Murdered French priest Fr. Maire was an expert on Montfortian Marian spirituality

"I was very affected by his assassination because I knew him well, had known him for years. We had worked together on the doctrine of Father de Montfort for his doctorate. He was one of the best experts of Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.

He also was a holy priest. He was the head of the Montfortians in France, so he was really one of the most important figures of the Montfortian family for the spreading of this spirituality. He was supposed to give a conference next week in Lourdes on "Mary, consoler of the afflicted, according to Father de Montfort".

I see him as a martyr of charity, with a type of welcoming charity that he extended to all, at the risk of his life. His death touched the whole world, and France in particular. He was assassinated in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre, the very town where Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort died a little more than 300 years ago...

But right after his death, people started talking about Louis de Montfort and the Montfortians. So I think that, from Heaven, Father Olivier Maire is now inviting France, but also the people of God, to rediscover the treasure, the importance, the relevance of Saint Louis de Montfort today. I think that we must see this death in the light of God. It is a painful, upsetting event, but its significance is certainly that Father Olivier Maire is now with Saint Louis de Montfort, close to the Lord and the Virgin Mary".

Adapted from vaticannews.va