Mary in the life of Father Émilien
“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus was also invited to this wedding, as were his disciples. Now, there was no more wine, for the wine of the wedding had run out. The mother of Jesus said to him: “They have no wine.” Jesus said to her: “Woman, what do you want of me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants: “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2, 1, 6a
Mary was always very present in the life of Father Émilien
Father Émilien made his religious vows in the community of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, devoting a special cult to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Sacred Heart of Mary. Also, the various events of his vocational life are marked by feast dates important for the community of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and for him. He began his novitiate on 8 September 1948, feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and also made his perpetual profession on 8 September 1952. He was ordained on 24 June 1955, in Rapide-Danseur in the parish of St-Bruno, feast of St John the Baptist, feast of the French Canadians, on which many priests of Quebec were also ordained.
On 8 December of the same year, he wrote a letter asking to be a missionary in the Dominican Republic: “In the history of the origins of our congregation, it is said that the feast of the Immaculate One is a favourable day for obtaining a great favour from God. It seems to me that it is a favourable occasion to ask of you, who are the representative of God, this: “I would be happy to go and exercise my apostolate as a missionary in Saint-Domingue.”
I entrust this request to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.” The reason for my choice is the great poverty of the people there, deprived of the sacraments, and also because there I could better make fruitful the few talents that God has given me. I
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the life of Father Émilien Tardif
Having arrived in September 1956, he had his first contact with the Dominican favour on the feast of Our Lady of Mercedes, on 24 September, also patroness of the country, like Our Lady of la Altagracia. Afterwards, he would be responsible for a few years, from 1965, for the Family Rosary Crusade in the country. He would organise in Santiago a great manifestation of the Family Rosary Crusade at the monument of the heroes, on 21 March 1965. We note the various communities of the Servants of the Living Christ or their schools of evangelisation, in which we find many titles of the Virgin Mary.
We have the school of evangelisation of Santiago, named the school Notre-Dame du Sacré-Cœur in Santo Domingo; we have the Casa de la Asunción in Pimentel; the Casa de la Inmaculada Concepción in Nagua; the Casa de la Visitación in Higüey; the Casa de la Altagracia and others throughout the world: in Spain, the Casa Magnificat; in Italy, the Casa de la Visitación; in Sicily, the Casa de la Anunciación; in Panama, the Casa Madre de la Misericordia; in Argentina, the Casa Inmaculada Concepción; in the United States in Orlando, the Casa de la Anunciación; in New York, the Casa de la Anunciación; in San Diego, the Casa de la Anunciación and in Miami, the Casa de la Anunciación.
I also draw your attention to the fact that the book ‘Jesus made me a witness’ was published on 24 June 1984, feast of his ordination, and his second book was published on the feast of the Annunciation, 25 March 1989. And what to say of his annual participations in the novena of the feast of Our Lady of la Altagracia, patroness of the country, especially in Santiago, where the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are. This feast is celebrated on 21 January. Father Émilien was considered a prophet of the Virgin Mary on 16 May 1981, at a meeting of the Renewal leaders in Rome.
Father Tomislav Vlasic, a Franciscan, representative of the Renewal for Yugoslavia, had asked for a ministry of prayer for the Church of the country, where there was a communist government. Among the small group that laid hands during the prayer over Father Tomislav was Father Émilien. The latter gave this prophecy on the occasion of this prayer: “Do not worry, in a little while I will send you my Mother.” And the following month, on 24 June 1981, the apparitions of the Virgin at Medjugorje began.
The Franciscan who had asked for a ministry of prayer for the Church of Yugoslavia, Father Tomislav, succeeded Father Jozo Zovko as spiritual director of the seers of Medjugorje.
Father Émilien Tardif
Then two years later, Father Émilien went to Medjugorje with the deacon Philippe Madre of the community of the Beatitudes and Pierre Rancourt, a Quebec diocesan priest. Father Tomislav had invited them to concelebrate at the evening Mass and to carry out a ministry after communion. There were 3,000 people taking part in the Mass; they said prayers for the sick and there were many healings; and these people gave their testimonies. The next day, the people present for the evening Mass had doubled. However, the news reached the communist authorities. The result was that all three found themselves in prison, accused of having disturbed the peace; they were expelled from Yugoslavia. Our Lady of Medjugorje
Father Émilien Tardif visited Medjugorje
The intercession of the prayer of Mary
Messages from 1983. August 23, 1983.
Concerning Canadian priest, Father Émilien Tardif: “Have him announce my messages to the whole world. Let Jesus, only Jesus, be at the center of his efforts.”
August 25, 1983
Concerning the arrest and expulsion of Father Tardif, Father Rancourt, and Dr. Philippe Madre by the Yugoslavian authorities: “Do not worry for them. Everything is in God’s plan.”
Afterwards, Father Émilien recounted his experience after this visit to Medjugorje and spoke abundantly of the apparitions and of the messages of Our Lady of Peace. Going to make a retreat at Medjugorje, which never took place, the three, Father Émilien, Philippe Madre and Abbé Pierre Rancourt, became messengers of the Virgin. In his book ‘Jesus made me a witness,’ on page 98, we find, at point 5, the Intercession of Mary: “We shall also speak of her again, but she has her place among the fundamental elements of the prayer of healing. She is the person with the strongest charism of healing, for she carries Jesus, our salvation, and she is at the foot of the cross where the Lamb of God was wounded by our rebellions. The intercession of the prayer of Mary is attested by all in the Marian shrines.”
Hail Mary, full of grace...
Yves Rancourt, priest.
21 January 2008