The first companions of Michael Garicoits

”Brothers are needed to help the priests of the Community”. Father Auguste Etchécopar reported these words of Father Michel Garicoïts. It is therefore not surprising to see two brothers among the missionaries sent to South America in 1856.

Fabien Lhôpital was one of the very first brothers to enter Bétharram. Born in Pau in 1821, he came to Bétharram in 1846. After first vows in 1849, he became fully committed in 1855. His first role was to be a cook. It had become urgent for a brother to take up this job: domestic workers had robbed the poor community of so much.

From Bétharram Brother Fabien was sent to Orthez; and from there to America, soon serving the San Juan community in Buenos Aires. «A simple life,» you might think, but it had its challenges as Father Garicoïts writes to Father Barbé, the superior: «Please tell Brother Fabien that I received his letter [where he speaks of the illness and death of Father Simon Guimon (May 22, 1861)] with much kindness; This is the Brother Fabien I know. (...) May he always be a good brother, and may the good Lord always give him the blessing of being a good brother. He will have a great reward from this. And on 21 August 1862, Michel Garicoïts replied to Brother Fabien: «I have received your letter with great pleasure. I recognize you very well in this, Brother Fabien. Through all the difficulties you mention to me, you have nothing to fear from obeying. In extraordinarily difficult circumstances, you will get along with Fr. Barbé. Abandon yourself to Divine Providence; even if you get sick, you will lack nothing. Fr. Barbé will come to your rescue, as well as to the help of all of us. It is our duty, but also our pleasure, believe it. (...) The important thing is to behave well in serving God and the Sacred Heart community. The best way to do this is to be humble, like a small child, obedient, content and faithful.»

In 1871, yellow fever raged; Brother Fabien devoted himself to the sick. Contracting the disease himself, he died on 8 April 1871. His name appears, along with those of Fathers Larrouy and Irigaray, on a column erected in Buenos Aires as a token of gratitude.

Joannès Arostéguy arrived at Betharram before Brother Fabien and lived a more challenging life. Why did Joannès Arostéguy give up a job at the cathedral and become a brother at Bétharram? The answer was that he was originally from Barcus, like Simon Guimon who knew how to convince him!

Joannès was born in 1825 into a deeply Christian family. In 1844 his fellow townsman brought him to Michel Garicoïts. He made his first profession in 1846 and his final vows in 1854. He gave this witness of our founder: «This good father, not content with inspiring our souls with the fire of his word, often joined us to share in our most humble and menial work.»

Intelligent and lively, Brother Joannès was entrusted with all kinds of employment in Bétharram, Pau, Orthez or Asson. At the school of Asson, he was both cook and school teacher: a simple curtain between kitchen and class allowed him to supervise ovens and pupils at the same time...

In 1856 he was among the missionaries of America. With Father Barbé and Brother Magendie, in poverty and deprivation, he was at the establishment of San José college in Buenos-Aires: some rooms served as refectory, classrooms and dormitories and the kitchen was a basic outhouse. On rainy days, water came in from all sides: an umbrella protected the fire and the pot. But famine does not prevent either peace or joy.

In 1862, Brother Joannès joined Harbustan and Irigaray in Montevideo. Here he was sacristan, porter and cook all at once. His conduct was exemplary; his example was more worthy than a homily! He attracted trust: more than once, the bishop took him on his apostolic missions.

In 1892, at 70, he returned to Bétharram, hoping to die there. He devoted himself to the sanctuary where Notre-Dame had welcomed him: he prayed there, worked there, and welcomed pilgrims there.

Next came the laws against religious congregations. In 1903, at the age of 79, Brother Joannès returned to America, after saying farewell to his two sisters, Daughters of the Cross, to all his brothers, to the tombs of Fathers Garicoïts and Guimon, and to Notre-Dame.

He leaves a picturesque account of the journey. Welcomed with happiness in Montevideo, he was happy to return. He became an example of prayer, routine and work, often repeating: «I have only one more trip to take: the one into Eternity. He responded to this final call on 19 May 1910.

This comes from a letter from Father Garicoïts to Brother Joannès in 1857: “I see with indescribable pleasure that you are content with your position and the people with whom you have to live, especially Fr Barbé. It makes me see that you have certainly stopped listening to your character first... Continue, dear friend, to always watch over this, and to have no other rule of conduct, no further consolation than the pleasure of God”. Would Brother Joannes have had a strong temperament, causing his frequent changes of community? Surely he has softened with time!

On August 21, 1861, Father Garicoïts addressed Brother Joannès: «I had received your letter with great pleasure. What has made me especially hopeful of you is the desire to watch your character and to make progress on your strengths. So continue onwards! Be humble, obedient, content and faithful; and God will bless you and your family. »

Beñat Oyhénart scj