Jean Vanier, CC, GOQ, born September 10, 1928, is a Canadian Catholic philosopher, theologian, and humanitarian. In 1964 he founded L'Arche, an international federation of communities spread over 37 countries, for people with developmental disabilities and those who assist them. Subsequently, in 1971, he co-founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu, which also works for people with developmental disabilities, their families, and friends in over 80 countries. He continues to live as a member of the original L'Arche community in Trosly-Breuil, France.
Over the years, he has authored 30 books on religion, disability, normality, success, and tolerance. Among the honours he has received are the Companion of the Order of Canada (1986), Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec (1992), French Legion of Honour (2003), Community of Christ International Peace Award (2003), the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award (2013), and the Templeton Prize (2015).
Early years and background
Vanier is the son of Major-General Georges Vanier, who became the 19th Governor General of Canada (1959-1967), and his wife Pauline Vanier. He was born in Geneva while his father was on diplomatic service in Switzerland. Fourth of five siblings, in his youth Vanier received a broad education in English and French first in Canada and then in England and France. He joined the Royal Navy at the Dartmouth Naval College (later renamed Britannia Royal Naval College) in England at age 13. During World War II, Vanier and his family fled Paris just before the Nazi occupation. He spent much of the War at an English naval academy, preparing for a career as a naval officer.
In early 1945, Vanier was visiting Paris where his father was Canadian Ambassador; he and his mother went to assist survivors of Nazi concentration camps. Seeing the emaciated victims, their faces twisted with fear and anguish, was a profoundly moving encounter for him, which he never forgot. Shortly thereafter, at age seventeen, he served in World War II with the Royal Navy and then with the Royal Canadian Navy. In 1947 as a midshipman, Vanier accompanied the Royal Family on their tour of South Africa aboard HMS Vanguard.
In 1949, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy, at the carrier HMCS Magnificent. However, in 1950, feeling a strong inner spiritual calling to do “something else,†he resigned his naval commission. Vanier travelled to Paris to study as an undergraduate. He eventually went on to complete a PhD in philosophy from the Institut Catholique de Paris, with a doctoral thesis on Aristotle which was published in 1966 as Happiness as Principle and End of Aristotelian Ethics; this was his first published work. He went on to write several books during his career and taught philosophy at the University of St. Michael's College, University of Toronto. He left academia in 1964, seeking a more spiritual ministry.
Foundation of L'Arche
In 1964, through Vanier's friendship with a priest named Father Thomas Philippe, he became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalised with developmental disabilities. Vanier invited two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and live with him in Trosly-Breuil, France. Their time together led to the establishment of L'Arche at Trosly-Breuil, a community where people with disabilities live with those who care for them. Since that time L'Arche communities have been established in countries around the world. A governing philosophy of the communities is Vanier's belief that people with disabilities are teachers, rather than burdens bestowed upon families.
Until the late 1990s, Jean Vanier carried the responsibility for L'Arche in Trosly-Breuil in France, and for the International Federation of L'Arche. He then stepped down to spend more time counseling, encouraging, and accompanying the people who come to live in L'Arche as assistants to those with disabilities. Vanier has established 147 L'Arche communities in 37 countries around the world which have become places of pilgrimage for those involved.
Later life
In 1968, Jean Vanier gave a Faith and Sharing retreat in Mary Lake, Ontario, the first in his movement of retreats where people from many walks of life are welcome. The retreats continue today as part of the Faith and Sharing Federation. As of 2013, there are 13 communities in North America that organize annual retreats and days of prayer. Faith and Sharing member Bill Clark, SJ, explains: "There is then a two-fold movement in Faith and Sharing: an inward movement towards God hidden in the depths of our own vulnerability, and an outward movement towards our brothers and sisters, especially those who are more poor and in need." The organization's records are housed at the John M. Kelly Library, University of St. Michael's College.
In 1971, Vanier co-founded Faith and Light with Marie-Hélène Mathieu. This is an international movement of forums for people with developmental disabilities, their family and friends. Today there are over 1,500 Faith and Light communities in 81 countries around the world.
Vanier still makes his home in the original L'Arche community of Trosly-Breuil, France. He travels widely, visiting other L'Arche communities, encouraging projects for new communities, and giving lectures and retreats. He was the 1998 Massey lecturer focusing on the theme of "Becoming Human". During one of his lectures he touched on his distaste for barriers around people with intellectual disabilities, a motivating philosophy behind L'Arche: "We must do what we can to diminish walls, to meet each other. Why do we put people with disabilities behind walls?"
Awards and honours
He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Companion of the Order of Canada, the Legion of Honour (France, 2003) and many awards from faith groups, among them the Paul VI International Prize, the Community of Christ International Peace Award, the Rabbi Gunther Plaut Humanitarian Award, and the Gaudium et Spes Award, named after the Second Vatican Council's Gaudium et spes document.
In 1993, he received the Loyola Medal from Concordia University.
In November 2004, a CBC poll ranked him as number 12 in a list of Greatest Canadians.
In 2010, the asteroid 8604 was officially named Vanier in his honour.
In 2013, he received the United States-based Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, established by the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
In March 2015, Vanier was awarded the Templeton Prize in recognition of his advocacy for people with disabilities and his contributions to a broader exploration of helping the weak and vulnerable.
On September 27, 2016, Jean Vanier received The Peace Abbey Foundation (USA) Int'l Courage of Conscience Award in Trosly-Breuil, France, for his lifelong commitment to building a world of inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Schools named after Jean Vanier
Schools have been named in his honor in Whitehorse, Yukon; London, Ontario; Scarborough, Ontario; Collingwood, Ontario; Richmond Hill, Ontario; Welland, Ontario; Sherwood Park, Alberta and, most recently, Milton, Ontario.
- École Catholique Jean-Vanier, Kirkland Lake, Ontario
- Jean Vanier Catholic High School, Collingwood, Ontario
- Jean Vanier Catholic High School, Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School, Scarborough, Ontario
- Jean Vanier Catholic School, Sherwood Park, Alberta
- Jean Vanier Catholic Secondary School Milton, Ontario
- Jean Vanier School Catholic School Regina, Saskatchewan
- Vanier Collegiate, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Published works
Books
- In weakness, strength: The spiritual sources of General the Rt. Hon. Georges P. Vanier, 19th Governor-General of Canada. Toronto: Griffin House. 1969. OCLCÂ 77213.Â
- Tears of silence. Toronto: Griffin. 1970. OCLCÂ 395235248.Â
- Eruption to hope. Toronto: Griffin House. 1971. OCLCÂ 838694372.Â
- Followers of Jesus. Toronto: Griffin Press. 1973.Â
- Be not afraid. Toronto: Griffin House. 1975. OCLCÂ 494744391.Â
- Community and growth: Our pilgrimage together. Toronto: Griffin House. 1979. OCLCÂ 6277986.Â
- The Challenge of L’Arche. Ottawa: Novalis. 1981. OCLC 8872141.Â
- I meet Jesus : he tells me 'I love you', story of the love of God through the Bible. Ramsay, N.J.: Paulist Press. 1981. OCLC 15975370.Â
- I walk with Jesus. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press. 1985. OCLCÂ 14227091.Â
- Man and woman He made them. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press. 1985. OCLCÂ 13025956.Â
- Jesus, the gift of love. London: Hodder & Stoughton. 1988. OCLCÂ 895940048.Â
- The broken body. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press. 1988. OCLCÂ 17694012.Â
- Images of love, words of hope. Hantsport, N.S.: Lancelot Press. 1991. OCLCÂ 25369178.Â
- A network of friends, volume one : 1964-1973 : the letters of Jean Vanier to the friends and communities of L'Arche. Hantsport, N.S.: Lancelot Press. 1992. OCLC 317449807.Â
- From brokenness to community. New York: Paulist Press. 1992. OCLCÂ 25409710.Â
- An ark for the poor: the story of L’Arche. Ottawa: Novalis. 1995. OCLC 32546881.Â
- The heart of L’Arche: A spirituality for every day. Toronto: Novalis. 1995. OCLC 33333740.Â
- The scandal of service: Jesus washes our feet. Ottawa: Novalis. 1996. OCLCÂ 36698314.Â
- Our journey home: Rediscovering a common humanity beyond our differences. Ottawa: Novalis. 1997. OCLCÂ 35919344.Â
- Vanier, Jean; Andreu, Anne-Sophie; Quoist, Michel (1996). A door of hope. London: Hodder & Stoughton. OCLCÂ 60292140.Â
- Becoming Human. Toronto: Anansi. 2001. OCLCÂ 654379327.Â
- Made for happiness: Discovering the meaning of life with Aristotle. London: Darton, Longman & Todd. 2001. OCLCÂ 47824661.Â
- Seeing beyond depression. London: SPCK. 2001. OCLCÂ 46810914.Â
- Finding peace. Toronto: House of Anansi Press. 2003. OCLCÂ 52644543.Â
- Drawn into the mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John. New York: Paulist Press. 2004. OCLCÂ 892517848.Â
- Befriending the stranger. Toronto: Novalis. 2005. OCLCÂ 66031013.Â
- Our life together: A memoir in letters. London: Darton Longman Todd. 2008. OCLCÂ 260043937.Â
- Vanier, Jean; Hauerwas, Stanley (2008). Living gently in a violent world: The prophetic witness of weakness. Downers Grove, Ill.: IVP Books. OCLCÂ 837379461.Â
- From Brokenness to Wholeness. Singapore: MEDIO MEDIA. 2012. OCLCÂ 858345447.Â
- The Gospel of John, the Gospel of Relationship. Cincinnati: Franciscan Media, 2015. ISBNÂ 978-1-61636-890-6.
- Life's Great Questions. Cincinnati: Franciscan Media, 2015. ISBNÂ 978-1-61636-941-5.
References
External links
- Vanier, Jean. "The Wit Lectures: Harvard University the Divinity School." From Brokenness to Community, Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1992.
- Vanier's official website
- Faith and Sharing Federation
- L'Arche International
- L'Arche Canada
- L'Arche Atlantic Region (Canada)
- L'Arche Daybreak - Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
- L'Arche in Latinamerica /El Arca en Latinoamerica
- L'Arche Zimbabwe
- L'Arche Kent
- L'Arche Mexico
- Pensamientos de Jean Vanier en Español
