St. Jeanne (Delanoue) of the Cross
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(Franciscan Media) An encounter with a shabby old Woman many dismissed as insane prompted Jeanne Delanoue (Saint Joan of the Cross) to dedicate her life to the poor–For Jeanne who had a reputation as a businesswoman intent on monetary success, this was a significant conversion.
Born 1666 in France Saumur in the valley of the Loire River according to the Vatican Jeanne was the youngest of twelve children. Jeanne’s parents owned a business near the Sanctuary of Notre-Dame-des-Ardilliers. Although but only 6 yrs of age when her father died, she helped her mother run the family business in order to maintain the welfare of her family.
Jeanne’s qualities were quite remarkable at such a tender age, she was skillful, energetic and determined, even to the point of keeping the store open on Sunday’s and Holy Days. — Jeanne’s future was hers as the business grew and prospered. It was precisely in this context of success at the age of 27 (shortly after the death of Jeanne’s mother) an elderly Woman, faithful to Notre-Dame-des Ardelliers, invited Jeanne to consecrate herself to the many impoverished people of her neighborhood.
Despite the responsibilities Jeanne had accrued in response to this call which she believed to have come from God, Jeanne turned toward the poor. — They assumed more of her time each day than did her other patrons until they became Jeanne’s full-time occupation.
Within a short time no longer did the poor await her visits to them but they started coming to her. In 1700 Jeanne warmly welcomed a child into her home and soon thereafter, she began taking in the sick, seniors and the destitute too.
Now with so many requiring lodging–the only other place that the poor had to go was to the grottos hollowed (park) out on the tuff — Jeanne made them as comfortable as possible however at this point, it was necessary for her to seek help.
Within 4 yrs some young girls were interested in helping Jeanne and were willing to wear a religious habit if she wished them to do so. It was then, the ‘Congregation of St. Anne de la Providence’ was born.
Jeanne Delanoue tenacity, supported by the dedicated Woman that worked with her, brought about the foundation pf Saumur’s first home for the poor in 1715
Very quickly Jeanne’s charity spread beyond the limits of Saumur and the local Diocese–More than that, there were 40 helpers who were under her direction and had made the decision to follow her example of self-sacrifice, prayer and chastity.
At the time of Jeanne’s death on this date in 1736, she left a dozen communities, together with homes for the poor and schools.
Everyone could admire Jeanne Delanoue zeal and the work she accomplished in the numerous visits she received and made but only Jeanne’s closest friends knew of her chastity, her life of prayer and of union with God, it is from this, her untiring charity proceeded.
Jeanne Delanoue was attracted toward all those who suffered but especially those who were poor and God knows they were many during those sad years of want. of cold, of famine and of war.
In November, 1947 Jeanne Delanoue was Beatified by Pope Pius XII and in 1982 she was Canonized by Pope Saint John Paul II
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