I. Charism - La Salle.org

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IV. DISCOVERING, LIVING, SHARING THE GIFT OF GOD
chapter to “What happened in France during the absence of M. de
La Salle” 121 In fact, he underlines, beyond the Clément affair, what
was at stake during this period of the history of the Institute, and
he shows how the latter emerged from it with its definitive face.
The circumstances of the precipitous departure of John Baptist de
La Salle for the Midi regions of France during the first week of Lent
1712, left the Brothers in Paris without a leader and without a sense
of direction. Blain picks up on this, while showing his perplexity
before such an attitude, at the beginning of Chapter 12 of Book 3
of his biography:
If we were permitted to judge of the actions of saints, who conform to
principles so markedly different from those of other people and who,
often enough, act outside the ordinary rules of human prudence
because they are following the motions of the Holy Spirit, we might
be tempted to condemn the precipitate and secret flight of De La Salle
to Provence. It occasioned great turmoil in his Institute and came near
bringing about its ruin. It would seem, in fact, that before taking this
resolution or before leaving Paris - or at least after his arrival in
Provence - the holy Founder should have informed the Brothers, let
them know where they could write to him, answered them, directed
them their letters from his place of retirement, and, in short, appointed
the Brother whom he felt best qualified to take his place in Paris,
one whom the others would then have honored as their Superior in his
absence. The servant of God did none of these things. He went into
hiding in the most distant provinces and did not want to let anyone
know where he was going. He remained there unknown and did not
reply to the letters he received from the Brothers. He did not even designate
anyone to replace him during his absence. Finally, as far as the
Brothers in France were concerned, he showed no sign of life or movement
as though he were actually dead. 122
121
Blain, op. cit., Book Three, p. 641-659. (CL 8, p. 107-120).
122
Blain, op. cit., Book Three, p. 641. (CL 8, p. 107-108).