PETITES SŒURS DES PAUVRES - Abbé Auguste LE PAILLEUR(Saint-M - Lot 8

PETITES SŒURS DES PAUVRES - Abbé Auguste LE PAILLEUR(Saint-Malo 1812-1895, usurped the title of founder of the Congrégation des Petites Sœurs des Pauvres fromJeanne JUGANand ruled the congregation with absolute authority for over 30 years) - Marie JAMET(1820-1893, companion of Jeanne Jugan from the early days of the community of the Sisters of Saint-Servan, became Sister Marie Augustine de la Compassion, and was manipulated by Abbé Le Pailleur, who used her to take control of the Congrégation des Petites Sœurs des Pauvres) - Historical background: Jeanne Jugan (1792-1879), a young Breton girl of modest means, knew at an early age of her vocation to help the poor, she founded a community of sisters in Saint-Servan (near Saint-Malo), taking the name of Sister Marie de la Croix, in which she began to take in destitute and elderly people - In 1842 she was the first Superior of a new Congregation which was to take the name of Petites Sœurs des Pauvres - However, in 1843, Abbé Le Pailleur, vicar of Saint-Servan, interfered in the community and had Marie Jamet (Sœur Marie Augustine de la Compassion), Jeanne's companion from the early days, recognized. He preferred her, considering her his spiritual daughter, but above all with the intention of gaining recognition from his religious hierarchy and taking over the work - Jeanne nonetheless continued her tireless work for the poor, founding new houses, federating new vocations... while Abbé Le Pailleur continued to intrigue to take total control of the Congregation, which he eventually did - from then on, he sidelined and ousted Jeanne, who was forced to live as a recluse, taking her place, Jeanne thus spent the last 20 years of her life in total self-sacrifice - tongues eventually wagged, the Abbé was investigated by the Holy See and dismissed in 1890 (still more than 10 years after Jeanne's death!).) - Jeanne was recognized for the merits of her actions on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor, and canonized in 2009 / The document presented here is highly significant in terms of the "pomp" used by Abbé Le Pailleur: it is a sort of certificate of devotion granted to a young charitable lady: in large letters, the Abbé's name, described as "Founder and Superior General of the Congrégation des Petites Sœurs des Pauvres", followed by that of Sister Marie Augustine de la Compassion, his "stooge", 1 folio page, with Congregation stamp - This certificate was issued to the novitiate of La Tour Saint-Joseph on June 28, 1865, and is signed by Abbé Le Pailleur and Sister Marie Augustine de la Compassion.