Hubert de Ravinel co-founded The Little Brothers of the Poor in 1962 in Montreal. He remained a little brother until the very end of his life.
On the motto of the Little Brothers, “flowers before bread”, Hubert wrote:
“The expression ‘flowers before bread’ was revolutionary when the movement was created, because those with whom Les petits frères got involved, at that time, the ‘elders’, were the forgotten ones…”
It was therefore armed with his flowers and his unfailing determination that Hubert joined the movement of revolution, of quiet revolution. His commitment to vulnerable seniors has never wavered. Throughout his life, he will have, like the first little brothers, made the wish to devote his life to the poorest in our society.
“The main thing is that the seed of love that we have sown germinates, rises, becomes wheat and nourishes with love those for whom it is intended. The words of Armand Marquiset, founder of Les Petits frères in France, are engraved in the career of Hubert de Ravinel. He was one of those sowers of love. He was the first in Quebec to cultivate this flower garden, which has since proliferated in all regions of our country.
Some sixty years later, we can say that the harvest is great, even gigantic.
Hubert, we are several generations of permanent and voluntary Little Brothers who say thank you, a huge thank you, for allowing us to live the values and principles of the mission of the Little Brothers, to live them still today and to update this “revolutionary” motto “flowers before bread”.
How many elders, men and women, those whom we affectionately call our great friends, are grateful to you for having had the happiness of living privileged ties of affection by being part of the great family of the Little Brothers ?
No doubt there were many of them on this Valentine’s night to form a guard of honour, a flower over their hearts, to welcome you to their side in eternity.
Rest in peace, Hubert.