The Annals of Saint Anne - Summary
July-August 2026
Editor's desk François-Marie Héraud
Celebrating Life
Can we truly celebrate life without first recognizing its preciousness, its worth, and accepting that it is finite?
Because life is short, every moment carries unique meaning. In the Old Testament, Job expresses this truth so perfectly, “A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble, comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last.” (Job 14:1–2) Life’s very fragility reveals its preciousness. Job later cries out to God with striking honesty, “Remember that my life is a breath.” (7:7)
How, then, do we measure the worth of such a brief life? Life is given to us freely, and its infinite worth is discovered through the dignity of the human person. Life is meant to be lived not on the surface but in the depths of the heart. As Etty Hillesum writes, “It is within me, not in outward circumstances, that life’s greatest decisions are made. Life is beautiful, I say it again, and it is such a generous gift from God that we shall never fully grasp its true value.”
What can we say about life’s value? Every human being bears suffering, both in body and in spirit. Suffering can weigh heavily upon us, isolate us, and even cause us to be rejected by others.
In Saint Luke’s Gospel, ten lepers cry out to Jesus, asking to be healed. Their bodies are disfigured; they have been cast out by society and are treated as though they were already dead. Jesus stops before them and heals them. He then sends them to show themselves to the priests so that they may be restored to the community.
“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.” (Luke 17:15–16) Why does he return? The other nine are content simply to receive the miracle and continue on their way. But this man realizes the magnitude of what Christ has done for him. He longs not only to give thanks but also to encounter the One who has restored his health.
“Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
(Luke 17:19)
His return marks the beginning of something even greater. Once again, Christ welcomes him and says, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)
Through this simple act of gratitude, Christ offers him far more than physical healing. He grants him the gift of salvation. The healed leper comes to understand that he is infinitely precious in God’s eyes, that he is loved and redeemed by Christ. His life is now rooted in a love stronger than death, and an interior peace that no turmoil can take away. Christ restores not only his health but also his human dignity, giving profound meaning to his entire life.
May we, like this grateful leper, have the courage to believe. Day after day, may we recognize the many healings and graces that the Lord pours into our lives. May we learn to kneel within the depth of our hearts, where God dwells and patiently awaits us. May our prayer become a heartfelt thanksgiving. Then we, too, will be able to celebrate the gift of life, received with gratitude, lived with hope, and recognized as truly magnificent.
United in prayer!
___________________________________________________
Charles Duval, C.Ss.R., – Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan
The Life God Desires
This year, even more than in previous years, I have been amazed by the abundance and explosion of life that bursts forth in springtime. We experienced a very long winter in northern Alberta, and deep down I had resigned myself to the idea that nature might not return with the same richness this year. Some plants have probably died, I told myself. Yet, as faithfully as the sun rises each morning, spring arrived right on time, perhaps a little later than usual, but no less full of life. How could we not celebrate such a wonderful gift from God?
I have been told that on the day I was born, my father waited patiently at the hospital for news of his first child. In those days, fathers were not allowed into the delivery room, and parents did not know in advance whether they would have a boy or a girl. Suddenly, he heard excitement coming from the far end of the hallway and my mother joyfully exclaiming, “I’m so happy! I have a son! Yes, I have a son!” You should know that my mother was a nurse and gave birth to me in the very hospital where she worked. Everyone on the ward knew her. She would always finish the story by saying that the medication she had been given probably contributed to her enthusiastic reaction.
For a son, hearing that story is a real blessing. What a beautiful way to welcome a new life! There is something deeply comforting about knowing that you were wanted from the very beginning. I realize, however, that not every son or daughter is welcomed in the same way.
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you …”
(Jeremiah 1:5)
Yet every child is loved, desired, and awaited by the Father long before birth, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you …” (Jeremiah 1:5)
It seems to me that our society has lost some of this sense of wonder and the appreciation of the gift of human life and its value from conception until natural death. We are called to be prophets in our own time through the way we celebrate life, respect it, and protect it.
Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13–14). By celebrating life, we help bring that light into our world. We should never be afraid to proclaim life as one of the greatest gifts that we have received. We can be a positive influence by becoming involved in different ways to support, help, serve, and care for those who fear bringing a child into the world, who fear suffering, or who feel abandoned and rejected.
Let us also remember that Creation has been entrusted to humanity's care. It is our responsibility to find new ways of protecting and nurturing the natural world by living more thoughtfully and showing profound respect for the gifts that God has given to us.
