Looking back at Jean’s life, it seems that his decisions often ran counter to expectation. He chose the British Navy over the security of family in Canada; a spiritual journey over a military career; life near Father Thomas over an ecclesiastical career.

His choices as the founder and leader of L’Arche followed the same pattern. He chose simplicity and providence over financial security; ecumenism and interfaith over the ease of a Catholic community life.

With regard to society, Jean defends a vision and way of life that he freely describes as countercultural. He remembers, “Soon after L’Arche began, I came across the passage in Luke’s gospel in which Jesus says: ‘When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled and you will be blessed.’ (Luke 14: 12-14). I had heard this text often, but its full force had never struck me. Suddenly, I realized that it described what we were living at L’Arche as we sat down at the same table as Raphael, Philippe and others. It was a way of life absolutely opposed to the values of a competitive, hierarchical society in which the weak are pushed aside.”*

*Jean VANIER, The Heart of L'Arche, Crossroad Publishing Company, 1995, p.28