THE GIFTED SON of Governor General and of a much loved Lady Vanier, was for a while an officer in the Navy.
Then, with a doctorate in philosophy from Paris, he taught in Canada with distinction. But, at 35, the dynamic Jean Vanier was still asking God for light to see how best to serve. A French Dominican, Thomas Philippe, was chaplain to a large residence for men who were mentally ill. He was not happy at the exclusion of our sick people from normal everyday life in the community. He put his fears and his hopes to Vanier.
On St Dominic's Day, August 4th, 1964, Jean welcomed two men with mental disability into a simple residence to share in a normal lifestyle. He and his Dominican friend called this first home LArche The Ark", with sacred memories of Noah. It was to be a place of peace, of sharing, of safety and of new hope for all who came.
Many deprived women and men with severe disabilities wished for new life. Generous people came forward to help and to share, and to form groups as close as possible to normal family life. From this tiny beginning north of Paris, L Arche movement spread in France and in other countries.
Now there are over 120 "Arks" across the world. The inspiration and ideals sprang from the Scripture reflection and prayer and the Catholic theology of Jean Vanier and his Dominican colleague. The Eucharistic celebration was central to Jean's daily life. But the movement welcomed all God's children. Catholics and Christians of all denominations came together. In India, Christians and Hindus live, work and pray together and are united in the effort to create a more truly human ambience in which the weak and the strong can live together and walk hand in hand towards eternal life. We find dedicated agnostics and atheists helping in the world wide community of L'Arche. The movement grows.
This complex aspect of the work can present problems. But for Jean Vanier crisis is always opportunity. Every ten years he organised a great pilgrimage to Lourdes. Each gathering has seen an explosion of prayer, of service and of love. Many generous helpers make a lifelong commitment. Jean Vanier insists that the healthy receive more than they can ever give.
The handicapped have so much to teach us of humility, of sincerity and of mutual love. No masks are worn. The weak ones come to us as they really are and teach us lessons we had never learned. We receive the "gift" of the handicapped person. And what is this gift? Professor Michael Downey, a friend of Jean Vanier, tells us. "In the Community of L'Arche, the essential poverty of each of us is disclosed through the conspicuous weakness and woundedness of the person with mental handicap it is `The True Self' that is manifest in the shared life of L'Arche. Each community becomes a place of pardon and of celebration, of healing and of peace.
Amid all that could possibly divide. Christ is ever present to unite. Each Ark can be for all of us a beacon of light on the once made voyage.