Jean Petit, a 70-year-old farmer, led a peaceful life with his wife in their modest home at the foot of the mountains. Every morning, he went out with his dog, Belle, to feed the animals. But that day, the routine was shattered.
The usually calm dog began to bark insistently and dragged Jean toward a bush. There, under branches and leaves, three babies were shivering with cold . Two girls, one boy. With a heavy heart, Jean wrapped them in a coat and brought them home.
A home turned upside down by the unexpected
At home, his wife, Marguerite , discovers the scene with amazement. Without hesitation, she warms the children, feeds them, and rocks them. Together, the couple faces a dilemma: what to do with these babies? Their hearts urge them to keep them, but their daily lives hardly lend themselves to it .
Marguerite sums it up aptly: “We can’t leave them… but can we really keep them?”
The Church as Refuge: Seeking Answers Together
The next day, the Petits went to see the village priest. He, too, was deeply moved and advised them to find out where these children came from before making any decisions. Then a name came up: Valérie , a young, marginalized woman who recently disappeared under unclear circumstances.
A few days later, the priest gave them a letter he had found at Valérie’s house: a loving farewell, entrusting his children to those who would give them a dignified life.
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