We are at the dawn of the most beautiful story in the world
Léandre Lachance
From the 12th to the 17th of August, Roc-Estello had the joy of welcoming Léandre Lachance, who had come to preach a retreat. Léandre is now more than a friend, he is a true brother for our house. We witnessed, during five days, the shower of thanksgiving that fell on the participants. As many as fifty participants, from all over France and elsewhere, were able to deepen the fundamental message that our Canadian friend continues to develop: “Because love loves you and you let yourself be loved, you become free, you become true, you become love “which is like an echo to the first letter of Saint John:” Here is what love is: it is not we who have loved God, it is He, who loved us first”.
“We are at the dawn of the most beautiful story in the world,” Léandre tells us with his beautiful Québécois accent, “a new civilization rises and is achieved through the transformation of hearts. It is the ‘civilization of love’ as taught by John Paul II and Benedict XVI. The time has come for it to be built. A church and a New Society are unfolding. God does not lie. He predicted that everything would be purified … and it has begun. “
In one of the messages that Léandre wrote, Roc-Estello is called to become a “cradle of the civilization of love” … He reminded us of this mission, admitting its difficulty in believing it, given the smallness of what we are ! The crib of Bethlehem was not marvelous, and the pieces of wood still contemplated at Sainte-Marie-Majeure are only vulgar boards … They have value only by the One they have contained … that is why, without confusing the cradle with what it contains, and knowing that a cradle is only useful during the first weeks of a new life, we are well aware that it is an immense responsibility that is entrusted to us … May the Lord support us to realize what He calls upon us to do!
For those less familiar with this “little broker” of the Lord, here are some excerpts from an interview conducted by Christian Parmentier and published in Stella Maris of July-August 2009.
– Today Léandre, how does the Church receive you?
I have had no problem with the Church. I think this mission has been wrapped in the big mantle of Mother Mary. I had two spiritual companions who told me that we did not need permission. When I first came to Europe, I was often asked: Do you have a letter from your bishop? And I’ve always replied, “No, and I do not intend to ask one either, because I have spent my life in business management, and I imagine that if I was a bishop and a layman who does not have theological training asked me for a letter to approve what he said, while I do not know what he says, I would not give him any! On the other hand, if you wanted to know what he thinks of me, here is his address, write to him. If you want to know what my priest thinks of me, here is his address, write to him. If you want to know what my companions think of me, here are their addresses, write to them.
The lady who organizes my tours in Germany wrote to my bishop who sent her a very favorable letter. She gave me a copy. For my part, I surrender myself completely and if doors close, then so be it. From the beginning, From the get-go, I was confirmed that the comments do not belong to me and that I do not have to defend myself because of the following: a priest to whom I had presented my manuscript positioned me by making a connection with the little path of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. He recommended I read her biography. And Therese gave me a nice nod, as I read the passage on her death: it was the centenary of her death, to the day, the first of October 1997 …
It is clear, it is His own work. At the same time that I gave the Lord my “yes”, I also presented Him my letter of resignation! Therefore, I am ready to withdraw. If I knew He did not need me for this mission anymore, I would have two days of Thanksgiving and I feel like my wife would have four!
– And you, how do you perceive the Church?
I really love the Church. I want to be very faithful to it. Why do I love it so much? Because when Jesus came to earth, He gave us what we needed to enter the civilization of love. In short, everything has been said in the Word of God and the teaching of the Church. The messages are only a new language, adapted to our time to help us understand and especially to live the totality of its teaching. The only reality is that we did not live the Gospel properly. All these treasures that He has given us to enter into the civilization of love, it is to our Church that He has entrusted them. We must love the Church and pray for our priests. I am certain that the renewal of the Church is happening now. When we speak of a “new Church” in the books, it is the one we know under Benedict XVI. It is new because it is transformed. And those who are renewing the Church are not those who want to have a church adapted to the evil world in which we live. The role of the Church is not to ask God to adapt to a perverse world. Its role is to lead the evil world to God, to guide it on the path that leads to God. The world of the twentieth century wanted to be built without God. To want to adjust the Church to this world is a mistake.
When I meet a priest, I do not need to know what he is to benefit from all the sacraments. They are all valid. To know if I can follow his teaching. The first discernment that I make is this: in what way does he speak of the Holy Father? If he speaks well of him, I am left with a favorable prejudice. If he puts reservations on his teaching, I pray for him. What did Jesus say in the Gospel when he healed someone? “Go and show yourself to the priests” … Go and show yourselves to the priests, do not go to convert them, the Lord does not need you to convert them. Above all, do not criticize priests. Our priests and bishops are the pillars of our Church. Currently the pillars are weakened, now is not the time to hit on them.
– Are your writings verified?
Yes, everything has always been verified when we publish. Currently, we are collecting lessons regarding the life as a couple and family life, because we realize that evil is reaping great success by dividing couples. We have the advantage of having fifty years of experience as a couple in addition to what we have witnessed in others. We have witnessed in others. We decided to put this experience at the service of others, for those who want to take inspiration for their own marriage of three, in which the Lord takes first position.
An important topic that I want to talk about is the sexuality of the couple. Many people believe that it is not sexuality that will grow love and we, after fifty years of marriage, are convinced that what gives meaning to sexuality is love. And even we have witnessed during our lives that what made our love grow the most were the periods of abstinence: chastity before marriage, chastity during periods of fertility, chastity of self-denial, so that God could spread his graces on other couples. When we talk about abstinence, my wife is very adamant that it be said that we did not live as a brother and sister, because we showed each other affection.
– In terms of prophecies, does the Lord give you more significant prophecies as with the civilization of love?
I am deeply convinced that we are moving towards the civilization of love. With what I see, I realize it’s working. What we need is to be purified. When we believe in the return of Jesus, there is no harm in wanting to know everything, to know everything. But what is much more important is to be prepared for the return, to have an opened heart to let itself be transformed. When I am asked if I know when Jesus is coming back, I answer, “yes, tomorrow”. Live as if it were your last day to prepare to meet Him and so you will not make mistakes. Do you want to know if you are ready to welcome Him and if you trust Him? See if you have worries in your life. If you have any, it’s because your faith is too weak.
Ask Him to increase your faith and your worries will disappear. Do you want to know if you are a being of love, if you spread love and if you are ready to welcome the other? Look around you, if you are a source of love for your wife, your children, your neighbors. If there are any elements of division around you, ask to be cleansed and carry them to the sacrament of forgiveness.
Feed on the Eucharist, the Holy Presence to be transformed and become a being of love.
What we are moving towards is so simple that smart people have trouble accepting it. No first parents have lost earthly paradise because they have refused to do God’s will to do their own will, and we are preparing to return there by refusing to do our own will to do the will of God!
In summary, I could say that there are three words to describe what I am living: Uninstalled, because it is not what I had planned for my retirement as a businessman, nor in our spiritual life. My wife and I decided to live it in discretion, convinced we could accomplish more through our prayers than through our action.
Exceeded, by the great circulation of books around the world and by the multiplicity of books around the world and by the multiplicity of the testimonies we receive daily.
Amazed to see His action and the transformation of a multitude of hearts especially through the testimonies.
