In his work « Pour moi, vivre It is the Christ »recently published by Editions Parole et Silence, Monsignor Jean-Pierre Cattenoz confides, in the form of interviews, about his journey of life and faith. With emotion and depth, he relates how Providence has led him throughout his existence and shares with us his reflections on the evolution of the world and the Church.
Dieu écrit right with of the lines curves
The book opens with the sources of his priestly vocation, which finds its roots in a deeply Christian family and an environment where the Catholic faith permeates the
daily. Throughout the pages, readers are transported through his memorable memories, notably his years spent at the novitiate of Notre-Dame de Grâce in Bricquebec, which allowed him to discover both the richness and the demands of Cistercian monastic life.
One of the most striking moments of the interviews is the story of his missions in Africa, where he engaged as a worker in a seminar in Burkina Faso. In a context of
radical poverty where infrastructure is almost non-existent, he is a teacher with
young seminarians and builds deep relationships with local populations, impressed by their joy of life and their faith. It also evokes the richness of African orality and the coexistence between traditional religions, Christianity and Islam. He will return to the country subsequently, this time among the Peuhl people, sharing their life as a shepherd while leading a
contemplative existence centered on the Eucharist.
Then comes his commitment to the Little Brothers of Foucault, testimony to his desire to live simplicity, service and fraternity among the poorest. There he could fully
« join THE peripheries », to repeat an expression that will be so dear, many years later, to Pope Francis.
Within Notre-Dame de Vie, which he joined shortly before his priestly ordination, he immersed himself in a deep spirituality based on prayer and intimacy with God. At the end of two years of novitiate, he pronounced his vows there in deep peace, convinced of having found spiritual fullness. He will then continue to devote himself to theological training and
spiritual accompaniment, while ensuring, with fidelity, a fruitful pastoral ministry.
Finally comes the ministry which made him best known: the episcopate of Avignon, of which he was put in charge in 2002. At the heart of a Church in crisis, marked by the desertion of the faithful – particularly the youngest – , through new ideological demands and the loss of fundamentals, Monsignor Cattenoz recounts in all sincerity and without language the pastoral challenges he encountered, for better and for worse, not avoiding any of the sensitive questions that are posed to him. posed.
The work ends with a series of personal reflections on the mission of the Church in the contemporary world. The Archbishop Emeritus expresses his conviction that the Church must constantly renew itself by relying on the Word of God, which he considers to be the beating heart of its mission, by rediscovering the true meaning of the sacraments, by rediscovering the sense of Eternity and by opening oneself plenarily to the action of the Holy Spirit. He also exhorts the faithful to be bold witnesses to the Gospel in their daily lives, recalling the words of the Apostle Paul: “ pour moi, vivre It is the Christ ».
And message of hope et of he was alive
Beyond the personal story (there is no shortage of striking and amusing anecdotes), this writing offers a fascinating vision, of great depth, lucid but full
of Hope, on the role and challenges of the Church today, at the school of our last sovereign pontiffs. Throughout the interviews, Monsignor Cattenoz appears as a deeply committed pastor, sometimes misunderstood, driven by an authentic faith and an ardent desire to spread the Gospel and serve the most deprived. This vibrant testimony is called to be a source of inspiration for all those who wish to deepen their life in the Church, a living meditation on the call to follow Christ and a constant encouragement to rediscover, within a society marked by individualism and secularization, a true vocation to life.
Yohan Picquart
