Joseph-Marie Cassant

June 16, 2009 Blessed Joseph-Marie Cassant This morning on this Memorial Fr. Thomas introduced the Mass by the amazing catalogues of Blessed Fr. Joseph-Maria’s record of successes of intercession of prayer for healings and favours. Thomas made the striking contrast between the abundance of attributed favours by the concealed monk and the dearth of miracles to promote the Cause of John Henry Newman of such renown. Later, after saying it would be ironical if a miracle occurred in favour of Fr. Faber, Thomas said it may not because the popular Faber was better showing off himself. I had to admit my likeness of Frederick Faber’s at least eight substantial spiritual works, ‘All for Jesus’ etc. In the booklet “Blessed Joseph Cassant” the writer Jean Christophe-Christophe comes to this surprising peak in: “Beyond Death Three months after his death, the unexpected recovery of a pregnant woman who was operated on for cancer, was already attributed to Brother's intercession. Other favours followed and in 1926, a small book entitled "Two Flowers of the Desert" made him more widely known. From 1903 to 2001, there were recorded four hundred and eighteen interventions on his part: conversions, reconciliations, cures or notable improvements in health, success in studies, material favours. From 1936 to 2001 one thousand eight hundred fifty messages were received, coming from thirty countries, all of which testify to admiration and confidence towards "the dear little Father." The accumulation of these signs caused official inquiries to be made at Toulouse, Agen and Rome. They concluded on June 9th 1984 by granting a decree recognising the heroicity of the virtues of Brother Marie Joseph and on October 3rd 2004 he was beatified by Pope John Paul 11.” The Booklet, Blessed Joseph Cassant, is one of the ‘Nine Biographical Profiles of Servants of God, Cistercian Witnesses of Our Time’, published by the Sisters, Trappiste, Vitorchiano, Italy. Dec 2008. The essential spirituality, ‘First of all Jesus’ is that of both Spiritual Father, Andre Malet, and disciple, Joseph-Maria, (from the cup two doves, symbolizing Father Andre and his disciple, quench their thirst). I think of the Novice Master, Fr. Andrew Hart, at Nunraw. Andrew would lend the Novices the manuscripts of one Andre Malet’s writings. Fr. Andrew has succeeded keeping awake after the Night Office by translating Malet’s La Vie Surnaturelle 1933. Hopefully I will find the whole of the lost copy. “The message of his Life: First of all Jesus Brother Marie Joseph goes straight to the essential: personal relationship with Jesus. He understands intuitively, that God searches for us and saves us in the celebration of the Eucharist. His life is an offering of self to the Father and everything then becomes intercession. In his suffering, he looks at the cross of Jesus, each morning he desires the Bread of Jesus, at every moment he can count on the Heart of Jesus. How many times in his correspondence does he not allude to this Heart of Jesus to which he confides himself without restric­tion, himself and all those he loves! A holy card modified by himself manifests his attachment to the Eucharist and to the Heart of Jesus. On the top there is a cross planted in a burning and radiating heart, encircled with thorns; from this heart fall drops of blood that are gathered in a chalice reminiscent of the Eucharist; from the cup two doves, symbolizing Father Andre and his disciple, quench their thirst. “The spiritual father (or mother) Brother Marie Joseph reminds us also of the indispensable presence of a guide or spiritual companion. Without Father Andre Malet, the young monk would not have attained the stature and the balance of a human and Christian life. Father Andrew knew how to enlighten and channel Brother's generosity, to free him little by little from his anxieties and a sort of "inferiority complex" arising from his difficulty with studies. But right away one must underli­ne the complete confidence and frankness of the young monk towards his counsellor. He could be helped because he practiced in an exceptional way "openness of heart".