Today, 31 May 2026, at 10.30 am, in the churchyard of the basilica, a Pontifical Mass was celebrated in the presence of the Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Celestino Migliore, the Pope’s representative in France, and Monsignor Jean-Luc Bouilleret, Archbishop of Besançon.
At the beginning of the celebration, a greeting from Sister Maria Rosa Muscarella, Mother Superior of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret:
Your Excellency, Monsignor, the Parish Priest and all the priests and deacons present, the Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen representing the various civil authorities present, dearest Sisters, dearest Provincial Superiors and Sisters who have come from Africa, Asia, the East, and Latin America, dear Sister Sabrina, Provincial Superior of Europe and her entire Council, dear Sisters of Charity who are here with us, dear lay friends… and all of you, Christians of this Diocese and others, parishioners who are joining us in this Eucharist…
It is with deep emotion that we find ourselves here in Sancey, in this blessed land where, on November 27, 1765, the earthly journey of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret began, a journey that concluded in Naples at the Monastery of Regina Coeli on August 24, 1826. Here, among these hills and among the simple people of Franche-Comté, Jeanne Antide took the first steps of her life and her faith.
Sancey is the place where the charism of Charity took shape in the soul of a young woman who did not give up in the face of adversity, persecution, and the historical upheavals of her time. From this village in Franche-Comté, the Lord guided her through the storms of the Revolution all the way to Naples, transforming her into a “tireless servant of charity.”
Today, however, we are not here simply to remember the past. Her legacy urges us to commit to keeping the flame of Charity ever burning in the world wherever it is needed: the stranger seeking welcome, the prisoner awaiting a visit, the hungry person who cannot find their daily bread, the sick person who is alone, the neglect of our Mother Earth.
Let us praise and thank the Lord for giving us Saint Jeanne Antide, who firmly believed that God’s love knows no bounds and that Charity is the most authentic response to the world’s wounds.
Thank you, Your Excellency, for this Eucharist that you preside over, in which we will receive the Bread of Life. We need this Bread of Life to renew our strength and, with Saint Jeanne Antide, to continue our journey on the path of Charity.
This was followed by refreshments offered by the Sisters of Charity
The photo gallery:
Watch the celebration of Holy Mass, held in Sancey to mark the bicentennial of the death of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret:
