TAPIE Jean (Father)

From the homily of Fr. Jean-Luc Morin,
Regional Superior,
for the funeral of Fr. Jean Tapie

The story of Fr. Jean Tapie is that of a man, a brother, an uncle and great-uncle, a Father of Bétharram, attached to his roots in Bigorre and even more deeply to his family. Growing up within striking distance of a court, he became a passionate listener of public hearings. He developed a taste for eloquence and a habit of learning his sermons by heart. The young Jean Léon was always going to be an advocate of the best causes: to be the representative of God with men, and of men with God. Having become a Bétharramite, his wish was to return to his Bethany of Tarbes, to develop emotional connections. 

In his religious life, Fr. Tapie was the man of fidelity and obedience. Faithful to his origins, faithful in friendship, faithful above all to his consecration: 70 years of profession, 65 years of vows, and always an enthusiasm for new starts, a capacity to never look inwardly to oneself but to constantly seek to lift the gaze, and to turn hearts to God, the Friend, the Holy One. On his bed of pain, faithful to the prayer of the Church, his breviary remained open. And when words were impossible, he pointed to the ceiling with a surprising energy. “God knows. God acts. God is everything, I am nothing, look to God instead of me,” as St Michael said. Because he had a deep-rooted faith, he accepted everything, he abandoned himself to the Father with a simplicity and a jubilant vivacity.

Obedient to the end, he did not question orders, he simply carried them out: he had a sense of duty and exemplary devotion. He was where God wanted him to be. In charge of the discipline at the colleges of Bétharram and Limoges, chaplain of the MEJ (Youth Eucharist Movement) then of Carmel, this meant several Bethlehem Nazareth return trips. No matter what the mission, the essential thing was to serve, even in less popular roles. For in doing these, he could put more love into carrying out the less pleasant tasks: a love lived, rather than proclaimed, a struggle against selfishness. Having a precise, lively nature, he might seem sharp or fastidious at times; it was just that he was eager, more than anything, to speak well and to do well. He had a modesty in his feelings, and an astonishing freedom from the moment he evoked the senses of God: his goodness, his tenderness, his mercy...

Since he had retired to Bétharramin 2007, Fr. Tapie had been somewhat the man of the Maison Neuve, the spiritual guide of the old people’s care home. He drew from prayer the graces of a ministry of charity on a daily basis. He did not need to go out, to take an interest in others. In his room, wefound a schoolboy’s notebook filled with notes on topics as diverse as Eastern Christians, diabetes, IVF, surrogacy, divorce and remarriage... He lived his pastoral life indoors with admirable assiduity and delicacy: a born sacristan, a regular confessor, he liked to visit the sick, administer the sacraments, and honour the first Friday of the month. He had few relations outside, except his relatives who gave him one last gift, and the most beautiful: to celebrate his first baptism, aged 95, of a great-grandniece at the shrine.

“I have always been happy and I regret nothing,” Fr. Tapie repeated towards the end of his life. That’s how he left it, happy, in peace, despite illness. He saw his end as the return to God, the long-awaited encounter, the fulfilment of his here I am. Recently, I visited my former Surgé (abbreviation of “Surveillant général-Dean of students”; Fr. Jean-Luc was a student at the Osanam College in Limoges), a catechist, discreet brother and benevolent Father. As soon as he had returned from yet another hospitalization, he confided to me, his eyes shining: “What I cannot do, God will do. Let him manage! Let’s do what we can. He’ll take care of the rest. Dear young people, if I don’t understand, have patience! He’s smarter than us. I am in good hands.” What else can we ask for? His humility, his trust, this obedience through love...

So there we have it. That was our history with Fr. Jean Tapie, his holy history now revealed and celebrated. 

He served passionately, he believed intensely. Now he knows, he sees, he lives in the joy of his Master. The first reading had warned us: Those who are faithful will remain with him in his love, for God grants his chosen ones grace and mercy. May he grant us, in our turn, to be men and women of faith and of real charity. Like Michael Garicoïts, Mariam Baouardy and our dear Father Tapie!