A breath of life

In 2006, for the second year running, she ranked first among the most loved women in France, before famous actresses and successful women. She devoted her entire life to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, living it personally among the poor in Cairo. Sister Emmanuelle passed away the night of October 19. She was 99 years old. “Following her own will”, the funerals will take place today, October 22, in Callian (Var, on the Côte d’Azur) “with a strictly private ceremony”. The sad news was delivered in a note by the French Bishops’ Conference stating that today a Requiem Mass will be recited in the Cathedral of “Notre Dame” in Paris. According “to her wishes”, on October 25, in Paris, a Mass in her memory will be celebrated in the chapel of “Notre-Dame de la Médaille miraculeuse”. A hope way. “Until the end, and despite her age, Sister Emmanuelle was a breath of life to all those who follow her footsteps”, states a communiqué issued by “Asmae” association, inspired by her life. She was born November 16 1908 in Brussels. When she turned 20, Madeleine Cinquin (her christening name) decided to enter a convent and at 23 she took the vows in the congregation of Notre Dame de Sion (1931), taking on the name of Sister Emmanuelle. She taught literature in Istanbul, Tunisia and lastly in Egypt. During those years she taught her students from wealthy families to become responsible for the poor people of their Country living in dire straits. In 1971, at the age of 63, and having retired, she decided to share the life of the poor by entering the community of the homeless in Cairo where she lived for 22 years. In 1976 Sister Sarah joined her and together they became the living soul of the community. In 1980, to give a continuation to her commitment for the poor, she founded the Association “Asmae – association soeur Emmanuelle”. However, in 1993, following the call from her superiors, she left Egypt to join her congregation. In Europe she continued following her commitments for solidarity. She wrote many books, attended lectures and symposiums. In 2002, Jacques Chirac awarded her with the title of “commandeur” of the Legion of Honour. Next November 16 she would have turned 100. “Her death – wrote “Asmae” chairman Trao Nguyen – leaves an immense void in our hearts. But the force of her message will continue helping us to be faithful to her orders: “Living is acting, Yalla”. “A seed of eternity. The “infinite” gratitude of the Church of France for the “testimony of love” that Sister Emmanuelle gave with her life, “entirely consecrated to God and to the others”. It was expressed in a press release published by card. André vingt-Trois, archbishop of Paris and president of the French Bishops Conference, in announcing the death of the nun who died last night, aged 99. “A woman of heart and action”, writes the archbishop, “she will be missed”. “She managed to push her contemporaries to help the destitute, with her frank speak and her simplicity. Down to her last breathe, she managed to indefatigably show immense energy and unshakeable faith. I am thinking above all of the many children and families that she assisted all her life, first as a teacher, then by living amidst the poor in the slums of Cairo, and finally in her daily prayers. I remember an intention she had noted down in one of her works: ‘I feel immense gratitude for all those who have taught me that love is stronger than death and bears in it a seed of eternity'”. “By following her example – concludes the archbishop -, we will not stop working for the poor and testify God’s love to man”. She would have turned 100 on November 16th. Contagious enthusiasm. Belgium’s bishops were on the same wave length. “It is with deep emotion that we learnt of her death, a few days before her hundredth birthday – says the text -. For almost one century, this woman had radiated her catchy generosity and enthusiasm all over the world. Her life calls us to be more charitable in our ordeals and reminds us that it is love that saves the world”. “On behalf of the Catholics of Belgium – a country that was a bit hers -, we give our condolence to Sister Emmanuelle’s family and religious community. We must not be sad! Speaking of her death, Sister Emmanuelle recently said: “I am getting ready for the big encounter with the Lord. As is see death getting closer by the day, I think of the child who is about to throw himself into his father’s arms”. With Sister Emmanuelle, we mostly wish to thank God for this life so full of joy and hope”.