Jul 15, 2017

β›ͺ Blessed Anne Mary Javouhey - Religious

🌟 Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey 🌟

Foundress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny – Liberator of the Slaves

πŸ“… Born: 10 November 1779, Jallanges, CΓ΄te-d'Or, France

⚰️ Died: 15 July 1851 (aged 71), Paris, France

πŸ™ Venerated in: Roman Catholic Church

✝️ Beatified: 15 October 1950 by Pope Pius XII

πŸ“… Feast Day: 15 July

πŸ‘• Attributes: Religious habit of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny, holding a cross or with freed slaves

🌎 Patronage: Missionaries, educators, social reformers, abolitionists

β€œGod alone will suffice. Let us go wherever He calls us.”


Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey (November 10, 1779 – July 15, 1851), known as Nanette, was a French religious sister who founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny. Born in Jallanges, she risked her life during the French Revolution to protect priests and spread faith. Called β€œthe first woman missionary” by Pope Pius XI, she was beatified on October 15, 1950. Her feast day is July 15.

Early Life and Revolutionary Courage

Born in 1779 in Jallanges, France, the fifth of ten children to wealthy farmer Balthasar and devout Claudine, Anne-Marie was spirited, enjoying dancing and socializing as a teenager. Devoted to Saints Bernard and Martin, she created a home oratory and a garden chapel for Saint Anne. During the French Revolution, in Chamblanc, she taught catechism covertly, outwitting her disapproving father by shifting lessons to orchards and fields. At 17, she sheltered Father Ballanche, a hunted priest, organizing secret Masses and confessions. Her daring peaked when soldiers searched her home; she hid the priest in a cupboard, cleverly distracting them with hospitality, saving him from capture.

Vocation and Vision

Rejecting marriage, Anne-Marie declared her desire to become a nun to Father Ballanche, despite her father’s opposition. On November 11, 1798, she took private vows. After a failed stint with the Daughters of Charity in 1799, where she struggled with convent life, a vision in 1800 revealed her mission: Saint Teresa of Avila appeared, entrusting her with caring for β€œcolored children” and founding a new congregation. Though initial attempts at schools and orphanages failed due to poverty, her Trappistine novitiate strengthened her resolve. On May 12, 1807, at 28, she and her sisters founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph, adopting the motto β€œThe holy will of God.”

Growth of the Congregation

The congregation grew, restoring souls and buildings. In Chalon, they turned a seminary into a prison-hospital for Spanish prisoners, where Anne-Marie survived typhus. By 1812, they settled in Cluny’s historic monastery, becoming the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny. Using the Lancastrian system, they educated poor children, earning acclaim despite initial criticism. Anne-Marie opened workshops, hostels, orphanages, and a preparatory seminary, showcasing her versatility.

African Missions

In 1817, the congregation reached Senegal, where Anne-Marie tackled dire hospital conditions on Goree Island and Saint Louis. She founded a mission in Dagana, advocating for native clergy despite resistance from colonial whites. In Gambia and Sierra Leone, she improved conditions for freed slaves, battling corruption and neglect. During a yellow fever outbreak in Freetown, she nursed tirelessly, surviving the disease herself. Her efforts left a lasting impact, though losses among her nuns marked her return to France.

Challenges and Mana Colony

Back in France, Anne-Marie faced a mutiny in Reunion, resolved by her sister Rosalie. In 1828, she led 86 laymen and 36 nuns to found New Angouleme in French Guiana, aiming to evangelize Indians, slaves, and lepers. Despite initial success, racial tensions and desertions led to its failure by 1833. In 1835, tasked with preparing 500 slaves for emancipation, she established Mana, a thriving colony with houses, a chapel, and crops. By 1838, 185 slaves were freed, and by 1841, 400 more, with Mana boasting literacy and order. Anne-Marie also built a leprosarium, enduring harsh conditions to aid lepers.

Persecution and Resilience

Her success drew enmity. Bishop Guillier, backed by the Bishop of Autun, excommunicated her, labeling her a β€œwhite Queen” and servant of the devil. For two years, she endured disgrace, praying in solitude but remaining joyful. In 1843, a bishop lifted her excommunication. Despite plots to undermine her, including a near-murder attempt, her faith sustained her. The 1848 French Revolution saw her lead Sisters as an ambulance brigade, and she nursed cholera victims, undeterred by age or illness.

Legacy and Beatification

At 71, Anne-Marie died on July 15, 1851, leading 1,200 Sisters across 118 European, 26 Asian, 92 African, 63 American, and 16 Oceanian convents. Her forgiveness of her persecutors, notably the Bishop of Autun, exemplified her sanctity. Declared Venerable in 1908 and beatified in 1950, her miracles and missionary zeal inspire. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny continue her work in schools, hospitals, and missions, embodying her motto, β€œThe holy will of God.”

  1. Courage in Faith: Anne-Marie’s fearless protection of priests during the Revolution challenges us to stand firm in faith amid persecution. Pray for those in oppressive regimes, like the β€œBamboo Curtain,” and act boldly to support the Church.

  2. Vision for Service: Her vision of serving marginalized children calls us to identify and act on our own missions. Whether through lay missionary work or daily acts, offer your skills to spread Christ’s love, as Anne-Marie did for slaves and lepers.

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