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The Preface is written by an excellent author, profoundly spiritual, and highly educated, the prestigious Dr.Thomas Richard.
Christ said "If you love me observe my Commandments." How are we to observe his Commandments if we do not know them? 1 Jn 2:3-4; 1 Jn 3:24; 1 Jn 5:3
Deafness does not impose any frontier on Gabrielle Burke-Vienneau
After her graduation at Academie Sainte-Famille, Gabrielle Vienneau, originally from Bathurst, went to Teacher’s College in Fredericton, and began her teaching profession in Three-Rivers, P.Q.
Shortly after her marriage with Eugene, the couple established themselves in Ville LaSalle, Quebec, where she taught, and their three children were born in this city. She followed courses in Montreal, and obtained a Quebec teaching certification. In 1968, the family moved back to New Brunswick, because of her husband’s health issues.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree in teaching elementary classes in 1971, and a bachelor’s degree in education in 1974. The author declared she suffered regularly with sever earaches every year throughout her education in her youth, and her hearing left much to be desired. However, in those years, 1945-1960, there was no help of any kind, and no information. Consequently, in her twentieth year of teaching, the problem worsened, and she became profoundly deaf.
Since she had to support their three children, and her husband suffering with dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, she decided to pursue her education. After an intensive year (12 months, from June to June) in Nova Scotia, in 1982, she consequently obtained a master's degree in educational psychology, with a major in special education for the hearing impaired.
She then opened the first class for the hearing impaired in Tracadie. Unfortunately, after only a year, she was forced to abandon this endeavour, due to multiple allergies and chronic asthma.
Her health problems resulted in an early retirement, and apprehension about starting to "rust mentally". This lead Gabrielle to plunge into the world of computers which she considered a challenge. Subsequently she became fascinated with new interests; genealogy, and writing. This resulted in the making of her first genealogy and history book, close to 400 pages, which was published in 1998, still on sale at her residence. An old-fashioned recipe book, and a religious book followed, but they were not published.
Deafness can be an obstacle for some, but not for Gabrielle Vienneau. It did not stop her from trying to pursue other ambitions. After she was sixty-five years old, she took steps to undertake studies with the aim of becoming a lawyer. During the interview with some lawyers on the acceptance committee, it was with disappointment, that due to her profound deafness, she realized that her great desire was not a realistic one. A lawyer confirmed that the university is not organized like that of Quebec or Montreal, to accommodate deaf students. With regret, Gabrielle had to abandon this dream.
She had been teaching a small group of deaf adults, for several years, and acquired a beautiful sum of religious information which gave her the idea of writing this book. So far it has been published in French only, but she is working on an English version with the hope it will on the book shelves within a year.
In preparation to the launching of her book, the author shares her life, her passion, and information concerning her recent publication.
She declares: "We have such a wealth of incomparable information which helps us, in our pursuit to educate ourselves in our faith. It is easy, and interesting, even fascinating, to study our religion, and search in our immense sources, full of history of saints, and heroism."
Her French book has taken over two years to complete, especially due to the numerous searches she had to execute. She consulted Vatican ll, The Code of Canon Law,and many other authentic documents, in order to ascertain herself that the content was all in conformity with the teaching of the Church.
Also, what delayed the publication is the fact that she had to wait months in order to have the permission to use several quotations, and beautiful photos included. To her great surprise, the Vatican was the first to give their permission, second was the Conference of the Catholic bishops of Canada. And they both wanted her book. She cannot help but smile at the thought that her writing is in such prestigious places. She is happy to know that her book is in the Vatican library!
She was so pleased to receive a letter from Cardinal Ouellet. Originally from Quebec, he is one of Canada's leading Catholic officials, in Rome. Marc Cardinal Ouellet is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Bishops of the whole world. His letter is very short, but the simple fact that he wrote is a sign of approval. Otherwise, if there were a problem, he would have noted it, which he did not do. On the contrary, his letter is a sign showing his support.
She admits she was doubly surprised and so excited, when she received a second letter from Rome. This one was from the Vatican’s Office of the Secretary of State, Msgr Peter B. Wells. The Secretariat of State is the office that works most closely with the Pope in the exercise of his mission as universal shepherd, and serves as a kind of clearinghouse for all the information and documents passing from the curia to the Pope and vice versa.
Msgr Peter Wells is an American; he graduated from the Ecclesiastical Pontifical Academy of Rome. He studied the international law and the papal diplomacy. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. This diplomat speaks French, Italian, Spanish, German, Latin and Greek. He is very close to the Pope, and he is known as a person highly energetic, full of enthusiasm, with a sincere love for the Church.
Gabrielle declares: “It was such an encouragement for me, to receive a letter from a person holding such a high place! I reduced these 3 letters and placed them in the book for all to see.”
In his letter, Msgr Wells says that the Pope got Gabrielle's book and he thanks her. He hopes that Christians will discover and accept God's mercy, given in the grandeur and beauty of the sacrament of penance. Msgr Wells closes his letter saying that the Pope is giving her, her family, and the deaf people she teaches, a heart-felt apostolic blessing! She is so happy that the Pope supports her efforts and writing!
Last September, the author was celebrated in Bouctouche to underline the beginnings of her teaching, 50 years ago. She reconsiders her past while saying:
Many years ago, she had left her faith, but she knew how to come back, due to two excellent teachers, Mother Saint Christina of the Congregation of Notre-Dame, and Sister Cécile Renault of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph. She credits these two nuns for her eventual return to the Christian fold, due to their excellent example and teachings.
These two exemplary nuns are now deceased, but Gabrielle affirms: "I still wish to thank them with all my heart, because they were such a great source of inspiration, which marked my life in a positive way."
In researching her references, Gabrielle found that the teachings of these two nuns are still relevant, and her self-published book is a way to share those teachings with others. While making her research, she discovered that all they had taught was totally loyal to the Magisterium of our holy Mother the Church and all still applies today. Numerous are those who did not have the opportunity to benefit from such quality teachers. Therefore, the goal of this book is to help those who did not get that chance, in order to help them discover God's mercy.
The sacraments are a real gold mine, and we have an invaluable profusion of graces available when one is at the door of death. It would be madness to ignore this immense richness given through God’s mercy. Life is so short, and time passes by so quickly, that swiftly one is already at the end of our earthly life. Leon Blois said: “The greatest tragedy is not to be a saint”.
When you read this booklet, do not forget that it is the teaching of the Church, to guide you towards the authentic way to heaven. Therefore, I invite you to buy it for you, for the members of your family, and for your friends in order to help them. It is an excellent manner of helping our neighbour. Spiritual charity is too often forgotten. We must help others spiritually, because the salvation of soul is a paramount preponderance, which is the most important in the whole world!
All to Make A Good Confession According To The Teaching Of The Church is totally authentic. It was reviewed by a good priest who has a master’s degree in theology, and also a master in canonical Law. He was a lawyer and a judge in the ecclesiastical courts of Quebec. Moreover, he also has a doctorate in theology, and he confirmed that there was absolutely nothing, which is contrary to the teaching of the Church in it.
Freedom of conscience is a precious thing however often improperly understood. Freedom of conscience is not best exercised at unmarked crossroads. At an unmarked crossroads, the man who wishes to get somewhere the man who thinks his choices really matter wants a compass, a map, a guide. He wants information. He needs to inform his conscience. And that, in matters of salvation, is the marvellous function of The Teaching of The Catholic Church. The Church’s authoritative teaching does not force conscience; it informs it. It provides conscience with vital information. It removes doubts. It gives certainty. In doing so it does not take away our personal freedom. It simply makes it easier for us to exercise it, if we wish, in choosing roads that are divinely guaranteed to lead to Heaven.
Letter from Monsignor Peter B. Wells
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