No to violence, yes to life

Paris is under choc for the suicide of historian and writer Dominique Venner who shot himself on the altar of Notre-Dame cathedral to protest against the law on gay marriage. After the green light by the Upper and Lower Chambers past Friday the law was approved also by the Constitutional Council. Personnel in the cathedral tried to reanimate him before the arrival of the ambulance. Given the high-peak hour, 4.00 p.m., the cathedral was evacuated to facilitate the intervention of firemen and police. The tragedy took place few hours after “a prayer vigil for life” organized by eight dioceses of “Ille de France”. Despite the choc and deep sorrow, in the evening hundreds gathered in the cathedral chanting hymns and saying the rosary, while volunteers from national dioceses shared ongoing initiatives for the homeless, for poverty-stricken population brackets, for Alzheimer’s patients, couples in crisis, and the Roma. It is the sign of a Paris that believes in life, but most of all it believes in the path of dialogue, closeness, fraternity, despite the present difficulties marked by violent confrontations in France. The appeal of the archbishop of Paris. Taking the floor at the beginning of the vigil the archbishop of Paris cardinal André Vingt-Trois, spoke of the tragedy and told the numerous faithful that the cathedral had been blessed before the beginning of the vigil. But he immediately added: “More than the cathedral our hearts should be the ones to be purified. We must eliminate violence from our hearts”. At this point the cardinal voiced an exhortation. “There should never be violence, of any kind, whether physical or verbal, which involves the innocent child that is going to be born or the old person that was abandoned and who is left to die, whether it attacks our opponent or ourselves. No form of violence could ever lead to the development of human knowledge as to what is good and the will to implement it. No form of violence leads to the progress of love. Violence only leads to violence and death”. The appeal acquires special significance in view of the major event scheduled in Paris next Sunday May 26 as a sign of protest against gay marriage, on the initiative of “Manif pour tous”.”Since many Catholics next week will take part in the event – the cardinal said – we would like them to refrain from all forms of violence, as happened in previous demonstrations, not only in their actions but also in speech. We call upon them to be witnesses of peace and life”.The projects for the life of dioceses. A living Church in faith, engaged in the suburbs of the great metropolis of Paris, next to the wounds, the challenges, but also the expectations that fill the hearts of its inhabitants. It is the Church of Pope Francis. It is the Church of ‘”Ile de France”. The reception centers of Valgiros (for the diocese of Paris), are home to 21 people, homeless or experiencing precarious living conditions. “They are prisoners of suffering – says a volunteer -. No education, no job. They have often been abused when they were children. They committed violence. “The challenge for them is to be able to carry on with their lives. Speakers shared the experience of family ministry in the Diocese of Pontoise providing support to couples in crisis “in which lack love, tenderness, trust, dialogue, the strength to react and make plans for the future” and for whom “marriage has become an inaccessible dream”. At Versailles there is a foster home that welcomes people who live in situations of great vulnerability that “may have been caused by the loss of a job, a separation, the presence of a disability in the family, an illness, a death”. All they are asking for is simply “support, help and spiritual accompaniment”. In Saint-denis Roma families have sought the help of the local Church. “Some people in our society are facing major ordeals. But there are those who suffer the most for being marginalized. They are the Roma families. We cannot ignore these signs of exclusion and misery”.Finally, a volunteer in the diocese of Créteil that accompanies Alzheimer’s patients shared his experience: “It is a disease that progresses graduallt. The patient reaches the point of no longer recognizing anyone, not even his wife and children. He does not remember anything, no longer knows who he is, who he was. When I enter the room of a sick person, just a smile, a presence, a look that intersects the patients’ glance is enough. “At the end of the vigil, in a climate of deep silence, was read a prayer of commitment: “Inspire all men and women to feel a deep respect for human life. Help us understand how we can help each other to accept life, every human life, as a gift. Inspire doctors and researchers to find the best treatment to relieve suffering, inspire our political and social leaders to seek the good of all. But most of all inspire love for life to everyone”.