The paschal mystery in the life of Father Émilien
“Very early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb, bringing the perfumed oils they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb; they entered, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They did not know what to think, when two men in shining garments appeared to them. As they were seized with fear and kept their faces bowed toward the earth, these men said to them: 'Why do you seek among the dead the one who is living? He is not here; he has returned to life.'”
Luke 24, 1-6
Current church of St-Zacharie.
Old church where Father Émilien Tardif was baptized.
Father Émilien was born in St-Zacharie de Beauce, on June 6, 1928. At the beginning of the war of 39-45, the family, like several families of the parish, left the parish to survive. The Tardif family moved as early as 1939 to Rapide-Danseur in Abitibi, currently a village of 265 inhabitants. In 1941, through the intermediary of Brother Armand Tardif, his elder brother, Father Émilien entered the apostolic school of Beauport. A school of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. He made his profession in 1949 and was ordained priest at Rapide-Danseur in 1955. He left for the Dominican Republic on September 16, 1956, and there for 17 years, of which during 5 years he was superior of his community. He works a great deal and overworks his health.
Also on June 14, 1973, he falls ill with pulmonary tuberculosis. He said: “That evening, I had the impression of experiencing death and I did not like it at all.” After being hospitalized in the Dominican Republic, he was transported to Canada, to the Laval hospital in Quebec, a hospital specialized in tuberculosis. There, he lived an experience of death and resurrection. He undergoes several examinations and treatments begin. Speaking of the people who visited him, he said: “There, I received the visit of people who brought me chocolate or cigarettes.”
But five charismatics presented themselves: Rémi Paquet and his wife Rose Tardif, his elder sister, Rose Catudal, her husband and their son. He says: “I was quite astonished to see their incitement when they told me: 'Do you believe that the Lord can heal you?' They had confidence and they said: 'We will repeat the invitation that the Lord makes to us in the Gospel when he says: “They will lay hands on the sick and these will be healed.”' The Lord healed me totally and after 3-4 days, I had no more problem with my breathing, my tuberculosis.”
He was sick and he returned to life.
Father Émilien Tardif lays on hands
Father Émilien returned to the Dominican Republic on July 8, 1974 with his physical and spiritual health renewed. Like the members of his family, he had to live through several mourning periods: the departure from St-Zacharie, the loss of their sister Amélie, who drowned, the departure for studies, the mission, and others. The paschal mystery is present in his life. His first book is filled with testimonies of people who found more life through the action of the Lord, and which bears the title 'Jesús está vivo' in Spanish (Jesus is Alive).
And in November 1987, he founded with lay people a community, the Servants of the Living Christ, an example of the extension of the teaching of the paschal mystery, 'Jesus is Alive'. On June 8, 1999, he died in Cordoba in Argentina. He is repatriated to the Dominican Republic, his adopted country, and his body is placed in a vault belonging to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, in Santiago, at the municipal cemetery. And next to the name of this cemetery, there will be added that of 'Jesús está vivo' in Spanish.
In 2007, his remains were moved to a crypt in Santo Domingo, to a church dedicated to 'Christ Resurrected' belonging to the community of the Servants of the Living Christ. The paschal mystery does nothing but pursue him in his life, and it continues. He was born on earth at St-Zacharie on June 6, 1928, but now we can say with him that he was born in heaven on June 8, 1999.
Jesus is Alive
Yves Rancourt, priest.
January 21, 2008
Feast of Our Lady of Altagracia