As soon as she learned, Friday evening, of the assassination of history teacher Samuel Paty, Claudine, 59, a very committed parishioner of the Sainte-Thérèse-du-Madrillet church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (Seine -Maritime) has updated the universal prayer intentions read at Mass.
So, on this Sunday of office, not far from the altar, this consecrated layman invites, at the microphone, the assembly to pray "for the family of Mr. Samuel Paty, victim of the religious fanaticism which plagues our society", but also “For the educational community” of the Conflans-Sainte-Honorine college.
Before addressing the Almighty: "May your mercy grant them a path of peace and consolation".
Here, in this popular city of the Rouen suburbs, the beheading of the teacher from Yvelines has revived another immeasurable pain, that of the slaughter in full mass, a little over four years ago, of Father Jacques. Hamel, target of two Islamist terrorists.
It was in the other church in the town that barbarism had killed the 85-year-old cleric today on the way to beatification.
Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, this Sunday morning.
At the start of the celebration, Father Hubert recalled that “the best work is love”.
LP / Arnaud Dumontier
“It continues, it's a downward spiral,” says Nolwenn, 25.
“It is a similar crime which shows that we have not managed to get out of this hatred.
We live in an unstable world.
The public authorities should show more authority, ”encourages Yves, a retired septuagenarian.
“It reminds us of injuries.
The wound, which seemed to close, reopened.
But God is there to heal wounds, ”promises Father Hubert, 44, who has been announcing the Gospel for three years in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.
Like most of his parishioners, he "forgives the executioner".
“On the cross, Christ said:
Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing,
” he argues.
At the start of the celebration, he recalls that “the best work is love”, praising “the mayonnaise of fraternity”.
"Do not be afraid to have this diversity, it is a grace of God", he launches to his flock of multiple origins.
"It's history repeating itself, it hurts too much"
He also invites them, at the request of the Archbishop of Rouen, Mgr Dominique Lebrun, to a meeting in the afternoon with the other officials of worship in front of the “republican stele for peace and fraternity” drawn up in memory of the father. Hamel near the stormed building.
A gathering to pay homage to the martyr of the Republic Samuel Paty.
Cathy, 48, a caregiver, “still has hope” and “believes in a better world” but is not immune to doubts.
“I ask God to protect us.
But sometimes I say to him:
Where are you?
», She confesses.
Faced with this "horror", she feels "helpless".
“We don't know where to go.
What to do ?
She wonders.
The death of Samuel Paty "touches her as much" as that of the ecclesiastic.
"It's history repeating itself, it hurts too much", she is moved.
"You have to know how to forgive your enemies"
On the wall of the Sainte-Thérèse-du-Madrillet church are displayed a portrait of Father Hamel and his words which he took from the Gospel: "God sowed the word in our hearts so that it bears fruit" .
"Jacques is still with us, alive", assures Claudine, 59, who did not "sleep" all night when she learned that the savagery hit the school this time.
"A symbol of the Republic", sums up the one who wants "our Head of State to react".
For her, we have the “right not to like a caricature” but obviously “not to kill”.
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“We must all work together as a society while respecting differences.
But by allowing communitarianism to develop, we put ourselves in danger.
And unfortunately it is not over, ”Michele worries.
In the eyes of Alain, 73, “the teacher was doing his job”.
"He was the victim of madness," he said indignantly, while insisting on the fact that "you have to know how to forgive your enemies".
Same story when asked, Jean-Louis, 63 years old.
"I also pray for those who are capable of committing the worst ..."