Dear friends of the Fraternity of Our Lady of Montligeon, whether you are members of a prayer group or candidates for the vow, this formation program is specifically designed for you. This program is intended to provide practical support for your spiritual mission in the parish, in the service of prayer for the deceased. Marie Houdebert, coordinator of the Montligeon prayer groups, is joined by Fr. François-Régis Moreau, chaplain of the shrine, to offer you a comprehensive training series consisting of eight complementary sessions:
Each video can be watched on its own.
Together, these elements form a coherent path that supports the spiritual life of the prayer groups of the Fraternity of Our Lady of Montligeon.
- 01: Our Lady, the Liberator
- 02: The Purpose of Prayer Groups
- 03: Deceased Children
- 04: Energizing My Prayer Group
- 05: Have a Mass said for the deceased
- 06: Relationships with the Priests in Your Parish
- 07: The Communion of Saints
- 08: The Promise of Brotherhood
1. Our Lady, the Liberator
Why is Mary invoked under the title of Our Lady the Liberator in Montligeon? Where does this insight come from, one that is deeply rooted in the tradition of the Church and in the mission entrusted to the shrine by Bishop Buguet?
2. The Purpose of Prayer Groups
What is the purpose of a Montligeon prayer group? In this second video, we discuss what defines the identity of these prayer groups and their specific mission within the Fraternity, as well as their practical role in the parish.
3. Deceased Children
Deceased children: This is a question frequently asked by families and the prayer groups that support them: What is the significance of the all-white liturgy for the funeral of a baptized child? Can we pray for a child who died before baptism? Is it possible to commend a very young child to perpetual Mass, especially when no first name has been given? Here are some practical guidelines for offering fraternal support through prayer and charity.
4. Revitalize the prayer group
How can we breathe new life into a prayer group that’s struggling? Drawing on real-life situations—such as an aging membership, a loss of momentum, isolation, and difficulty welcoming new participants—here are some practical ideas for revitalizing a group.
5. The Mass for the Dead
In what way does Christ’s sacrifice, made present in the Eucharist, constitute the highest form of prayer for souls? “Having a Mass said” or multiple Masses: here are the different types of Masses—perpetual Masses, novenas, the Gregorian Trenten—as well as the specific role of prayer groups and members of the Fraternity in parish life.
6. Relations with Priests
Drawing on real-life situations they have encountered in the field, Marie and Fr. François-Régis discuss the difficulties that sometimes arise—such as a lack of communication, misunderstandings, and reservations about praying for the deceased—and offer suggestions for establishing a trusting and constructive dialogue with priests.
7. The Communion of Saints
The unity of the Church in its three states—the Church in heaven, the Church on earth, and the suffering Church. The distinction between the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, as well as the central role of prayer and the Eucharist in this spiritual communion. How the mission of the Fraternity of Our Lady of Montligeon enables its members, both living and deceased, to concretely experience this communion in prayer.
8. The Promise of Fraternity
A ceremony that solemnizes and strengthens one’s personal commitment within the Fraternity; the promise is based on three pillars—prayer, formation, and works of charity—and is open to every member of the Fraternity, whether or not they belong to a prayer group. Who can make the promise? How can one live it out in practical ways according to one’s abilities? How does this commitment fit into a “family of prayer” where members pray for both the living and the deceased within the communion of the Church?