Saints of France

Oct 7

In the Introduction to the Devout Life, St. Francis de Sales tells us that holiness is for everyone: “It is an error, or rather a heresy, to wish to banish the devout life from the regiment of soldiers, the mechanic's shop, the court of princes, or the home of married people. Wherever we may be, we can and should aspire to the perfect life.”

Two weeks ago, the whole Church saw this lived out in a dramatic presentation as Pope Leo arrived in France. His apostolic visit to the country traditionally known as the “eldest daughter of the Church” was filled with many opportunities for people to hear the call to conversion and the need to transform the world.

On Friday, September 25, over 80,000 young people gathered in a stadium outside of Paris for a meeting and prayer vigil with the Pope. Most people agree that the highlight of the evening was a performance called In the Footsteps of the Saints. This dramatic presentation highlighted the thousands of saints and blessed who have been a part of the fabric of French history and society. In words, music, and images, the production showed how Christians throughout history lived the devout life in different vocations, diverse circumstances, and trying times. The young actors powerfully demonstrated what the Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation poignantly requests: “In that new world where the fullness of your peace will be revealed, gather people of every race, language and way of life to share in the one eternal banquet with Jesus Christ the Lord.”

Hundreds of young people in historical costumes marched into the stadium and acted out the highlights of the saints of France. Dramatic vignettes from the lives of many French saints were staged in front of a quiet crowd that broke into cheers and applause when a favorite figure was featured. Among the favorites were Louis IX, Bernard of Clairvaux, Joan of Arc, John Vianney, Vincent de Paul, John Baptist de La Salle, Bernadette Soubirous, and our own Francis de Sales.

Later, a young woman dressed as Therese of Lisieux and other nuns rode bicycles into the stadium, as the names of other women religious of the 19th century were called out. Among these missionary women was St. Leonie Aviat, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales. At the end of the impressive pageant, the “army of saints” marched before the Successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ as he wiped a tear from his face. In his speech after the production, Pope Leo told the crowd, “You are the saints of France!”

The story of the saints of France, the history of the whole Church, is a story of a people on pilgrimage. The Pope told the young people that they are never alone on their own pilgrimage but are guided by the Holy Spirit and surrounded by all the saints, the great crowd of witnesses. Leo concluded: “Dear young people, in order to grow in holiness and improve our society, be radiant witnesses to this Gospel, to the good news that is Christ himself, our Savior.”

St. Francis de Sales expressed the same hope when he called all of us – young and old, single and married, lay and religious - to “Live Jesus.”