Jean Vanier was born into privilege yet chose to live among those who, in the words of Pope Francis, “are despised and discarded.” Simply by being “present” with people with profound intellectual disabilities, by treating them as beings of equal value to others, he challenged the very notion of what it means to be human. Vanier, who died this week at the age of 90, leaves a remarkable legacy in L’Arche, the network of 154 communities in 38 countries where disabled people live on terms of equality with their caregivers. Jean Vanier, the Canadian founder of homes all over the world for people with disabilities. Vanier was heaped with honours, including the Order of Canada and France’s Légion d’honneur, as the world discovered the significance of his work. Jean Vanier’s work and life deserve all the praise and recognition they are getting.

Source: thestar May 08, 2019 20:37 UTC