the beginning of a religious community that became known as the Little Sisters of the Poor. More women joined them in their mission and Jeanne was elected as their superior. Sister Mary of the Cross became Jeanne’s religious name.
Jeanne resigned as superior when she saw that disagreements over her leadership were taking time away from the sisters’ work of caring for the poor and elderly. She spent her retirement in prayer and encouraging the young nuns to see Jesus in every needy person they met.
The Church declared Jeanne a saint in October, 2009. St. Jeanne’s life shows us how we can live the Corporal Works of Mercy. We can follow her example by praying for the poor and doing all we can to help our neighbor.
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