Mother St. John Fontbonne
Born Jeanne Fontbonne in 1759 in Bas-en-Basset, France, Mother St. John Fontbonne joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1778, and quickly rose to leadership, becoming superior at just 26 years old. During the French Revolution, religious communities were suppressed or disbanded. Religious who courageously remained in their communities were pressured to take an oath of loyalty to the Constitution or their goods were confiscated. Sisters were forbidden to teach or to care for the sick and poor. Mother St. John Fontbonne of the Sisters of St. Joseph refused to take the oath and her community was dispersed. Forced to disperse her community, she remained until she was forced to leave by an angry mob, and the convent was taken over by the government. She returned to her father's home like many other sisters who returned to their families, but she continued to serve the needy secretly. Eventually, she was imprisoned at Saint-Didier and sentenced to be guillotined because of her actions. News of the fall of the government on the day before her execution saved her. Over the following years Mother St. John reestablished the Sisters of St. Joseph when the effects of the Revolution had subsided. With great faith and her bountiful leadership gifts, she brought together sisters from dispersed communities, repurchased and restored former convents, and established over two hundred new communities. Mother St. John and her Sisters lived through the reign of terror of the French Revolution. Mother St. John stood up to a government who punishes those who took care of the most vulnerable among them. I can’t think of a more relevant saint for our time.
From Sister Mary Diesbourg CSJ, “Today we are called to be the underground, cooperating with the universe in its evolution into Love: under the lies, to speak truth; under the hatred, to spread love, under the bullying to stand up for the undocumented, or the minorities, under the vociferous far-right of some versions of Christianity, to live the Gospel truth of love, compassion, inclusion and sharing. It’s not glamorous. It’s not big screen, but it is effective. And it is Gospel. Mother St. John and her Sisters lived through the reign of terror of the French Revolution. Their moment in history took them there. Our moment in history takes us here, now. Will we react with fear, or keep on “moving with love”?
I paint Mother St. John with the poor christ child of her time. The child offering her a Fleur-de-lis ( Lily) Which is the national flower of France, however, for me the flower represents God’s economy, where no government, monarchy, or border ultimately defines what or who is and isn’t worthy of care. That is not their job. It is God’s. And in God’s Kingdom every living thing is worthy of respect and love. May the spirit of Mother St. John continue to guide us to a profound outbreak of love.
This icon was commissioned for Sister Pat Madden SSJ by her community and who celebrates her golden jubilee this year -- 50 years as a Sister of Saint Joseph! This icon is in honor of her.
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