Anne Gabrielle Caron
She was only two-and-a-half years old when she entered the church for the baptism of her younger brother François. At that moment, her eyes fell upon a painting on the wall: Christ hanging on the Cross, nails piercing His hands and feet, crowned with thorns, blood flowing from His body. That sight deeply wounded her tender heart. Bursting into tears, she cried aloud immediately: “Jesus is in pain… Jesus is in pain!”
One among the rare souls who could truly understand the suffering of Jesus on the Cross-that was Anne Gabrielle Caron.
Anne Gabrielle was born on January 29, 2002, in Toulon, France. Her father, Alexandre Caron, was a naval officer, and her mother, Marie Dauphin, was a literature teacher. The couple had five children, of whom Anne Gabrielle was the eldest. Her constant desire was to see Jesus. Perhaps because someone had once told her that one could see Jesus only after dying and going to heaven, she desired to die when she was merely four years old.
From the age of six, she began to limp while walking. At first, her parents mistakenly thought that she was imitating her grandfather, who was struggling to return to normal life after suffering a stroke. Initially they even scolded her for it. Later, however, they realized that she was not imitating anyone, but that there was something seriously wrong with her leg. After an X-ray examination, the doctor reassured them that there was nothing to fear. Yet Anne’s pain did not diminish. Gradually, the difficulty in walking turned into severe pain while walking. During the nights, the pain became unbearable. She began to cry aloud at night saying, “My leg… it hurts me.”
Two months later, she was taken to another doctor. It was there that Anne was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a severe form of cancer affecting the bones of the pelvis and legs. The doctor spoke plainly: “Treatments may perhaps lessen her pain, but her illness will never be cured.”
Sadly, it was during that same year that she was to receive her First Holy Communion. “With great eagerness… Jesus is waiting for me. I want Jesus quickly,” she would say. Those were the days when she remained hospitalized for treatment. By the time she was brought from the hospital to the church, the ceremonies were almost over. Nevertheless, the priest paused the liturgical celebration and placed the Holy Eucharist upon her tongue.
Two years passed through treatments and suffering. Her pain was intense. Speaking to her mother about those painful moments, Anne once said: “Mother, I am terribly afraid of suffering pain. So I call Jesus to help me. I hold Jesus’ hand. Jesus helps me.”
Her prayer and desire were not merely to bear her own unbearable sufferings, but also to accept the sufferings of all the children in the hospital. When her mother came to know of this desire, she asked: “My child, your own pain is already too much for you. Why then do you want to take upon yourself the pain of others as well?” Anne’s reply was remarkable: “It may be difficult for them to bear the pain. So I think I can suffer so that they may not suffer.” One day she asked her mother, “Mother, will I die?” Her mother still remembers that it was on the eve of her first chemotherapy session. “We will do everything possible to make you well,” was all her mother could reply. Anne responded peacefully: “I am happy to die, Mother, because I will be with Jesus.”
Her desire was fulfilled. On July 23, 2010, around nine o’clock in the morning, her pain became severe. At 11:50 that night, Anne Gabrielle journeyed to heaven to behold Jesus face to face. “Will I go to Purgatory?”—that was the final question she asked Fr. Arnold. “No, you will go straight to heaven,” the priest replied.On September 12, 2020, the diocesan phase of Anne Gabrielle’s canonization process was officially initiated.
Vinayak Nirmal
