traveller - more
For his whole life Fr. Dehon was an enthusiastic traveller. Whenever there was an opportunity to discover new cities, to become acquainted with countries and landscapes, he took advantage of it. As a young pupil and student he could fall back upon the financial resources of his parents, later his function as founder and general superior of the congregation led him to travel the whole world. At the young age of 13, he made his first longer journey, which led him across northern France, Belgium, and as far as Cologne:
"Everything was new for me, I was overwhelmed by the view of the rocks rising up next to the banks of the Mosel... I went from one astonishment to the another, I observed, I noted, it was a prelude to the many journeys of my life... These reminiscences are still indelible in my memory." (NHV I/29v s.)
The attentive view for his environment, his passion for discovering and the urge to preserve his experiences and to pass them on to others, produced an abundance of reports which even today enable us to accompany Dehon step by step on his travels, even to stay close to him travelling on the Nile under the nocturnal Egyptian sky:
"What wonderful effects the light offers, when the sun goes down behind the high and closely grown grasses. Gladly and with great pleasure one stays a little longer on deck in view of such a beautiful starry sky. It makes one feel good to meditate on God's magnitude and power." (NHV III/83 - 1865, Egypt)
"The weather is calm, the boat slides slowly along the bank, the excursions are almost enchanting. Innumerable birds unite their voices to the praise of the Creator, the reeds weigh their silver tufts, tamarisks in pink bloom, bossoms spread out a smell of honey, the sky's blue covers this picture, which is reflected in the imaginary water of a fata morgana. I raise my thoughts towards God to praise him for all these miracles." (NHV III/91)
Travelling for Dehon was more than just a way to relax. Towards the end of his life he affirms:
"In order to write and speak about social questions, one must have seen much, one must be able to compare social regimes and the cultures of different peoples." (Souvenirs, 14.3.1912)
And yet something else seems to be very important for Dehon the traveller: The view of nature, of anything beautiful is one of the most natural and spontaneous ways to be close to God. Thus he writes:
"It seems to me that the view of the beautiful arranges the soul, helps her to harmony and peace and turns the soul to God." (NHV II/14v)