Holy Comforter Catholic Church







Home

  Catholic Resources
   
  View the Blog
   

 
Subscribe
Enter your email address and click the Subscribe button to receive updates via email.

 
 
Recent Posts
 
Categories
 
 
Disclaimer
This Blog provides links to Web sites solely for the user's convenience. By providing these links, the parish of Holy Comforter assumes no responsibility for, nor does it necessarily endorse, these Web sites, their content, or their sponsoring organizations.
 
Blog
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Church History: St. Claude de la Colombière

Saint Claude de la ColombièreSt. Claude de la Colombière

The feast day of St. Claude de la Colombière is February 15th.

Claude de la Colombière is best known for his association with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the devotion of the Sacred Heart, but his life has its own drama. He was sent to England after his spiritual direction of St. Margaret Mary was over and became embroiled in the Titus Oates "Popish Plot," was imprisoned, then banished from England. His story is part of the history of the seventeenth century.

He was born near Lyons in 1641 and entered the Society of Jesus at Avignon. After his novitiate, he taught grammar and the humanities. Even before his ordination to the priesthood, he gained a reputation as a preacher. After completing his studies in Paris, he became tutor to the sons of Colbert, the financial minister of Louis XIV, but was dismissed from his post and returned to Avignon.

In 1675, after his solemn profession as a Jesuit, he was appointed superior at Paray-le-Monial, in which the convent of St. Margaret Mary was located. Here he became her spiritual director, encouraged her in the spread of the devotion to the Sacred Heart, and was described by our Lord as His "faithful and perfect friend."

Because of his remarkable gifts and judgment, he was sent to England, to be court preacher to the duchess of York, wife of the future James II, and took up residence in London. His radiant personality and splendid gifts were noted by everyone. When the alleged "Popish Plot" to assassinate King Charles II shook the country, St. Claude was accused of complicity in the plot and imprisoned. Through the intervention of Louis XIV of France, he was released, then banished from the country. He spent his last years at Paray-le-Monial, his health broken.

He died on February 15, 1682, an apostle of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He was beatified in 1929, and on May 31, 1992 in Rome, he was canonized by Pope John Paul II.

From EWTN's Saints and other Holy People
This post is from the Holy Comforter Catholic Church eNewsletter which is sent out once a week via email. If you would like to subscribe to the eNewsletter, click here.

Labels: ,

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

 
 
Send any questions or comments about the web site to the .