The second day of our pilgrimage focused on the promise that the 12 seminarians, some of whom had recently been ordained priests, signed at Fourvière in 1816.
Brother Faustino Ferrari gave us an excellent lecture on this topic. His talk highlighted the following points:
In the contemporary context, it calls us not to reduce the horizon of promises in modern society. Furthermore, not to replace traditional commitments with temporary and flexible relationships. It invites us to value divine fidelity. To see God’s promises as the foundation of the Christian faith. God’s fidelity contrasts with human frailty.
The historical importance of the Fourvière promise is a reminder of the origins of the Society of Mary and the promises made. We find an important symbolism in the Twelve who signed the Fourvière promise. Parallel between the beginnings of the Church and those of the Society of Mary. In the same way, we could see to some extent the anonymity of the first members of the Society of Mary as a means of collective identification, as well as a collective commitment to found a new Church with a Marian vision. The promise is a common declaration, emphasising the unity of the group. The importance of Mary’s name in Marist identity.
Brother Faustino invites us to reflect on youth and maturity. We must be careful when criticising young people from previous generations. Even though they are young, there is a serious commitment on the part of young Marist aspirants. On the other hand, the development of Church and society forces us to be attentive to changes in our perception of the Church and our ministries. We need a people-centred approach rather than a structure-centred one.
We are invited to ‘rewrite’ the Fourvière promise and remember to make the promise relevant today. We need to establish a link between memory and future for Marists. The Fourvière promise calls us today to live a contemporary faith, sustained by Mary. It invites us to celebrate and update the Marist legacy in our present time.
After the talk, we were enjoyed an excellent meal in this new school, built on the site that Fr. Colin had purchased to be the General House of the Society of Mary in the early days. It was an encounter between the historical and the future, the old and the new, in a dialectic of hope, trust and dedication.
We ended the day with the celebration of the Eucharist in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Fourvière. What an explosion of faith, joy and happiness! It was a beautiful liturgy in which Fr. Larry Duffy pointed out Fr. Colin’s vision of a Church for the whole world, represented by the pilgrims who were there, coming from various parts of the world. The choir, made up of and directed by young people, greatly contributed to the uplifting celebration.
Fr. Eduardo Rodriguez, sm
