The Hidden Way: Life and Influence of Almire Pichon Book

The Hidden Way is the story of Almire Pichon, a French Jesuit who lived from 1843-1919, and his remarkable influence on the Martin family of Lisieux--the family of St. Thrse--and Jean Vanier's family, the Vaniers of Canada. A popular preacher, Almire Pichon battled Quebec ecclesiastical disapproval and established a lay apostolate among impoverished immigrants in turn-of-the-century Montreal. Pichon's inspiration on a generation of the Martin family and three generations of the Vanier family was profound. Extensive quotations from his letters to Thrse show how firmly her little way is rooted in Pichon's spiritual groundwork, and flourished with his affirmation and encouragement. For the Vaniers too, Pichon's rootedness in the love and trust tradition of St. Francis de Sales, and the Abandonment to Divine Providence legacy, was a decisive factor in the direction of their lives: the singular vision of Jean Vanier can be traced back to Pichon's first meeting with another Thrse--Thrse de Salaberry, the grandmother of Jean Vanier--when she was sixteen years old, continuing through to the birth of L'Arche and its growth into an international movement. More than a simple biography, The Hidden Way is the story of the enormous ripple effect of one person's life and influence. It is essential reading for admirers of Thrse of Lisieux, of Jean Vanier, and for anyone with an interest in Catholic history and spirituality.Read More