The second major manifestation was the closing of the mission in Marseille with the procession and the erection of the commemorative Cross of the mission. Bearing in mind that less than 30 years before, the city of Marseille had been one of the most fiery centers during the Revolution and that the foundations of religion and several churches and had been destroyed, it is amazing to read of the lively response to this manifestation. Jeancard in his Melanges Historiques describes how thousands of people participated in the final procession through the streets of the city. The enormous Cross was carried on a decorated platform by teams of men down the Canebière, the main street of the city. When they arrived at the port, the Cross was carried by 120 ship’s captains and placed onto a raft at the port, where it sailed to the City Hall accompanied by many boats. The atmosphere was festive with the people of Marseille enjoying themselves and celebrating with music, a salvo of cannons from the fort, and many colorful banners and flags. The proceedings took 8 hours.
An eye-witness account:
We saw this magnificent procession, consisting of more than three thousand persons, and the cross was carried in triumph on an unusual carriage … But the public admiration and the delight were at their height when a new Saint Peter was heard preaching from his boat, in the Provençal language, to the fishermen and to the sailors of the port.
The simple and extremely persuasive eloquence of Father de Mazenod, leader of the Missionaries of Provence, made the most profound impression. Standing at the foot of the cross, wearing a red cope, he elaborated on the holy mysteries with the ardor and the energy which belong to the orators born under our blazing climate…. he had the happiness to hear repeated by the most resounding cheers, the shouts of long live Jesus, long live his Cross…
ROBERT, Précis historique, p. 65-66
Winding through the streets of the popular quarters, the Cross was erected at Les Accoules – on the only remaining wall of the church which had been destroyed by the Revolution – a powerful sign of restoration and of new hope amidst the rubble. The Calvaire became a popular pilgrimage center.
“If we could only see the heart of the Father, we would be drawn into praise and thanksgiving more often. It is easy for us to think that God is so majestic and so highly exalted that our adoration makes no difference to him. Our God is not made of stone. His heart is the most sensitive and tender of all. No act goes unnoticed, no matter how insignificant or small. A cup of cold water is enough to put tears in the eyes of God. God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude.” Richard J. Foster
As a child I took part in a huge gathering at a baseball stadium to say the Rosary. I went only because the school was going and I “had” to be there. I must be very honest and say that as a young teen it was not “cool”, it was on a Saturday, I had to wear my school uniform and you can hear from my words that I was not impressed or even slightly involved. Today as an adult the amount of giving public witness to my beliefs is limited to my speaking out to those I know and work with of my love of God, and to perhaps walking around the outside of the church in a Palm Sunday procession. I try to live it out, but in a quieter manner. So I marvel at what was done in Marseille. Also the image of Eugene preaching from the boat is also not lost on me! I could only smile as I read “But the public admiration and the delight were at their height when a new Saint Peter was heard preaching from his boat, in the Provençal language, to the fishermen and to the sailors of the port.”
What really ‘grabbed’ me today was the quote from Richard Foster, for it in fact not only brought a smile to my face but to my entire being. I really believe that we were created in part to praise God, to sing with joy and abandon of the greatness of our God. I have noticed that although I am not graced with a beautiful singing voice there is in me such a desire to sing out anyways, there is such joy and life that comes with praising God. Somehow the joy and gratitude are reflected back and we become an ongoing part of life in God. “God celebrates our feeble expressions of gratitude.” We could add the words of praise and joy to the end of that phrase. There is a joining there, somehow a ‘together’, which of course just leads to deeper and more joyous praise. The image of God taking delight in us!