In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort
"Footsteps Online"
Autumn 2001 (Volume 6, Issue 3)
Montfortian Pilgrimage to the Vendée, June 2001
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"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase " (1 Cor. 3:6)
On the morning of 10 June, when the coach drew up at Montfort House, Barrhead, Glasgow, I guessed that this was going to be an extraordinary pilgrimage - even as pilgrimages go! It was a new Mercedes, with personalised number plates, coffee machine, luxury upholstery, and lots of extra seats for those who might want to "stretch out" along the way.
By the evening of that first day, when the pilgrims were all "present and correct" it was obvious that my guess was right. Without attempting to do so, our organisers had brought together a diverse assortment of characters and nationalities - from the Highlands of Scotland in the North, to Malta (!) with many places in between. If nothing else, this was going to be a very interesting experience - and so it was!
It would be easy to write a narrative about WHERE we went, WHEN and WHY - but for at least this one pilgrim there was, throughout the whole week, and alongside the wonderful places and visits, an underlying and fascinating sequence of "surprises" that repeatedly brought to mind that verse from St Paul's letter to the Corinthians.
I don't know "who was who" and it doesn't matter - but we had our own Paul and Apollos, working together wholeheartedly for the glory of God. Bernard Glenholme and Fr. Bob Ellwood have been organising pilgrimages for 10 years now - but, even taking that into consideration, their detailed and clear plan-of-action appeared and proved to be impressively foolproof. As a teacher who taught "mixed ability science" for 18 years in a large comprehensive school, I could only sit back and admire their "lesson-plan". From the very start, I felt confident that, even if we proved to be an "unruly" lot of adolescent 'wiseguys' and idiots, we would still reach the right place at the right time at the end of each day - and so we did!
Places of significance that we visited included the miracle-room at Romsey; Mont St Michel; Dinan; Montfort (2 nights); St Lazare; Iffendic; La Chèze; La Trinité; Pontchâteau; St Laurent (4 nights); St Éloi at La Rochelle; Montbernage at Poitiers; Cesson and Rennes.
Each stop on our journey was a highlight in its own right and brought to life accounts read beforehand of the life of St Louis Marie. Not only this, but the afore-mentioned series of surprises made me certain that HE WAS THERE AMONG US, re-tracing his own footsteps and blessing our pilgrimage in a very special way.
While Bemard and Fr. Bob must accept credit for the foolproof planning (including contingency plans) and perhaps even the wonderful weather that lasted all week, how would they explain the following?
1. the way in which the birds came and perched on the nearby fence, joining in the hymns at our first (open-air) Mass on French soil, with Mont St Michel as a backdrop and the sun shining in a clear blue sky
2. learning, on our arrival at the Maison Natale in Montfort, that Fr. Marcel Gendrot the Superior, was about to have a triple celebration during our visit: his 80th birthday, followed by the anniversaries of his baptism and ordination! What a lovely evening we spent in the garden of Maison Natale, singing and playing our musical instruments to mark the occasion.
3. after the thrill of sleeping in the house that was the Grignion family home, we were addressed by Fr. René Paul, who could hardly contain his delight as he showed us the beautiful crucifix carved by St Louis Marie - that had been gifted to the house only DAYS BEFORE OUR ARRIVAL!
4. both Fr. Marcel and Fr.René rearranged their busy schedule in order to accompany us on our trip to St Lazare, Iffiendic, La Chèze and La Trinité, giving us the benefit of not only their excellent company but also their enthusiastic and good-humoured commentary and rapport.
5. the Mayor of Montfort, upon learning of our visit to the Mairie (Town Hall), insisted on greeting us personally, proudly showing us the 17th-century baptismal register WHICH HAD BEEN RESTORED - so we were able to hold it ourselves.
6. At La Chèze, the parish priest was none other than a descendant of the wealthy family who had given St Louis Marie the use of a little room in their hunting lodge. He not only had a key to allow us inside, but showed us the stone that St Louis Marie is said to have used as a pillow, the little elm table and the beautiful 16th-century crucifix that dominated the room. I shall never forget the ambience of that little room above the archway, and the dangerously steep, narrow, spiral climb up to it that made it seem (to the imaginative pilgrim) like a secret hiding-hole or eyrie, undisturbed for centuries.
7. the statue of Our Lady of the Light at La Trinité, which has recently forged new bonds between La Vendée and Clacton-on-Sea in England.
8. The HOSPITALITY that was showered on us with such enthusiasm EVERYWHERE we went, and simply because we were associates of St Louis Marie de Montfort. The love of our French hosts for our founder was tangible!
9. For many of us, I am sure, the greatest thrill was to participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass in those churches where St Louis preached to his beloved poor souls. For me, Montbernage at Poitiers will always have a special and deep significance - but they were all beautiful, culminating in one final GLORIOUS SURPRISE. Our last day in France just happened to be CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY! The parish priest stepped down, allowing our French Montfort Missionary, Fr. Samson, to preside with our "own" four Montfort Priests concelebrating at the main altar in the Basilica of St Louis Marie de Montfort. The Mass, in French and Latin, was easy to follow from the booklets provided - and by the time the Corpus Christi procession was making its way from the altar out into the streets of the town, the very elderly and previously wheezy gentilhomme alongside me was putting Pavarotti to shame. What a climax to an unforgettable stay at St Laurent!
It seemed entirely appropriate that , on our way back to Cherbourg, we should make one last stop at Rennes to visit the Church of Saint Sauveur which has an altar dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles. Bernard and Fr. Bob could not have done more to ensure that their motley crew returned home safe and sound - but having thanked them for their "planting and watering" it was lovely to bring to a close our time in France by thanking our Blessed Lady for watching over us as only a Mother can and for her special part in bringing all the "miracles of coincidence" that made our pilgrimage in the "Footsteps of St Louis" so unforgettable.
We know that none of us could REALLY walk in our founder's footsteps (and even if we did, we would not be blazing a trail as he did) but as each day brought its own special surprises, I couldn't help but wonder if this is what life is like when I give St Louis Marie "unconditional permission" to CARRY ME IN HIS FOOTSTEPS!
Having been on several pilgrimages in the past, I know that the pilgrimage experience is always a "learning curve" - but I had also come to expect it to be one that is heavy-going, if not difficult, for most of the time. I have had to revise this in the light of my pilgrimage 2001 which was a learning curve with a "difference".
I did not, at any time, pray for the grace to "keep smiling", since, according to my fellow pilgrims, I was doing it all the time without knowing. The reason is obvious. Like any pupil in a class who has the BEST POSSIBLE TEACHER, I was HAPPY to be there, and to be myself in such good company where learning could be FUN!
(Patricia Roberts, 2001)
