A reflection from Sister Mia Dombrecht, Nouakchott Community
To prepare this article, I went to the Atlantic coast to reflect and pray. Believe it or not, at the beginning of my first prayer time, a flight of five pelicans passed before my eyes in the sky…this symbol that Cardinal Lavigerie himself chose to express what became for him “his way of conceiving life, his way of living it” (Dilexi te 1), no. 120): CARITAS.
Indeed, Lavigerie, having chosen this episcopal motto, made it a reality in his life choices and made “Christian love penetrate the most hidden corners of society.” (DT no. 120).
As Bishop of Nancy, he had a particular concern for the poor of his diocese. “In a rectory where he was dining, he noticed that a splendid feast
was being prepared… This was contrary to the diocesan regulations which stipulated that only three different meat dishes should be served at the Bishop’s table when he was on tour. Bishop Lavigerie called the parish priest, charitably asked him if there were any poor families in the neighborhood and had him point out a few with their addresses. Then, calling the servants, he told them that their excellent parish priest was ordering them to take what he called the excess of the prescribed dishes to the poor people. They did not sit down to eat until after this had been done.” (Baunard 2), I p. 142)
During his visit to the prison: “He addressed two of the most hardened criminals, a young murderer and a young forger: ‘Have confidence, my
children. God forgives everything to those who repent of their crime and want to make amends… Do you want to? Come, let me embrace
you!’” (Mgr Baunard, p. 116)
In this regard, let us recall the words of Pope Francis: ‘Entering a prison is always an important moment for me, because prison is a place of great humanity (…). A humanity tested, sometimes overwhelmed by difficulties, guilt, judgments, misunderstandings, suffering, but at the same time full of strength, a desire for forgiveness, and a will for redemption.’” (DT no. 62)
Here is an anecdote that shows his relationship with ordinary people in Algiers, the coachmen who served him during his travels. “On
one occasion when the coachmen of Algiers went on strike, it was unanimously decided that the Archbishop would be exempt from the
general exclusion. They remembered his kind words and his tips.” (Baunard, II, p. 647)
“In his homilies, he knows how to touch hearts broken by grief and shows empathy and understanding. “During the illness and death
of the 7-year-old son of the Governor of Algeria, General Chanzy: His presence was requested, for he had the gift of comforting. At the
funeral: The Pontiff found words of such tenderness, grace, delicacy, and religious elevation that they brought tears to the eyes of the
entire assembly.” (Baunard, p. 429)
He did not forget the Arabs, the Muslims…:
I claim the privilege of loving you as my sons, even if you do not recognize me as your father… In the meantime, there are two things we will never cease to do: the first is to love you and to prove it to you, if we can, by doing you good; the second is to pray for you to God, the master and father of all creatures, so that He may grant you light, mercy, and peace.” (Baunard, p. 165)
Once his missionaries were sent to Sub-Saharan Africa, Cardinal Lavigerie discovered the horror of slavery. “It was a cry that originated
in Rome, on December 28, 1888, at the Church of Gesù: ‘I am a man, and nothing that is human is foreign to me. I am a man; injustice towards
other men revolts my heart. I am a man, and cruelty towards men fills me with horror. I am a man, and what I would want done for me to restore my freedom, my honor, the sacred bonds of family, I want to do to restore to the sons of this unfortunate race their family, their honor, and their freedom.” (Baunard, II, pp. 478-479)
He loved to give valuable advice to his missionaries when sending them on their missions:
Love the people to whom you are sent.” (Lavigerie, 1825- 1892, Founder of the Missionaries of Africa, file, p. 17)
Doesn’t this sentence echo that of the Exhortation Dilexi te which says: “…a Church that knows only men and women to love is the Church that the world needs today.”? (DT no. 120)
“In his old age, the services rendered to him were met with gratitude, even a humble tenderness. One day, when the brother who was
dressing him was putting the pastoral ring on his finger, the Cardinal held his hand and brought it to his lips: “Let me kiss this devoted hand that serves me so well and relieves my suffering.” This was repeated about ten times. (Baunard, II, pp. 658-659)
All these actions and attitudes are the expression of his motto CARITAS and his attachment to the Lord. Isn’t it he who tells us:
You must be madly in love with Jesus Christ, as I myself am.”? (Bishop Baunard, Volume II, p. 492).
Indeed, his CARITAS is for all times and for all peoples, echoing the call of Jesus himself: “Do you understand what I have done for you?” I have given you an example so that you may do as I have done to you… Blessed are you if you put it into practice.” (John 13)
Thus, from the Source that is Jesus, Christian love has flowed into humanity from generation to generation. This is evidenced by the many Saints mentioned in the Exhortation who embodied in their own way Jesus’ invitation in response to the cries of the poor of their time. Cardinal Lavigerie is part of this long chain, and we can be proud to be his daughters and to live by his legacy. Yes, “Christian love breaks down barriers, brings together those who are far apart, unites strangers.” (DT no. 120).
Isn’t this what we aim for in our intercultural community life where Christian love can be seen as “prophetic” and where it “performs miracles,” as well as in the field of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, our services to migrants, etc.? “We are not in the realm of charity, but in that of Revelation: contact with those who have neither power nor greatness is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. Through the poor, He still has something to say to us.” (DT no. 5)
In our MSOLA community in Nouakchott, through our various commitments, we do our best to encounter the Lord of history through simple people and to live our Mission as a realm where God wants to reveal himself to us: The love given to children born with disabilities, often unloved by their families, sometimes hidden away in the back of houses; the attention given to migrants turned back at the borders simply for not having valid identity papers; the support given to victims of human trafficking whose traffickers disappear once they have collected the money; the help and advice given to foreigners in need for the schooling of their children; learning the language of the other person in order to communicate with the inhabitants of the host country; listening empathetically and respectfully to the testimony of faith of a Muslim friend…
May the poor feel through us that the words of Jesus are also addressed to them: ‘I have loved you.’” (DT no. 121).
A mission for our entire lives!
1) Dilexi te, Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Leo XIV on love fpr the Poor, October 4,
2025, quoted as DT
2) Work quoted as Baunard : Mgr Baunard, Le cardinal Lavigerie, Volume I and II, Paris, Librairie Ch. Pousielgue, 1896) (original only in French)
