Calvary of Pontchateau

The Calvary at Pontchâteau, built by the faith of the people, and demolished through jealousy and the meanness of people in high places. Louis Marie continued his preaching in the neighbouring villages and parishes, but himself managed, by frequent visits, several hundreds of the peasant folk who were making a concerted effort and raising a mighty hill on which the three crosses would be placed. During this time, the news of what was happening spread far and wide, and reinforcements arrived from all over the place, even from as far away as England… Montfort succeeded in finding the money necessary to provide food for all the volunteers who were working without ceasing. Begun in the Summer of 1709, everything was ready in September of 1710 for its inauguration and blessing. The day had been fixed: 14 September, Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The chapels of the Stations of the Cross were finished, the life-size statues were in place. More than 20,000 people had arrived from all over. Montfort’s father and some other members of his own family were among this number. But in the evening of Saturday 13th, there came, quite unexpectedly, a prohibition of the blessing of the Calvary. Stupefaction reigned, for the Bishop had given his authorisation. During that night, Montfort hastened to Nantes, and the Bishop received him next morning to explain to him the veto that had arrived from Paris, from the Ministry of War, which saw this construction as a possible fort that the English or brigands could occupy. Montfort took this event with calmness, serenity and simplicity, with no air of being persecuted. He undertook a retreat in St-Molf, where he received a second blow: the prohibition of his ministry. Following this, he made a retreat at the house of the Jesuits in Nantes. Father Préfontaine wrote: “I used to see him as a good man … but his calm, his equanimity and his tranquillity… made me look upon him as a SAINT.” His friend. M. desBastières, hurried to console him, but it was Montfort who consoled him: “His holy name be praised!” Montfort was sharing the cross of Christ. The resemblance is striking: Reasons of state… A man fearful of no longer being seen as a friend of Caesar… An innocent victim… A place called Calvary… And in God’s eyes, this was to be, yet again, the victory of life! Nothing would be able stop Montfort anymore, freer and stronger than ever, “raising up the cross in the depths of his heart,” higher even than on the hill of the Madeleine, his only dream now was to continue the work of the missions. Three times the Calvary of Pontchâteau was to be demolished, and three times rebuilt by the arms of faith of a population that Montfort had marked with his love for Christ.