Complicated Ties

The timing was not propitious; in fact, it was catastrophic. Releasing a book on Jean Vanier just before demoralizing revelations came out — that the man many took to be a living saint was in fact far from it — does not make for good marketing. But that is neither the author’s nor the publisher’s fault. It was a trick of the gods.

And speaking of gods — or at least those who are perceived as closer to the Divinity because of the holiness of their lives — Jean Vanier was in a beatific galaxy of his own, as this book categorically demonstrates. He was internationally renowned for his humanitarian work as the founder of the L’Arche homes that span the globe — sanctuaries where intellectually disabled people and their diverse gifts can flourish. He was also celebrated as a peace activist, a campaigner for intercultural and interreligious harmony, a prolific author, and a winner of countless prestigious honours, including the Templeton Prize and appointment as a...