1900-04-29
Cardinal Margéot: Homily for the beatification of Jacques Laval
The poor are evangelised by the poor. It was the custom in the co-lonial society at that time for mothers to give their babies to local women to nurse because they were so impressed by the depths of their conversion. It was the employees in the houses who used to persuade their masters to call the priest for the last sacraments if somebody was dying. Eventually the colonials, who no longer practised their religion, were so impressed by the behaviour of their servants that they asked if they too could have direct access to Père Lava.
Homélie du Cardinal, Margéot pour la béatification du P. Laval
Les pauvres sont évangélisés par les pauvres. Dans la société coloniale d’alors, les mamans confiaient leurs petits enfants à des nourrices chez qui elles admirent les effets de la conversion. Ce sont les employées de maison qui convainquent leurs maîtres d’appeler le prêtre pour donner à un proche les derniers sacrements. A l’époque, la présence d’un prêtre près d’un mourant causait encore de l’effroi. Touchées par la conduite de leurs employés, les personnes de milieu aisé qui ne pratiquent pas encore leur religion, leur demandent si elles pouvaient, à leur tour, s’adresser au P. Laval
Homilia do Cardeal, Margéot para a beatificação do P. Laval
Os pobres são evangelizados pelos pobres. Na sociedade colonial de então, as mães confiavam os seus filhos pequenos a amas-de-leite junto de quem elas admiram os efeitos da conversão. São os empregados de casa que convencem os seus patrões a chamar o padre para dar a um vizinho os últimos sacramentos. Nesse tempo, a presença dum padre junto dum moribundo causava ainda pavor. Impressionados pela conduta dos seus empregados, as pessoas abastadas que ainda não praticam a sua religião, perguntam-lhes se podiam por sua vez dirigirem-se ao P. Laval.