With our Mauritian friends the Normans prayed to Father Laval

Every year, Normans and Mauritians meet on pilgrimage to celebrate and pray to Blessed Jacques Désiré Laval. This year, and exceptionally, the relics were exhibited  in Pinterville on September 15.

Nicknamed the Apostle of the Poor by the Mauritians, born in the village of Croth  in the Eure Valley in Normandy, Jacques Désiré Laval was declared Blessed by Pope John Paul II in April 1979 in Rome.

Jacques Désiré Laval is still revered in Mauritius and those from there in France meet every year in Pinterville with many  Norman Christians to pray to him and ask for his intercession.

Putting the man back on his feet

Jacques Désiré Laval fought against inequality, especially against slavery. It has been abolished, but the granted freedoms confuse ex-slaves who feel abandoned. Father Laval will treat them like his brothers, giving them back the dignity of man. He learns their language and writes for them a catechism in Creole. He cares for them, trains families and regroups them in the Christian Community, gradually enriching them with the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, marriage and recommending to pray Mary. Gradually the humble missionary becomes the Apostle of the Mauritians,  making no difference  between the races and religions so diverse on this island, which will make it say "that if religion divides, holiness unites." To get to this point, he will need a deep faith at the limits of courage and self-sacrifice, stretched in the Love of God and neighbor.

Page prepared by Monika Ptak