A strong Marian spirit defines the Foreign Missions of Paris

"The Blessed Virgin is much loved and honored at the Foreign Missions of Paris (MEP, for Missions Étrangères de Paris). This is so true that one of its famous missionaries, Saint Théophane Vénard, wrote in a letter dated 1851 that Mary is "the second providence of the missionary." Could one express more eloquently the devotion instilled in every missionary for this Holy Mother of all vocations? I wholly subscribe to this spirit, in my heart and in my faith. And the above remark came to us from a MEP missionary who fulfilled the vocation of every MEP missionary, to the point of holiness!

Why is our Marian spirit so important? First of all because for a missionary, the Blessed Virgin is a symbol of this surrender to the will of God. The Virgin was totally offered, abandoned, even in her response to the Archangel: "Let it be done according to your will." Mary’s will or fiat is at the core of all missionary response, which is a total commitment of our person, in a serene abandonment to the call.

I also see the response to this vocation as a gift of our self, in order to serve, just like the Virgin Mary did. The vocation leads to a commitment for every missionary to go out on the journey, in service to God and the Church. This was a source of strength for me when I served in China. I could feel the presence of Our Lady, who was an efficient partner. She was there to witness my initial commitment, my unreserved "yes" when I left Paris, and I found her again in China, where she welcomed me with open arms and assisted my ministry…

Today, as Bishop of La Rochelle (France), I can attest that the Blessed Virgin is still by my side, and continues to bring the same message. She brings a grace that is always available. We should always remember that the image of Mary at the foot of the Cross proves her absolute fidelity. My diocese is the bearer of this fidelity, just as Our Lady of Recouvrance ("Finding again") is our patroness.

With the Marian message, we can never get lost. We eventually find our way back. More than a bridge that I cross, this message is a guideline, a focal point towards the coming of Christ for me as a shepherd and as a fisher of men.

The Most Rev. Georges Colomb, Bishop of La Rochelle and Saintes (France)

Excerpt from an article published in the magazine Ave Maria issue #63, March 2020 (Ave Maria is published quarterly in French by the Marie de Nazareth Association.)