The answer is that all have received one of France’s most prestigious honours, Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Fr Harper was proposed for the honour by the French Ambassador to Ireland, Emmanuelle d'Achon, and given the award earlier this year by Frédéric Mitterand (nephew of Francois Mitterand), Minister for Culture and Communication.
In the autumn, the French Ambassador will officially grant him the insignia of the Ordre at a special ceremony in Dublin.
The purpose of the award is to honour individuals who have distinguished themselves through their artistic or literary contributions or the contribution they have made to the spread of French culture in France and worldwide.
It is this latter category that has attracted the award to Fr Harper, who for more than 40 years has promoted French culture in Ireland, teaching French, acting as chaplain to the French community and as vice-president of Alliance Francaise, an organisation promoting intercultural exchange.
However Fr Harper told ciNews he was surprised to receive the award.
“I am delighted. It is a real affirmation of my work.”
And he insists that the French award belongs, not to him, but to the Jesuits.
“I just did the work I was asked to do by the Society.”
“It is another example of how the vow of obedience has practical consequences,” he added.
Fr Harper who works as curate in Donnybrook Parish in Dublin, is vice-postulator for the cause of John Sullivan SJ, the Jesuit priest who grew up in a wealthy Protestant family in Dublin, became a Catholic priest at the turn of the 20th century and was associated with many miraculous cures and a great holiness by the time he died in 1933.
Speaking to ciNews, Fr Harper said the cause was going ahead well. Up to 2,000 people came to a mass in Clongowes Wood in May commemorating the birthday of the Servant of God, John Sullivan SJ.
While many “strange things” have happened, associated with Fr John Sullivan, he said, the Vatican is yet to adjudicate on the miracles associated with him.
“There are cures from serious illnesses all the time,” said Fr Harper, “from cancer, heart conditions and there was one case where a child, stillborn at birth, recovered. What can you do? You send the information to the Vatican and wait for Rome to investigate.”
Meanwhile, said Fr Harper, the, following of Fr John Sullivan SJ is growing.
“It is really about his ministry of healing. It is not about getting a heavenly accolade, or an ‘St’ in front of his name. He would have objected to that himself.”