Word of the Postulator

November 21, the liturgical feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple, has become an important date in the Assumption Family. On this day we remember the death of Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon. In earlier days people used the expression « dies natalis », that is, the day of one’s birth to eternal life. Today we prefer to speak of his « Passover », the passage from death to new life in God. In many places, this date in November has been reserved for Lay Assumptionists to pronounce or renew their commitment to live the spirituality and mission of the Assumption. Still, the real reason for this feast is to recall a « father », a « spiritual master », a « model of holiness », who invites us to become saints ourselves and to imitate his virtues. This is what we hear from the bishop of Nîmes, Most Rev. Robert Wattebled, and from the Superior General of the Assumptionists, Very Rev. Benoît Grière, in their homilies on that day. Requesting the beatification of Fr. d’Alzon has no other meaning than that of presenting him to the People of God as a model of holiness for our day.

Fr. Julio Navarro Román, A.A.

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