His Death Approaches

In January of 1716, de Montfort resumed his missionary work in the neighboring parishes and it seemed that he was at the peak of his powers, spiritually and physically. But it was at this very time that he foretold his own death, which he said would occur before the end of the year. His last project, and perhaps the one dearest to his heart, was the organization of a mass pilgrimage to the Shrine of Notre Dame des Ardilliers to obtain the blessing of the Queen of Heaven on the new Company of Mary, and its future work. Pere Vatel and Pere Mulot, destined to be the first two priests of the Company, led the pilgrimage. Having followed in their steps to the Shrine, in spite of the ill-health, which had now became painfully obvious, de Montfort resumed his missionary work at Saint Laurent-sur-Seine. He had left the future of his two congregations in Mary’s hands and felt his work on earth had at last been completed.

During the month of April in 1716, as the missionaries were preparing for a visitation by the Bishop of La Rochelle, de Montfort suddenly collapsed. Although he was gravely ill, he managed to preach a last sermon on the Compassion of Jesus. Those who heard him (with no realization of the gravity of his condition) remarked that he seemed to be delivering a farewell message to his people.