The New World

The title given to this vast land of America is not without significance. The desire for a New Heaven and a New Earth in the Bible (Ap. 21: 1) thrusts humanity from within towards its happy ending. A New World? Isn't all hope allowed?

The New World covers the Americas, and very early, Notre-Dame makes known her wishes. In 1531, she gives her instructions to an Indian, Juan Diego, mandating him to take up her demands to the bishop of the time. Message: build a place that will become witness of the blessings she wants to spread to these vast lands. Watermarked message: Our Lady of Guadeloupe will, from that moment, be the source of inspiration to several American peoples, including Spaniards, in search of a new world.

What is this new world? Neither utopia nor chimeras, but fulfillment of God's promise. It started in the land of Palestine; Mary, Joseph, Jesus, acting jointly, are thus renewing the whole of humanity, by laying the foundations of the nascent Church. It spread itself, spirit of Pentecost, all the way to the land of France, welcomed by Provence. There, still very much active, the presence of the three has shaped history. Since then, France no longer accounts for the places where the "presence" bursts into granted requests, healings and victories, where the most diverse characters cross paths: children and preachers, mystics, shepherdesses, princesses and kings, Therese and Vincent, Bernadette, Louis… all bearers of the "new" of the Gospel, in the old continent, pushing and pulling history towards its fullness.

The former contains the seeds of the new, it is never negligible. But God speaks through time and space:

"Leave your country…" He said to Abraham, because it is elsewhere that I will do something new.

Some of them, French, expatriated themselves, moved by this mystical thrust, to found, to sow, and to help grow a magnificent tree, with a nourishing foliage:

"What you see here is only a mustard seed; but it is cast by such pious hands and so animated by the spirit of faith and religion, that, no doubt, Heaven must have great designs, since it uses such instruments for its work; and there is no doubt that this small seed will produce a large tree, will one day do wonders, will be multiplied and will spread everywhere. "

True prophecy proclaimed by Barthelemy Vimont, superior of the Jesuit mission in Canada, and which accompanied the founders of Montreal in May 1642, when they arrived on the island; it was again quoted on May 20th, 1992, in the midst of the national assembly in Quebec. In a motion, Mr. Daniel Johnson (son), then President of the Treasury Board, asked that the assembly stresses the 350e anniversary of the foundation of the city of Montreal.

This statement of Barthélémy Vimont has not lost any of its meaning and scope. Those who sent the Montrealers foresaw it themselves by writing the True Motives that it was all about taking an active part, by virtue of the strength and engagement of one's own baptism, in the sending to the Nations.

Mr Olier, a founder like Mr de la Dauversière, writes:

"All the same, it is in this time when God, by His infinite mercy, wishes new good for his church and to restore its original spirit. He was so pleased in the past mysteries of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; also these mysteries were led by such an admirable wisdom, that having to renew its initial piety, he pretends to use the same conduct he held on his Church when he established it and founded it on earth, and to use a similar process. The work of which I speak must consist of two things: one is the renewal of the Church within its districts, the other is the establishment of a new church in Canada, where we will build a Christian city, which is a work of marvelous importance. "

This "similar process" is the knowledge of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, to which the island of Montreal was consecrated in 1642 at the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. Not separately, nor independently of each other, but in their Trinitarian fertility, eternal and constant source of restoration of humanity.

If the gifts of God are without repentance, it is that the seed sown here in the land of America has not completely given its fruit. It needs workers to ensure it happens. Certainly, it has blossomed, and it can be seen:       

• Through the life of Jeanne Mance, who, without a rucksack or a walking stick, without costume or fence, responding simply to the call of her baptism, came to America to bring the love of the Gospel and, specifically, to make joseph known;
• Through the life of Marguerite Bourgeoys, depicting Mary "journeying", and whose work as an educator has reached far beyond its confines;
• One needs to read the history of the missions to discover how Canadian missionaries (who came mostly from Quebec) sowed widely, among the nations, spreading everywhere the love of Jesus Christ.

Yes, indeed, the grain germinated, but the branches of the tree are not yet fully deployed. Should we not explore in depth the "similar process" to let the dawn of the New World rise up?

Josée Lacoursière

Article from the website Tendances et Enjeu (Trends and Issue), published on May 20, 2013, and adapted for this publication.