A quote from St. Jeanne Jugan:
“Go and find him when your patience and strength run out and you feel alone and helpless. Jesus is waiting for you in the chapel. Say to him, ‘Jesus, you know exactly what is going on. You are all I have, and you know all things. Come to my help.’ And then go, and don’t worry about how you are going to manage. That you have told God about it is enough. He has a good memory.”

A white martyrdom, of sorts, was given to this humble beautiful saint…her story is one of the most compelling I’ve ever heard.  The fruit of obedience and humility is sainthood. Here’s her story:

From Catholicfounders.org

In 1837 Jeanne Jugan and two companions decided to move into a two-room apartment on Center Street and lead a life of prayer and dedication to God. Jeanne had always been sensitive to the things of God, and she saw him reflected in the numberless faces of the poor of France.

One day she encountered Anne Chauvin, a blind old widow with no one to look after her, and decided to bring her home. Since the apartment was on the second floor, Jeanne had to physically carry her up the narrow stairs. Jeanne gave her bed to Anne and moved into the loft.

Before long she took in another old woman, and Jeanne and her two companions had to work to support and feed themselves and two others. They would often stay up late at night mending and washing clothes and get up early each morning to care for the women in their charge.

Often on Sundays the three of them would go for a walk together along the seashore, stopping at a favorite cleft in the rocks to talk about God, their lives, and their plans for the future. (more…)