In memoriam...

Benquet (France), 15 March 1936 – Bétharram (France), 31 August 2016

Who didn’t appreciate Brother Paul with his beret? Who didn’t appreciate his kindness, his sobriety, his love of the earth and his smile? In these last years, Paul’s loveliest expression was his big smile; it was the only way he had of communicating with others. Man of faith, faithful religious and servant of God, Brother Paul showed us by his life the importance of simplicity so necessary in religious life. There is no need to embark on great speeches – all that is needed is a presence, his availability, a ready ear and awareness of others. The image which Christ takes in the grain of wheat fallen to the ground could also resume Paul’s life. His was a life given totally to the Congregation in the different communities in which he served, the major part of which was on the farm in Betharram. Today, his smile has disappeared from before our eyes. His depart touches us and puts us before that stage of our own earthly life, that is our death. It is never easy to accept this stage of our life. Christ himself lived through this same passage. He gave up his whole life as a grain of wheat fallen to the earth and totally committed to carrying out the will of his Father, to save the world through love. This is the strength of Easter morning which will give the grain of wheat the power to spring to life so as to produce much fruit of life, life which is stronger than death. From now onwards Brother Paul’s life will blossom in God. This is our hope and our belief this afternoon as we celebrate Brother Paul’s life.

I believe that Brother Paul has left us this simple witness necessary for all Christian lives and all the more so for all religious lives. We are called upon to give our lives, to be free like the wheat grain fallen to the ground, to serve freely, without calculating or measuring, so as to bear witness to the goodness of God, to love really, to tell the world how much God loves everyone with a love full of kindness and mercy. Yes! Let these words of the Apostle Paul find an echo in us: “Let us love one another since love comes from God.”In this Eucharist we thank God for everything that Brother Paul accomplished, served and prayed. Paul’s life will continue producing fruits. We entrust him to the God of love and of life. We pray that Brother Paul will continue to contemplate the face of God with an eternal smile. Amen.

Jean-Dominique DELGUE scj
Regional Vicar