In the garden of the Resurrection...

In the Gospel, Easter morning bursts out in the heart of a garden, and such a place it is for the new meeting with the resurrected: a gardener in the eyes of Mary-Magdalene! Towards the end of this somewhat strange and incredible Holy Week we have all lived, it is our gardens which jump out as the most sumptuous and the most exultant of liturgies. All creation is seemingly involved as we encounter ducks in our “path of solitude”, a pheasant on the balcony of the conference room, and even a small antelope frolicking in the small forest of the Roche d’Or!

But what a strange sight to see our great chapel in la Roche d’Or filled with just twenty people, all scattered around to maintain proper distancing. But what a wonderful experience of communion with the so many who have celebrated the many Holy Weeks there over time. What a wonderful experience of time simply to be with Him and in Him, while we are also in communion with our scattered and isolated friends. This experience is the same one for our three sites. The Fontanilles house embraced the situation of the majority of Christian people while celebrating their days without a priest. In the small house in Russey, Françoise and the small community inventively celebrated with incredible depth and intensity around Roger, who is very tired. We have truly lived as one community in three places, and together, we have been thinking much about you, happily drawing on the treasures of our heritage, those words to reach you.

On this Easter day, Françoise Porte[1] entrusts us with this text by Florin Callerand which has not been published yet (not yet edited for publication):  " Following on Mary’s footsteps, Mary Magdalene opens herself up to the closeness of a new Presence... ». Faced with the current drama upsetting so many lives around us, we all have a great need to be equipped with words that nourish.

Wishing you and all your loved ones a nice and Happy Feast of the Resurrection!

Danièle Valès