WHO WAS THIS ‘WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE’

Claudine Thévenet - Our Foundress (1774-1837)  

The Congregation of Jesus and Mary owes its existence to the burning love for God and the apostolic zeal of Claudine Thevenet

 Born in Lyons, France, Claudine’s life was deeply affected by the aftermath of the French Revolution of 1789. At the age of fifteen, she witnessed personally, the brutal execution of her two brothers in January. This changed her life and in 1794. She opened her heart to every form of misery. Like Christ on the Cross, and opened her heart to every form of human misery, leading her to pardon, and forgiveness like Christ on the Cross, to heroic courage and to an all-embracing love.  

HER CHARISM 

France, was devastated, and left people broken in mind, body and spirit. Claudine realized that total ignorance of God was the root cause of all these ills.  

Deeply touched by the miseries of her time, and given over entirely to the action of the Spirit, Claudine was filled with a profound and intimate knowledge of the active goodness of God. Her one anguish was to see abandoned to their misfortune, those who lived and died without knowing God and this became her one desire: to communicate to everyone, the love and goodness of the Father. 

Claudine, in fidelity to this Charism, received from the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church, surrendered her life completely to God in caring for orphaned and abandoned children. 

ORIGIN AND HISTORY

“Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”

Her Charism “to make God known and loved through Christian Education of the young and the poor,” took root and found fulfillment in numerous good works in and around France.

One memorable night on 6th October 1818, Claudine left home to undertake to care and support the young and most deprived. She began her mission in extreme poverty and solitude and when she really got started, there were 5 candidates for the religious life, 12 orphans, 2 weaving looms and a few pieces of furniture, but an abundance of faith, hope and love 

Along with four companions, Claudine consecrated her life totally to Christ on February 25th 1823, forming the nucleus of the new Congregation shaped by Claudine’s faith and trust in Providence. Thus a Religious Family was born to the Church. The small wheat grain, confided to the soil, destined to become the ‘Congregation,’ has now spread to all countries of the world.  

Five years after her death, six Religious of Jesus and Mary came out to India (Agra) in 1842. We were the first Religious Congregation to set foot on Indian soil, via a long and perilous journey by sea and then by land in a Bullock-cart. This first departure from France was followed by many others

Our Jesus and Mary presence is vibrant in India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Canada: Montreal-Quebec, U.S.A., Mexico, England, Rome, Cuba, Haiti, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain: Aragon-Castile, Gabon, Cameroon, Guinea Equator, Germany, Nigeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Philippines and  Thailand.

Our Missionary activity in India is organized within three Provinces-with Provincial Headquarters at Pune, Delhi and Vadodara respectively. The Formation House (for Novitiate and Juniorate) is common to the three Provinces.  The Communities of Sisters are engaged in the work of Education in Colleges, Training and Degree Colleges, Schools, also for the Mentally challenged, Boarding Houses, Hostels, Prayer Houses Mahila Mandals, Dispensaries, Health-care centres, Creches, and Self-Help groups. In all these Communities there is involvement in Parishes and pastoral work with families and Youth.

                 Pen - Portrait of Claudine Thévenet

As a little girl… Claudine was all that one could wish her to be. She was loved by everyone. Her closest friends called her “little violet” because she hid her inmost feelings. Her life was marked by an inherent simplicity. She was natural, unaffected, sincere, loyal, frank, straight-forward and unostentatious in spite of her love for perfection and beauty.

As a young Woman… Being a capable woman who had her head on her shoulders, she displayed a talent for organization and administration. Showing great understanding and generosity, was obedient and quick to do God’s will. Her resilience and common sense were salient features of her strong and courageous personality. Her most characteristic virtue was difficult to decipher, but Love was outstanding, while Prudence guided all her actions.

As a Religious Sister…. Claudine was always consistent, logical, prudent and impartial in her dealings with everyone. Her true Religious spirit and love for the hidden life, was marked by austerity. This virtue of hers resembled the ‘Violet’ – a flower that spreads its fragrance while it  shies behind it’s leaves. Her love for Silence and Prayer was remarkable. She was sensitive and compassionate towards those suffering, especially the poor. To them she was gracious, gentle, loving and immeasurably patient. She was indeed a ‘mother’ as she favored those who were most deprived orphaned. . All her decisions reflected her far-sightedness and wisdom, and she did nothing without having recourse to Mary.

At the age of 53, on 3rd February 1837, Claudine left for her heavenly reward, faintly uttering her last words: “HOW GOOD GOD IS!”                      

   A Tribute to Claudine