From Elizen to Colpo (Morbihan, France), to walk and pray in the footsteps of Perrine Samson, founder 190 years ago of the Daughters of Jesus… they came, they are all here, on the 8^th of December 2024, these Pilgrims for a day, Pilgrims for ever !

Part of a wall… an emotional moment

At the starting point of a new journey, many of the pilgrims from Locminé and the surrounding parishes discovered for the first time the wall of a house that had long since disappeared.

In this section of wall, there is an opening that corresponds to a small window from the past. It is at once an opening to the outside world, and the entrance to a house –  Perrine Samson’s house, at a place called ‘Elizen.’

The walkers were very moved, especially the Sisters, who were reliving their commitment to follow Perrine Samson, as the ‘Daughters of Jesus’ have done for 190 years! Some Associates of the Congregation, living the charism of the Congregation to the best of their ability, also took part in this day of commemoration.

Silence was the order of the day as we listened to the various speakers, who were more witnesses than tellers. Perhaps new vocations will be born from this moment and from those who followed throughout the day.

From Elizen to Saint-Méen

It was time to get ready to go! Everything was in place to ensure our safety. The pilgrims would now make their way to the Chapelle Saint-Méen, also known as the Chapelle du Vieux Bourg.

After singing and praying along the way, the pilgrims continued their prayers under the gaze of the saints, modestly honoured as witnesses to the Congregation’s charism of ‘Honouring the Sacred Humanity of the Son of God.’

Perrine’s charism

Perrine often came here. In a barn next to the chapel, she would gather the children together to teach them the prayers in Breton. On Sundays, she would lead a prayer meeting of the local people. It was here that Father Coëffic entrusted her with the Breton school, which he established first at Vieux Bourg, then at Bignan, where Perrine and four sisters took their first vows.

From Saint-Méen to Colpo

On the final stage of the pilgrimage, it was time to return to the town of Colpo for refreshments and the celebration of the Eucharist. Near the church, the group of walkers met up with around thirty children from the catechism classes who, along with some adults, had discovered what Perrine’s life was like.

Some extracts :

From Anne Thirion’s welcome :

‘On the country roads, the roads of our origins, we met a tenacious little woman. Did you see her, hear her, touch her?

At the bend in the path, I heard the sound of her clogs on the old cobblestones of the village. I heard her Breton words, which, alas, I cannot translate for you. Words of the catechism taught to the children, words of his faith and prayer, words that set Father Noury’s project to music. You were with her on the roads to Colpo. Did you catch the eye of this tenacious little woman? Did she seduce you?

To prevent the memory of this gift entrusted to us, from being lost, let us keep a place in our hearts for Perrine Samson, a little saint whose name will never be on the list of those chosen to be part of the liturgical calendar.

May she continue her founding work in the place where the Lord will find soil for the seed sown to take root in another way?

In this church, there will remain the trace of a passage, hers, ours through the portrait that is now going to be unveiled.’

From Father Etienne Marois’ homily :

 ‘We are gathered here this afternoon because we too, with God, remember and rejoice in the wonders that God has done through Perrine’s life.

The wonderful thing about Perrine is that she is a model for us. Committed first to her family and then to her neighbourhood, we find her as a Franciscan tertiary, teaching catechism, caring for the sick, helping with prayer and regularly dropping in at the local café to help fathers find their way home. At the request of the parish priest, she became head of a school, then of another in Bignan. The priest then saw in Perrine the person who could fulfil Father Noury’s dream : to found a ‘house of kindness’ for poor children and a community of nuns to look after them. The community of the Daughters of Jesus was born.

Many enjoyed the mulled wine offered after mass. Thérèse Evanno offers you her recipe :

For 1 litre of wine to be prepared the day before :

An orange and a lemon

A small stick of cinnamon

A small clove and a star anise

200g sugar

Peel the orange and lemon and place the peel in a saucepan. Squeeze the fruit and add the juice to the pan.

Add the various ingredients and heat without boiling.

Enjoy in moderation !

Yves and Marie Le Truédic,

Associates of the Daughters of Jesus,

France