Hungry hearts in the home of the Sacred Heart

“We were filled with nervous anticipation, not knowing what the response would be,” Susie Hobert wrote about the Montceau church's outreach to the neighboring town of Paray-le-Monial (12,000 inhabitants). The Montceau congregation, 30-some strong made the trip to Paray for the first evangelistic worship service.

Susie and Dave Hobert (center) have been serving in France for 25 years

“We knew there would be unbelievers in attendance, because we took three with us from Montceau” and three others from Paray also attended. “We served refreshments after the meeting and most of the people stayed around to talk. Gérard, the pastor of the Mâcon church, brought the message, entitled "Contentment in a Troubled World." This is one small step for church planting, but one giant leap for the Kingdom!”

Sharing from the Bible in Paray-le-Monial

Susie Hobert writes:

The region of Burgundy in France is one of religious mysticism. Some of these beliefs have taken root over the centuries, and although some smile about them, they usually pass as acceptable.

Burgundy, France
(map thanks to: www.discover-france.info/regions_%20Burgundy_map.htm)

Biblical Christianity had spread to this region via traveling merchants, who, along with their wares, carried copies of the Bible, newly translated into French. Since few people knew how to read and even fewer could afford such a luxury as owning a book, the Bible was often read aloud in the public square of Paray-le-Monial.

Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, France

Initially this incited people to have readings in their homes and study the Bible for themselves when possible. With growing religious intolerance, these people sometimes risked their lives to continue in this way. In 1562, a group of worshippers were burned alive in a barn where they met near Paray; this fanned sparks of intolerance into a flame of religious wars that would last a century.

French Huguenots at the stake

The Edict of Nantes, one of official tolerance, was signed in 1598, permitting religious freedom of worship, as long as it was outside the city walls and could not be heard by those passing by. To curb the influence of the growing Protestant population, different religious orders were brought into the city — Jesuits, Visitandines and Ursulines. The latter came to teach young girls, who were sometimes forced into their schools.

Henry IV signing the Edict of Nantes

In 1671, the visions of a young nun in the convent in Paray began what came to be known as the Sacred Heart Movement. (All Sacred Heart churches throughout the world are a result of this vision.) The nun, who was known to be unstable and given to excesses in her worship, declared that she had seen, heard and touched Jesus and that He wanted her to give a message to the world: that He was hurt because people weren’t worshipping his sacred heart.

Stained glass from a Sacred Heart church in California

On the surface this movement seems simple enough, but it goes beyond thanking Jesus for His love and sacrifice for us. There is great detail given to the blood and water that poured out of Jesus’ side after His death, which represents the Church that came out of His side, just as Eve came out of Adam’s side. The water represents baptism, and baptism in the Roman Catholic Church is necessary to belong to Christ’s Church. There is a heavy emphasis on emotion and a lack of biblical instruction and understanding.

Tolerance of others’ religious beliefs diminished to the point of non-existence, culminating in the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Protestant marriages were no longer recognized, thus making it impossible to pass on property to their children, who were considered illegitimate. Many Protestants at this time left France to go to more welcoming places, such as Switzerland and Germany. Protestants who left risked their lives, as they were not allowed to travel freely.

So in the 16th and 17th centuries, Paray’s population was about one tenth Protestant — there were over 50 influential Protestant families. By 1701 there were only 15 left, and after 1729, we have no record of any.

Present-day Paray is a pilgrimage town for the Sacred Heart movement. It is also a center for the charismatic Catholic movement; its summer conferences are well attended. There is still a fair amount of sacred lore which continues, such as stillborn children being brought to the Chapel of the Virgin of Romay, to be revived long enough to be baptized, in order to escape Limbo. Pope John Paul II made Paray one of his 3 stopping points on one pontifical trip to France.

We have begun outreach events and have held two Sunday services in Paray. We are not interested in engaging people in a Protestant vs. Catholic battle. We are praying for God to lead us to people with hungry hearts, who want to study the Bible and understand it.

The Montceau church reaching out to the people of Paray through this evangelistic worship service

Won’t you pray for the Montceau church’s outreach to the people of Paray-le-Monial, that God would put them in touch with people with hungry hearts ?

Worshipping Jesus Christ in Paray-le-Monial

A note of interest: the hall where these services are held is the tower of the old St. Nicolas Church; it is all that remains of a building that was completed with funds from confiscated Protestants’ property.