Go, and set the planet on fire!– this message was left to his successors by St. Ignacy Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. And his spirit sons went distant to transform the world, to draw men to Christ again. Undoubtedly, the French priest Claudius de la Colombière is among the zealous Jesuits. His pastoral work has produced many fruits. Especially valuable to the Holy Church was the support he gave to the young nun, Sister Margaret Maria Alacoque, in carrying out the mission entrusted to her by the Savior to spread the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The communicative of St Claudius begins on February 2, 1641. He was born in the town of Saint-Sympforien d’Ozon, located close Lyon. A reasonably advanced social position of the household – father, Bertrand, served as a notary there – provided the future friar and his 3 brothers (of whom 2 became priests) and sister (entered the order of visits) with good improvement conditions.
The Way to Priesthood
The father's promotion and his appointment as court counsel active moving his household to close Vienne. Soon, however, a fresh phase in Claudius's life was opened – he began to learn in the advanced school in Lyon, taught by the Jesuits. During the basic course conducted at the local insignificant College of Our woman of Constant Help, he joined the Marian Congregation. His heart burned with the fire of a peculiar love for God’s parents. He besides maintained this feeling after moving to the College of the Greater Trinity.
Having completed secondary education in 1658, Claudius de la Colombière joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus. After taking his first vows in 1660, the young Jesuit studied doctrine for 2 years.
According to the Jesuit Formation, after completing his course of doctrine Claudius interrupted his studies to work as a teacher and educator at a school led by the Avinionian order. Then, in 1666, he went to Paris to survey theology. As a distinguished student, he was asked to take care of the sons of the prominent minister Louis XIV, John the Baptist Colbert. At the court of the influential great, he had the chance to meet many prominent men of the era.
On 6 April 1669 Claudius de la Colombière accepted priestly ordination. shortly his superiors directed him to Lyon, where he began his work as a rhetorical teacher at the local college. During this time, he perfected his preaching skills to better scope the consciences of the faithful.
Worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
A peculiar problem in France was then Jansenism, a theological-devotive trend with a very pessimistic view of the nature of man, characterized by strict morality. The young Jesuit zealously taught his listeners the actual teaching of salvation and God’s infinite love for men. Shortly thereafter, the Lord God gave him a wonderful weapon to fight the errors of Jansenism – the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
After the 3rd trial, or yearly spiritual preparation, Fr Colomboère took perpetual vows. He then left for Paray-le-Monial, where he became superior to a tiny Jesuit community. The assignment of a young but discreet and educated priest to a tiny town was not an accident or a consequence of machinations of unwilling men, but a fulfillment of God’s will. Sister Margaret Maria Alacoque lived there in the monastery of visitations. Christ appeared to her and instructed her to advance the worship of his Most Holy Heart. The skepticism with which superiors referred to her account of the apparitions made the nun feel very alone. She was eagerly awaiting the spiritual guide that Jesus promised her.
When Sister Margaret first saw Fr Claudius, she heard an interior voice: This is who I send you. The priest agreed to become her confessor. He instructed her to evidence spiritual experiences, carefully examined them, and found them authentic. Moreover, he became active in the worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was not discouraged by the malicious opinions that people who were reluctant to fresh worship were spreading, as if he had succumbed to the sleazy stories of the penitentiary. The adversities that he was then confronted with helped the priest to overcome his top disadvantages, for which he recognized a tendency to vain glory.
Priest Colombière was only in Paray-le-Monial for respective months. Under his care the Jesuit advanced school developed. At that time he was eager to preach, both in the Jesuit Church and in another temples at the invitation of the congregations and parishes. He confessed to the penitents and active himself in the works of mercy. Contrary to the teachings of the Jansenists, he advised the faithful to join the Holy Communion frequently, which brings good spiritual fruitage.
In England...
In August 1676, Fr Claudius received from his superiors a proposal to take the position of minister at the royal court in England, at the Duchess of York, Maria Beatrice, wife of the heir to the throne of Jacob (later King James II). This task, which is rather dangerous due to the hatred of Catholics in the Protestant country, was readily accepted. He shortly followed the English Channel to take on fresh responsibilities on October 13.
In England, he lived an ascetic life, for he felt that to be able to sanctify others, first 1 must be a saint. The castle chamber in which he lived provided an highly modest, like a monastery cell. During the winter months, he was accustomed to a mild French climate he was freezing in his apartment, yet he did not let more intense smoking in the fireplace. He was whipping himself, wearing a metallic chain on his body with skin-irritants. The centre of his pastoral work became a chapel in the palace of St. James, where he lived. There he preached the request to worship the Blessed Sacrament, and spread the service to the Heart of Jesus. The priest, Duchess of York, who lived in the same palace was a very devout person. She had even thought about a spiritual state. She agreed to marry the English Crown Prince in the hope of contributing to the conversion of England. Fr Claudius tried to establish her in religion and vocation.
Concerned about the strengthening of Catholicism in the country, English Protestants launched an attack on the preacher of Princess Maria Beatrice. Accused of converting the Anglicans on November 24, 1678, he was thrown into prison with peculiarly severe conditions. respective English Jesuits were imprisoned at the time. These were executed. Fr Claudius saved French diplomacy. King Louis XIV sought him. However, the Jesuit was expelled from the island. Unfortunately, he's in health. Frequent hemorrhages have weakened his body.
Raised to the altars...
On January 4, 1679, he returned to his homeland. To him appointed by the superiors of the monastery in Lyon he went through Paray-le-Monial. There, warmly received by fellow brothers, local nuns, as well as the faithful, he strengthened them with his word and rejoiced that the seeds he had sown a fewer years ago were fruitful. He met with Sister Margaret Alacoque, strengthening her in the way of service to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
W Lyons resided at the College of the Holy Trinity, where he erstwhile studied. Unfortunately, he's not recovered. It did not aid to stay in a household home in Saint-Sympforien d’Ozon or later in Paray-le-Monial, where it expired on 15 February 1682, at the age of only 41.
St. Claudius de la Colombière was beatified on 16 June 1929 by Pope Pius XI. He was counted among the saints by the Holy Father John Paul II on 31 May 1992. The Church recalls the apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on February 15.
Adam Kowalik
The text originates from the bimonthly “The Covenant with Mary” – January-February 2022
Exceptional images with the image of our Savior's Heart and the Act of Trust. See how to get them!
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Hope for the World
