Close to our loved ones at Montligeon
Martine and Séverin, who have been married for over forty years,
come to Montligeon two or three times a year. “Here, we find silence, peace and prayer. In this way, we remain close to those who were alive before us. When my husband’s mother died on February 18, we were here. Her death was unexpected. But we experienced this as a grace. We gave support to our brothers and sisters.
We prayed together. And our faith kept us standing.
“We regard our deceased as just gone.”
This certainty guides our footsteps. It eases family conflicts. It sheds light on everyday choices. That’s why we lay down our tears and our intentions here. And we receive the promised consolation. So we leave from here stronger and more peaceful. For the communion of saints is not just an idea. It becomes an experience. What’s more, it teaches us to hope. It teaches us to look to Heaven, and reminds us that love does not end with death.
Entrusting our child to perpetual Mass
We lost a little girl when I was six months pregnant. Her name did not get recorded in our family civil status book. We felt hurt by his omission. Thanks to Montligeon, we found a way. We entrusted our daughter to perpetual Mass, under the name of “Séverine”. We visit her several times a year. In this way, her memory lives on in the prayers of the Church. We have handed her to Christ.
“We have offered our daughter to the Lord.”
We feel borne by those words. They show us the way. Actually, a year later, a son was born. We welcomed him as a gift. It meant that suffering doesn’t have the last word. Of course, the Lord doesn’t always take away suffering. But he does give his presence. And perpetual Mass extends this support. Through it, our child is part of a relationship of love. It unites us to her beyond the visible world. It also nourishes our hope and teaches us fidelity. It builds trust.
Welcoming the unexpected and discerning the presence of our loved ones
I got retired in 2022. At the time, my plan seemed clear. I wanted to go to the West Indies to live with my father, who was 89 at the time. However, the reality was quite different. He passed away in November 2023. My plan simply wasn’t God’s plan. I prayed. And I said:
“It was your choice, it wasn’t mine. I accept that.”
Since then, I’ve felt my father’s presence next to me. For example, just this morning at confession, I felt him close by. He gives me gentle strength. He also sheds light on plans we’ve been working on for the past two years. People close to us also walk the path with us.
Then my husband’s father died twenty-two years ago. We know we’re well supported. We don’t expect extraordinary signs. We keep it simple. In this way, we receive peace. As a result, we take things one step at a time. We remain committed to prayer. We keep gratitude alive. And we let God write the story.
Praying every day Jesus and the Virgin Mary, our consoler
Nevertheless, our path is based on a simple practice. First, we pray every evening. Then we name our deceased. Then we entrust our families. Finally, we reaffirm our faith in Jesus and invoke the Virgin Mary, our
“consoling mother”.
“Mary is a mother… she provides a lot of consolation.”
Indeed, she watches over us. She teaches us to be trustful. That’s how we get through the trials of life. Of course, we don’t hold back tears. But we refuse to despair. At Montligeon, we receive the sacraments. Confession opens the way. And the Eucharist unites us to Heaven.
Besides, perpetual Mass never ends. It carries our intentions when words fail us. As a result, we leave freer. We can support our loved ones in their grief. And we can look to the future without fear. What’s more, we give thanks. We bless God for his consolations. And we repeat, simply:
“Thank you, Jesus.”
Mary Mother of Consolation
The conclusion of our testimony can be summed up in one sentence:
“Mary is a mother… she provides a lot of consolation.”
We have experienced it. Mary led us to Montligeon. She taught us to pray for our dead. She supported us in our bereavements. She helped us welcome the unexpected.
So we believe that love continues its work. Our loved ones are not missing. They remain in God. We believe “they’re just absent”. So we go forward in hope. We entrust our intentions at perpetual Mass. We receive the strength of the sacraments. We keep our gratitude alive. We renew our trust in Jesus. We turn to the Virgin Mary. Yes, we call her “Mary Consoler”. May she teach us to console in turn. May she keep our families in peace. May she lead us to Heaven. Thank you, Jesus.
