Why would a priest from Benin, on a study mission in Switzerland, choose to spend a month at the Shrine Notre-Dame de Montligeon? Father Mellon Hounton recounts how he discovered this place dedicated to prayer for the deceased, whose spirituality was already familiar to him in Benin. During his stay, he shared in the chaplains’ ministry, met pilgrims from very different backgrounds, and deepened his reflection on Christian life. He regards Montligeon as a concrete manifestation of the universal dimension of the Church, which serves as a reminder that prayer for the faithful departed unites all peoples.
Serving the Church in Benin, a dedication
Father Mellon Hounton is a priest of the Diocese of Porto-Novo in Benin. He is currently pursuing theological studies in Switzerland. His time in Europe is part of a pastoral initiative led by his bishop, who wishes to send certain priests for training so that they can then use their skills to serve their diocese. As he explains, this opportunity arose from the relationships fostered among bishops and the opportunities created by their meetings. Thanks to a scholarship, he was able to enroll in the Faculty of Theology in Lugano before planning a stay in France. His goal was not only to discover a new country but also to benefit from a time of spiritual renewal. “My bishop, Bishop Aristide Gonsallo of Porto-Novo, wanted to send a priest to acquire skills to enable him to return to pastoral service in his diocese and in the Church in Benin.”
Why choosing Notre-Dame de Montligeon?
The choice of Notre-Dame de Montligeon was no accident. Even before discovering the shrine, Father Mellon was already familiar with its spirituality. In Benin, prayer for the faithful departed plays an important role in the lives of many Catholics. Even when he was a seminarian, there were already prayer groups dedicated to the souls in purgatory in which he participated. So, as he was preparing for his trip to France, he sought out a place where this spirituality was lived out in a special way. Since he already knew a few people connected to the shrine, he reached out to Montligeon. The doors were opened to him, and he was invited to spend a month sharing in the life of the community.
The shrine’s centennial in Benin in November 2023 also made him realize its international influence. This universal dimension echoes what he already knows in his own country and strengthens his desire to explore this place from the inside. “The spirituality embodied by this shrine is a spirituality that we also share in Benin. Prayer for the faithful departed is very important to us.”
One month in the life of the chaplains’ ministry
During his stay, Father Mellon shared in the daily life of the chaplains. He took part in the various ministries provided to pilgrims: celebrating Mass, offering spiritual guidance, and listening to those who come to confession or simply to speak with a priest. This experience allowed him to gain firsthand insight into the shrine’s pastoral mission. Beyond the activities themselves, what he remembers most is the spiritual atmosphere that permeates the place. The encounters, the exchanges, and the depth of the life of prayer, in his view, constituted one of the great lessons of this month spent in Montligeon. “It was a beautiful time of encounters, sharing, discovery, and above all, depth, because the shrine’s spiritual program is wonderful.”
Nourishing encounters for pastoral reflection
During that month, several events held at the shrine left a lasting impression on Father Mellon Hounton. The first one was the blessing of the motorcyclists, held the day after his arrival. He found a gathering attended not only by practicing believers, but also by people who had come to entrust their rides and their fellow bikers to the Lord. Don Paul Denizot’s homily particularly caught his attention. He observed that it also resonated with people who do not necessarily share the Christian faith but who understand the importance of the bonds that unite them. This celebration showed him that a shrine can be deeply inclusive while proclaiming the Gospel. “I met people who were joyful to attend Mass, to have their motorcycles blessed, and to have their group blessed. That touched me deeply and gave me ideas for our country.”
Another experience left a lasting impression on him: the dads’ hiking trip. He admits that he was apprehensive about this long walk of more than seventeen kilometers—the first of its kind in his life. Yet that day allowed him to share in the joys, struggles, and hopes of the participants. Beyond the physical exertion, he discovered a unique way of experiencing the pilgrimage. This initiative struck him as rich enough to inspire pastoral initiatives within the Church in Benin.
Pilgrims in search of spiritual support
Father Mellon also mentioned the session dedicated to single parents and grandparents. Although he did not give them direct guidance, he said, he did take part in an outing with some of them and heard the report provided by his colleagues. His own assessment remained deliberately cautious. Whilst he would not speak on behalf of the participants, what he observed made a deep impression on him: many people seemed to be seeking spiritual support and words that could restore their courage. “Many were seeking spiritual support, seeking words that would give them strength, words that would renew them from within.”
A Christian Life Rooted in an Encounter with Christ
Father Mellon’s testimony then turns to a more personal subject. Referring back to a homily he had delivered a few days earlier, he explains that lukewarmness has no place in the Christian life.
Christians draw their strength from Christ, he believes. Since Jesus dwells with those who have faith in him, there is no reason to live in fear or resignation. This conviction is not based solely on human qualities, but on the presence of Christ. He sums it up with a powerful image: “A Christian is a person on fire, for he carries within himself the flame that is Jesus Christ.”
This reflection naturally leads him to quote Benedict XVI and the opening lines of the encyclical Deus Caritas Est. He reminds us that the Christian faith does not arise from an idea or a theory, but from an encounter with a person. As he reflects on his own life in light of this statement, he does not claim to have reached the end of the journey. He prefers to speak of a patient journey with Christ, in which he seeks each day to know Him better and to follow the path He shows him.
A calling born into a Catholic family
“I was born into a practicing Catholic family”, recounts Father Mellon Hounton . At a very young age, his parish priest encouraged him to consider entering the seminary. At the time, he initially declined the offer. Then, some time later, he returned to the priest on his own initiative to tell him that he had finally decided to embark on that path. He then joined the group of seminarians, passed the entrance exams, and continued his education at the seminary. Looking back, however, he admits that at that time he did not yet fully grasp what it meant to become a priest. It was after his ordination that he became more fully aware of his Christian and priestly identity. Certain experiences he had during his ministry helped him understand that his work could bear fruit only by remaining united with Christ. “I became aware of my identity as a Christian, and then as a priest. I understood that I had to be with Christ, because without him I could do nothing. ” Even today, he describes his spiritual life as a journey. He seeks to remain close to Christ, to receive from him what he needs for his ministry, and to respond to his love.
Discover the prayer groups in Montligeon:
An international shrine for all peoples
At the end of his testimony, Father Mellon reflects on what made the greatest impression on him during his stay: the global dimension of Notre-Dame de Montligeon. He admits he was surprised to find that the shrine is sometimes better known abroad than in France. In Benin, the spirituality of Montligeon is already present through prayer groups for the faithful departed. Upon arriving there, he discovered a place where this mission is lived out daily and which welcomes pilgrims from many countries. That is why he first extends an invitation to Christians in France: to come and discover the shrine, even if only for a weekend, in order to experience its spirituality. According to him, everyone should have some interest in praying for the deceased. Everyone has known a loved one, a relative, or a friend who has passed away. Coming to pray at Montligeon thus allows one to nourish one’s faith, but also to step out of a mindset of self-absorption in order to deepen the bond that continues to unite the living with their departed loved ones. Finally, he extends his call to all those who are unable to make the journey to the shrine. They can nevertheless entrust their intentions to the Fraternity of Our Lady of Montligeon and join in the prayer offered there every day. “If you cannot come, entrust your intentions to this shrine, which prays for the souls of the departed. I believe we can all benefit from this prayer.”
