Looking back on June 3: from Elise Bisschop to Elicite

On June 3rd, we met at the Diocesan House in Auxerre to move from Élise Bisschop to Élicité.

At 4 p.m., historian Raphaëlle Taccone presented a conference-debate on the theme "Élise Bisschop and the Young Catholic Women in Agriculture in Yonne, a JACist in search of renewal." This conference was an opportunity to discover a little-known aspect of Élise's life: her active (1945-1955) then passive (1955-1962) involvement in this Christian movement (Jeunesse Agricole Chrétienne Féminine, JACF, – Young Christian Women's Agricultural Association), resolutely anchored in social Catholicism and accompanying the changes in the farming world. Within this Young Catholic Women's Association, Élise will be a leading figure for her village of Mailly-le-Château. A humble girl, with a joyful and loving heart, she truly had a special attachment to the rural world, to these simple, courageous and hardworking country people. It is these people that she celebrates in her poem Chant d’alouette (Song of a lark) written in 1943-1944: “Listen, raise your head, distracted or weary peasant, When a lark rises, Can we walk with our foreheads bowed? Our task, it is true, demands This forehead inclined towards the ground. At least, let us throw our souls high Like a bird taking flight. (...) Let us sing to have courage, For the Good Lord is always there, He who supports, during the storm the lark, He will carry us.”

After a short break, President Frédéric Leuger presented the Élicité Endowment Fund, the city of Élise. He first spoke of his personal commitment to working for Élise, then emphasized the notion of Christian charity before presenting the purpose and missions of the Endowment Fund. Intended to strengthen our association, the Endowment Fund's primary mission is to promote Élise Bisschop nationally and internationally. After each presentation, Anne Silberstein read a few poems from the competition organized in 2021. These literary flights, celebrating spring, were a wave of freshness on this hot June day. When all these presentations were over, all the participants gathered around a well-deserved cocktail. While many smiles were shared, a few new faces were delighted to discover Élise Bisschop. A happy thank you to Jocelyne and Éric Tarneaud who traveled from Paris especially to accompany us on this beautiful spring day.