April 17, 2005

Jean Vanier

Jean Vanier talks with Mary Hynes about the danger of craving a spirituality without religion, and the importance of commitment rather than comfort in the life of the spirit.

Jean Vanier is the son of the late Georges P. Vanier, a former Governor General of Canada, and his wife Pauline. He was educated in England and Canada; for several years, he was with the navy. He resigned in 1950 and went to France to complete a doctorate in philosophy on Aristotle.

In 1964, with the support of his spiritual advisor, Père Thomas, he invited two men with a developmental disability, Raphael Simi and Phillippe Seux, to live with him in an old house in the French village of Trosly-Breuil.

He named the house L’Arche, after Noah’s Ark, and gradually welcomed not only more men and women with developmental disabilities but also the assistants who would live and work with them.

Since then, L’Arche has grown into an international federation of more than 100 communities in nearly 30 countries.
Vanier later also founded Faith and Light, an international network of support, which brings together the families of the disabled.

Jean Vanier has dedicated his life to working with physically and developmentally disabled adults. His philosophy is reflected in the guiding principle of L’Arche, which is that the weak and the disabled - indeed, all who are lonely and excluded from society - have much to teach us. Vanier believes true spirituality comes from our relationships with the less fortunate. Spirituality then becomes not an expression of self-indulgence, but of love for one another and for God. Vanier led the international L’Arche federation until 1981, when he stepped down.

He still makes his home in Trosly-Breuil, sharing his life with the members of the community there. He travels a great deal, visiting L’Arche homes around the world and speaking at conferences and retreats.

Vanier is also a prolific author; he has published over 20 books. His 1998 Massey Lectures resulted in the international best-seller, Becoming Human.

In 1986, he was made a companion of the Order of Canada.

In 1997, he was awarded the Paul the Sixth International Prize, for his work on behalf of human development and progress. In making the presentation, Pope John Paul II described L’Arche as a dynamic and providential sign of the civilization of love.

Music in the program was the final chorale from J.S. Bach’s St. John Passion, performed by the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Jeannette Sorrell.

Listen to the interview with Jean Vanier
(runs 53:51)

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Related Websites

L'Arche Canada
L'Arche International
Faith and Light

Jean Vanier's 1998 Massey Lecture, Becoming Human is available from IDEAS Transcripts. The book is $22.50 A set of CDs or audio cassettes of the 5 lectures are $39.95. Prices include shipping and taxes. To place an order, send an email to ideasT@toronto.cbc.ca..

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