Le Monde | • Updated | By
Under the capricious sky early August, while the streets of Rouen are deserted, many with gray hair and serious expression converges to the majestic Gothic cathedral of the Norman city. A week to the day after the death of Father Jacques Hamel, murdered by two members of the organization Islamic state, in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (Seine-Maritime), it is in this building, the most prestigious city, that was celebrated the funeral of the man described by all as modest.
After the arrival of Christians to Friday prayers at the mosque in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and Mass Sunday in the cathedral of Rouen where Muslims were invited, the message was again focused on interfaith communion. More so, the archbishop of Rouen, Dominique Lebrun, who presided over the celebration, highlighted the importance of peace and tolerance, calling in an unequivocal speech to brotherhood among different religious communities.
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“He called my daughter”
in the crowd gathered on the square in front of the cathedral of Rouen, the message seems to be heard: “We must bring this discourse of peace and hope. Despite the tragic attack which hit the Catholic “, reacts Josiane, who was also present at Sunday mass. And add, while it is searched by two police: “In this, the Muslim community has raised strong gestures, I was surprised by their dignity and respect during the communion of this week- end. “
A few dozen meters, Sandrine, looking into space, legs trembling, struggling to stand straight in front of the flowers placed on the front of the cathedral. It refers to the bouquet of white roses she placed in the middle of dozens of others. On his own, a small wooden black cat is stuck on a stem. “It’s a nod, Father Hamel was a black cat – that did not make him not fear – it is I who recovered” says this fifties ” agnostic “ but who knew Jacques Hamel, because of its involvement in various associations of the Rouen area.
It is 13 o’clock, the ceremony begins in an hour, and that employee town hall knows not whether it will have the strength to face the collective emotion that awaits him in the cathedral. But it’s already too late. For several minutes, the building, one of the largest in France, which can accommodate 1700 people, is complete. Two parishioners of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray are upset to have made the trip for nothing. “People who never go to Mass came out of curiosity, and we who have made the road, you can not enter” loose Gigi, following the ceremony on the screen giant, with his girlfriend Micheline. “I knew Father Hamel, he baptized my daughter and I saw every Sunday at Mass” says the latter, which, too moved to say more, simply recalls “it was a simple man, a good man. “
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Symbols martyr
14 hours. The bell rings once the bell. Behind a priest carrying a wooden cross towering unadorned coffin of the murdered father, supported by four bearers slowly through the square in front of nearly a thousand people getting ready, despite the rain, to the webcast of the office.
once inside, the coffin brought before the Gothic nave is placed on a carpet on the floor surrounded by four large white candles. The dawn of the priest and his red scarf – symbol of martyrdom – were put on it. A photo shows Jacques Hamel in suit and tie, far from the image, most publicized, where we see, during one of its offices. “We are gathered here as Jacques Hamel would have liked: in a solemn church, with personalities and a crowd in front of the cameras … We are also as the father would have liked Jacques: get together, communicate, being attentive to each other, without excluding anyone “, Dominique Lebrun analysis introductory statement of the ceremony.
the commitment to others
Because actually, nobody was excluded from the ceremony: several personalities of different religions are at the forefront, as the President of the Regional Council of the Muslim Faith of Haute-Normandie and representative of the mosque in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, Mohamed Karabila, or Rabbi Michael Bitton. As for politicians, the interior minister, in charge of worship, Bernard Cazeneuve took place alongside the President of the Constitutional Council and former elected in the region, Laurent Fabius, and Hervé Morin, President of the Regional Council Normandy
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More discreet, even in his silence before the funeral, the family of Jacques Hamel is also ranked first, installed near religious present during the attack in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and Mr. Coponet, seriously injured in the attack. On a calm, sister of Jacques Hamel, Roselyne, recalls an anecdote that sealed his brother’s faith when he was young:
“Our brother during his military service in Algeria, chose to serve as a private. (…) He told me that during a shootout in an oasis, he was the only survivor and he was often asked, why me? Today Jacques, you have your answer: God has chosen you to be of service to others. “
The quavering voice, fighting back tears, Jessica, one of the nephews of Father Hamel takes it to emphasize this commitment to others, largely beyond the scope of religion. To give strength to move forward without “patience and kindness” of his uncle, Jessica think about a message he had inspired after the attacks in January 2015:
“After” Charlie Hebdo “, I posted this sentence:” Oh my God, may we keep tolerance and understanding. “I did not have to apply this sentence to me with as much force and conviction. “
Read also: Tribute to Hamel father at Notre Dame of Paris:” I was really afraid of being overwhelmed by hatred “
“the path will be hard,”
A discourse of peace resumed on several occasions, including the archbishop of Rouen, during his homily inspired, in which it is primarily intended for jihadists: “you as turmoil diabolical violence, that demonic killing spree leads to kill. “ Dominique Lebrun, in that it ” evil is a mystery, “, calls for resistance by peace, but should ” The path will be hard, “ it is not about “excusing the murderers, those who make a pact with the devil.” It especially feels that in this way to peace, “the words and gestures many of our Muslim friends, their visit is a significant step “ a homily that seals the willingness of religious leaders for one week to strengthen solidarity between the faiths.
Read also: Attack of Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray: religious testify
At 17 hours, while rings again the bell and the coffin left the cathedral to applause, escorted by a procession of priests, the haggard crowd trouble to leave the square. A group of three friends will stay an hour on the site despite the light rain that chased the boldest. Two of them, a Christian and a Muslim, had not seen for several months. “It took this event so that we meet again” , says one of them who attended all the ceremonies since the attack. “It’s terrible to say, but perhaps he had come there to strongly reaffirm the links between religious communities” says her friend, convinced that there will be “a before and after the attack on Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray.”
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