The 150th anniversary

On 6 July 1947, Michael Garicoits and Elizabeth Bichier des Ages were canonised by Pope Pius XII in the course of a magnificent ceremony. The next day, 7 July, the Holy Father explained to the pilgrims the foundations and character of their sublime holiness.
At the beginning of this new year so as to encourage a new surge of fervour, let us read once more in the very words of Pope Pius XII what it was that sanctified our founder, not forgetting to meditate on the recommendations the Pope made to the spiritual sons at the close of his speech.

Often as we celebrate the chosen whom we have been privileged to raise to the honours of the altar, it has been our pleasure to have them admired in their appearances and the wealth of the divine display of the multiformis gratia (1 Peter 4,10), evident in each of the saints as a reflection of the unique and uncreated light, giving a pale image of the mirror of justice and reflecting the splendour of his Son who is candor lucis aeternae and speculum sine macula (Ws 7,26). If all these virtues practised to a heroic degree are to appear on the crown with which the Church wishes to adorn her sons and daughters, the character and temperament of each one together with the circumstances of their life show us in detail the one or other priceless gem which adds to the splendour.

Image of a saint

We notice this difference with the saints when we compare the two priests whose life and works were closely connected with St Elizabeth Bichier des Ages. One of them shared with her the honours of yesterday whereas the other preceded them by several years yet it is impossible to separate them completely. Taking a look at St Michael Garicoits, his personal history and psychology one gets the impression of being in the presence of one of those strong characters capable of expressing an appearance of a character of outstanding strength.

Image of Michael Garicoits

Oh the Pyrenees! This is where Michael Garicoits enters the scene. This great saint, so different naturally from the image created by Andre Fournet, was to become after his death a second father to the Daughters of the Cross. If we were to believe him he owed everything to their mother: “When I saw the holiness of this chosen soul, her religious life, her poverty, I was obliged to reflect on my own life...... where would I be without her? For it is thanks to her, after God that I am where I am; I can assure you it is she who converted me”. And he was wont to tell anyone who listened to him “that it was she who had done everything for the foundation of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Betharram of which he was the first Superior General”. Let’s give modesty its due! The saints are great at sending each other the merits of their virtues and good works. Be that as it may, Michael Garicoits does nothing by halves and if it is true that the sight of the poverty of the esteemed Elizabeth Bichier des Ages was enough to convert “the young priest who had previously lived in poverty bought fashionable footwear in replacement of his shepherd’s clogs,” it wasn’t long before he was as good as his modal even leaving her behind! And the saint’s cassocks were soon as famous as the dresses of Elizabeth Bichier des Ages.

“De forti dulcedo”

As well as poverty, accepted and loved, he practised humility, mortification, abnegation, zeal and charity, at the same time so full of goodness that “de forti ..... dulcedo (Jg 14,14) could easily be applied to him. In the countless details of his life, from his talks and from his letters there is a constant evidence of all these virtues. This need to excel made of him the ideal founder of a Religious Congregation but also made him the friend of all the others. Where lesser souls might detect competitors he could see brothers and better still apostles with whom his ambition was to be a fellow worker. He opened his door to the Capuchins turned out of Spain; he lent a helping hand to the young Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception; he had the joy of welcoming the Jesuits in Pau; he did everything in his power to facilitate the return of the Premontres; he helped with the creation of Our Lady of the Refuge of Father Cestac; he was Spiritual Director of the Carmelites, the Ursulines, the Dominicans but especially of his dear Daughters of the Cross.

His zeal for pastoral activity

He wasn’t short of personal activities: the formation and government of his Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Sanctuary and Calvary at Betharram, the creation and management of colleges, of agricultural and industrial orphanages, and the choosing of teaching brothers for such institutions. The Pyrenees where there is so much to do and where he has done so much don’t stop him from responding to a heavy mission in Argentina and then in Uruguay.

If only he could be satisfied with simply founding or launching an operation! But no! He was present everywhere, helping either by visits or letters – thousands of letters full of sound advice and at the same time heartfelt and with such ardour that it is a wonder how one man could face up to so many responsibilities.

Supreme glorification

As Elizabeth’s life was declining and Michael’s was emerging, Divine Providence brought these two saints closer together through mutual assistance and the strength and results of their respective good works and wanted to set the seal of approval on their meeting here below by uniting them in the supreme glorification.

Amazed at the fullness of the existence of two such divers characters people will wonder how such boundless activity could exist alongside the spiritual dimension of their contemplative lives. Who is talking of conciliation? One between the flame and the source of charity? Between the brightness which they spread around them and the light of which they bear the reflection?

A Fatherly exhortation

What lesson does this hold for you, dear Priests of the Sacred Heart and you dear Daughters of the Cross? It’s a lesson which is on the lips of these two saints to whom you owe so much! Let your zeal, like theirs, be ardent, active, overpowering, adapted to the needs of every age, but let your zeal always be founded at the living spring! Don’t heed the temptation to sacrifice your religious life and personal sanctification to the apostolate. It would be like gathering flowers on a tree for a posy and then looking for fruit on the bare branches.

The power of their intercession is to be added to their teachings and example. With confidence as We give you and yours Our Apostolic Blessing we pray to them for you and for all those whom you represent here today.