Jean Vanier is arguably one of the most important modern-day Christian writers to focus on the Spritiuality of Community life.
Jean Vanier was born on 10 September 1928. His father was Governor General of Canada. Jean trained at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. After serving as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy he left active service in 1950. For the next six years he lived in the lay Community L'Eau Vive near Paris.
He spent a year at the Trappist monastery at Bellefontaine in France, a year on a farm and two years in Fatima, Portugal. He was working to become a doctor of philosophy. After that he taught Theology and Philosophy at the University of Toronto for a short time. In 1964 a Dominican priest, Père Thomas Philippe, inivited Jean to live at Trosly-Breuil, north of Paris.
Jean met many people with learning disabilities who lived in institutions. He was very moved by the difficult lives they lived. He bought a small house in Trosly-Breuil. He had decided to arrange a home for the sort of people he had met. Jean welcomed Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux. They were the first members of L’Arche. With Jean they created a home where they could learn to live together as friends. They called their little Community L'Arche, French for ‘The Ark’. The Ark was Noah's boat of salvation.
The new little Community was simple and poor. It soon attracted support. Other people came to help. Some of them came from abroad. More people with learning disabilities came and made it their home. The L’Arche idea inspired other people. New houses opened. New Communities were set up. New countries were included. L’Arche now has 130 Communities in 30 countries around the world.
In 1971 Jean, with Marie-Helene Mathieu, founded Faith and Light. Faith and Light does not run Communities where people live. Faith and Light is a network of support for people with learning disabilities living at home, their families and friends. They usually meet once or twice a month. They spend time sharing experiences, celebrating and praying. There are now more than a thousand Faith and Light Communities around the world.
Jean Vanier remained leader of L’Arche in Trosly-Breuil until 1981. He still lives there. He now travels all over the world. He visits L’Arche and Faith and Light Communities. He speaks at conferences and retreats. Jean Vanier has written many books.
