February, 2003

Dear Friends,

The cultural trend in France, as in much of the West, can be summarized thus: spirituality is in, religious institutions are out. Is this all bad? We can think of the dangers, of course: ignoring truth for the sake of experience, caricaturing the doctrine and discipline of the church, mixing and matching for personal fulfillment. But at the same time, there are some extraordinary opportunities, which draw people to faith.

Earlier in the month the great actor Gérard Depardieu, who is not known for his religious sympathies (though his very name means “on behalf of God!”), gave a dramatic reading of Saint Augustine’s Confessions at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, to a packed sanctuary. Why? Not a performance, he insisted, but a reflection, even a “communion.” So powerful, it is “too beautiful for a film.” He loves this text because it is so honest, so modern. It is the story of a man who is sinful, saintly, transparent, and finds his rest and his entire meaning in the Lord God. When asked about his own spiritual life, Depardieu is typically wary. His past is a strange combination of violence, Catholic schools, and a two year bout with “elective mutism.” In his late teens he listened, and listened, and then fell in love with words, and then became one of the foremost actors of our times. He loves Bernanos, the Catholic writer whose heros are deeply flawed, yet deeply loved by God.

At a time when some Americans are likely to be discouraged by French exceptionalism, it is good to remember that a profound search for meaning and love is going on currently in the country of Calvin and Pascal. The Seminary at Aix-en-Provence is preparing men and women to become guides, heralds of the liberating truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in that beautiful, frustrating country. You have helped them so generously in the past. Would you consider doing even more this year? Your kindness will receive “manifold more in this time,” and reap benefits in eternity.

Very Truly Yours,

William Edgar, President