(01:47–03:09) Music:
"The Multiples of One" from Awakening, performed by Joseph Curiale

(01:05) Definition of L'Arche
L'Arche began in 1964 when Jean Vanier, a Canadian professor of philosophy, invited two mentally handicapped persons—Raphael Simi and Philippe Seaux—to live with him in a small home in Trosly-Breuil, France. Vanier named the house L'Arche after Noah's Ark, symbolizing a place of welcoming for all people and a time for new beginnings. In 1972, the International Federation of L'Arche was constituted, and today there are over 120 communities in more than 30 countries.

(03:22) Citation from Vanier's Work
The extended version of the passage recited by Krista appears in Jean Vanier's An Ark for the Poor:

I began to visit different centers for people with mental handicaps. I was quite overwhelmed by what I saw, especially in an asylum south of Paris. Huge concrete walls surrounded the buildings made of cement block; eighty men lived in dormitories with no work. All day long they just walked around in circles. From 2 to 4 p.m. there was a compulsory siesta, then time for a walk all together. There I was struck by the screams and the atmosphere of sadness, but also by a mysterious presence of God. In that asylum I met Philippe Seux and Raphael Simi for the first time. Both had been placed there following the death of their parents.

(03:55) First Actuality of Vanier
The following text was excerpted from Jean Vanier's acceptance speech, "Signs of Hope for the New Millenium," for the Dignitas Humana Award presented at St. John University on October 25, 2000:

I don't know whether around here you have some normal people, but I find them a very strange group. I don't know—I remember—well, one of the characteristics of normal people is that they have problems. They have family problems, they have financial problems, they have professional problems, problems with politics, problems with church, problems all over the place.

And I remember one day a "normal" guy came to see me and he was telling me about all his problems. And there was a knock on the door and entered Jean Claude. Jean Claude has Down syndrome and, relaxed and laughing, and he just shook. I didn't even say, "Come in." He came in, and he shook my hand and laughed and he shook the hand of Mr. Normal and laughed and he walks out laughing. And Mr. Normal turned to me and he said "Isn't it sad, children like that."

He couldn't see that Jean Claude was a happy guy. It's a blindness, and it's an inner blindness which is the most difficult to heal.

(17:50) Second Actuality of Vanier
The following text was excerpted from Jean Vanier's acceptance speech, "Signs of Hope for the New Millenium," for the Dignitas Humana Award presented at St. John University on October 25, 2000:

Just recently in Central America I was visiting an institution where there are 200 people with disabilities. And to tell you frankly, I was almost physically sick. I think I've become much more vulnerable in front of places where people are not respected as human beings, or they're crushed where there's no more dialogue. We all have to reflect on how we encounter pain. We're all running away from it, we can't stand it, we don't know what to do with it. We don't know what to do with the beggar crying out. We find all sorts of reasons for not to look at him. And the whole question is how to stand before pain.

(19:35–22:21) Music:
"Fair Italy/Cremona Tune" from Fiddlewood, performed by Scott & Louisa Wise

(23:36) Third Actuality of Vanier
The following text was excerpted from Jean Vanier's acceptance speech, "Signs of Hope for the New Millenium," for the Dignitas Humana Award presented at St. John University on October 25, 2000:

I remember when a man who had gone through a very deep experience in one of our homes, had been kept awake all night by one of the people who had screamed all night. He came to see me the next morning and he said, "You know, I wept all morning. I was in the chapel. I thought I could have killed him." We were talking about it, and I said to him, "You know, I think this is probably one of the most important days of your life. You came to L'Arche thinking you could do good to the poor, and you have. You've done a lot of good. But today you are discovering that you are poor." We all need help, and it's only as we discover that "I have a handicap," that "I am broken," that "We're all broken," and then we can begin to work at it.

(24:33–26:10) Music:
"Conversation at the Soda Fountain" from Copland: Music for Piano, performed by James Tocco

(34:27–39:09) Music:
"Story of Our Town" from Copland: Music for Piano, performed by James Tocco

(35:44) Reading of Henri Nouwen
The following edited passage was taken from Henri Nouwen's book, Adam: God's Beloved:

Recently, I moved from Harvard to a place near Toronto called Daybreak. That is, from an institution for the best and brightest to a community where mentally handicapped people and their assistants try to live together in the spirit of the beatitudes. In my house ten of us form a family. Gradually, I'm forgetting who is handicapped and who is not. We are simply John, Bill, Trevor, Raymond, Rose, Steve, Jane, Naomi, Henri, and Adam.

I want to tell you Adam's story. After a month of working with Adam, something started to happen to me that had never happened before. This severely handicapped young man whom outsiders sometimes describe with very hurtful words started to become my dearest companion. As I carried him into his bath and made waves to let the water run fast around him and told him all sorts of stories, I knew that two friends were communicating far beyond the realm of thought.

Before this I had come to believe that what makes us human is our minds, but Adam keeps showing me that what makes us human is our heart, the center of our being where God has hidden trust, hope and love. Whoever sees in Adam merely a burden to society misses the sacred mystery that Adam is fully capable of receiving and giving love. He is fully human--not half human, not nearly human, but fully, completely human because he is all heart. The longer I stay with Adam, the more clearly I see him as a gentle teacher, teaching me what no book or professor ever could.

Once, when Adam's parents came for a visit I asked "Tell me, during all the years you had Adam in your house, what did he give you?" His father smiled and said without hesitation,"He brought us peace." I know he is right. After months of being with Adam, I am discovering within myself an inner quiet that I did not know before. Adam is one of the most broken persons among us, but without doubt our strongest bond. Because of Adam there is always someone home. Because of Adam there is a quiet rhythm in the house. Because of Adam there are moments of silence. Because of Adam there are always words of reception and tenderness. Because of Adam there is patience and endurance. Because of Adam there are smiles and tears visible to all. Because of Adam there is always time and space for forgiveness and healing. Yes, because of Adam there is peace among us.

(45:54) Fourth Actuality of Vanier
The following text was excerpted from Jean Vanier's acceptance speech, "Signs of Hope for the New Millenium," for the Dignitas Humana Award presented at St. John University on October 25, 2000:

In L'Arche we live this sort of double mystery. There's the whole presence of Mary in Bethlehem and Nazareth and Mary's standing at the foot of the cross, and that has a lot of meaning for us, to stand and to be present and just to say "I'm with you. I'm with you."

In my own foyer there's a man called Patrick who, like, technically speaking, he has this psychosis. And there's a lot of pain and a lot of anguish and, in particular, at some moments. But when I reflect about Patrick, he has everything he needs. He has good medication, good doctors. He has work, he works in the workshop. He has food, he has home. But what does he need over and above that? He needs a friend. What is essential is somebody who believes in him, who trusts him, who sees in him a presence of God.

(50:18–52:43) Music:
"The Wonder of You" from The Top Ten Hits, performed by Elvis Presley