Hugues Madesclaire (1968-2010)

“Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee, O Lord”
Saint Augustine started his Confessions with this prayer. Hugues Madesclaire, one of my friends met at the Seminary in Paris, knew this verse. In our Patristic class (study of the Fathers of the church) we studied this essential book of Ancient Christianity.

Hugues wanted to become a Pastor. He would say so early in our first year and was sometimes irritated by the hesitations of some of us, who had come to study theology but were not sure what we would do with it next.

If he was determined, Hugues also enjoyed partying and being around friends. I remember evenings spent in the big Parisian apartment of his grand-mother, where he lived during his studies. We would enjoy the paté (French delicacy) he would make himself and we had so much fun that no one wanted to leave while poor Hugues was literally falling asleep. I also remember this surprise birthday party that he had organized the night of my birthday where all my friends suddenly came forth, as well as my brother and sister-in-law.

After our licence (Master in Divinity) we went forward into opposite directions – both geographically and theologically. The Presbyterian seminary of Dubuque (Iowa) welcomed me. He received a grant that allowed him to study one year at the Bible School of Jerusalem. He was then a Lutheran but was feeling close to the Roman Catholic church – his best friend Didier was a Priest near Lyon.

The year I moved in Tacoma, he wrote me to let me know he had become a Catholic. I found out later that he became a Priest in Marseille. I remember thinking that the place was perfect for him : he enjoyed the sunshine as well as the warm spontaneity of people from the South of France.

Why on earth did he cut his throat open last Sunday in the bedroom in his manse, leaving behind a few lines of apologies ? What waves of torment led him to such a violent move, so chocking for the community that he was serving and all the people he loved?

The Archbishop in Marseille decided there should be religious funeral next Monday. “How could the Church close its doors to someone who suffered to the point of taking his own life? It is unthinkable to do otherwise” commented the general secretary of the Diocese. 

The following verse was quoted in the blog of Father Philippe Rochas, a fellow Priest.  ^“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Mary Magdalene Protests

This is not a story we find in the Bible but one of those meaningful legends that have the power to teach us anyway.

Mary Magdalene, first apostle of the resurrection, decided to protest the execution of Jesus in no other place than the court of Caesar, in Rome. She went and, as a business woman who did not lack influence nor audacity, she managed to be invited for dinner by Tiberius Caesar.  She intended to denounce the unfair condemnation of Jesus by Ponce Pilate. She also wanted to proclaim the resurrection.

During the dinner, amoung the many guests, Mary Magdalene rose and as she had planned, she described the condemnation, death and resurrection of Jesus.

After she spoke, the emperor took a hardboiled egg and showed it to his guest. “He cannot be raised, just as this egg cannot turn red.” And lo and behold, the egg he was holding suddenly turned bright red.

If this story has no historical pretense, it explains why orthodox icons show Mary Magdalene holding a red egg. To this day, Eastern Christians paint their Easter eggs red, as a way to commemorate how God sometimes act in a completely startling way.

I read this story as told by Rev. Anne Howard from the Beatitudes Society. I mentioned it in my sermon on Palm Sunday.