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Index
Short
biography
Childhood
Adolescence
Conversion
Seminarian
Curate
Foundation
Like
a tree
Apostolic
project
A
Family grows
Contemplative
in action
Spiritual
Guide
Venerable
Spiritual
Testament
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The
Venerable Pierre Bienvenu Noailles
"Go
often in spirit to the humble house of Nazareth".
Pierre
Bienvenu Noailles: a gift for the Church
By
declaring him Venerable on 8 February 1988, the Church accepted the
life and work of Fr. Noailles as a gift and acknowldeged that he has
a unique role to play in the building up of the Church, the Family of
God. She received him as a guide and model while awaiting the day
when his beatification
would cause his holiness to shine more brightly. She recognised his
charism as an authentic gospel path and invited all those who seek
God to follow that path because it is one capable of forning them in
the image of Christ.
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A
reputation for holiness
Even
in his lifetime Fr. Noailles' reputation for holiness was widely
acknowledged. All those who had any contact with him were struck by
his magnetism. Throughout his life he had never ceased to believe.
The powerful spiritual experience that sparked his conversion had
forever anchored him firmly in God.
Hope
is another facet of faith. Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was a man who
never ceased to hope. God himself was his hope. He knew how to rely
at all times on God's mercy and this enabled him to go through the
greatest trials.
It
was his charity that made Fr. Noailles' sanctity even more
outstanding. "If I have not charity, I am nothing." He
never ceased to love God and his neighbout. He was all goodness,
gentleness, consideration. He received with kindness and gave his
friendship freely and forever.
He
forgave injuries and calumny without withdrawing his trust and
friendship. The simple people whom he loved to visit were never
deceived because already in his lifetime they recognised him as a saint. |
Fr.
Noailles 1853 |
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Correspondance
nourished by the Word of God
Would
you like to know someone? Go to his or her writings. Some, of
course, are more revealing than others. But if you would know the
secret depths of a person go to his or her correspondence.
Fr.
Noailles was a prolific letter writer. More than 3350 of his letters
are preserved. A large number of them are letters of spiritual
direction, nourished by the Word of God, and speak volumes about the
spiritual depths of the Founder.
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The
man, the priest totally captivated by God, can be discerned.as well
as his exceptional qualities as a spiritual guide. To know the secret
of his discernment and natural authority and radiance we must go
down to Nazareth with him.
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"Go
down to Nazareth" - A Way of Holiness
Fr.
Noailles fixed his eyes on the Holy Family. He "went down"
daily to Nazareth to contemplate the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
What he "saw" had an indelible influence on his life. His
contemplation became a source of exceptional apostolic vitality.
At
"Nazareth", Fr.
Noailles discovered a family space where the love of God was the
cement that united Jesus, Mary and Joseph. God had never been so
perfectly acknowledged and loved as in the Holy Family of Nazareth
At
"Nazareth", Fr.
Noailles contemplated the Holy Family, the "lovely image of the
Trinity", the reflection of the Trinitarian communion. The Holy
Family offers on this earth the most perfect model of the love that
"respects and makes worthy".
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At
"Nazareth", Pierre
Bienvenu Noailles came to know the Mystery of the Incarnation. He
"saw" the Blessed Trinity's loving plan for humanity
embodied in the Holy Family, in the person of Jesus, the Father's envoy.
At
"Nazareth", he
learned to live fidelity to God in the ordinariness of each day. With
Jesus, Mary and Joseph he discovered that the ways of humility,
poverty and obedience are illuminated by the presence of God.
At
"Nazareth", in that
little family circle, the first domestic Church, he contemplated the
Church in embryo. It was the acceptance of Jesus into that humble
family that made possible God's project - to gather the whole of
humanity together into one and the same family where relationships
would be transformed by love.
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Fr.
Noailles "accompanied" the Holy Family to the foot of the
cross. Even if Joseph was already dead the Holy Family was no less a
family. He listened to the last words of Jesus to his mother and with
John the adopted son glimpsed the future family, a multitude of
brothers and sisters gathered into the large family of the children
of God by the death and resurrection of Jesus. In the depth of his
heart he repeated the heartfult desire of Jesus, "that all may
be one", and saw it taking concrete shape in the first christian
communities who had only one hert and one mind.
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By
following in the footsteps of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and
Joseph, Fr. Noailles has opened a way in the Church. Who or what
could prevent you, if you so wished, from "going down to
Nazareth" like him? He can accompany you. "Wherever the
saints go, God goes with them." |
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