INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN SAINT- LAURENT (3 - 7 août 2010)

"Listen, come to me; I want to make you happy!" (no.66)

What's new in 2010

The International Meetings bring together in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre Fathers, Brothers and Sisters of the Montfortian family who know one another, and also others who do not know one another, people from various countries (priests, religious and lay people) who take their inspiration from Father de Montfort, and again others who are simply looking for a time of renewal.

The Meeting in 2010 offers something new. More even than the programmes of previous meetings, those of 2010 will foster an experience of real spiritual progress. In fact, in this year of the Tercentenary of the Calvary of Pontchâteau, our programme will include a real day of pilgrimage. There are coincidences which are only too evident:

• First of all, there is this Tercentenary and the reminder of the fact that, each time he gave a mission, Montfort set up a 'mission cross'. Why did he set these up?

• The missionary had perfectly integrated the mystery of the Cross into the 'Good News'. The Cross was the sign of a reminder that God has no favourites - he loves all people, the good and the bad.

• The domain he wanted to create was a 'Holy Land' close to the people, a place where one could come to live and celebrate the Covenant offered by God. Montfort wanted to offer the region a land of Covenant, a place of Encounter.

• Montfort, the great teacher, loved to organise processions to call to mind the people of God on the march, and to evoke on the other hand the God who walks with his people.

• Then there is this coincidence: the eve of the closing day of the Meeting will be a Friday, and this year it is the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Tabor, Jesus pointing out his own way which leads to Jerusalem and Golgotha. He holds out the image of the Glorious Cross.

• The theme which is most appealing to Montfort: the paradox 'Good News' - 'Cross', the path of Jesus which goes beyond Golgotha.

Led by Montfort, this year we will make our way to this Holy Land of Pontchâteau, to experience and welcome the Covenant the Lord offers us.
Discover the programme for the days preceding this event. First of all there is the main theme, taken from one of the main writings of Montfort, The love of Eternal Wisdom, no. 66:
"Listen, come to me; I want to make you happy!"

Then there will follow certain questions. Who is this Wisdom who calls us? How are we to respond to the invitation, "Listen, come to me"? And what does this mean: "I want to make you happy"? Then, there is this word of Jesus himself: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him take up his cross… and follow me." What is the meaning of this call? And, most importantly for Father de Montfort: the place of the Virgin Mary in the work of God, her presence at the foot of the cross and the mission s he received.

What we are describing is a powerful experience: an encounter with one's brothers and sisters, fellow Christians, with Father de Montfort, with Sr Marie Louise, with the Marquis de Magnanne, with the Blessed Virgin and most of all the Lord himself.
Then, let us not forget, the participants will be making a journey, they will encounter themselves and will be invited to (re)situate themselves in the wider and smaller world which challenges them at this point in their lives. 

For the core comty, Frans Fabry smm.

For inscription open PDF 1