Mary, Mother of the Church and of humanity, continues to be a companion on the WAY OF LIFE.

It is a great joy to see how their children come “to the Foot of the Altar,” with confidence, simplicity and love.

The pairing of contemplation and service is inseparable in the Vincentian spirit. In our service of welcoming pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago, the starting point is always the Word of God. We believe there are two crucial texts in this context:

• “The truth will set you free” (Jn 8, 31).
• “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6).

The Pilgrim, upon beginning the journey, is a person open to seeking the truth of their life, and there are many aspects that predispose them to feel free: the anonymity that surrounds them, the solitude, the distance from their loved ones, the lack of feeling judged…

All of this gives them great freedom and makes it easier for them to open their hearts, in an atmosphere of trust.

Today we want to share with you the experience of two French pilgrims, Marie-Hélène and Jean, who breathed in the Vincentian spirit and felt committed to collaborating in its dissemination.

Marie-Hélène wrote this book: “You will be free, my daughters,” following the dictation of some young women who were trained in an orphanage in Turkey, where the Daughters of Charity of France served.

In some villages, boys were given preference for education and going to school.

The Daughters of Charity, driven by love for Jesus Christ crucified, who gave his life for each of us, bestowed this charity upon them—not money, as many might think, but something far greater and more beautiful: culture and freedom. Literate, these grateful young women traveled to France hoping to find someone to publish their experience of liberation and gratitude.

And then God puts Marie-Hélène in their path, who writes down everything they narrate.

On the book’s cover, we see one of those Daughters of Charity, so well-known to the French and Spanish people for her large headdress with two wings (body and soul). From her, in the form of spirit, springs forth the freedom of so many other women, whose human and spiritual formation made them free and grateful.

These French pilgrims come “to the Foot of the Altar” and, in an atmosphere of prayer and trust, tell the Sisters who welcome them at the Albergue about the joy of these young women – grateful for the training they received.

They added that the Daughters of Charity’s well-located buildings in Istanbul attracted the interest of real estate developers. Some journalists accused the Daughters of Charity of child trafficking. The Sisters were acquitted by the Turkish courts; later, the French orphanage was closed in 1998.

The 130 young women from the East who were welcomed, bear witness to restore the truth: they were never mistreated (according to some journalists), but on the contrary, they were lovingly educated by the Sisters.

They also want to provide education to other disadvantaged girls. Therefore, all proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Daughters of Charity’s works (orphanages, schools,7 etc.) in the Middle East.

Today the Word of God becomes visible in this book:

• “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought out into the open” (Mk 4:22).
• “For everything secret will eventually be revealed, and everything hidden will come to light and be made known to all” (Lk 8:17).

These young Italian pilgrims, from the Association of Saint Vincent de Paul, also come “to the Foot of the Altar” with great joy and confidence, presenting and reaffirming their mutual love before the Mother.

This pilgrim from Scotland belongs to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. He comes “at the foot of the altar,” accompanied by his granddaughter, with great joy, conveying confidence in the Mother…she always leads us to her Son.

Carlos, an Argentine pilgrim, arrives for the second time at the Espíritu Santo Hostel in Carrión de los Condes, (Palencia) – SPAIN.

As he approaches the altar to greet the Mother and pray, a Sister arrives to share this moment of prayer with the pilgrims. We reminisce about our last meeting in the chapel.

Carlos has already told us, and reiterates, that he is connected to the Congregation of the Mission in Argentina, a community that has remained united since World War II. The community, originally from Slovenia, emigrated to Argentina. Carlos has his family there and serves to spread the Faith in Jesus Christ and his trust in the Mother, who simply tells us, “Do whatever he tells you.”

We give thanks to Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, who always humbly unites her children to bring them to God.