St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-08

of eighty years of age. Soon three
other aged persons were added to their
charge, and for these the only resource
was the income from the needlewOrk of
the two sisters and the aims which these
obtained from the poor of the vicinity,
where none but poor existed. Such was
the humble beginning of this won der
they continued to occupy the humble
attic. and this period may be termed the
probation of the afterward famous
sisterhood. The community of
the Little Sisters had now
increased to four, by the
addition of Jeanne Jugan, plain ser
want girl, who contributed, beside her
exertions, 600 francs, the hard-earned
savings of her life, to the charitable
work, and Fanch0n Aubert. who pos
sessed a small property and large
stock of linen, all of which went into
the common fund. Through the means
little community were enabled to occupy
a much larger room, in which accommo-
datiOnS for twelve inmates were pro-
vided. 1t now became necessary to en-
large and systematic the means and
the methods of support, and no other
resource was left but to beg regularly
from door to door, and the rule was
then and there laid down for them by
the founder that this means, and this
alone, should be their rule and their re-
lance. No merely human motive or
prompting could have served to animate
the Little Sisters in this work, so repug-
nant to the natural instincts and so Of
fenSiVe to modern feelings and sensible
tiles. A supernatural love for the Door
and burning zeal for the love of God
were the inspiring motives, and these
have served to blind the Little Sisters
to this Self-cOnSecrated task from that
day to the present. The French acad-
envy was so struck with admiration for
the noble and courageous devo-
ton of Jeanne Jugan, who
was foremost in the work of
love and charity, that they awarded her
the prize of virtue, which in conspicu-
Gus instances of the exhibition of this
quality, is bestowed on the heroine of
charity by vote Of the distinguished
body of Academicians. Although the
number of the sisters was still so linn
tied. the objects of their bounty contin-
ued to increase, and in 1910 they rented
an entire house for the accommodation
of their aged pensioners, and finally, in
1912, they boldly adventured to pur-
| chase large establishment formerly
| occupied by religious community. 1t
is true that they had no means to paw
for it. LIE Palleur sold his gold watch
and the silver furniture of his altar, be-
sides other things. Jennie Jugan had
little ready money, and Fanchon
| promptly contributed all that remained
bined sufficed to satisfy the first pay
| ment, and at the end of a year the house
which had cost $4,000 francs was all
paid for. 1t was in this house
in st. Servan, that the formal organza-
ton of the community was effected
and the humble title of the Little Sis
tiers of the Poor" became, henceforth,
publicly known as the name of new
order of religious women.
Although st. Servan was the first
house, being founded in 1910, the
mother house is that of Rennes, estab-
liShed in 1916, and the congregation of
proved by the Holy See until 1854 The
rule of life and the constitution is that
of ST. Augustine modified for the pecu-
liar life of the sisters. From st. Servan
and Rennes the Little Sisters by the
speedy acceSSiOnS to their community,
were enabled to extend their laborS into
other and distant provinces of France.
The House of NoviceS, which was es-
tablished at Rennes. becoming too
small, has been transferred to the Tour
st. Joseph, near Becherel, diocese
of Rennes. In the month OF
July, 1856, Mgr. Godfrey st.
Mare, always so kindly disposed
toward this work, inaugurated and
solemnly blessed, in the midst of a great
cOncOurse of priests, this new diocese
for nOvices, which at present contains
about 500 nOvices and postulants, from
France, England, Spain, America. etc.
selves to the life of self-divine and d
vOtednesS of Little Sister of the Poor