[1774-1837]
The
Congregation of Jesus and Mary owes its existence to the burning love
for God and the apostolic zeal of
Claudine Thévenet (1774-1837), against
the background of the French Revolution.
Born in Lyons, France, Claudine’s life was deeply affected by the aftermath of the Revolution of 1789. Her youth was profoundly influenced by the horrors of the Revolution. At the age of fifteen, she experienced and witnessed personally, the brutal execution of her two brothers in January 1794. This changed her life. Her heroic forgiveness like Christ on the Cross, opened her heart to every form of human misery and led her to pa
Entirely given over to the action of the Spirit, Claudine was filled with a profound and intimate knowledge of the active goodness of God and was touched by the miseries of her time. She had but one desire: to communicate to all, the love and goodness of the Father and one anguish: to see abandoned to their misfortune, those who live and die without knowing God. Claudine, in fidelity to this Charism received from the Holy Spirit for the good of the Church, she surrendered her life completely to God to care for orphans and abandoned children.
Origin and History
“Unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remain only a single grain; if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”
France, now devastated, left people broken in mind, body and spirit. Claudine realized that total ignorance of God was the root cause of all these ills. Filled with tender compassion for the young, abandoned, homeless, cold, hungry and orphaned, she reached out in maternal care.
One memorable night on 6th October 1818, Claudine left home to undertake
the care and support of the young and most deprived. She began her
mission in extreme poverty and solitude. 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.
Five years later, with four companions, she consecrated her life totally to Christ on February 25th 1823. They formed the nucleus of the new Congregation shaped by Claudine’s faith and trust in Providence. Thus a Religious Family was born to the Church. When she really got started there were 5 candidates for the religious life, 12 orphans, 2 looms and a few pieces of furniture, but an abundance of faith, hope and love! The small wheat grain, confided to the soil, destined to become the" Congregation,” has now spread to all countries of the world . The Jesus and Mary presence is in India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Philippines, Canada: Montreal-Quebec, U.S.A., Mexico, England, Cuba, Haiti, France, Italy, Ireland, Spain: Aragon-Castile, Gabon, Cameroon, Guinea, Nigeria, Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Equator and Uruguay.
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 “the 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.
She showed great understanding and generosity, was obedient and quick to
do God’s will. Her unquestionable calm 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. She had a true
Religious spirit and loved the hidden life, which was marked by
austerity. This virtue of hers resembled violet – a flower that spreads
its fragrance yet shies behind the 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 favoured
those who were most deprived and who had no mother. All her decisions
reflected her far-sightedness and wisdom, doing nothing without recourse
to Mary.At
the age of 53, on 3rd February 1837, Claudine left for her heavenly
abode faintly uttering her last words: “HOW GOOD GOD IS!”