Excerpts from the homily delivered at Raoul Auclair’s funeral, January 11, 1997

– Father Denis Laprise –

/.../ Our dear brother Raoul, for whom we are celebrating this liturgy, has crossed the threshold of eternity. At the close of his life, he too was able to say like the old man Simeon, the words we repeat every evening at Compline. In fact, the old Simeon had, before dying, the deep joy of meeting Jesus whom he recognized in the little child being presented by its parents at the Temple in Jerusalem. As a result, he could go in peace for he had seen the Savior. The Gospel tells us that the Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die without having seen the Lord's Messiah. Thus, Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed the Lord in these words: "Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see: a revealing light to the Gentiles, the glory of your people Israel" (Lk 2:29-32).

These prophetic words of Simeon referred to the Great Epiphany to come which will complete the first Epiphany, the feast of which we celebrated last Sunday. Epiphany signifies manifestation and is closely bound to the celebrations of the Savior's birth. On the first Christmas (1996 years ago), God manifested Himself to men, first of all in a very limited manner to the shepherds of Bethlehem and to His People as well as to the Wise Men who had come from the Orient. This manifestation is the prelude or the prefiguration of a much greater manifestation which is opening out and extending to all the Peoples of the earth who are called to salvation. Therefore, the Epiphany is the feast of humanity's vocation to faith in God and then to the beatific vision.

From January 8 to 11, 1997, at the Center of the Immaculate in Quebec City, Brother Raoul Auclair’s body was exposed in the large lecture hall, next to the Nativity scene, above which shone the star of the Epiphany.

Brother Raoul left us during the week of the Epiphany. I believe this fact sheds light on Raoul's entire life which was marked in a singular manner and enlightened by the Mystery of Christ in His Advent into the world. For him, the feast of the Epiphany was the feast of the liturgical feasts. If we can speak in these terms, the Epiphany was, for Raoul, the true feast of Christmas of which he understood the depth and eschatological beauty. From afar, he hailed its realization through the Work of the Lady of All Peoples for which he worked with such ardor.

"One must be something of a prophet to interpret the prophets", said Father André Richard of L'Homme Nouveau in speaking of Raoul.

In a tribute paid to Raoul on May 31, 1994, it was written: "You taught our members to understand the Apocalypse which, as you said at that time, is a book of victory: the Apocalypse being, by definition, the revelation of divine secrets.... Thanks also to your book `Les Épiphanies de Marie', we have come to understand the deeply eschatological character of Mary's great apparitions approved by the Church."

In fact, his love of Mary was that of a child for its Mother. Moreover, Brother Raoul always remained a child in his heart and in his soul. But when he spoke of SHE, as he used to love to designate Mary, there was no stopping him and it seemed that Mary Immaculate held no secrets for him. So it was that he unceasingly recommended Mary's preferred prayer: the prayer of the humble and poor which is the prayer of the rosary, of the fifteen decades. To those whocomplained because they couldn't say the rosary without distractions, and who argued using the sophism "It is better to say one `Hail Mary' well, than fifty `Ave Marias' poorly", he would reply: "The worst rosary you can ever say is the one that you will not say at all." His Marian devotion was always a strength and an extraordinary support to his faith.

Today, Raoul is no longer. This first Son of Mary from the Community branch to have gone to heaven is now contemplating what the Lord had inspired in him. Henceforth, the seven seals have been broken for him and he sees in the eternal glory the Lamb of the Apocalypse of which he spoke so well.... Now, he knows the Truth concerning that which he proclaimed everywhere, even in Rome, the Center of Christianity.

In closing we would like to borrow the words which were addressed to him on May 31, 1994. This vibrant tribute was an anticipated wish which takes on all its worth today: "May you be blest, Raoul, and may Mary, Mother and Lady of All Peoples, welcome you into her paradise and reward you for so much work accomplished for her with love."

Father Denis Laprise

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