Blessed Louis-Joseph Francois, C.M. (1751-1791)

Last updated on: September 2, 2009 at 5:56 am by Pat McNamara

Blessed Louis-Joseph Francois, C.M. (1751-1791) 2009-09-02T05:56:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Louis Joseph François was born 3 February 1751 in Busigny, France. He entered the seminary of the Congregation of the Mission with Jean-Jacques Dubois, also of Busigny, on 4 October 1766 when he was fifteen and a half years old. He took vows at age 18. The date of his ordination is unknown. Following ordination Louis worked in the seminary for 18 years, until 1781. During that year he was superior of the seminary at Troyes. He was appointed Secretary General by the Superior General, Antoine Jacquier, in 1786. Known as a gifted preacher, he was invited to give important sermons, including the eulogies of Madame de Maintenon, 26 July 1786, and Madame Louise de France, a Carmelite and daughter of Louis XV, 15 April 1788. He also gave retreats for clergy and spoke at the Tuesday Conferences at Saint Lazare. Following Jean-Félix-Joseph Cayla de la Garde‘s election as Superior General in 1788, François was sent to Saint Firmin, where there was a seminary and where the superior had just died. His responsibilities there included overseeing repair of buildings, increasing the number of students, and building resources to ensure the financial future of the seminary. While Louis was at Saint Lazare on Sunday, 13 July 1789, the premises were sacked by the French revolutionaries. He, Cayla, and two others escaped. Following the sacking, no further support was provided by the motherhouse for the seminary. As a result, Louis had only student fees and income from rental properties to fund operations at Saint Firmin. Debt grew despite an increasingly austere budget. The onset of the Revolution completely compromised attempts at fundraising. The revolutionaries set in place a practice of requiring clergy to swear an oath of fidelity to revolutionary principals. After studying the situation, in January 1791 Louis published the word for which he is best known, Mon Apologie. In this and the great number of subsequent pamphlets he published, he explained his implacable objections to the oath required by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. Mon Apologie, which was reprinted seven times, concludes: “To die of hunger is an evil, but there is a greater unhappiness living as an apostate or unfaithful to one’s religion.” The anonymous publication of his pamphlets did not prevent Louis from being identified as their author. In consequence, he became famous for authoring pamphlets on subjects as diverse as the Civil Constitution and the pretensions of the bishop of Gratien, who had been put in place by mechanisms of the Civil Constitution. Massacre of clergy in Paris began in the abbey of Saint Germain des Prés on the afternoon of 2 September 1791. By 5:30 AM the next morning, Sunday, a mob had arrived at Saint Firmin and invaded the premises. Some priests were killed brutally in the courtyard; others were killed in the building. Nicolas Gaumer, a Vincentian, tried unsuccessfully to warn Louis; when he could not, he escaped by climbing over a back wall of Saint Firmin. Louis and two others were flung to the ground from third floor windows. With bats (implements used to stir and harden plaster), women beat them to death.

(From the Vincentian website)

Uncategorized

Previous Post

September 2, 2009

Blessed Solomon Leclerq, F.S.C. (1767-1792)

Next Post

September 2, 2009 Carlton J.H. Hayes (1882-1964)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which Old Testament prophet's book has the most chapters?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Jeremiah Daniel Ezekiel