Anne-Marie Javouhey
Encyclopedia
Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey (November 10, 1779 – July 15, 1851) was a French
nun
who founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny. She is venerated
in the Roman Catholic Church
. She is known as the Liberator of the Slaves in the New World
, and as the mother of the town of Mana, French Guiana
.
She was born in the commune of Jallanges
, Côte-d'Or
, the fifth of ten children of a local wealthy farm couple, Balthazar and Claudine Javouhey.When she was very young , she smelt wine and was about to drink the wine , when one of the servants saw her and asked her not to drink the wine . She always added water to her wine for the rest of her life . Through her teen years, she helped to hide and care for a number of priests persecuted by the French Revolution
, including keeping watch for them as they said Mass
. She made a private vow when she was nineteen years old, but was not able to become a nun because the revolutionary government had closed convents and churches . Later on, she joined the Sisters of Charity at Besançon
. While there is reported to have a vision of St. Teresa of Avila entrusting children of different races to her. She did not understand its meaning at the time, but it would profoundly influence her later life.
She moved from convent to convent, never being fully satisfied, until she and eight others founded the Institute of Saint Joseph of Cluny at Cabillon in 1805. The order was recognized by the local bishop in 1807. In 1812, they bought a former monastery and moved the congregation to Cluny. She founded the congregation to educate children and to help reduce the miseries which arose out of the French Revolution. In 1819, the scope of the order expanded to include missionary
work in what is now the Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, and it established a mission presence in Gorée
, Senegal in 1822. Two years later, she left for St. Mary's in Gambia, where she worked tirelessly to help the victims of an epidemic in the area. She also worked in Sierra Leone. She returned to Senegal
later, and received the help of the government in her attempt to develop native-born Catholic priests after educating them in Europe. Eight of the candidates were ordained to the priesthood and some of them returned to Africa to minister to their people. This plan was later abandoned, as a number of the potential missionaries died trying to acclimatize themselves.
Later, the government of France contacted her to try to establish a colony in the interior of the country of the Caribbean colony of Guiana. After receiving full approval for her plans, Mother Javouhey left with 36 nuns and 50 emigrants. She soon established a self-supporting colony, and returned to France in 1833. Two years later, she returned to the area, at the request of the French government to assist in preparing a group of 520 African slaves for emancipation. They had previously been 'owned' by the French Government at Cayenne. By the time she finished, the majority of her "students" had become Christians and learned the ways of European civilization and value of their own labor. Each couple owned a house in town with a garden and acreage beyond the town to raise crops. The settlement became quite prosperous and attracted the jealousy of colonists at the mouth of the Acarouany River. A plot was hatched to kill her, but the boatman who was to tip her into the crocodile-infested water could not bring himself to kill the "dear mother" as she was known. There were no scenes or other troubles at the emancipation and liberation of this group of slaves as marked similar occasions in other French colonies.
Her order had established a leper colony
on the banks of the Acarouany River some years earlier. They encountered great success, and whole tribes are said to have asked to be baptized
. With the advances of modern medicine, the leprosarium was closed, only to be later handed over to boat people fleeing the Far East.
She returned to France again in 1843, facing several difficulties, including ecclesiastical opposition. She and her order continued to establish new mission houses of her order all over the world, including in India, Tahiti
, Madagascar
, and over 30 foundations in France.
When news of her death in 1851 reached the black population of French Guiana, there was general grief for "the mother of the blacks". The cause for her beatification
was introduced on February 11, 1908 and she was beatified on October 15, 1950.
Today the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny numbers close to 3,000 Sisters serving in over 60 countries, including the United States, Canada and Ireland. For more information about her spirituality, see:
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
who founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny. She is venerated
Veneration
Veneration , or veneration of saints, is a special act of honoring a saint: an angel, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion. It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. She is known as the Liberator of the Slaves in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
, and as the mother of the town of Mana, French Guiana
Mana, French Guiana
Mana is a commune and town in French Guiana. It was founded in 1828 by Anne-Marie Javouhey. It borders the Mana river, whence it gets its name; and is nearby the Maroni River. Mana is the primary producer of rice in French Guiana, which it exports to Suriname....
.
She was born in the commune of Jallanges
Jallanges
Jallanges is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
, the fifth of ten children of a local wealthy farm couple, Balthazar and Claudine Javouhey.When she was very young , she smelt wine and was about to drink the wine , when one of the servants saw her and asked her not to drink the wine . She always added water to her wine for the rest of her life . Through her teen years, she helped to hide and care for a number of priests persecuted by the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, including keeping watch for them as they said Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
. She made a private vow when she was nineteen years old, but was not able to become a nun because the revolutionary government had closed convents and churches . Later on, she joined the Sisters of Charity at Besançon
Besançon
Besançon , is the capital and principal city of the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It had a population of about 237,000 inhabitants in the metropolitan area in 2008...
. While there is reported to have a vision of St. Teresa of Avila entrusting children of different races to her. She did not understand its meaning at the time, but it would profoundly influence her later life.
She moved from convent to convent, never being fully satisfied, until she and eight others founded the Institute of Saint Joseph of Cluny at Cabillon in 1805. The order was recognized by the local bishop in 1807. In 1812, they bought a former monastery and moved the congregation to Cluny. She founded the congregation to educate children and to help reduce the miseries which arose out of the French Revolution. In 1819, the scope of the order expanded to include missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
work in what is now the Island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, and it established a mission presence in Gorée
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
, Senegal in 1822. Two years later, she left for St. Mary's in Gambia, where she worked tirelessly to help the victims of an epidemic in the area. She also worked in Sierra Leone. She returned to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
later, and received the help of the government in her attempt to develop native-born Catholic priests after educating them in Europe. Eight of the candidates were ordained to the priesthood and some of them returned to Africa to minister to their people. This plan was later abandoned, as a number of the potential missionaries died trying to acclimatize themselves.
Later, the government of France contacted her to try to establish a colony in the interior of the country of the Caribbean colony of Guiana. After receiving full approval for her plans, Mother Javouhey left with 36 nuns and 50 emigrants. She soon established a self-supporting colony, and returned to France in 1833. Two years later, she returned to the area, at the request of the French government to assist in preparing a group of 520 African slaves for emancipation. They had previously been 'owned' by the French Government at Cayenne. By the time she finished, the majority of her "students" had become Christians and learned the ways of European civilization and value of their own labor. Each couple owned a house in town with a garden and acreage beyond the town to raise crops. The settlement became quite prosperous and attracted the jealousy of colonists at the mouth of the Acarouany River. A plot was hatched to kill her, but the boatman who was to tip her into the crocodile-infested water could not bring himself to kill the "dear mother" as she was known. There were no scenes or other troubles at the emancipation and liberation of this group of slaves as marked similar occasions in other French colonies.
Her order had established a leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
on the banks of the Acarouany River some years earlier. They encountered great success, and whole tribes are said to have asked to be baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
. With the advances of modern medicine, the leprosarium was closed, only to be later handed over to boat people fleeing the Far East.
She returned to France again in 1843, facing several difficulties, including ecclesiastical opposition. She and her order continued to establish new mission houses of her order all over the world, including in India, Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, and over 30 foundations in France.
When news of her death in 1851 reached the black population of French Guiana, there was general grief for "the mother of the blacks". The cause for her beatification
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
was introduced on February 11, 1908 and she was beatified on October 15, 1950.
Today the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny numbers close to 3,000 Sisters serving in over 60 countries, including the United States, Canada and Ireland. For more information about her spirituality, see: