What an extraordinary destiny young Gaston Tremblay had! At sixteen, he joined the Brothers of St. John of God. Obeying the voice of God, confirmed by ecclesiastical authority, he left his beloved Community in 1952. Sixteen years later, submitting to the express order of Heaven, he became the Successor of Peter under the name of Gregory XVII. To a religious who asked him how he had been able to persevere amid the countless trials, scorn and persecution his mission had drawn upon him, Father John Gregory replied without hesitation: “Love of scorn and of those who scorn me.” “What do you mean?” said his father. “That’s why I want to be a Brother, because you just told me that if you met up with a dog and a Brother, you would say hello to the dog before the Brother.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Because I want to be less than a dog.” “You want to be less than a dog? What’s gotten into you, son?” “Dad, you’re the one who taught me religion; Mom, the priest, the catechist, you all taught me. God, the Son of God, came to the earth and lowered Himself to man. The distance between God and man is immeasurable. Not only did He do that, but after He adopted the condition of a man, He was trampled upon by men like a worm. He was held in contempt, dragged through the mud, spat upon and died like a criminal. Jesus, God Himself! You are the ones who taught me that. I believe deeply, Dad, that if I become less than a dog, I am doing much less than Jesus did, and Jesus is my model. I want to be like Him so much, it is the passion of my life. I want to be like my Model.” “Well,” said his father, “if that’s what you want to do, my son, go ahead and become a Brother.” Young Gaston Tremblay became Brother John Grande in the Order of the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God, and Brother John Grande became Father John of the Trinity, who became Father John Gregory XVII. Do you understand why I am telling you this story? In the heart of that child, God placed this extraordinary light of the greatness of humility, the great- ness of contempt, the greatness of abjection. He understood that this is the main example that our God, our King, our Jesus gave us, that this is the principal example we must follow. God put this light in the heart of that little child, that young boy, because he was destined to establish this Community of the Latter Times and to be the head of the Renewed Church. In love with Lady Humility To close the year 2024, the Sisters staged a few episodes from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. As a young man, during the process of his conversion, Francis had a vision of something he called Lady Poverty. Poverty presented itself to him under the appearance of an attractive, charming young lady. He understood that it was the poverty Jesus had embraced, and so he fell in love with Lady Poverty. And with her, he renewed the Church of his time (13th century). My Bothers, I would like to draw a parallel here. God spoke to the soul, the heart of 12 Vol. LX, No. 1 Magnificat
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