Montbernage

JACQUES GOUDEAU MONTBERNAGE POITIERS

In the year 1705 the mission of Montbernage, given in the lower quarter of the city of Poitiers, came to an end. As always, Father de Montfort was careful to put in place simple means so that the mission would continue to produce fruit after his departure. Already, in the barn of the Bergerie, transformed into a chapel, the rosary prayer is well in place in front of the statue of Mary Queen of Hearts. But who is going to provide this service now? So, he launched the appeal: “If someone agrees to recite the rosary here on Sundays and feasts and to sing the little crown at noon, I will leave the image of my good Mother there”. It was then that Jacques Goudeau, a master weaver, offered to fulfil this mission. He would be faithful to it for 40 years. Thus, thanks to this “yes” to the call launched by Father de Montfort, Christians in this neighbourhood with a difficult reputation would remain faithful to prayer. Father de Montfort can leave at ease. After the death of Father de Montfort, when Sister Marie-Louise returned from La Rochelle and was thinking of setting up the community of the Daughters of Wisdom in Poitiers, it was again Jacques Goudeau who suggested to her the idea of going to meet a lady, Mme de Bouillé, in Saint Laurent sur Sèvre, where the tomb of Father de Montfort is located, who could help her to find a house there to set up the motherhouse of the Community of the Daughters of Wisdom. Father de Montfort had had the audacity, in this difficult neighbourhood, where people were far removed from the life of the Church, to establish a chapel for prayer in a former dance hall, which for him was equivalent to a place of debauchery. The other audacity was to ask someone from among those who had just lived the mission and therefore someone who has publicly lived the act of renewing the promises of his baptism before the Christian community. He trusted this layman, Jacques Goudeau, a simple craftsman who responded to his call, to ensure the rosary. Thanks to him, the mysteries of Jesus’ life will continue to be contemplated with Mary. The mission continues with the Virgin Mary who leads to JesusWisdom.