Jeanne-Marie, a Woman of Her Time for Our Time

On 6 September we will celebrate 200 years since the first Marist Sisters made their vows. This presentation was prepared by Emilienne a novice from West Africa who will be professed in September.

The theme “Jeanne-Marie, a Woman of Her Time for Our Time” was chosen in response to a deep desire to return to what is essential: love, the first vocation to which God has called me. Jeanne Marie fully embraced and lived this vocation throughout her life.

This choice also grew out of several personal and relational experiences. Some situations made me realise that I do not always feel sufficiently equipped to face the distractions and temptations that can lead us, or those around us, away from our true vocation: to love and to allow ourselves to be loved.

As I have come to know Jeanne-Marie more deeply, day by day, I have been particularly challenged by the “unknown and hidden” dimension of her life. This aspect of her life is transforming me and touching something profound within me. It inspires me to give more, to accept the humility of everyday life, and to understand that the fruitfulness of a life does not necessarily depend on what is visible or recognised by others.

Another motivation for this work has been the desire to understand how Jeanne-Marie’s life and witness can inspire me, in turn, to become a woman of witness. Through this theme, I have therefore sought to discover the fundamental aspects of her life that shaped and marked her existence.

As a guiding thread for this reflection, I chose the following idea: “To discover Jeanne-Marie is to rediscover one’s path in life.” This statement speaks deeply to what I myself am currently experiencing: rediscovering the path that God has traced for me and learning to walk along it with greater trust.

In this journey, I explored several aspects of Jeanne-Marie’s life: her human and spiritual life, the personal convictions that helped her become a woman of values, and the people who contributed to her journey. Finally, I sought to express my own convictions about this woman and about what her witness can offer to our world today.

I am convinced that drawing inspiration from Jeanne-Marie can help me become a person capable of having a positive impact on my own time through faith, love for the environment, generosity, and the conviction that true friendship is possible. Above all, her witness invites me to live love in the little things, with simplicity, faithfulness and depth.

My Experience of the Presentation

In presenting this project to my community, I experienced great joy and deep satisfaction. This experience allowed me to discover more about Jeanne-Marie and, above all, to share with my Sisters what I had discovered and what this remarkable woman had awakened within me.

I also experienced a great sense of serenity, an inner calm that enabled me to appreciate the work I had accomplished and to recognise the journey I had made. This presentation was also a real source of motivation for me. The efforts I made allowed me to realise that I am capable of going further, searching more deeply, and giving the best of myself.

Finally, this work enabled me to develop a deeper appreciation of the Marist religious family that I have chosen. Through discovering more about Jeanne-Marie and the values she embodied, I feel called to deepen my sense of belonging to this family and to make my own life a witness of faith, love and self-giving.

Thus, Jeanne-Marie is no longer simply a woman from the past whose story I am discovering. She is gradually becoming a woman for my time—a person whose witness helps me to return to what is essential, to discern my path in life, and to understand that, whatever the age or circumstances, our first vocation always remains the vocation to love.

Emilienne