In Haute-Loire, a priest tells a baptism

Lhe trip started at dawn this morning. The train first from Paris, and now the car. At Lyon Part-Dieu Gare, I meet Pauline and Mateo who will take me to a very small village near Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire), two hours away. They are friends of Marie and Augustin, a young couple whose marriage I celebrated two years ago, and who invited me to baptize Lazare, their firstborn.

Also invited, Pauline and Mateo proposed to hit me to the church. The journey is long enough to get to know each other. He is a municipal urban planner; She, CPE in a vocational high school. Both are passionate about public service. I marvel at hearing Pauline telling me about her commitment to teenagers often in difficulty to give them confidence and pride. “The most difficult for them is to find their place in this ultra-connected world. With their mobile phones, they watch each other. For better and for worse. »»

The air of nothing, here we are already in Haute-Loire. And the election of the new pope, what do they think? For this unwelcome but committed couple, the event interested them. And Leon seems to them in the line of his predecessor. Good news therefore, so much François has been able to speak to people far beyond the church. “His gestures and words of openness have joined us in our own citizen and political commitments. »»

What about all this? “We don’t like it very much when” cathos “suggest that we would be Christians without knowing it …” Both are quite representative of a generation which says that they do not need a religious anchoring to fight for justice and the common good.

At the end of the small road that descends by snaping to a hamlet of a few houses built in a pozzolan, a local volcanic stone, the old church of Saint-Arcons-de-Barges has been waiting for us for almost a millennium. The sky is uncertain but full of light.

Joy to come back here, two years after this happy day when Augustin and Marie said yes for life. Confidence in the other is therefore still possible! He, a big solid and laughing fellow, comes from a family engaged in the world of music and shows. Faith is experienced there as evidence of everyday life. She, a little bit of a energetic woman with the beautiful artist’s sensitivity, is from the corner, of a rural family where, if faith is always blushing under the embers, we talk about it with modesty. Louise’s chisel face, the dean of the family, testifies: here, we work hard without talking about yourself. Augustin and Marie met by lend a hand to the volunteers who welcome migrants in Calais. It took that to break the ice.

On this joyful day, around twenty people surround Lazare and her cousin, Evé, who will both receive baptism. The small church, too often closed, has reopened its doors. Small yellow bouquets of broom broom have brightened the benches and the venerable door. In the choir, a stele reminds the passerby that we honor here Saint Arcons, a bishop of 8th century Viviers, which everyone has lost their memory.

While waiting for the latecomers, Marie’s sister and her companion take the opportunity to send me a request: would it be possible to also bless their two young boys, Léandre and Léoni, before their cousin Lazare is baptized? Everyone is invited to sit on the steps of the old church. “Blessing, that is to say of someone’s good. So who wants to say good of these two children? “Improvised blessings spring up:” Thank you for the nice boys you are. “Thank you for your parents who support you with confidence. »»

The religious blessing ensued as obvious. “Come bless, Lord, Léandre and Léoni. That they remain in light and peace. “A little later, the mother will throw me with a smile:” We felt the wind blowing since our second boy, Leoni, almost bears the name of the new pope, Léon. »»

Here we are now in the church . We slowly pour into the basin which will serve the baptism the water brought by each other. “This one comes from the Atlantic. “This one of Mejeanne, the local river. “” And here is even Paris water! ” All the waters of our lives mingle in a joyful gushing. Then, blessed, they are paid on the front of Lazarus and Evres which let themselves be done.

Oh Happy Days, sing the parents with an unwavered joy, causing an unexpected Negro Spiritual American in the venerable vaults. Like every Sunday since the May 8 election, the name of the new Pope is cited. “We are pleasantly surprised by this choice,” says Claire, the mother of Év. We were a little afraid of a too steep man … “

At the end of the celebration, the bells resound at the heart, set in motion by the two courageous who climbed the heavy granite steps which bypass the facade. In this small hamlet where a few dozen people discreetly live, faith thus starts as a constantly renewed call. It is always possible. Here too.

Augustin, the dad of Lazarus, takes the opportunity to make a selfie from the whole family united at the exit of the church. Like two years ago at his wedding. But now, with his child brought before him.

The days preceding baptism, the couple took the time to walk for several days in the beautiful surrounding countryside, surrounded by friends and family members. A singular preparation for baptism which has amazed young and old: creation is so beautiful here. The old residences make these young parents dream who have several innovative projects in mind, to put art in nature and bring back to life.

Marie discovered, in several villages, of singular houses which welcomed in the past “Béates”, single women who came to ensure the religious education of the girls of these hamlets, while teaching them the profession of lace. In these “assembly houses”, in the evening, the villagers met to pray with them. “What if this intuition came back to life?” »Lavens Marie in a big laugh.

The day of baptism too, we walked . Because on the other side of the valley, a small Marian sanctuary signals us. After sanging a song from the 1990s but still circumstance, I want the sun, Everyone set out, under the surprised gaze of a few well -equipped walkers passing by. “We present to you Lazare and Évé which have just been baptized. The faces light up with a beautiful smile. Congratulations arise.

Here we arrive in this large rocky shelter where impressive basalt columns form originals for this sanctuary. A small blue and white wooden altar carrying a virgin and child awaits us. It is also the place of an ancient source where those who hoped for healing came. “Let us pray for the mothers of these children. And for all women who give life, each in their own way. Tears beaded in Véronique’s eyes, an aunt, who despairs of not having grandchildren. The song of I greet you Marie sounds, consoling.

Before returning to take a well -deserved snack, there remains one last thing to do . Bless children’s medals. These medals they will wear in order to remind them of the tenderness of God offered to everyone. “Can you also bless the one I wear around my neck?” Asks a baptismal witness. “And also the keys to my car?” Says another.

Between the Christian faith in the communion of the saints and this universal request to be accompanied “by heaven”, time is to meet. In the cool water of the nearby river, I bless the medals, then entrusts them to their owners. It was a day like any other in Saint-Arcons-de-Barges. So extraordinary, necessarily.