In front of the ocean, a young girl beams with joy. She is lovely, adorned in her bright pink cardigan with a Claudine collar. Her eyes sparkle with clarity, and her beaming smile showcases her youthful, charming teeth. A striped kerchief conceals the hair she has lost, while the sun’s rays bathe her in a heavenly light as she gazes at it with reverence in her heart. This radiant young girl is Anne-Gabrielle, an 8-year-old child on the brink of passing away.
Embracing a Life Centered on Faith
Answering the phone, Marie-Dauphine Caron’s voice exudes a blend of warmth and assurance, the voice of a mother who has nurtured five children. She candidly but gently expresses, “I must admit, I was hesitant about this interview when I was informed that the focus would be on ‘Instilling Love for God in Your Child: Insights from Anne-Gabrielle Caron’s Parents.’ I do not wish to be credited with a role I did not play. I am overwhelmed by everything that has transpired.”
It was the advocate for Anne-Gabrielle’s beatification process who persuaded her. “I want to make it clear that I am not assuming any favorable outcome from the process. If I express my desire for my children to become saints, it is because I firmly believe that we are designed for God, to be in His presence. This is the essence of holiness, devoid of any sense of misplaced pride.”
Anne-Gabrielle’s mother acknowledges a spiritual connection between her daughter and Anne de Guigné, a young girl who passed away a century earlier and was declared venerable. “Undeniably, Anne de Guigné served as a role model for Anne-Gabrielle, profoundly influencing her life,” remarks Marie-Dauphine Caron.
Surrendering All to God in Love
During her pregnancy with Anne, Antoinette de Guigné was resolute in living the exemplary life she envisioned for her daughter. “Pregnancies were never easy for me; I always struggled with poor health,” shares Marie-Dauphine Caron. “However, during my pregnancy with Anne-Gabrielle, I held onto a persistent thought. Anne de Guigné’s mother felt compelled to maintain a close relationship with God; I was deeply concerned about the corrupting influences of the world on my pure and innocent child. This anxiety lingered in subsequent pregnancies, albeit to a lesser extent.”
In the Caron household, “God is personalized. Neither my husband nor I were raised to fear hell but to avoid hurting God’s sentiments. This is what we instilled in Anne-Gabrielle: the Lord is a loving figure, someone we can rely on and strive to please.” How? “We offer everything, surrender everything. Through this act of offering, Anne-Gabrielle’s illness was imbued with transcendence, imbuing it with purpose. Even in her youth, Anne-Gabrielle, akin to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, made sacrifices out of love, aiming to ‘remove thorns from Jesus’ crown,’ as she would say.”
Upholding Truthfulness with Children
From the tender age of three, Anne-Gabrielle pondered existential queries about eternity, the essence of suffering, and the passing of young souls. Educated by the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Spirit, renowned for their rigorous educational standards, Marie-Dauphine Caron reflects, “We found ourselves at a loss when confronted with these profound questions, surpassing our understanding, despite our thorough catechesis… It is crucial to provide our children with a solid catechetical foundation, integrating God into our conversations.” To address her daughter’s inquiries, Marie-Dauphine turned to two books: Maman parle-moi du bon Dieu (“Mom, talk to me about God”) and Maman ne me quitte pas (“Mom isn’t going to leave me”).
Recalling those profound conversations with her daughter, Marie-Dauphine Caron cherishes the moments and the inquisitiveness of Anne-Gabrielle. “It is imperative to always be truthful with children (…). I recall a story about a child who questioned a priest about the potential revelation that Jesus in the Eucharist was merely a fanciful tale, akin to Christmas presents. When Anne-Gabrielle posed questions that surpassed her age, I would respond, ‘You are too young to comprehend; I will explain later,’ for I staunchly adhered to honesty.”
While unveiling harsh truths may cause pain, it fostered Anne-Gabrielle’s unwavering trust in her parents. When an eight-year-old, enamored with life, apprehensively inquired whether she was nearing death, the anguish was profound. Yet, with divine grace, it became bearable. “It was an agonizing moment,” recollects Marie-Dauphine Caron, “but it was necessary. Later that day, after revealing that she was indeed facing death, Anne-Gabrielle confided, ‘I was terribly frightened. Now, I am slightly less afraid, as I console myself with the thought that if I pass away, I will be with God.’”
Cultivating a Child’s Spiritual Essence
Marie-Dauphine Caron, a dedicated educator in the French public school system, is well-versed in supporting struggling youth. “Undoubtedly, as parents, we have made mistakes, with Anne-Gabrielle and each of our children. Acknowledging this and seeking forgiveness from our children stems from love.” This love begets trust. “It embodies the innocence of childhood. If a child comprehends God as a loving father, she will place absolute faith in Him. Anne-Gabrielle’s prayers were marked by this simplicity, as she would express, ‘My God, I accept all that you ask of me, but please, do not burden me excessively.’ She would seek and obey as a child.
“We aimed to impart to our children the notion that the Lord is a person, and His love must manifest tangibly within the home. For us, this entailed catechetical instruction and prayer. Anne-Gabrielle and I lived this reality firsthand, as in the initial years of my marriage, I attended Mass daily,” continues Marie-Dauphine Caron. “Due to my parental leave and our proximity to a church, I could dedicate at least thirty minutes daily to God.”
Subsequently, passing by a church entailed acknowledging Jesus, even if through a simple genuflection. Anne-Gabrielle grew up with the unwavering belief that Jesus resided in the tabernacle, nurturing her devotion to God.
Reveling in the Simple Pleasures of Family Life
“Behind her timidity, Anne-Gabrielle possessed a fierce spirit akin to smoldering embers,” reminisces Marie-Dauphine Caron with a grin. “She cherished our family activities, such as playing cards, cycling, dressing up, cooking, baking, watching Papa Beaver’s Storytime on DVD, reading, drawing, engaging in her crafts, and wholeheartedly embracing the Scouting ethos when she joined the Scouts, a passion she shared with her father, who remained a Scout at heart.” (Editor’s note: In France, there are popular Catholic scouting organizations distinct from the American Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.)
In the Caron household, joy permeated everyday life through the simplicity of mundane routines. “I cannot claim that Anne-Gabrielle was an ordinary child,” reflects her mother, considering the profound queries that her daughter posed from a young age. “When you entrust everything to God, you naturally gravitate towards righteousness,” affirms Marie-Dauphine Caron. “It is then that He works through us, akin to the process of raising children.”
Recognizing Our Children as God’s Own
Upon receiving the heart-wrenching diagnosis of their daughter’s impending demise, Marie-Dauphine and Alexandre Caron endured profound anguish. As they prepared to bid farewell to their daughter, they resolved “to guide her towards a holy passing.” “While we prayed fervently for a miracle, we comprehended that our children are not possessions; they are entrusted to us, and we are mere custodians.”
Concluding this poignant dialogue, Marie-Dauphine Caron, through the lens of a grieving mother’s hopeful perspective, shares, “Children often harbor a mystical perspective on eternal life… They are closer to Heaven than we realize.”