St. Louis de Montfort: Part IX: An Eccentric: Who is to Blame?

A s we have seen in previous articles, there is a fundamental characteristic of Saint Louis de Montfort which surfaces in all his problems with ecclesiastical authorities: his eccentricities. Whether it be a question of his relationship with his spiritual director, Father Leschassier, or with the Ordinary of a diocese, his strange quirks are mentioned. Precisely what are these idiosyncrasies and how are they to be interpreted becomes the enigma intertwined within the puzzle of Montfort’s difficulties with his religious superiors.

Strangely enough, Blain [early biographer, a friend of Fr. de Montfort, who also attended the same seminary], himself lists only two singularities when he first makes mention of them: Louis Grignion tilts his head to the side when praying, and he sometimes utters audible sighs when in adoration.

Quirks? The seminarians reveal their childishness if these mannerisms so upset them that they make a confrere the butt of jokes and constantly taunt him. However, Blain does add that Montfort would at times appear to be taken up into prayer and adoration at the most inconvenient and unexpected times, for example, when in the refectory or during recreation. Nonetheless, the fuss that Blain makes over these two singularities reveals the too tense community life led at Saint Sulpice which apparently frayed nerves over a nothing. Certainly tilting one’s head and sighing could not be at the root of such serious rebuttals by religious superiors, which Montfort experienced in his lifetime. There must be more.

The three early biographies of Louis de Montfort, (Grandet, Blain, Besnard) although breaking out at times with exaggerated praise as was the custom of the age, feel forced to emphasize these “strange ways“ of the saint. “It must be admitted that, he was very odd,” writes his friend Blain. It is important to note that this is not a tale told of all the saints, e.g., of penances, mortifications, hours in prayer, patience, charity, etc. Rather, the singularities of Montfort are highly peculiar mannerisms and actions which in varying degrees, are characteristic of Louis Grignion throughout his life, from his youth at Rennes, to his final mission at St. Laurent-sur-Sévre. For the majority of the laypeople and clergy of northwestern France, they were outstanding manifestations of the Spirit which drew thousands to conversion and a deeper love for the faith. However for some priests and for a number of Bishops and ecclesiastical superiors, they were possibly – probably? – outlandish deeds of a charlatan. As the Bishop of Nantes mumbled in exasperation at the end of the Pontchateau affair: “Grignion de Montfort is either a great saint or an absolute hypocrite.“ And like some other ecclesiastical authorities, he was not sure of one or the other. One of the reasons why Louis de Montfort’s intense gifts of holiness and mystical prayer were not crystal clear to some of his superiors were these “strange ways.”

Examples of the saints powerful, strange ways formed part of the narration given above of specific difficulties with some Bishops and superiors. To this should be added the opening paragraph of Joseph Grandet’s Vie de Messire Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort which lists – quite defensively – some of the most famous of the “singularities of Father de Montfort:

“The conduct of M. Grignion de Montfort has seemed so extraordinary during his lifetime that the impious wanted to pass him as diabolical, calling him a sorcerer, anti-Christ, and one possessed. Worldly people thought him eccentric, and people of means have believed him singular and odd … I must expect that those who will take the trouble to read this biography will be surprised, even shocked to see a man. who walks bareheaded even during winter, in time of rain, and even during the hottest days of the summer; who carries on his journeys a crucifix atop a walking stick; who kneels at the entry of each house he visits and prays the blessing: “Bestow, 0 Lord, we beseech you, your grace upon this house .. .”; the free-thinkers, will not be able to bear that he throws himself at the feet of a servant when he thinks that he has committed a fault, and obliges the servant ,to trample on him. and to treat him as the greatest of criminals. The prudent of this world will disapprove, without doubt, that a missionary undertakes all his travels on foot, without money, without credit, without friends; that he is often forced to sleep in barns, in stables with the animals, or at the entry of a Church. That he enlists zealous priests to work with him without knowing where they will lodge that night, or where they will have their first meal in the morning. People who let themselves be led by the feelings of nature will not be able to stand that he does not wish to lodge or eat at his parents’ house, not even to visit them when he is at his hometown. The sensual will be turned away by the fact that he searches after crosses, poverty and humiliations with eagerness and that he accepts them with much joy as the proud, the avaricious and the voluptuous seek’ honors, pleasures and wealth. The wise of this age will find fault with the fact that he carries the bags of the poor whom he meets on his way, that he bears the poor on his shoulders to give them some rest on a journey, that he drinks, eats and lodges with them. In one word, that he does many other actions which appear ridiculous and eccentric . . .”

And to this fearsome list must be added an overpowering appearance with his pronounced aquiline ’nose, ’high forehead, his piercing eyes, his mysterious, confident smile. He had an awesome grandeur about him, even, in his most tattered cassock. He bore the emblems of his allegiance: a fifteen decade rosary, a large cross hanging from his neck, chains on his wrists and ankles and around his waist, the cross or a small statue of Our Lady atop his walking stick. And what cannot be overlooked is his strong authoritative voice which filled churches and town squares, commanding the full attention of his congregation, both by his creative style and relevant, solid content. “A prophet has risen up among us,” shouted the crowds while authorities warned, “Take heed, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and show signs and wonders.”

Whether for him or against him, there were some agreements. First, the Father from Montfort was highly intelligent. Blain speaks of his excellence in studies at Rennes and at Paris.