CLAUDINE THÉVENET QUESTIONS

1. In 1815, Claudine Thévenet took in two little girls who had been abandoned by their
parents, and with her friend Marie Chirat, resolved to create a Providence where more
such children could be sheltered and cared for in the future. What was the name they
gave this institution, of which Claudine was the directress?
2. One of the titles conferred upon Claudine Thévenet was in honour of the founder of
the Jesuits, to whom she was personally devoted. What was this title?
3. What were Claudine Thévenet’s last words, which reflected her gratitude and
admirations towards the Divine Master, and could be said to summarize her whole life?
4. Identify one of Claudine’s best friends, who was also the foundress of the Propagation
of the Faith and of the Living Rosary.
5. Name the association, formed on July 31st,1816, which, while not a religious
congregation, contains the roots to the formation of the Congregation of the Religious
of Jesus and Mary. Claudine Thévenet was elected its president.
6. July 31st, 1818 is considered a significant date for “Jesus and Mary”. What is the reason
behind this significance?
7. Name the fugitive from Périgueux, whom the Thévenets gave shelter to, in a spirit of
charity, and who later married Claudine’s sister and closes confidant, Elizabeth.
8. This church is significant because it was here that Claudine Thévenet was baptized,
and here that the two little girls who were to become the first children to be placed
under her care, were found. What is the name of this church?
9. Claudine Thévenet spent the years from when she was nine to fifteen in this Abbaye,
receiving the education that her parents were so concerned for, and where she
prepared for her First Communion and Confirmation. Identify the name of the Abbaye.
10. In 1825, due to the trying financial circumstances and difficulties with the Sisters, the
Providence opened in 1816 was left in whose care, where it went on to do well?
11. The Religious of Jesus and Mary has today spread to five continents. In which year
did missionaries from the Congregation arrive in India?
12. Claudine Thévenet passed away on 3rd February, 1837. A tomb was constructed in
her memory in the Chapel of the Mother House, Fourvière. Where were her mortal
remains buried?
13. In order to further commit herself to the work of founding a new apostolate, Claudine
made the sacrifice of devoting less time to caring for her mother. What seemingly small
but symbolic step did she take to illustrate this decision?
14. “Heaven has chosen you, do not fail to respond to the divine call.” Who spoke these
memorable words to Claudine, whose death she had a strange premonition about
three days before it came to pass?
15. This ideal of the Foundress was the banner under which the members of her union
came to organize themselves into the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and
Mary. The Bishop of Agra’s letter to the Superior General reflected these ideals. What
was the aim under which the apostolate was operating?
16. Whom did the Second General Chapter of the Congregation elect as Superior General
after the death of Claudine Thévenet?
17. The Thévenets, despite knowing who betrayed Claudine’s brothers, did not denounce
the informant in order to respect the last words spoken by them to Glady. She would
recall these words throughout her life, and note how they were reminiscent of Christ’s
last words on the cross. What were the words spoken to by Louis to Claudine before
his execution?
18. After 46 years of illness, this man’s leg was miraculously cured after he visited a
dispensary kept by the Religious of Jesus and Mary, and began a novena. The miracle
was presented for the beatification of Claudine Thévenet. Who was the beneficiary of
this miracle?
19. Having lived through the Revolution and numerous successive emotional shocks
throughout her lifetime, Claudine Thévenet suffered from violent headaches. What did
she use to call this affliction of hers?
20. Father Rey, although a zealous and devoted chaplain at Fourvière during his service,
abandoned his post quite abruptly and did not explain his reasons until after he had
left Fourvière. Why did he decide to resign as chaplain? Siècle
21. The shrine at Fourvière contains a painting by the artist Victor Orcel to commemorate
the miraculous preservation of Lyons at a time when a crisis ravaged the rest of
Europe. This divine intercession was prayed for by Claudine and her household, along
with several pilgrims, and is attributed to the Blessed Virgin Mary. What deadly event
of 1832 was Lyons protected from?
22. In 1826, a new vicar-general, Simon Cattet, was appointed in Lyons, and he was of
the opinion that too many new congregations were in existence. What was his wish
with regard to Claudine Thévenet’s Congregation, which caused her much
apprehension?
23. When requesting a new chaplain, Claudine Thévenet informed the Archbishop of a
project she had undertaken, for which she would need a priest who had knowledge of
religious life and could give her sound advice. What was this task, which she would
unfortunately not see completed before her demise?
 24. After her mother’s death, Claudine’s establishment at Pierres-Plantées was moved to
Fourvière. The name of the property, which faced the shrine of the Blessed Virgin,
came from its first owner, President Nicolas de Lange. What was the name of the
house?
25. Claudine Thévenet employed an ingenious method of management and education at
the Providence – each girl was assigned a daily quota of work, and any supplementary
work she did was carefully noted and paid for, so that by the time they left the
Providence, they had a considerable sum of money. What activity did the girls engage
in, which yielded a product famed for its quality, thanks to their work ethic?
26. The new chaplain at Fourvière often challenged the Foundress’s authority as he found
anything to do with the Jesuits distasteful, and attempted to transform the lifestyle of
the community at will. Identify the priest, after whose arrival, Claudine Thévenet knew
no peace of mind.
27. The orphans of the Providence held great love for the Foundress and took great joy in
surprising her with small gestures. What sculpture, which still stands in the garden of
the Mother House, was a gift given to her by the orphans?
28. On which date did Cardinal de Bonald ratify the name of the Congregation, which had
been shortened from the Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, to simply
the Religious of Jesus and Mary – the name by which it is known today?
29. The Congregation received a pontifical approbation in December 1847 without
following the usual customs that the Holy See observed, in light of the remarkable
growth of the institution. What is the Holy See’s usual response to a first petition for
approbation?

ANSWERS

1. La Providence du Sacré-Coeur
2. Mother St. Ignatius
3. “How good God is!”
4. Pauline Marie Jaricot
5. Pieuse Union du Sacré-Coeur du Jésus
6. Claudine Thévenet accepted leadership of the project of forming the Congregation of
the Religious of Jesus and Mary
7. Jean Baptiste Mayet
8. St. Nizier
9. Dames Bénédictines de l’Abbaye de Saint-Pierre
10. The Sisters of St Joseph and the parish priest of St Bruno’s
11. 1842
12. Loyasse Cemetery
13. She spent the night working at Pierres-Plantées, her first night away from home
14. Father Coindre
15. “To form souls for Heaven through a Christian education.”
16. Mother St Andrew
17. “Forgive, Glady, as we forgive.”
18. Luis Alfonso Soto Villa
19. Her “terror”
20. To create an institution similar to the Providence, for boys
21. A cholera epidemic
22. He wished to merge her Congregation with “les Dames du Sacré-Coeur”
23. Drawing up of a Constitution of the Congregation and receiving approval from Rome
24. L’Angélique
25. Silk weaving
26. Father Francois Xavier Pousset
27. The Calvary/crucifix
28. January 4, 1842
29. Granting of a Laudatory Brief