OCTOBER 2020 no 14
ligious and lai News Re ty
th AAof the Assumption e same mission
EDITORIAL Fratelli tutti
“Without fraternity, lived against all odds, but in joy and hope, we are condemned to be ‘resounding brass.’ Fraternal friendship is the driving force of life together.” >> Official Agenda The 100 Years of Our Lady of Lourdes at Santos Lugares Closing of the 175th Jubilee Year of the Congregation (Argentina) The centennial of this parish should have been • Friday, December 4 and Satur- celebrated on July 7, but it had to be postponed to a day, December 5, in Nîmes. later date, due to the current health crisis. While waiting, here is its history, based on the Documents concernant Plenary General Council l’histoire des Assomptionistes en Argentine (The • n° 7 : December 7-11, 2020, by Documents concerning the history of the Assumptionists videoconference. in Argentina) by Fr. Roberto Favre, a.a. • n° 8 : June 1-11, 2021.
Ordinary General Councils
• n° 24 : October 27-30, 2020. • n° 25 : December 16-18, 2020. • n° 26 : February 1-5, 2021. • n° 27 : March 22-26, 2021. • n° 28 : May 10-14, 2021. • n° 29 : June 4, 2021.
The foundation of the Assumptionists in Buenos Aires has been a reality since September 30, 1910. A wooden chapel and a small wooden house were constructed to house the chaplain. The Bishop of La Plata, Mgr. Terrero, named Fr. Roman Heitmann as chaplain. The construction was blessed on June 4, 1911, under the patronage of Saint Anthony of Padua. May 14, 1916 : The Grotto was established, starting a Marian devo- tion that has never been interrupted and has been growing ever since. The chapel quickly became too small to receive the large crowds. When the weather permitted, many of the celebrations were conduct- ed in the Grotto. It was felt that a study had to be made concerning the building of a church and construction plans were developed without further delay. On the cover July 31, 1920 : an episcopal decree elevated the chapel of Santos The Assumption Mass on Au- Lugares to the status of a parish. gust 15 in the Basilica of Saint September 15, Fr. Antonio Silbermann went to La Plata to ask for Pius X in Lourdes marked the a change in the patronage of the church to the dedication of Our Lady 175th anniversary of our Con- of Lourdes. gregation. It was presided over October 11, 1922 : the first stone of the Our Lady of Lourdes by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Sec- Church was blessed and put down. retary of State of Pope Francis Once the work began and the parish was created, an influx of (center), surrounded by (front row, from left to right) Fr. Benoît parishioners was predicted such that it was thought that the church Bigard, Provincial of Europe, Fr. would be inadequate even before the work was finished. To quickly Benoît Grière, Superior General, deal with this expansion, the architect designed another church that and Fr. Fabien Lejeusne, Assis- would be built above the first one, the latter which would then be used tant Provincial (photo National as a crypt. Pilgrimage).
2 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 Editorial <<
Fratelli tutti
Pope Francis has just given us a new frank and charitable dialogue? With this social encyclical. “All brothers!” Here encyclical, we need to reflect on our real is his solemn call for our humanity and capacity to move and change reality. our Church. The theme of fraternity is Our communities are often havens of important for us - I spoke about it in a peace and joy, but sometimes tension, letter to the congregation a few years Our communities are often havens of ago. The encyclical deepens the heart peace and joy, but sometimes tensions, of our faith: the divine filiation and the even conflicts, reach our capacity for fraternity of humanity. welcome and benevolence. We are not From this very rich text of Francis, I retain perfect, we repeat it enough not to forget the observation that we are in “a closed it, but we have to grow in holiness. world”: in spite of globalization, many Welcoming the other, considered as a people are sacrificed or marginalized. gift and not as a burden, is the key to Very vigorously, the Holy Father community success. Francis invites us denounces an instrumentalization of to rediscover benevolence (n. 222) and important words: freedom, justice, unity. this passes through elementary things: Fr. Benoît Grière His reflection on the Gospel of the Good “please”, “sorry”, “thank you”. Superior General Samaritan reminds us that “Jesus does The community exists for the Kingdom, of the Augustinians of not invite us to ask ourselves who is close and it is in the measure that we commit the Assumption to us, but to make us close.” When we ourselves with all the brothers that our meet a “stranger on the way,” we are witness is relevant. Without fraternity, brothers with him. lived against all odds, but in joy The Pope devotes the 6th chapter to and hope, we are condemned to be dialogue. For him, it is the way to open “resounding brass.” Fraternal friendship the world and build social friendship. It is the driving force of life together. is also the foundation for better politics. Dialogue is also the sincere and warm Dialogue gives birth to the culture exchange with our sisters and brothers of encounter: encounter becomes a of the Lay-Religious Alliance. Soon, lifestyle, a passion and a desire. The one on November 21, a letter will remind who dialogues is benevolent, recognizes us of the importance of the Alliance in and respects the other. In the culture of the life of the Assumption. It is good encounter, one can learn something from and necessary to relaunch the dialogue everyone, no one is useless, no one is with our lay friends to advance in the superfluous. co-responsibility and sharing of the Have we progressed in recent years Assumptionist mission and spirituality. to be authentic witnesses of universal At the Assumption, we are at the service brotherhood? At the Assumption, of the fraternity. Our spiritual resources, we often speak of internationality drawn from the Gospel and our charism, and interculturality, but do we go allow us to promote the culture of beyond the proclamation of slogans, encounter and to give the world a taste certainly beautiful and encouraging, for God. God is love and we are his but often without concrete effects? children. Have we opened our cultural spaces, Fr. Benoît Grière a.a., our conception of the world? Are our General Superior communities welcoming places for
3 >> Official Calls, nominations, agreements...
Fr. Benoît Grière, Superior General, with the consent of his Council, has called:
■ TO PERPETUAL PROFESSION 1) ĐOÀN VĂN Sinh Jacques (Europe) (09/10/2020) 2) NGUYỄN ĐỨC Huyền Jean (Europe) (09 /10/2020) 1 2 3 3) NGUYEN PHÚ Cường André (Europe) (09/10/2020) 4) NGUYỄN VĂN Ngoc Joseph (Europe) (09/10/2020) 4 5 6 5) MUHINDO KAHAMBA Justin (Africa) (09/25/2020) 6) KATEMBO MASIMENGO Frédéric (Africa) (09/25/2020) ■ TO THE DIACONATE 7 8 9 7) NGUYỄN VĂN Tuân François-Xavier (Europe) (09/11/2020) 8) NDRIAMAMONJY Florent Régis (Madagascar) (09/11/2020) 10 11 12 ■ TO THE PRIESTHOOD 9) NÚÑEZ RUBIO Juan Manuel (Europe) (09/11/2020) 10) MANZANZA TSUKA Benjamin 13 (Europe) (09/11/2020) 11) SAWE MBIONGO Jean-Bosco (Africa) (09/18/2020) 12) SIVAMINYA VANGISIVAVI Bonaventure (Africa) (09/18/2020) 13) RASOLONJATOVO Jean Aimé (Madagascar) (09/18/2020)
INCARDINATION INCARDINATION By the decision of Mgr. Luc Ravel, Archbishop of Par décision de Mgr Luc Ravel, archevêque de Strasbourg Strasbourg (France), dated July 6, Fr. Julian PRAJESCU JUST PUBLISHED (France), en date du 6 juillet, le P. Iulian PRAJESCU was finally granted incardination on August 15, 2020, in Fr. Benoît Grière, (Europe) a été définitivement incardiné le 15 août 2020 that diocese. He had been welcomed into the diocese ad Superior General, has just dans ce diocèse, où il était accueilli ad experimentum experimentum since October 15, 2018. published his letter no. depuis le 15 octobre 2018. 8 to the Congregation, entitled «It was I who DEATH chose you» (John 15, We have learned of the death, in the last few months, of two 16) and dealing with people who served at our Generalate: vocation. - Sr. Antonine TARDIF, of the Sisters of Saint Joan of Arc, at the The text, already service of the house from 1986 to 2006, who died on May 1, distributed in digital 2020 in Quebec City (Canada) at the age of 86 ; form by the Provinces, - Mr. Christian NONY, collaborator of our General Secretariat is also available on the assumptio.org website; a from 1994 to 2004, died on May 14, 2020 in La Madeleine printed copy will be sent to each religious as soon (France) at the age of 86 years. as possible according to the current health context in all continents.
4 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 175th Anniversary Jubilee << Cardinal Parolin at the Assumption : “A family of brothers, at the heart of the Church”.
The Secretary of State of Pope Francis came to Lourdes on August 15 to celebrate, as part of the National Pilgrimage, the 175th 1 2 3 anniversary of the founding of the Assumptionists. On this occasion, he addressed a speech to our religious family, the full text of which follows:
4 5 6 Dear friends,
Thank you very much for your invitation and your hospi- 7 8 9 tality. Having the opportunity to rejoice with you in the good that the Lord has done through your Institute since the day of 10 11 12 its foundation contributes to the growth of the spiritual man that all of us, as believers, are called to become. Whoever meets
13 you today, sees in you the face drawn by these 175 years of ser- vice to Christ, to the Gospel, to La célébration du 15 août 2020, en la basilique Saint-Pié X de Lourdes the Church, to humanity. It is a multifaceted face, with different facets, from which emerge the century. Born immediately after to set out to sow the processes faces of your founder, Emmanu- the French Revolution, Emman- of a new beginning. Your exis- el d’Alzon, of the one who pre- uel D’Alzon lived in a world that tence testifies to which of the ceded you under the sign of faith was not only profoundly changed two Emmanuel d’Alzon felt he and apostolate, of your elders, of from the recent past, but also in had to choose. Your existence yourselves; and where there is a state of flux. We too are part testifies to his capacity for dis- also space for the faces of those of a world where the Christian- cernment. He didn’t stop regret- who will come after, guided by ity of our childhood, adolescence ting the past, but he set himself the Lord, to unite themselves to and youth - at least for those who in motion so that the end could your life and your mission. A have several “springs” on their become a new beginning. face, therefore, that has not ex- shoulders - has given way to a hausted its “space” and its “ex- real anthropological transforma- A new beginning, a new stage pressivity”. tion whose ultimate results we in the continual journey through are far from seeing. which the joy of the Gospel, the It seems to me that there is Evangelii gaudium, builds itself a link, a red thread, that unites In the face of these muta- a tent in the midst of the ups and the time of your foundation to tions, in the face of these chang- downs of humanity: this is how our contemporary daily life: the es, the behaviors by which we Pope Francis interprets our con- end of the regime of Christian- must respond are essentially temporary life today; this is the ity that has characterized history two: to sigh after the “beautiful discernment he shares with in various ways since the fourth past” that is no longer there; or
5 >> 175th Anniversary Jubilee
You yourselves are in a po- sition to appreciate how much these words touch your daily life, your mission, your apostolic action. They are inclusive words, which build community, because they have the capacity to speak to everyone without leaving any- one behind. The history of the Church and the history of your religious family is a history of hearts: of concrete human be- ings who, carried by the beauty of the Word to the beauty of the freedom that knows how to say “Here I am”, become capable of building synodality. The heart Le jour de l’Assomption, le cardinal Parolin répond aux médias. A ses côtés, le of the Church and the hearts of P. Vincent Cabanac, directeur du Pèlerinage National. believers, in fact, reach their mutual maturity when they are able to commit themselves to- all believers. A discernment nate from within human history gether with others and for others. that shows how your foundation, is a true charismatic experience, On the other hand, the first and through the choices of its found- generating charisms, generating fundamental form of evangeli- er, finds itself today at the very encounters and unity modelled on cal justice is to make room for heart of the Church, 175 years this symphony that only the Holy the other following him who has after its advent; and it finds itself Spirit is able to play and sing. In made room for us in him, by be- at the very heart of the Church this regard, Pope Francis reminds coming one of us. not as a “group of professionals” us that “Christian life, in reality, but as a “family of brothers”; not is a journey, a pilgrimage. Bibli- With the strength of evan- as an NGO - Pope Francis would cal history is a journey marked gelical justice, we can thus in- say - but as a true community of by beginnings and new begin- habit with boldness (parresia) faith, which in faith awaits and nings; as with Abraham; as with and without fear or anguish the patiently prepares for its glori- all those who, two thousand years provisional that is taking place ous return. Your Rule of Life ex- ago in Galilee, set out to follow within this change of epoch - presses it very well: “The com- Jesus: “Then they brought the something much more complex ing of the reign of Jesus Christ boats to shore and, leaving ev- than a simple epoch of change - for us and for our neighbor is al- erything, they followed him” (Lk without giving up having clear in ready accomplished in our com- 5:11). Since then, the history of mind the key points that prevent mon life. We accept each other as God’s people-the history of the us from being “weathervanes in different, for He who unites us is Church-is always marked by de- the wind,” changing direction stronger than what separates us. partures, displacements, changes. without knowing why, submit- We must constantly overcome The journey, of course, is not ting ourselves to the wind of the our divisions and limitations in purely geographical, but above all moment, when everything else is order to find ourselves in accep- symbolic: it is an invitation to dis- the Breath of the Spirit. tance and forgiveness. cover the movement of the heart which, paradoxically, needs to go Once again, it is Pope Fran- Witnessing, through life and out in order to stay, to change in cis who reminds us of this in his words, the fact of knowing how order to be faithful” (Address to speech to the Roman Curia on to inhabit the “new beginnings” the Roman Curia for Christmas December 21, 2019. In fact, he that God sows and makes germi- greetings, December 21, 2019). affirms “a Christian world on
6 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 he 147th National Pilgrimage to Lourdes, animated by the As- the one hand, and a world still Tsumption family and presided over by Bishop Antoine Hérouard, to be evangelized on the other. Apostolic Delegate for the Shrine, was not a pilgrimage like any oth- Now this situation no longer ex- er! First and foremost because of the worldwide health crisis of the coronavirus, which prevented the usual crowds from gathering in ists. Populations who have not front of the famous grotto of Marian apparitions: only 500 pilgrims yet received the proclamation of were able to be welcomed, but no sick people. Then with a very the Gospel no longer live only on rich program of celebrations and conferences, including that of Fr. non-Western continents, but are Benoît Grière, our Superior General. But the event was also the visit found everywhere, especially in of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, in- the enormous urban concentra- vited by our religious family to celebrate the 175th anniversary of tions that require, in themselves, our foundation: the presence in Lourdes of Pope Francis’ closest a specific pastoral care. In large collaborator, the simplicity of his contact and his strong words to the religious and lay people of the Assumption on August 15, 2020, cities we need other “maps”, have a historical significance. other paradigms, that help us to reposition our ways of thinking and our attitudes: brothers and sisters, we are no longer in Chris- once again, the fact that “we are nesses: this is the true “reserve of tianity, we are no longer! We are no longer the only ones today to grace” that prevents idolatry and no longer the only ones today to produce culture, nor the first, nor makes us active in the complex Jubilee >> 175th Anniversary produce culture, nor the first, nor the most listened to” makes us areas of ecumenical and interreli- the most listened to. Therefore, free of all forms of interest. The gious dialogue. At the same time, we need a change of pastoral evangelizer is such, precisely be- only a God who is marginalized, mentality, which does not mean cause he has no interests other denied and ridiculed can make moving to a relativistic pastoral. than those of Christ. And the in- us in solidarity with the poor We are no longer in a regime of terests of Jesus Christ make us and excluded of this world; and Christianity because faith - es- disinterested, humble: “Disin- with the same “common home” pecially in Europe, but also in a terest in ourselves is the neces- that is our planet, wounded by large part of the West - is no lon- sary condition for being full of rapacious economic systems and ger an obvious presupposition of interest in God and in others, for criminal organizations. living together; worse, it is often being able to listen to them truly even denied, mocked, marginal- [...]. The Lord listened to the cry Dear friends, you serve and ized and ridiculed [...]. I think of of the men he met and became honor the Blessed Virgin through five countries that have filled the close to them, because he had the ethics of communication and world with missionaries - I have nothing to defend and nothing truth in which words are not told you which ones - and today to lose: he had his conscience stones but bridges, as well as they do not have the vocational in prayer, in contemplation with through the service of the poor resources to move forward. And the Father and anointed by the and the promotion of justice, this is the world today. Holy Spirit [...]. May the Lord peace and fraternity. May she fill our hearts with the boldness fill you with her maternal graces The fact that “we are no lon- and freedom of those who are in this place of blessing and be ger the only ones today to pro- not bound by interests and want your companion and friend in the duce culture, nor the first, nor to place themselves with empa- renewal, day after day, of your the most listened to” makes us thy and sympathy in the midst of consecration to Christ and to the free of the perverse mechanisms the lives of others. “(Pope Fran- Church, where you are called to of liquidation. We enter into liq- cis at a meeting of the Diocese of live, so that the splendor of holi- uidation when we seek to “please Rome, May 9, 2019). ness and the resurrection of the the other,” to “seduce” them. dead who live in her may illumi- Evangelization is not the seduc- Finally, the fact that God is nate your heart and your path. tion of the neighbor, but the ser- marginalized and ridiculed puts Thank you! vice of the neighbor in truth. To us in a position to always medi- Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN be free from liquidation is the tate on the “last place” he has Secrétaire d’Etat first key point. In the same way, chosen for himself and his wit- de Sa Sainteté
7 >> Testimonials Our religious life at the time of Coronavirus
The world health crisis provoked by the pandemic of the Covid 19 continues to strike a number of our communities and to reduce considerably their activities. We present here the testimony of two religious in this difficult context.
Time of confinement, time of the Spirit
Fr. Bernard HOLZER But where is God in this (Manila, Philippines) drama?
He seemed to be absent. I he coronavirus came sud- was like the disciples in the boat denly into my life as a beaten by violent winds with a Tpriest. Jesus who seemed to be asleep. Like the disciples at Emmaus, I accompanied a couple of my eyes were prevented from doctors on the phone. Both of recognizing him (Luke 24:16 them had been infected with the and John 21). virus. They were in a critical situation. The husband sent me I then plunged more deeply a message on the phone: “They into the Bible, especially the are going to intubate me, that will New Testament, to return to Je- be the end. Pray for me, for my sus so that I could be attentive to wife and for our very sick son! “ the signs of his presence in my He was to die six hours later, iso- life. In community, we shared lated from everyone, especially our discoveries. his wife who was also fighting death in a nearby room. I tried to We reread our daily life with accompany him with small mes- the criteria of Saint Paul to the bage collectors... all these pro- sages. She survived. Galatians: “This is the fruit of fessions too often devalued. the Spirit: love, joy, peace, pa- I was discovering the brutality tience, kindness, goodness, faith, This reversal of values has a of this virus, which was multiply- gentleness, self-control” (Gala- flavor of the Beatitudes (Matthew ing even in hospitals among those tians 5:22-23). And we have seen 5:1-12) and Magnificat (Luke who were on the front lines to care the Spirit of Jesus at work. 1:48-55): “He has thrown down for others, and which was creating the mighty from their thrones and anguish. And I was confined to my At the heart of this pandemic, exalted the humble...”. He is like home in my community. the Holy Spirit has given rise to a prefiguration of the signs of the so many gestures of self-denial Kingdom: “The Kingdom of God This prolonged time of con- and sharing, of commitment and is among you.” (Luke 17:21) finement is for me like a return to solidarity, he has overcome so essential questions about God and many fears and inspired so many And then, didn’t the Spirit of about my life, too often neglected initiatives: in families, among Jesus shake up our way of being by the many activities and com- neighbors, among hospital staff, Church, of regaining the place mitments. tricycle and truck drivers, farm- of family prayer, of finding our- ers, salesmen and cashiers, gar- selves around the Word of God,
8 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 O Lord, send forth thy Spirit who renews the face of the earth! »
a true sacrament of his presence the Jews, folly to the Gentiles... of God reaches our lives and how “as is the sacrament of the broth- What is the folly of God is wiser these are illuminated by the word er? Meet Jesus, dwell in him, not than men, and what is the weak- and example of Jesus. only in the Eucharist? ness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)? - What now? >> Testimonials This is what the inhabitants of Marytown (Mary’s city), one The poor people I meet under- During this time of confine- of the seven shantytowns in our stand this language. I like to sit at ment, I also read and meditated neighborhood where we go regu- the back of churches and chapels on Pope Francis’ encyclical Lau- larly, experienced: Christians met to contemplate them when they dato si and his exhortation fol- in small basic ecclesial commu- come to caress and kiss the wounds lowing the Synod on the Amazon, nities to share the Gospel and to of Jesus on the cross and speak to two strikingly topical analyses for pray, to help each other and to give him from heart to heart. Like Saint building an “after” that is atten- each other courage. Thanks to the Martha, they simply entrust their tive to others and to the environ- social media, we could continue to prayer to him: “Lord, the one you ment: “The urgent challenge of be in touch with them in this way. love is sick” (John 11:3). And they safeguarding our common home trust him for the rest, because he includes the concern to unite the - What is my prayer? knows what we need. entire human family in the search for sustainable and integral de- In the Philippines, we pray a It is this attitude that I have velopment, because we know that lot, especially at the time of the found during this time of pan- things can change. The Creator dramas that do not spare this demic: to simply present to the does not abandon us, he never country: typhoons, earthquakes, Lord the wounded, frightened and backs down in his loving plan, poverty and misery, summary ex- anxious humanity, letting myself and he does not repent of having ecutions, and now this virus ... We be cleansed and purified by the created us. “(Laudato si’, n. 13). multiply novenas, rosaries, lita- only prayer that he has taught us: nies, expositions of the Blessed “When you pray, say, ‘Father’...” Indeed, the Covid-19 is noth- Sacrament, masses (every hour (Jn 11:3). (Luke 11:2-4). I pray ing compared to the climatic ca- on the social media of this coun- then for God himself, for the com- tastrophe which is announced if try, which is the most consumer in ing of “his” Kingdom, for “his” we do nothing? the world!) ... will to be done... and I ask him for the bread of this day, Jesus Christ Ideas jostle in my head, new We pray a lot. And nothing himself - who is the bread of life priorities emerge. Will I forget happens: the virus continues to - and his Spirit, which will help them as soon as we are allowed spread, the number of deaths in- me to cross the abyss of pandemic and encouraged to return to our creases, speculators take advan- and death. “normal” life? Will I continue to tage of the situation... This deeply be attentive to others and take challenges me: what am I asking I have composed a Way of the care of them? of God, Mary and the saints? Do Cross for this time of pandemic, I ask a pagan god, a magician and meditating on Christ who suffers “Open our eyes to every dis- miracle-worker, or the God of today. And during the Easter sea- tress, inspire us with the right Jesus who died like a thief on a son, I am writing a “way of life” words and gestures to support our cross? A vulnerable God whose with 14 stations: from the Last neighbor in pain or trial” - Eucha- omnipotence is that of love that Supper to Pentecost through the ristic Prayer for Special Circum- does not impose itself. various apparitions of Jesus to his stances IV disciples. In Living with Christ Finally, is my language the (the Prayer in the Church we “O Lord, send forth thy Spirit language of the cross: “We preach publish in the Philippines), I try who renews the face of the earth!“ a crucified Messiah, a scandal to to show each day how the Word ■
9 >> Testimonials
Time of confinement, time of the Spirit
Br. Clément LÖBEL (Ejeda, Madagascar)
he Big Island did not escape the pandemic of Covid-19, Twhich entered Madagascar in March. The capital Tananarive and Tamatave, the great port of the East, were the most affected cities. Our Assumptionist com- munities are distributed between the Highlands and the region of Toliara in the Southwest, the land of choice that saw the birth of the Assumptionist mission here from experiencing a recession. The here. However, obedience obliges 1953. In this region, from where I other surprise, during our return us to do our best to ensure that am writing to you, the pandemic trips between Ejeda and Toliara, the students continue to study at was less virulent, but some of our was the frontal temperature tak- home. Together with the teach- habits were disrupted. Starting ing with improvised personnel ers, we distributed the courses with travel: the N7 road crossing taking care along the roadside. to each student and gave exams the country from North to South The will was not there, because as to be done at home. But what to was cut off. It is only recently, the temperature and information think of this process, when a stu- with cases becoming less rare, were taken, they became more dent cannot concentrate because that the country can once again and more negligent: we could of the demands of daily life (man- catch its breath. have 32° displayed on the screen aging the house, working in the Ejeda is a small town of about without surprising anyone! fields...)? Somehow, things have 3,000 inhabitants, surrounded In my opinion, what made been done, but the results of the by small villages along the bush people suffer the most was the Brevet du 1er cycle catholique tracks. Throughout these four cessation of church services and show that this method has not months in slow motion, I was especially, for our students, the been totally successful: only three particularly surprised by the obli- closure of the college in which of our 3rd year students, out of a gation to wear the mask (here it I have been involved with my total of 60, obtained the average. is called “cache-bouche”, which brothers for a year. The parish In spite of these misfortunes, says a lot about the mask’s imagi- had to adapt the resumption of the the coronavirus crisis created a nation), while we are already very services by dividing the masses spirit of national solidarity and a cut off from the world as usual. with a separation of one meter. will to overcome (mandresy Co- All that connects us to the This seems unfair to me for rural rona) the disease. A video clip, urban life is the modest RN10, people who really had no risk of sponsored by the Malagasy State, a long track of 250 km connect- catching the disease, if only be- has been put online: it says a lot ing us to Tuléar. We don’t have to cause of the harsh living condi- about the representation that the wait a week to see the dramatic tions that harden their immune inhabitants have made of the epi- consequences of a confinement system, and also because they all demic (1). By watching it, you in Madagascar. In the South we live in the open air. Closing these will undoubtedly be sensitive to are, for many necessities, de- places became paradoxical, es- this moving solidarity that links pendent on imports from Tuléar, pecially since they are of capital the Malagasy people together. Fianarantsoa and Tananarive; importance for social life in the And to this invincible smile that however, these cities are on the countryside: prayer in the Church defies all despair... RN7, which was cut off during and education are concerned for the confinement. The economic the dignity of a group. (1) https://www.youtube. repercussions are likely to be dra- Needless to say, distance com/watch?v=RkQ3PVYfAO8 matic when the country is already courses really don’t make sense
10 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 A Guardian of the memory of the Assumption in Russia >> Tribute Irina Ivanovna Sophroninskaya died on August 20, in Moscow, several weeks before her 100th birthday. She was at one time a huge figure in the Russian Catholic Church and a dear friend of the congregation.
ho was this woman, guardian of to a small sack containing her prayer book the memory of the Assumption in and a yellowed image of St. Thérèse of Li- WRussia? Irina was born in Lenin- sieux. A Latvian priest, Fr. Viktor, detained grad in 1920. Her early childhood was spent in a neighboring camp, was giving her the in the context of the first tormented years of Eucharist, and their friendship continued be- the Soviet Union. During the repression of yond their captivity. After her liberation, she 1937, her father Ivan was detained and ex- went to Latvia to see her friends and unfortu- ecuted. She frequented the university and nate companions. profited from the grand culture of her mother, The death of Stalin in 1953 led to a mas- polished and speaking several ancient lan- sive liberation of deportees and prisoners. Iri- guages including Sanskrit. After the blockage na returned to Moscow on June 13 and found of Leningrad (1941-1944), her mother. She married Alexander Vladi- she returned to Moscow with mirovitch Sophroninsky, son of a famous pi- her mother and her brother anist and performer of Alexander Scriabine. and she began translating The talent of Vladimir had made him the patristic texts. It was then spiritual son of this composer. Irina entered that Irina came into contact this reality with an incredible passion that at Saint-Louis des Francais naturally led her to work at the Scriabin Mu- with Fr. Leopold Braun, an seum in Moscow. She maintained links with American Assumptionist who the Moscow music scene, but also with the arrived in Moscow in August Library of Foreign Literature with the great of 1936 after the departure of philologist Sergei Sergevitch Averintsev, as Mgr. Pie Neveu. well as with the family of Boris Pasternak, Her conversion was in- the author of Doctor Zhivago. stantaneous. She was baptized Music brought her close to God and Irina in secret in the sacristy of the resumes her religious practice. At the begin- church, with her only witness being the care- ning of the 1990’s, she resumes attending taker of the church, Alice Ott. In secret from daily Mass at Saint-Louis, happy to have her mother, she frequented morning Mass rediscovered the Assumptionists and the Ob- at the church, under the surveillance of the lates, including Sr. Jacintha Rombouts, with KGB. On All Saints’ Day in 1947, when she whom she loved to spend the summer at the was getting out of church, she was stopped in dacha. In 2003, she participated in Rome in the street and two men coming out of a black the colloquium on the centennial of the As- Volga took her to the KGB offices. Little is sumption’s presence in Russia. This would be known about the conditions of her detention her last major trip abroad. in the Lubyanka. After an investigation by With Irina’s death, a page of our history the NKVD. She was sentenced to 25 years in has turned. This passion for Russia, nourished camp for intelligence with foreigners, aimed from the beginning by Father d’Alzon, should at harming the interests of the Soviet Union. not be extinguished. Irina was the torch. She was deported to a camp in Kazakh- Fr. Bernard LE LÉANNEC stan, where she was subjected to digging and (former curate at St-Louis de Français in forced labor. During this period she held on Moscow)
11 >> Testimonials My missionary experience in interculturality
many discoveries and many challenges: I discovered a mul- ticultural country, with many facets, and varied in its social, economic and political realities. I noticed differences among the inhabitants according to their way of life, their social status, but also their regional origin: North or South, central zone or capital Santiago, Cordillera or Pacific coast. But belonging to the same country, under the same flag, united these realities, without hiding the problems related to a lack of integration and other conflicts linked to in- equality in access to opportuni- A Congolese religious living for nearly 20 ties. I found that, “while some years in Latin America, Fr. Bolivar tells how rich became richer, many poor he learned to “dance to the intercultural became poorer and poorer” (Celam document in Medellin, rhythm”. n. 30). In our community of Cerro Navia, we lived together among orn in the northeast of like an extended family, made brothers from different socio- the DR-Congo, I am be- up of brothers who are differ- cultural realities, supported by Bcause I belong to a fam- ent from each other, but united Christ as our meeting point. ily. I exist thanks to a human as members of one community, Thanks to Him, we were united group, Nande/Bayira present in without losing their identities or by strong bonds of fraternity Butembo, in the heart of Africa. hiding behind their differences. that transcended all racial, so- I learned at a young age that After five years of Assump- cio-cultural, national or conti- our ethnic group cohabited with tionist life in our houses of for- nental boundaries . other different human groups mation in Butembo and Nairobi Personally, I was confronted and that we must respect them, (Kenya), where I lived almost a with a culture shock to gradu- never insult them in the lan- semester while waiting for the ally discover the profound guage they don’t know! visa, I arrived in Chile in No- meaning of opening oneself to I began my odyssey of As- vember 2001 for theological newness and difference: thus it sumptionist formation in 1996 studies in a context of an expe- became possible to grasp that in Butembo, the first experience rience of internationality and adaptation is a dynamic learn- of living with brothers from oth- mission. After these studies, I ing process, which is rooted in er ethnic groups. Belonging to stayed in Chile for 14 years to the esteem of one’s own identity an extended family helped me to participate in the mission of our and culminates in the progres- welcome and let myself be wel- Congregation in different dimen- sive acceptance of the culture comed by the brothers and the sions. Then I went to Argentina that welcomes me. Such an ex- formators. The sense of belong- and now I am in Ecuador! perience is a mixture of sorrows ing to the family was crucial: Arriving in Chile after the and joys. Lived in the light of the intercultural community is novitiate allowed me to make the Paschal Mystery of Christ,
12 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 it becomes a process of passion, death and resurrection... In all this, my foundation was faith in God and the love of >> Testimonials Christ who “loved me and gave himself up for me” (Galatians 2:21). I became aware that I belonged to a large family, the Church, and to an international and intercultural congregation, with its inherent difficulties in meeting between cultures. In community, the bonds of frater- nity are strengthened by shared faith, mutual welcome and the generosity of the brothers, supported by a process of mu- tual knowledge in virtue of the proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Without being an expert in formation, I have taken on this mission in Chile and Argentina. Little by little I discovered that being a formator is a service ren- dered to the Church and to the brothers. It is a delicate apos- tolate that requires availability, listening, and humility in order I give thanks to God for this where I have just arrived. to recognize oneself as a simple experience of international- The intercultural experience instrument of Jesus Christ, the ity and interculturality that im- will always be a challenge, a Formator par excellence. As a merses me in the catholicity of work to articulate three ele- formator for 13 years, I discov- the Church, my family whom I ments: knowing oneself, rec- ered that this task is both a great love and serve, always willing ognizing oneself and accepting challenge and a school of life, to learn from others. For “wis- to live with it. It invites me to where one learns to trust in God dom is a fruit that is picked in give of myself with generosity and in others and to live in hope! the garden of others” (African and open-mindedness for the It is an experience of confront- proverb) My gratitude goes to good of the Reign of God. It is ing witness to the coherence of all the people who have taught a question of promoting a digni- life. It is also an invitation to get me to dance to the intercultural fied and healthy cohabitation in to know and understand young rhythm! I have faith that a har- this world called to be “a place people in their cultures, which monious cohabitation between for the glory of God” (Saint Ma- are very different from mine. men and women of different cul- rie-Eugénie Milleret), for more In the accompaniment, I had tures is possible. This convic- humanization of every human to free myself from prejudices tion is based on my experiences being and every culture! about people, to take time to in DR-Congo, Kenya, Chile (14 P. Bolívar PALUKU LUKENZANO get to know and value others in years), Argentina (4 years) and their difference! now in Ecuador (Riobamba)
13 >> Defence
Conversion is an inward jour- ney, uia, toward the Father-Land, patria. Augustine’s idea of soul transcending itself inwardly and upwardly signals how salvation and Incarnation are movements meeting each other along the same way. Just as the one road brought the beloved son and his loving father together, the Incar- nation is the Word’s outward and downward journey away from the Father to become human in Saint Augustine, time and space and embrace us in our transcendence toward Master of Mystagogy God. Once descended from the Father as single, Christ now as- On March 27, Fr. Roger R. Corriveau defended his thesis cends into eternity and infinity before the Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo (Rome) : as totus Christus. Salvation is Deep Is Calling on Deep. The Mystagogy of Augustine’s effected by baptismal assimila- Confessions And His Homilies on the Gospel of John tion into his return. Within this diuinum commercium the Word y Assumptionist fascina- abling mind’s consciousness of and one’s soul are the same life, Mtion with St. Augustine led sensibilia, memory and imagina- breathing from the same Spirit. me to the idea of illumination as tion, and its innate intelligibilia Augustine’s Homilies on Johns’s typical of his spirituality. Goul- that give meaning to experience Gospel develop the Lucan para- ven Madec, thinking the topic and creativity, by judging them ble that inspired his Confessions. too overworked, suggest- from the standards of the good, Both echo one of his favorite ed focusing my interest to the true, and the beautiful. Ideas correlations: restless wayfaring Augustine’s metaphors of then arise from the Verbum’s in space-time along the uia to ar- listening and seeing. He presence within soul. So the Ver- rive at the threshold of timeless distinguished the time- bum as maiester interior enables rest at home (conf. 1.1) in the bound discourse of scien- interpersonal relationships ef- patria. tia from the instantaneous fected through language and thus Inspired by Goulven Madec’s vision of sapientia. The creates community among us. appreciation of Augustine and first confines God within The Verbum’s interior pres- by the astounding scholarship anthropomorphism, the other de- ence explains what Augustine clustered around Études Augus- nies any possibility of knowing meant in confessing Christ’s tiniennes, I framed my thesis God. A subsequent distinction presence, even while he was within the distinctions between made by Pseudo-Dionysius, be- wandering outside himself: tu scientia / uia and sapientia / pa- tween kataphatic and apophatic eras interior intimo meo et su- tria, corresponding to kataphatic theology, helps to understand perior summo meo (conf. 3.11). and apophatic theology. Augus- the distinction between scientia His spirituality is not static “in- tine warned: (Deus) qui scitur and sapientia. Kataphasis states teriority.” Plato’s “hierarchy of melius nesciendo (ord. 2.44). what God is; apophasis denies being,” that spans from non- They are resolved only within the possibility of undestanding being to Being-Itself, furnishes his apophatic spirituality of the what God is. the idea of the heart’s dynamism, heart: amor ipse notitia est (trin. But insisting on God’s tran- moving inwardly and upwardly 9.4-5,12; 15.3)! Theology and scendence does not deny God’s as conuersio toward God and anthropology are of a piece for proximity. Augustine believed self-transcendence or outwardly Augustine, which is why he is so that God’s Verbum is intrinsically and downwardly as auersio away intriguing. present within human spirit, en- from God as self-degradation. Fr. Roger Corriveau
14 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 Father d’Alzon, between the plague and cholera During his ministry in Nîmes, Father d’Alzon lived through four large cholera epidemics: 1835, 1849, 1853, 1865, not counting some others . . . >> History Pages Pages >> History
The Black Death, painting by Ferdinand Pertus (1883-1948). The Nîmes town hall commissioned him to paint a series of works retracing the history of the city’s inhabitants to decorate the town hall. This painting is one of them.
pidemics were running rampant in Bologna, Modena, Milan, Pavia and Monza the 19th century. Emmanuel d’Alzon in Lombardy, and made a stopover in Turin Espoke of this many times in his corre- at his parents’ home Roussy de Sales. Pass- spondence. When cholera hit France in 1831, ing the Alps at Chambéry, then Grenoble, he it first struck the head of Paris and caused the stopped at the Grande Chartreuse and arrived death, that year, of the President of the Coun- in Nîmes on Saturday, July 4 to greet his cil, Casimir Perier. Soon the young d’Alzon maternal great uncle, Mr. Lirons d’Ayrolles, wrote from Montpellier to Abbé Combalot (1762-1838) vicar general for Mgr. Chaffoy (1797-1873) to find out what had become (1752-1837). He had an interview with the of his Parisian friends1 . . . In 1835, after his bishop the next Sunday, but he did not linger. stay in Rome as a young priest, he returned He was too eager to join his family in Lavag- to his native country where a terrible cholera nac and to be able to celebrate the Mass of epidemic was raging throughout the South of Saint Henry, patron saint of his dear father. France. He leaves Rome on May 19, 1835, But this brief stay gives him the opportunity and crosses all Italy in small stages to reach to gather valuable information about the chol- the South of France. He visited Florence, era epidemic2 in Nimes which was just begin-
15 >> History Pages
ning. Since mid-March, the dis- to measure the misery that over- 1 Letter to Abbot Combalot, April 23, 1832, in Lettres du Père ease had already killed more than whelms the city and the unsani- d’Alzon, t.A., p. 301. The mother 200 people. Such a calamity had tary conditions that haunt its nar- of Mother Marie Eugénie died never been experienced in the city row streets. He will have seen the of cholera on July 8, 1832. since the terrible plague of 1720. dung and manure piled up here 2 From a Greek word meaning They thought, therefore, that the and there spreading infection bile. wave had passed. But if the con- between depots, cemeteries, and 3 Letter to Montalembert, Sep- tagion was struggling to cross the slaughterhouses mixed in with tember 2, 1835, in Lettres du Herat and reach Montagnac, as his low houses. At that time in the Père d’Alzon, t.XIV, p. 70-72. 4 Hygiène et santé en Bas-Lan- he writes to Montalembert: “The Saint Paul neighborhood, the cof- guedoc oriental. From the 18th number of victims in the area is fins of the contaminated corpses century to the aftermath of the not that considerable, as I offered that had bathed in the stagnant First World War, 2019. Proceed- my services in some places, and water were piled up. The symp- ings of the colloquium held in I was told that they were not yet toms of the disease were fright- Nîmes from October 18 to 20, necessary.”3 ening: vomiting and diarrhea 2018 at the Archives départe- Now, the whole South is af- caused a general cooling of the mentales du Gard, compiled by fected. A second wave that broke body, and the sick people felt an Robert Chamboredon, Ed. de la Fenestrelle, 250 pages. out at the end of July, was soon to inextinguishable thirst, their faces 5 The novel of Jean Carrière, La hit Nîmes at the beginning of Oc- became emaciated and blackish caverne des pestiférés,vol. 1. La- tober, claiming another 212 new in color, and very quickly they zare; vol.2. Les aires des Comei- victims, primarily among the tex- felt suffocated. The treatments zas, Ed. Jean-Jacques Pauvert, tile workers and the farm work- were ineffective: they resorted to 1978-79. Cf. also of Jean Giono, ers. 4 It was the working class that opium, castor oil, sodium sulfate, Le Hussard sur le toit (1951). made up the bulk of victims. bloodletting, leeches, and also to 6 The Bishop minimized the im- People started to panic and suckers. The water pollution and portance of the plague (Lettres 5 du Père d’Alzon, t. A, p. XV and were fleeing the city. The popula- the lack of hygiene were the main Lettre du chanoine Laresche, tion of textile workers and agri- causes for the origin and spread August 20, 1835, p. 428.) cultural workers of the Carmelite of the disease. The development 7 Letters t C, p. 423, but he didn’t districts and the Rey enclosure of the sewer system later became show any apprehension faced was then the target of the epi- a public priority and the Agau, an with this danger, Letter to Moth- demic that spared the more posh open canal dating back to Roman er Marie-Eugénie, May 17, 1849, districts of the Fountain. D’Alzon times, was covered and the boule- in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t. C., asked the bishop to be at the dis- vards redesigned. p. 437. He talks about different cases in the country. Letters to posal of his confreres mobilized Cholera reappeared in Nîmes Mother Marie-Eugénie, June 16, by the plague that struck the in 1849 and, this time, caused 1849, in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, population.6 He dissuaded him 185 deaths7. Father d’Alzon was t. XIV, p. 518. from doing so. For several weeks, himself touched by a first attack 8 Letter to Sister Emmanuel the epidemic that began in Mar- of cholera on August 98 as was O’Neill, August 19, 1849, in seilles had spread with incred- his sister Marie, who lived in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.C., p. ible speed to Arles and Avignon Paris.9 He writes to Mr. Germer 469-471. before reaching the whole of the Durand that the epidemic has had 9 Letter to Mother Marie-Eugé- nie, August 23, 1849, in Lettres Gard region. In August, cholera an “unfortunate” effect on enrol- du Père d’Alzon, t.C., p. 472-476. caused 17 deaths in a single day ments for the next school year at 10 Letter to Eugene Germer in Nîmes. Proportionally, Val- the college. 10 In Lavagnac, where Durand, September 3, 1849, in labrègues, a town on the banks of he stayed at the beginning of Oc- Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.,C, p. the Rhone, about thirty kilometers tober, a cart driver was affected 478-479. east of Nîmes, would be the most by the disease, but he was kept 11 Letter to Eugene Germer Du- affected. Out of 1512 inhabitants, away from others to prevent risk rand, October 5, 1849, in Lettres there would be 36 cholera deaths. of contagion.11 In 1853, cholera du Père d’Alzon, t.C., p. 500-501. But the young priest will have caused 226 deaths in Nîmes. He had enough time, despite the then wrote to Madame Rocher, brevity of this passage in Nîmes, his guide and relative:
16 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 “This ugly cholera worries me The epidemic interfered with his era epidemic, we need to recall a little, but I must confess to you projects, particularly his work that there were many other epi- that I count on the good Lord to with young Protestants.14 In 1865, demics during this period: the send you only what will be nec- the epidemic returned to the city, sweating sickness in Montagnac essary for your sanctification.”12 but this time its potency was less, and Pons in 1864,17 and typhus A few days later, Mother Marie even though many students and ten years earlier.18 Another epi- Eugénie announced to him the teachers were affected, including demic disease wreaked serious death from cholera of the young Mr. Germer-Durant.15 He makes havoc: smallpox. It was particu- 16
Magdalene of Everlange, sister reference to this. The last epi- larly rampant in 1870-1871 and Pages >> History of the Religious of the Assump- sode in Nîmes took place in 1884 claimed no less than 115 victims tion, Sister Marie-Emmanuel. without causing any victims, but in Nîmes in December 1870. On The epidemic was to reach Nîmes provoking a series of “barrier” January 24, 1871, it was this dis- a few months later at the begin- measures. The border with Spain ease that killed Auguste Demians ning of July. Father d’Alzon had was closed and the bridge be- (1814-1871), a lawyer, mayor to send the youth of the college tween the brothers who remained of the city, and friend of Father back to their homes as a precau- in Nîmes and the Osma exiles d’Alzon who assisted him in his tionary measure: “The cholera was cut off for many weeks. last moments. is in Nîmes. The students have In order to conclude this Bernard Le Léannec been returned home,” he wrote.13 d’Alzonian rendering of the chol-
12 Letter to Madame Rocher, December 31, 1853, in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.l, p. 360. 13 Letter to Mother Marie-Eugé- nie, July 7, 1854, in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.l, p.440. 14 Letter to Juliette Combie, July 16, 1854, in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.l. p. 445-446. 15 Leter to Fr. Vincent de Paul Bailly, October 13, 1865, Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t.V, p. 414-415. 16 Letter to Madame Varin d’Ainvelle (1867?) in Lettres du Père d’Alzon, t. VI, p. 442. 17 Letter to Father Galabert, July 19, 1864, to Father Picard July 20. 18 Letter to Mr. Bailly April 30, 1854 in Letters of Father d’Alzon. In this letter Fr. d’Alzon offered his condolences to Mr. Bailly upon the death, from typhus, of his daughter Adrienne, which took place on March 22 in the chateau of Kurosewski,Poland, where she was governess for the children of the Count of Popiel.
The Agau river crossing the city of Nîmes in 1835
17 >> History Pages The miracle of the Good Press (Part 3)
We are continuing the publication of the document written in 1953 by T.R.P. Gervais Quenard, former Superior General of the Congregation. This history of La Bonne Presse, unpublished in many respects, was communicated to us by Fr. Patrick Zago, archivist of the Province of Europe.
Emmanuel Bailly. At the height of the war IV «JEANNE D’ARC» and «LA BONNE in January 1916, La Croix was publishing at PRESSE». 174,500 and from November 1914 to January Until the Second World War, which was 1917, the Pilgrim had gone from 250,000 to terrible for it, the House did not have to en- 455,000. dure any violent external tremors. But inside, a delicate question arose in the supreme di- The true masters of the work. Its first rection, as to who were the true masters, be- leaders tween Mr. Féron-Vrau and the Fathers. What For 24 years, Mr. Féron-Vrau not only re- were the exact rights of the new leadership? mained the only official master, a personally The true masters certainly remained the same disinterested and totally devoted master, but as in the past, without ever being able to say he gradually became convinced that he was so, or even to know it well, even among the the only real master, simply assisted by pre- religious, hardly at the Great Council. The cious collaborators, both religious and civil. jurists, our advisers, forbade us to breathe a And everyone believed this as well. This was word of it in this period of spoliation. Above a delicate error to point out, even if the re- all, we lived on good will and mutual trust, mark was made by the real owners. and the work continued its normal course, The controversy arose for the first time in without even being really disturbed by the 1911 by Fr. Emmanuel Bailly who, in thank- war of 1914, except for the victims it left ing Mr. Féron-Vrau for having given his behind, adding to this the death of Father name and his admirable devotion, reminded
18 n OCTOBER 2020 n no 14 us that the ownership of the work question was again raised with 1. Fr. Joseph Maubon (1849- had indeed been entrusted to him Father Joseph Maubon (1), with- 1932). He was Vicar General of legally and in a very independent out stopping there. Mr. Féron- the Congregation from 1918 to manner, to allow him to take re- Vrau then spoke of a possible 1922, at a time when Rome was demanding, since the promulga- sponsibility for it in all conscience sharing and, to guarantee the fu- tion of the new Code of Canon before the State and before public ture, he envisaged that one of his Law (1917), that religious bring opinion. But in reality this work, nephews could succeed him. their constitutions into line with received in its time from the The question remained at the the general norms of law. It was >> History Pages Pages >> History hands of Fr. Picard, remained the same point when Fr. Gervais (2) a difficult period for him, be- real property of the Congregation was named general. I still remem- cause the convictions of the reli- and could be taken over by it in ber how, at the end of the summer gious were far from unanimous, due course. Consequently, it was of 1923, when I was at Jalesnes between those who wanted to change nothing from the original necessary to come to an agree- with Mr. Léon Berteaux, he spoke traditions and those who wanted ment with it in order to make any to me about La Bonne Presse and salutary evolutions. Tensions important and, above all, perma- threw this word at me: “This is were so strong that the Holy See nent decision. A minimum could your galette! You must take it intervened in 1923. With regard consist of a common examination back.” Father Ambroise, when to La Bonne Presse, we must re- of the annual balance sheet and of consulted, told me that this was member that Fr. Maubon gave the major projects to be carried correct and that Mr. Féron-Vrau the same speech to Mr. Féron- out, etc. had only given his name and his Vrau as Fr. Emmanuel Bailly. 2. Fr. Gervais Quenard (1875- A little moved, Mr. Féron- precious devotion, without pay- 1961) Superior General (1923- Vrau readily admits that he has ing a penny himself. The House 1952). It was on him that La a simple deposit in his hands and alone had borne the brunt of the Bonne Presse and the religious that he must eventually hand it various successive purchases and who worked there depended, over to the beneficiaries. But he improvements. for it was a general work, that is, invokes his responsibilities, his So I made another rather vig- under the direct jurisdiction of duty of conscience and also the orous attack, invoking for me Father General. Moreover, he ap- safeguard of the work to further the rigorous duty of claiming the pointed one or more religious on the spot to whom he delegated strengthen his titles. He has pre- interests of the Congregation. certain powers. This was the rule sented himself as owner to Leo There were dramatic sessions. until 13/01/1967, when Father XIII, to the liquidator, to the Mr. Féron-Vrau resumed his idea Wilfrid Dufault transferred all the public, and it would be a lie to of association in a collective property and responsibility for be a simple intermediary. So he name, concluding that it should the French General Works to the would propose a kind of associa- be divided in half, a right that his Provincials of France, in solidum tion in a collective name, where long work gave him, manage- (Bulletin Officiel, Volume IV, p. limited and general partners can ment being, he said, as important 187). 3. Victor Bernard, nephew of legitimately assert themselves as capital. While admiring this Mr. Paul Féron-Vrau who had no as owners, all this with the ulte- long devotion, I could not accept children. The outcome of the af- rior motive, expressed later, of such a thesis and the discussions fair of the property of La Bonne sharing by half. If he is simply continued in vain, even after con- Presse left him bitter. a figurehead, he has neither the sultation with a Jesuit Father (Fr. 4. Mr. Jacquot is Fr. Ambroise true sense of responsibility nor Bellanger). Jacquot. the necessary freedom of action, 5. Fr. Alype (Gustave Paul) Pé- and he would no longer dare to The Public Limited Company trement (1862-1927). In 1888, appointed to the Miribel-les- handle funds that in fact belong On November 8, 1923, the Échelles alumnate, which had to the Congregation. In fact, he idea of a limited company for the just started in 1887, he was the wondered whether he should not exploitation of La Bonne Presse builder of the buildings. And from carry his scruples to Rome. was proposed, a company that 1892 he became the irremovable Nothing was resolved at that would be founded by Mr. Féron- superior until 1922, when he be- time and they stuck to this state of Vrau, with some very reliable came superior of the residence in affairs. The war broke out. Father friends, taken from the house Rue Camou in Paris. In 1923, he was part of the Curia appointed Emmanuel disappeared and the itself and of which he himself
19 >> History Pages
would be the president. It would Féron-Vrau was very discreetly by the Holy See as assistant to Fr. be for him the way to avoid heavy left with a sum of one million Gervais Quenard. personal taxes and to liquidate deposited in Lille. His personal 6. Fr. Pierre-Fourier (Léon-Félix) the past by handing over in good works could benefit from it. Merklen (1875-1949). Superior of hands the work received by him The creation of the new Com- the scholasticate at Louvain (1900- 1913), he gave an extraordinary in 1900. He finally accepted, on pany was announced by the Presi- breath of life to this community of December 5, declaring himself dent to all the staff in the Croisade about one hundred young religious delivered from a heavy burden. de la Presse (January-February in formation: open-mindedness, Three days later, he insisted that 1924): “Your relationship with initiative, intellectual research, with the company should be real and us will not be changed. My name a highly respected review, the Re- not fictitious, that was also our alone will be replaced by the ti- vue Augustinienne (1900-1910). But opinion, and he asked that his tle ‘Société Maison de la Bonne Father Emmanuel Bailly, strongly in- nephew Bernard be allowed to Presse’”. fluenced by the turmoil of the anti- modernist struggles, suppressed remain at La Bonne Presse, with On the same date, the Société the Revue, dismissed it from its the possibility of possibly trans- Jeanne d’Arc had just bought the functions and sent him to England ferring his own shares to him. building on Rue François 1er, and as chaplain to the nuns. His return Very well. one of the first acts of the limited to grace did not take place until On January 16, 1924, the stat- company was to rent the house 1923 when, appointed to La Bonne utes of the “Société Anonyme and chapel. The services of Pro- Presse, he was director of La Docu- Maison de la Bonne Presse” were jections and Cinema, the sales mentation Catholique (1923-1927) deposited and the final deed was room and the Holy Cross School before taking over the direction of La Croix (1927-1949). signed on January 30. The compa- of Apprenticeship were put there. 7. Fr. Calixte (Pierre Hippolyte) ny was founded with a capital of The annual amount for the two Boulesteix (1881-1950). As soon as two million F, largely represented houses was 320,000 F, and the he was ordained in 1908, he was ap- by equipment and goodwill, and Jeanne d’Arc added a promise of pointed to La Bonne Presse to help then variable subscriptions from eventual sale. The large construc- Fr. Salvien Miglietti. And after Fr. ten shareholders: Mr. Féron-Vrau tion erected at Cours La Reine on Merklen’s departure for La Croix, he and his nephew Bernard (3), the the site of the Bonaparte Hotel became editor-in-chief of La Docu- two Berteaux, Pétel, Faigle, the was paid for by the Société Mai- mentation Catholique until 1938. It is worth mentioning the monumen- two De L’Epinois brothers, Pierre son de la Bonne Presse, with the tal work he did for the Golden Book L’Ermite and Mr. Jacquot (4). Mr. clause that the value of the build- of the Clergy and Congregations (1914-1922), published in 1925. More than 23,000 entries, 40 plates of 26 photos. Two volumes of more than 2000 pages. A reference book on the “ecclesiastics” (seminarians, priests, religious men and women) who participated in the war of 1914-18. 8. Br. Francisque Cusin (1885- 1963). This hard-headed Savoyard remained obstinately sub-deacon, which put him in conflict with Fr. Emmanuel Bailly, who invited him to leave the congregation. But he knows he is right and he resists! In 1907, he joins Fr.Salvien Miglietti, who put him in charge of the Bolle- tino (now archived in the Valpré li- brary). It is a kind of press argus that collects everything in newspapers and magazines related to religious issues, updates it and sends it dis- creetly two or three times a week to
20 n JUILLET 2020 n no 13 left vacant by the resignation of Mr. Féron-Vrau, he hesitated for a long time and finally accepted, but under rather draconian con- ditions, which were recorded by the Curia, in a Council held in rue Camou, in the room of Fr. Alype (5) who was ill. We went there in full confi- >> History Pages Pages >> History dence, in spite of everything.
Succession of religious and premises The same staff continued their good work in the editorial offices and in the various departments of the house. Fr. Franc, quite old, remained at La Croix with Mr. Guiraud, and Fr. Ambroise ings would be charged to it in the Vrau and to La Croix. On the remained in his glass office, event of termination of the 18- same date, receiving Father Vin- watching over all things. Large year lease. The same clause was cent de Paul, he had put his hand constructions were erected suc- included in 1932 for the construc- on his head and said: “May your cessively on various points of the tion on the former N°s 3 and 5 of work grow, dear Father; may it go grounds: two floors on rue Jean rue Bayard. This was also provid- to the ends of the earth and never Goujon; two floors on the central ed for in the lease contract. cease!” God ratified this blessing building, to house new services through all the difficulties com- and especially photoengraving; Mr. Féron-Vrau retires ing from inside and outside. a six-story building on cours Al- The Société Anonyme had bert 1er, with two glass roofed thus gotten off to a good start, un- Mr. Berteaux, Director constructions, located behind the der the presidency of Mr. Féron- At the Société de la Bonne large one, to house the large ma- Vrau, assisted by four advisors: Presse, the presidency of the board chines on the first floor and the P. Ambroise, Berteaux, Pétel, and of directors was then entrusted to composition on the second floor; the nephew Bernard. But the dear Count Pierre de L’Epinois, the finally two small floors on rue President groaned that he no lon- son of the man who had assisted François 1er, to house a large sales ger had any authority. This lasted Fr. Picard in the foundation of La room and an annex of the Projec- more than two years, however, Croix. He kept the same advisers tions. The eventual sale price was until 1926. In the meantime, his close to him, but Mr. Berteaux then estimated by the Société 25 years of leadership were cel- was asked to be the actual Direc- Jeanne d’Arc at 3,200,000 F for ebrated in 1925, but the well- tor. A faithful collaborator of Fr. the Bayard district, and 2,000,000 deserved congratulations did not Picard from the beginning, Mr. F for François 1er, according to an restore his confidence. On several Berteaux directed the printing of- estimate by a meeting at the time. occasions, he offered his resigna- fice and all the assistant services. The two communities of the tion which, to his great surprise, Very attached to the house, he Fathers and the Oblate Sisters, re- was accepted in the summer of knew it inside out and devoted constituted not without difficulty 1926. himself to it as if it were his own and without some fear, were now In 1904, not long after his personal work with a competence grouped together near their of- election, Pius X (who showed recognized by his peers, who ap- fices, with their special chapels. himself to be a friend of Father pointed him secretary of the Press Old and new editors had taken Emmanuel, as Leo XIII had done Union and even its delegate to their places there for the various for Father Picard, and Pius IX for the League of Nations. Asked to publications. As early as 1924, Father d’Alzon) had sent his very assume the office of Director of the brilliant Fr. Merklen (6) had paternal blessing to Mr. Féron- L Bonne Presse, which had been taken over La Documentation
21 >> History Pages
the Vatican Secretariat of State. It is the head of the magazine for priests, ticles were much appreciated. called Bolletino, because this French Prêtre et Apôtre, for 25 years. He also 16. Fr. Gildas (Julien) Le Liboux bulletin follows the model of the Ital- founded a magazine for the parish as- (1881-1918) His first assignment was ian Bolletino, which preceded it. sistants Martha and Mary. And from with La Bonne Presse, where he was 9. Fr. Eusèbe (Ernest Léon) Lavigne Prêtre et Apôtre, he launched the in charge of La Semaine littéraire, un- (1881-1949). In 1919, he was ap- magazine Catéchistes d’aujourd’hui. der the pseudonym Julien Laurec. Af- pointed to press works until 1931. 13. Fr. Sébastien (Roger) Guichardan ter the end of this magazine, because As an editor at La Croix, he sympa- (1906-1985). By his thesis presented of the war, he passes to Le Pélerin. It thized with the theses of the Action in 1932, at the Catholic Faculties of is inscribed on the walls of the Pan- française, as did a not inconsiderable Lyon, Fr. Guichardan seemed to be theon, with Jules Simier (P. Tharcisius number of editors, against those who rather prepared for Byzantine Stud- Rétaud), among the writers who died strongly opposed them, such as the ies: Divine Simplicity in the East and for France. Roman correspondents: Bishop Gas- West in the 14th and 15th centuries. 17. Fr. Marie-Etienne (Ernest) Point ton de Vanneufville and Bishop René However, in 1935 he was appointed (1890-1959). From 1927, he was at Fontenelle. The management - Fr. editor-in-chief of Le Pèlerin, to re- the side of Fr. Claude Allez, to assist Franc and Mr. Jean Guiraud -, with- place Fr. Saint-Martin. Very quickly, him at Noël. He remained at the head out adhering to its ideology, judged he reveals himself: he is a great pen, of the Noël movement and its maga- that L’ Action Française was a natural and he has the makings of a leader. zines until his death. In 1952, he was ally in a common struggle against the He had reason to be happy: from named Delegate of Father General secular and anticlerical Republic. Fr. 300,000 in 1945, the circulation of Le for the General Works of Paris and Merklen, supported by the Vatican, Pèlerin rose to 550,000 in 1974. Superior of the Community of Rue will demand his departure. 14. Fr. (Jules Émile) Saint-Martin François 1er. 10. Fr. Guy (Joseph) Finaert (1895- (1899-1980). He had a life filled with 18. Fr. Antonin (Sébastien) Coggia 1958). As a young priest, he was ap- responsibilities in the congregation. (1869-1944). He was assigned as a pointed directly Secretary General of A gifted intellectual, doctor of theol- young priest to the service of Pil- La Croix, because of his intellectual ogy with a thesis on St. Augustine, grimages, first to Jerusalem, then and moral qualities. Hard-working, ef- he was superior of our International to Notre-Dame de Salut in Paris. At ficient, and a fighter with a sharp pen, College in Rome, Assistant General to the departure of Fr. Bertoye, he was Fr. Guy often stepped up to the plate Fr. Dufault (1954-1964). But he prob- named superior of the community, for the benefit of L’ Action Française. ably did not have a journalistic back- and in 1933 he became assistant to But we are no longer in the time of ground. Appointed editor-in-chief of Fr. Ambroise Jacquot, General Bur- Pius X, the atmosphere has changed. Le Pèlerin in 1932, he remained there sar, and in 1934 he became General On October 23, 1931, Father Antonin only until October 9, 1934. Indeed, on Bursar himself until 1944. Coggia, superior, read to the assem- that day, Alexander I, King of Yugosla- 19. Fr. Séraphin (François Joseph) bled community a note from Father via, was beginning his official visit to Protin (1876-1946). He was the com- Gervais Quenard who dismissed him France, when he was assassinated, panion and great friend of Fr. Merklen from his post. as soon as he arrived in Marseilles, at Louvain, with whom he also shared 11. Fr. (René) Bertrand (1874-1928) with the French Minister of Foreign the ordeal of the measures taken by He was an extremely gifted religious Affairs, who had come to welcome Fr. Emmanuel Bailly against the scho- with diplomas, polyglot and special- him. Le Pèlerin N° 3003, of October lasticate at Louvain. In 1911, he was ist in ancient languages. After a life of 14, 1934, already composed, spoke of sent to La Bonne Presse, where in La teaching in various places, obedience the triumphal welcome of the king. It Croix, he signed beautiful articles un- sent him to La Bonne Presse in 1919. was necessary, at the last minute, to der the name of Dossat. In 1913, he Director of La Croix du Dimanche and rectify things and change the drawing was sent to South America. a valued collaborator of various mag- illustrating the event, in the absence 20. Fr. Aurèle Odil (1886-1984) In azines, especially Prêtre et Apôtre. of Fr. Saint-Martin, who could not be 1924, Fr. Merklen called upon one of 12. Fr. Victorien (Joseph) Girard-Rey- found! his favorite disciples to help him at det (1901-1984). He was the nephew 15. Fr. Angelome (Clovis Jean) Cleux La Documentation Catholique. But of Fr. Gervais Quenard and the great- (1888-1953). As soon as he was or- as soon as he was appointed to La nephew of Fr. Humbert Girard-Rey- dained, he spent two years at La Croix, Fr. Merklen asked him to be the det. In 1927, he was appointed to La Documentation catholique. But then general secretary of the daily news- Bonne Presse, where he proved to be a long career as a professor awaited paper. In 1940, he had to follow the an inventive and productive journal- him. And it was towards the end of paper to Limoges, and soon enough ist. In 1930, he founded the weekly his life that La Bonne Presse called he even had to replace Fr. Merklen, magazine for young people, A la upon him for La Croix des jeunes and who had been hunted down by the page. At the end of the war, he was at La Croix du dimanche, where his ar- Gestapo, and run the paper with
22 n AVRIL 2020 n no 12 Catholique, which at that time anniversary of La Croix were cel- was deprived by special order of ebrated very solemnly. Numerous its animator, Fr. Sa vien. Could personalities took part, including be found there Fr. Calixte (7) Cardinal Verdier and the Apos- and Brother Francisque (8), ex- tolic Nuncio Bishop Maglione. A cellent workers. At La Croix, Fr. beautifully illustrated brochure, Eusèbe (9) and Fr. Guy (10) were presented by Junior (Fr. Victo- in charge of the editorial staff. rien) has kept the memory alive. Fr. Bertrand (11), Fr. Victorien The wind was once again blow- >> History Pages Pages >> History (12), Fr. Guichardan (13) shared ing with full sails for the House. in turn Le Pèlerin, La roix du There was a fairly good period, Dimanche, Prêtre et Apôtre, and even for the finances. At the 1936 later À la Page. Were also seen meeting, the capital of the Soci- there Fr. Saint-Martin (14) while ety was increased from eight to waiting for Fr. Cleux (15). Fr. twelve million. The House had P. Pierre-Fourier (Léon-Félix) Merklen multiplied the measures of assis- Chardavoine was still increasing (1875-1949) the number of his publications, tance for its personnel: I counted but his Mois Litéraire had dis- seventeen different ones on a long appeared during the First World list written on February 2, 1934. War, as well as La Semaine lit- La Bonne Presse was one of the Mr. Alfred Michelin and Maurice téraire, whose founder, Fr. Gildas first to organize insurance and Herr. But he went through some personal difficulties, which forced (16), had fallen on the battlefield. multiple assistance measures, not him to retire to the college in - Per Fr. Claude Allez led all the teams forgetting paid vacations, but still pignan. He returned to La Croix in at the same time of the Noël and very limited for today’s require- 1944 for a while, before taking over its numerous supplements, being ments. On the other hand, the the direction of La Documentation helped by Fr. Point (17), who was administration was reluctant to Catholique, until 1968, but he still to replace the founder when he accept unionism, preferring good collaborated with the journal until died very unexpectedly in 1927. paternalism. One day, she had to 1980. That same year, Fr. Franc asked to suffer from this by the outbreak 21. Fr. Louis-Raphaël (Louis-Marie) Le Bartz (1905-1976). He spent 38 leave La Croix and go to Lorgues of a small strike in a department, years at La Bonne Presse, from 1930 where he would soon pass away. which filled L’Humanité with joy. to 1968. He was General Secretary “At home, he told me, at 70 As a result, the House had with- of La Croix, from 1940 in Limoges. years of age, it’s over.” Antonin drawn from the Press Union. An From time to time, he wrote the (18) succeeded him as superior unfortunate move. editorial. Father Guichardan said of of the community and, six years However, a serious downturn him: “He writes in warm, enthusias- later, he himself gave way to Fr. would occur, even before the war. tic prose, where one feels more the Seraphin (19), who also replaced In October 1934, Fr. Ambrose part of the heart than the brain... His best papers are those he reserves Fr. Ambroise, who died in 1934, was called back to God; I learned for the Church and its feasts... and on the Board of Directors. At La of it at sea, on my way to the Eu- also for the patriotic feasts of his Croix, Fr. Merklen, at the request charistic Congress in Buenos Ai- country. of Mr. Berteaux, had taken over res. The health of Mr. Berteaux 22. René Berteaux, son of Léon the upper management, to the dis- (22), his old companion in work Berteaux, he learned his trade at appointment of Mr. Guiraud, who and struggle, was also failing in a La Bonne Presse, from a young age, did not entirely share the social painful way and it was extremely where he assisted his father. In spite or political orientation of his col- difficult to convince him to retire of his strong handicap coming from a wound from the war of 1914, he league and who retired in 1937. at last. His son René was to suc- accepted to replace him. He had to Fathers Eusèbe and Guy were ceed him, despite his grave state face the difficult years of the Popu- also replaced by Fathers Odil (20) of war cripple, and he will have lar Front and the war of 1939-1945. and Le Bartz (21). to go through the most dreadful And from 1949 until his death in moments. 1954, he collaborated with Fr. Eudes Notable events T.R.P. Gervais QUENARD Hanhart, General Bursar, who was In 1932, the centenary of the (to be continued) appointed to the Board of Directors birth of Fr. Bailly and the fiftieth of La Bonne Presse.
23 Editor 2 Official Michel KUBLER, General Secretary Agenda The 100 Years of Our Lady of Lourdes at Santos Lugares (Argentina)
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14 Defence Translator Composed in Saint Augustine, Master of Mystagogy Patricia Haggerty and September 30, 2019 Gilles Blouin, English This no 10 of AA- info 15 History Pages José Antonio Echaniz ; is printed in 220 Fr. d’Alzon, between the plague and cholera copies: Spanish The miracle of the Good Press (Part 3) 160 in French ... and the help of 30 in English 24 Our Deceased Brothers DeepL 30 in Spanish Model and laid out And 350 electronic Loredana Giannetti shipments.
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Our Deceased Brothers
† Father Héctor GARCÍA † Father Désiré Thierry † Father Henk SIBUM, †Father Donald ESPINOSA, † Father Mauro OSÓRIO OCHOA, of the community RANDRIANARISON, of the of the community of the of the community of DE CARVALHO, of the Nostra Señora de Lourdes community of St. Georges Netherlands (Province Brighton (North American community of São Paulo (Andean Province), died de Tuléar (Province of of Europe), died on Province), died on (Province of Brazil), died on August 7, 2020 in Madagascar), died on September 11, 2020 in September 24, 2020 on October 1, 2020 in São Santiago (Chile). Due to August 8, 2020 in Tuléar Boxtel (Netherlands). in Newton, MA (USA). Paulo (Brazil). His funeral the coronavirus pandemic, (Madagascar). His funeral His funeral service was His funeral service was was celebrated on October a small tribute was paid was celebrated on August celebrated on September celebrated on September 3 in the Church of the Holy to him on August 8 in the 9, followed by burial at 17 in St. Petrus Basilica in 29th in St. Anne’s Church in Spirit in Pinhal, followed by Basilica of Lourdes, in the the missionary cemetery Boxtel, followed by burial Fiskdale, followed by burial burial in the Assumptionist crypt of which he was later in Belemboka. He was 46 in the Assumptionist in the local cemetery. He cemetery of the place. He buried. He was 87 years years old. cemetery in Boxtel- was 78 years old. was 56 years old. old. Stapelen. He was 89 years old.