Little Sisters of the Poor

Saint Jeanne Jugan

The Little Sisters of the Poor is a Roman Catholic religious institute for women. It was founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan.^[1] Jugan established the order to care for the elderly,^[1] having felt the need to care for the many impoverished elderly who lined the streets of French towns and cities.

The motherhouse of the order is in Saint-Pern, France.^[1] Internationally, the letters following their name are PSDP. In the United States, however, they are LSP. Today the Little Sisters of the Poor serve in 31 countries around the world (including homes in the US, Turkey, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Penang, New Zealand and Philippines), continuing in their original purpose of caring for the elderly. As of January 1, 2014, they were one of the larger religious institutes of women in the Catholic Church, with 234 houses and 2,372 members.^[2]

Members make vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience and a fourth vow of hospitality, as they believe the fourth perfects the former by bringing their religious consecration into the realities of everyday life, and gives a spiritual dimension to the many humble tasks of hospitality performed throughout the day.^[3]

The Sisters continue the tradition of begging. The Little Sisters’ tradition of begging was set forth by their foundress, Saint Jeanne Jugan. To provide for the needs of the aged poor, she traveled the roads of France on foot seeking alms. She was recognized by the begging basket she carried. Knocking on doors, she asked for money, but also for gifts in kind: food, clothing, wood, wool, or whatever was needed for the Home.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Almanac 2015. Our Sunday Visitor. 2015. pp. 482–483.
^ Our Sunday Visitor's Catholic Almanac 2015. Our Sunday Visitor. 2015. p. 486.
^ Little Sisters of the Poor

External links

Catholic online video of the Motherhouse at La Tour Saint Joseph
Little Sisters of the Poor, Chennai, India
Little Sisters of the Poor, national U.S. site
, September 8, 2011New York TimesThamel, Pete. "From a Gaffe, Some Good for Little Sisters of the Poor",
History of the Little Sisters of the PoorLeroy, Alexandre.

Catholic religious institutes

Institutes with both male and female branches

Alexians
Assumptionists (A.A.)
Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.)
Basilian Alepians (B.A.)
Basilian Chouerites (B.C.)
Benedictines (O.S.B.)
Canossians (F.D.C.C.)
Carmelites (O. Carm.)
Carthusians (O. Cart.)
Cistercians (O. Cist.)
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.)
Congregations of the Heart of Mary
Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.)
Dominicans (O.P.)
Franciscan orders
Institute of the Incarnate Word (I.V.E.)
Maryknoll (M.M.)
Miles Jesu
Missionaries of Charity (M.C.)
Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (C.S.)
Premonstratensians (O.Praem.)
Servants of Charity (S.C.)
Servite Order (O.S.M.)
Society of the Atonement (S.A.)
T.O.R. Franciscans
Trappists (O.C.S.O.)
Trinitarian Order (O.SS.T.)

Institutes with only a male branch

Adorno Fathers (C.R.M.)
Albertine Brothers
Augustinians (O.S.A.)
Barnabites (B.)
Basilians (C.S.B.)
Brotherhood of Hope (B.H.)
Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy (F.D.M.)
Camillians (M.I.)
Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius
Capuchins (O.F.M. Cap.)
Christian Brothers (French) (F.S.C)
Christian Brothers (Irish) (C.F.C.)
Claretians (C.M.F.)
Companions of the Cross (C.C.)
Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (C.S.T.)
Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M. Conv.)
Crosiers
Divine Word Missionaries (S.V.D.)
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (C.F.R.)
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (M.F.V.A.)
Gabrielites
Holy Cross (C.S.C.)
Holy Ghost Fathers (C.S.Sp)
Jesuits (S.J.)
Josephite Fathers (S.S.J.)
Legion of Christ (L.C.)
Little Brothers of Jesus
Marians of the Immaculate Conception (M.I.C.)
Marianists (S.M.)
Marist Brothers (F.M.S.)
Marists (S.M.)
Mechitarists (C.A.M.)
Missionaries of La Salette (M.S.)
Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (M.S.F.S)
Missionaries of the Poor (M.O.P.)
Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.)
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I)
Missionary Society of St. Columban
Oblates of the Virgin Mary (O.M.V.)
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.)
Oratory of Saint Philip Neri (C.O.)
Pallottines (S.A.C.)
Passionists (C.P.)
Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.)
Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.)
Sacred Heart Brothers
Salesians (S.D.B.)
Servi Jesu et Mariae
Society of Saint Edmund (S.S.E.)
Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer (Latin: Filii Sanctissimi Redemptoris, Latin siglum: F.SS.R.), Papa Stronsay, Scotland
Vincentians (C.M.)
White Fathers (M. Afr.)
Xaverian Brothers (C.F.X.)
Sulpicians (P.S.S.)

Institutes with only a female branch

Categories

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Little Sisters of the Poor