France, 1996: Memoirs of a Writer in France

By Mary Hilaire Tavenner Ph.D.

Visit the author's website at www.DutchInk.com

In 1996, Hilaire Tavenner and a small group of companions went to France from a city in Ohio named for Alsace Lorraine, France.  Lorain, Ohio is the home of the Tavenner family for six generations.  Her father, Robert Henderson Tavenner was a French Protestant and her mother, Mary Catherine Montgomery was an Irish Catholic.  This was not an unusual combination for "the International City" on the shores of Lake Erie, famous for its eighty ethnic and church denominations!  Lorain is also well known for its literary giants such as Helen Steiner Rice and Toni Morrison.

Dr. Tavenner had been in a convent in upstate New York for almost twenty years and has a lifetime of devotion to Saints of the Church.  Her interest in and love for the Miraculous Medal took her to France with a plan to write of her experiences when she came home.  The first half of France, 1996 contains most interesting true stories of St. Catherine Laboure and the Miraculous Medal, St. Vincent de Paul, Sr. Louise de Marillac, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Joan of Arc, as well as St. Bernadette and Lourdes and her travels to Taize and Cluny.

The book is written in hybrid fashion in that the first half is more expository than narrative.  The second half of the book, "A Week in Paris" is more narrative than expository.  It describes some of the most famous locations in the world and the "typically-tourist-yet-personal-and-unique experiences" she and her companions had while there!  The reader cannot help but to glean some of the most fascinating historical events and landmarks of France as s/he reads through, "A Week in Paris".  The book is really two books in one.  You will laugh as you hear her tell of being "mooned" in front of the world famous Opera House and just as equally be amazed to hear her speak of this most remarkable French nation!

France, 1996 is a must-read for anyone planning to visit France.  Dr. Tavenner has marvelous insights into pre-planning, places to stay and money-saving ideas!  The book was originally written as a Christmas gift to her family in 1996, but soon became so popular, many more copies were made and sold to friends and strangers who proclaimed it a "most delightful, informative, and entertaining book."  In fact, some readers responded with, "Too amazing to be true!"  But it is.  

France, 1996 is really a series of articles, many of which have already been published around the country.  Dr. Tavenner is a well-known public speaker, educator and writer.  Each story of this book begins exactly the same way--for the purpose of identifying chapters from this particular book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 23, 2001
• ISBN: 9781465320131

Mary Hilaire Tavenner Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Hilaire (Sally) Tavenner of Dutch Ink Publishing is an educator, public speaker, and author of six books; (seven, including her dissertation.) She has consulted for a 3 million docudrama on the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, attended Mother Seton’s Canonization in 1974 and Mother Marianne Cope’s Beatification in 2005. Tavenner taught several thousand children and adults during her career as an educator in New York, Ohio, Florida and Puerto Rico. She has served as an adjunct for the University of South Florida, Tiffin University, Cleveland State, Ashland University and Lorain County Community College. Dr. Tavenner is the President of the Friends of Helen Steiner Rice, a world-famous poet from her hometown of Lorain, Ohio. Dr. Tavenner is currently self-employed, working for “Dutch Ink”, a publishing business named in honor of her mother “Dutch”. “Dr. T” also teaches ESOL, part-time for Lorain City Schools Adult Education. Dr. Hilaire (Sally) Tavenner can be contacted via her website: www.dutchink.com and her books are available from her website as well as every bookstore in America, upon request.

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Copyright © 2000, 2006 by Mary Hilaire Tavenner, Ph.D.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

Any and all parts of this book may be reprinted for the purpose of inspiration, education, or communication of truth to others. It is however, the request of the author that she be cited when one or more of the various sections are reproduced. In the event you need larger selections, the author requests that you purchase the entire book. Books may be purchased from:

Xlibris Corporation

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Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

FOREWORD 

PART I:

INTRODUCTION 

ARE YOU A SAINT? 

SAINT CATHERINE AND THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL 

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL AND SAINT LOUISE DE MARILLAC 

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX 

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALOCOQUE 

TAIZE AND CLUNY 

SAINT BERNADETTE AND LOURDES 

SAINT JOAN OF ARC 

PART II :

INTRODUCTION 

TUESDAY: OUR FIRST DAY IN PARIS 

WEDNESDAY: THE AWE-FULL EIFFEL 

THURSDAY: MOONED AT THE OPERA 

SATURDAY: OUTSIDE OF PARIS 

SUNDAY: ILE DE LA CITE 

MONDAY: THE TRIP HOME 

AFTERWORD 

APPENDIX 

TO THE MEMORY OF MY FATHER,

ROBERT HENDERSON TAVENNER, SR.

NOVEMBER 6, 1916-AUGUST 13, 1968

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

MY MOTHER,

MARY CATHERINE MONTGOMERY TAVENNER

Who gave me every encouragement;

the opportunity to write this,

and the opportunity to become an author!

September 4, 1916—February 21, 1999

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Kathleen Ena Tavenner Miller, Ph.D.

Michele Elise Tavenner

Christine Miranda

Lewis Delgross

All Our Families and All Our Friends

FOREWORD

 

This was never intended to be a book. Even before I left for my vacation in France, I knew I would write at least a few stories about my experience. A member, Grace Digiadomenico, of my home parish, Saint Anthony‘s in Lorain, Ohio, asked me to give a talk to our Parish Marion Guild on any topic of my choice. I told her I would enjoy speaking about my experiences in France at the forthcoming Marion Guild meeting: September 16th. At first, I decided to focus on the more „religious experiences I enjoyed while in France. My talk, called „A Litany of Saints covered saints in general as well as specific French saints. That speech preparation lead me to the groundwork for „A Litany of French Saints," a series of articles composed of factual stories and my personal journals.

I fully expected to write about my secular adventures as well. They became the second part of my book, which I have entitled, A Week in Paris. This collection of stories may seem like a great deal of writing for a two-week trip, but as you will see, I had adventures far greater than I could have ever expected.

On February 18th, 1996, Nicholas Deliman asked me to go to France with him, a nurse: Mary Hoover, and two priests: the pastor at St. Anthony’s, Fr. Christian Moore, and his good friend, Fr. Donald Halpin, OFMConv. Nicholas told me they were all going to Taize for two weeks and that it would cost $800.00. The price was remarkably reasonable and I thought I might have an opportunity to see the Miraculous Medal Chapel in Paris. I decided to go.

The entire project was so disorganized that Nicholas and I made our own plans which included a brief weekend visit in Taize and sightseeing in Paris, Lourdes, and numerous other locations The three other travelers spent most of their time in Taize (which is likely where they needed to be). We did agree to stay at the same place while in Paris … but not without some heated debate. When we finally did get together to make our plans, we attempted to establish some consensus, but because we waited so long to get organized, none of us could plan as individuals nor could we plan much as a group. We all had to give and take, to compromise; but that was not necessarily, a bad thing. To fund my adventure, I sold my first and only car—an ‘87 Chevy Spectrum that I named Elizabeth after St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. The car’s engine had been obviously destroyed by emissions testing in Florida and Ohio. My mother and I both paid mechanics A FORTUNE to ruin an otherwise perfectly, wonderful car! (In my opinion emission testing is too lucrative a business and not based on proven or sound scientific grounds.)

My mother donated $500.00 to my France adventure and friends had given me an additional $250.00. The entire cost of my trip was $2500.00. This was a far cry from the $800.00 I had been quoted! Each of our round-trip plane fares alone cost $950.00. Had I made my own reservations instead of entrusting the task to Fr. Don, I could have saved several hundred dollars. Travelling in July, (peak tourist season) made the trip all the more expensive.

This was a trip of a lifetime and I could only compare it to the nine days I spent in Italy in 1975. I visited Rome to represent the religious community I then belonged to at the Canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

This book is dedicated to the memory of my father, Robert Henderson Tavenner, Sr. I believe he is a saint in heaven. His life was a tough one, scourged by an addiction to alcohol and an indulgent mother. Still, Dad loved his wife and his children passionately.

I hope you can discover and explore in these articles, some of the adventure, joy, and inspiration I found during my two weeks in France, July of 1996! Happy reading!

* * *

These stories are a hybrid style of fact and folksy. I may relate biographical information about the saint or statistical information about the shrine, but I also have included impressions and experiences from my many escapades. I have carefully researched factual information. All of my stories are feature length.

I call this first series, Part One: A Litany of French Saints. This series includes 8 different articles. The first is called, Are You a Saint? This article is about 2,000 words and is relevant for All Saints Day, November 1st, or for the purpose of focusing on the concept of saints. [Are You a Saint? All Saints Day, Nov. 1, is the perfect time for reflection and remembrance was first published in The Catholic Sun, Syracuse, NY, Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 1996; Vol. 116 No. 37, ISSN 07442267X.]

The second story, The Miraculous Medal speaks of St. Catherine Laboure, the visionary to receive the Miraculous Medal, and my visit at 140 Rue du Bac in Paris. It is about 2,300 words and is appropriate for November 27th, Feast of the Miraculous Medal and/or November 28th, Feast of St. Catherine.

The third story, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac is about this powerful duo. It is about 1200 words and is appropriate for September 27th, the Feast of St. Vincent and/or March 15th, the Feast of St. Louise.

The fourth story, St. Therese of Lisieux is about the Carmelite nun who died at the age of 24 and left an immense spiritual legacy. In fact, it is exciting for every believer (with the faith of a child) to discover this Carmelite nun recently became the THIRD FEMALE DOCTOR OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH! (The other two are St. Catherine of Sienna and St. Teresa of Avila—but that happened back in the 1970’s.) This particular article speaks of St. Therese’s life and the impressive Basilica built in recognition of her devotion to God and God’s Holy Will. It is about 2000 words long and appropriate for Theresa’s feastday, October 1st. [My St. Therese of Lisieux story was published under the headline of Young saint a model for World Youth Day Pilgrims in Florida’s statewide publication, The Florida Catholic, August 7, 1997; Vol. 58; No. 35.]

The fifth story, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, is the visionary of the Sacred Heart. I visited the Apparition Chapel in Paray le Monial where Jesus (as the Sacred Heart) appeared to St. Margaret Mary 300 years ago. The article speaks of St. Margaret’s life, the Apparition Chapel and the town of Paray le Monial. It is about 1700 words in length and most appropriate for her feastday, October 16th.

The sixth story is a misfit in the series. It does not address any saint as such, but Taize is something of a present day shrine in France. The article is called Taize and Cluny and speaks of Taize, a very large, popular, European Bible Camp. Cluny is an ancient European Center of Christianity similar to Rome and Constantinople. The article is critical of Taize, and may very well stir up some criticism for myself. It is about 5,500 words and could be read or reproduced for others any time of the year.

The seventh story is called, St. Bernadette and Lourdes. It is also very long, but one feels as if s/he is there with me when reading the story. It is about Bernadette, her life, and her visions of Mary at the Grotto of Lourdes. As in all of these articles, I have reported "some of most my personal experiences." This article is about 5,100 words and is appropriate for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11th, or the Feast of St. Bernadette, April 16th.

The eighth and final story is called, St. Joan of Arc. It speaks about her life and the fact that the armor she wore in the 1600’s may possibly have been discovered recently. The article is about 1500 words.

I took 200 photographs and 100 slides while in France and have wonderful pictures of all of these places. Many are postcard quality. I even have post cards from many of these churches and shrines.

My stories are appropriate for almost any sort of feature presentation, but especially as a religious story feature or a travel issue feature. I give travel information and tips throughout most of them.

PART I:

A LITANY OF FRENCH SAINTS

Originally composed as a series of articles and journals from my two-week, 1996 exploration of France.

INTRODUCTION

 

During the last two weeks of July, 1996, I had the marvelous good fortune to visit France. My love and 30-year devotion to the Miraculous Medal was the primary reason for my visit, but I’ve also had a strong desire to visit the hometown of St. Therese in Lisieux, the Visitation Chapel where the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alocoque 300 years ago; and Lourdes, where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. I was