From Our Roots

This slice of Daily Bread comes from Notre Dame de L'Hermitage, the "Mother House" of The Little Brothers of Mary built in one year by St. Marcellin, twenty young brothers and four professionals using pick axes and wheelbarrows.  Recent renovations, which have keep the spirit of the original building while making it "user friendly" to contemporary pilgrims, took two and a half years with a large team of workers and the latest modern equipment.  One has to marvel at the contrast.  But even more, one cannot help but marvel at being in the simple room where St. Marcellin lived, wrote hundreds of letters to his "Little Brothers", prayed, suffered through his illness in 1826, and eventually died on June 6, 1840, the Saturday before Pentecost.  His desire was to die on a Saturday (dedicated to Mary), and, like so many of his other wishes, was granted.  To walk up the flight of stairs he used daily; to feel his determination as he and the brothers carved their way into a cliff to build a five-story building; to see the clothes he wore, his confessional, and to hear the tender words of his letters and last will and testament, is to touch and be touched by our roots that can only lead to greater love of him, Jesus and Mary, and to greater dedication to his mission to make Jesus known and loved.  His presence is here in a unique way and is rubbing off on us who have gathered from three continents, and through these humble words and our presence "back home" will rub off on generations to come.  Thank you, St. Marcellin for welcoming us home and rekindling the fire that forged us into your service so many years ago. May that fire burn more brightly than ever before.
Bro. Rene