HER LEGACY

Naturally, the most noticeable legacy of Marthe Robin are the 76 Foyers de Charité spread throughout the world. The "Foyers of Light, Charity and Love" are communities made up of priests and lay people living as in a family and hosting six-day spiritual retreats for all those who want: "Some people think that they have lost their faith, but it is just buried in the ashes. You need to blow on them to rekindle the flames."

In addition to what is already an extraordinary achievement, Marthe received a constant flow of tens of thousands of visitorscoming to seek advice, including many whose vocation she helped to clarify. The term "vocation" must be understood in the broadest sense: priests, religious, consecrated, but also couples who were strengthened and consoled by her, and young people who were joyfully guided towards marriage! But these visitors also included the founders of some of the most important communities that emerged in the second half of the 20th century and especially those that followed in the wake of the Vatican Council and to which she gave her guidance in their process of reflection. Among the latter were Jean Vanier (L'Arche), Pierre Goursat (Emmanuel Community), Fr Marie-Dominique Philippe (Community of St John), Fr Laurent Fabre (Chemin Neuf Community) and many others…

Marthe did not play the part of an oracle arbitrarily handing down the will of God to those whom she felt had a call to launch a new initiative. On the contrary, it was through her joyful and humble companionship, her prayer and through mutual reflection that she helped people discern the plan of God. All those who met with her spoke of her simplicity and common sense, rooted in the real world: the fruits that emerged as a result of her conversations with these founders are no exception to the rule.

Even today, Marthe's influence continues to attract tens of thousands of pilgrims to Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, where she spent her entire life. Coming in pilgrimage to her little room, they feel closer to God. Christians see it as a sign that Marthe is continuing her work from heaven, as she said she would.