The Lasallian Saints
The Lasallian Saints
The Lasallian Saints
LASALLIAN SAINTS
OF YESTERDAY AND... TOMORROW
SAINTS
OF YESTERDAY AND...
TOMORROW
LASALLIAN SAINTS OF YESTERDAY AND
…TOMORROW
Are the saints merely leftovers from the past and useless today, or on
the contrary, do we need models of lives full of meaning, today more
than ever? It is up to the reader to think about it and to provide the an-
swer.
6
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
Here is a saint who, though he lived between the 17th and 18th cen-
turies, has much to teach Catholics of today. First of all, there was his in-
tuition that education is everyone’s right, a right that is as valid today as
at any other time, even if those receiving the education are poor. Second,
that schooling is a very serious matter, requiring people who are very
well prepared once they choose to become teachers.
Born into a noble family on 30th April 1651, following the custom of
his time for those aspiring to the priesthood, he was tonsured at the age
of 11, installed as a canon at 16, a Master of Arts at 17 and a priest at 27.
But he was not a priest pre-cast for a career that was chosen for him by
others. De La Salle took his vocation very seriously, enthusiastically, and
full of faith. He encountered well-meaning persons, keen on helping
poor young people, but he soon realized that these well-meaning per-
sons were inadequately prepared and were disorganized. He helped
them create a community of teachers who would be inspired by
Christians ideals, ideals that would help them understand the nature of
a good school. But he soon ran into the short-sightedness of the clerical
establishment, especially because his plan relied on lay religious – a
7
kind of heresy in those days and something which also anticipated
Vatican II’s insights by by nearly three centuries.
To free himself from every hindrance, de La Salle resigned his canon-
ry, distributed his wealth to the poor, made a vow to beg for his food if
need be, and decided to live in common with the teachers in order to
truly form them. That is how the Brothers of the Christian Schools came
into being. To ensure that they stayed close to the common people and
to their culture, he even forbade the Brothers to study Latin, the lan-
guage of clerics and those in advanced positions.
He underwent much suffering in order to see his plan grow and de-
velop, both because he remained faithful to the Pope (and this was a
time of rampant Gallicanism) and because of the novelty of his schools,
places where languages, commerce and technical drawing were taught.
Because of the machinations of the Writing Masters, whose monop-
oly in teaching writing was challenged by De La Salle’s schools, and the
opposition of other vested interests in society, De La Salle’s leadership
was disputed at the same time that some of his closest Brothers from the
early foundation abandoned him. He accepted these and other crosses
that followed. He died believing with serenity that this work was God’s
will. Time was to prove him right. He was beatified in 1888, canonised
in 1900 and proclaimed Patron of teachers in 1950.
8
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE
1651 - 1719
Principal events of his life
9
ning of the Congregation of the Brothers of the
Christian Schools.
c) De La Salle assumes complete responsibility for these
teachers. He rented a house at Rue Neuve and he himself
went to live with them (June 24th 1682).
1683 - 1684 Radical Option for God: He becomes aware that he could
not reconcile the duties of a Canon with those of directing
and guiding the teachers. Following the advice of Father
Barré:
- he renounces his canonry in favour of a poor priest; a Te
Deum with the Brothers…and a storm within the De La Salle
family followed this event.
- He gives away his patrimony to the poor (autumn 1684,
while a serious famine hits that part of France). His patrimo-
ny was not used to endow the new foundation. He chose to
rely fully on Providence.
10.06.1686 De La Salle goes on pilgrimage to Our Lady of Liesse (40
Km. from Rheims) and makes a vow of Obedience with 12
of his disciples.
27.02.1688 First school in Paris: Rue Princesse, in the parish of St.
Sulpice.
1689 – 1690 Misunderstandings with members of the clergy… A number
of his own Brothers walk out on him.
21.11.1691 He makes “The Heroic Vow” together with Nicolas Vuyard
and Gabriel Drolin. They bind themselves “to maintain the
schools, even if we were obliged to beg for alms and to live
on bread alone”.
06.06.1694 De La Salle makes perpetual vows together with 12
Brothers.
... 09. 1702 Sends Brothers Gabriel and Gerard Drolin to Rome in order
to:
- witness to his fidelity to the Roman Church (he used to
sign his correspondence “Roman priest”)
- open a “papal school” in Rome.
1703 - 1705 The onset of a crop of difficulties:
- with members of the clergy: a new Superior is imposed on
the Brothers, and the Brothers refuse to have him!
- with the writing masters who attack his schools and de-
stroy its furniture…
10
- with the municipal authorities of Paris who fine him and
forbid him to open new communities of teachers.
?...08.1705 John transfers the Novitiate (training school for young
Brothers) to Saint-Yon, on the outskirts of Rouen.
... 1705 Good news from Rome: Bro. Gabriel is finally appointed as
a teacher, although without a fixed post, without a salary,
but in charge of a class at “Agli Otto Cantoni” (now Largo
dei Lombardi).
1705 - 1706 Opening of schools in the South of France: Avignon,
Grenoble, Marseille...
..... 1709 Further good news: Bro. Gabriel has now been given charge
of a Papal School in Via dei Cappuccini.
..... 1711 De La salle travels to the south of France
1713 -1714 Once again difficulties and persecution…John withdraws
from the public eye and seeks the peace of Parménie.
?...1714 The Brothers discover his whereabouts, order him to return
and to resume direction of the Society.
22.05.1717 The first General Chapter elects Brother Bartholomew as
Superior, the first after De La Salle.
07.04.1719 De La Salle dies in Rouen, in the early morning of Good
Friday.
26.01.1725 Pope Benedict XIII issues the Bull “In apostolicae dignitatis
solio”, approving the Society.
19.02.1888 Pope Leo XIII proclaims John Baptist de La Salle Blessed.
24.05.1900 Pope Leo XIII proclaims him a Saint.
15.05.1950 Pope Pio XII, proclaims him “Patron of All Teachers of
Youth”.
11
Rome, Generalate FSC – Relics of St. John Baptist de La Salle
12
NOTABLE
BROTHERS
SAINT MIGUEL FEBRES CORDERO
Cuenca (Ecuador), 11.07.1854 – Premiá de Mar (Spain), 02.09.1910
15
which were used not only in Ecuador but also in other Latin America’s
countries. He lived completely for God and for his students. Roberto
Espinosa, the esteemed Ecuadorian professor, wrote: ”Brother Miguel has
been the best promoter of education in Ecuador, as a teacher, a headmas-
ter and a writer.”1 His cultural and pedagogical contributions earned him
membership in the National Academy of Ecuador and a Fellowship in the
Royal Academy of Spain - this was on August 2nd 1892.
On that occasion he gave an Inaugural Lecture entitled “The influ-
ence of Christianity on morals, on the sciences, on letters and arts.”
From the theme that he chose for his inaugural lecture, one that would
introduce him to his colleagues and to the academic community of his
country, he showed who he was. Having learned the art of talking with
God, he spoke of God and in the name of God! “This spontaneous and
candid man, whom so many people everywhere missed, offers himself
to you as a possible example of spiritual experience of undoubtable val-
ue and of great attraction, inviting you above all to love, because before
being anything else, Brother Miguel was in love with God and with hu-
manity, God’s own image.”2
The canonical process started by the diocese of Cuenca on January
19th 1925, led to his beatification on October 30th 1977 and later to his
canonization on October 21st 1984.
We celebrate his liturgical feast on February 9th.
16
BLESSED BROTHER RAPHAËL-LOUIS RAFIRINGA
Antananarivo (Madagascar), …? 1856 – Fianarantsoa, 05.19.1919
17
denced by the fact that when after three years’ absence foreign mission-
aries were allowed to return, they found with amazement that the
Catholic communities were quite numerous and that the people had as
much fervor as when they had left them.
In recognition of his literary output, when the Academy of
Madagascar was created in 1902 Brother Raphaël was immediately
named as a member, and his portrait is part of the gallery of eminent cit-
izens of the great Island.
But he was not spared a humiliating cross. He was accused unjustly
by one of his former catechists as having belonged to a secret society to
which a number of intellectuals also belonged. As such he was arrested
and imprisoned. But his other followers rallied to the rescue and suc-
ceeded in having him acquitted, carrying him back to his community in
triumph. The stay in the unhygienic prison cell, unfortunately, had an
adverse effect on Brother Raphaël’s health. To help him recover, he was
sent to Fianarantsoa on the coast, but he did not recover, and it was there
that he died on May 19th 1919.3
The canonical process, started in the diocese of Antananarivo on June
1st 1995, reached the final
stage in Rome on December
17, 2007 with the “Decree on
the heroic virtues”, which
gave him the title of
Venerable. On January 17,
2009 the Decree on the mira-
cle cleared the path for his be-
atification, which was cele-
brated with great solemnity
in Antananarivo on June 7th,
2009, and which was attend-
ed by an enormous number
of people.
His liturgical feast is cele-
brated on May 19th.
18
VENERABLE BROTHER EXUPÉRIEN MAS
Poujol (Montpellier), 06.07.1829 – Paris, 01. 31.1905
Portrait by A. Mariani
19
the social field. His vocation developed in an unusual way. The Mas
family was well off, but their religious practice was tepid. Their plans
for their eldest son Adrien had no religious dimension. To distract him
from his religious inclinations, his father sent him to Nice to stay with a
friend of the family. In this way the father thought that his son’s vocation
would weaken and would melt away when faced with the worldly lux-
uries and easygoing ways of the city. But exposing him to these allure-
ments in no way affected Adrien’s resolve, and when he returned to his
native village he was even more determined to become a religious. This
he did at the age of 18, becoming Brother Exupérien. He grew to be an
excellent teacher of literature in the secondary school that the Brothers
ran at Béziers. Later he was appointed Director of Novices in Paris, in
rue Oudinot, and in 1873 he was called to shoulder even higher respon-
sibilities. Subsequent appointments enabled him to devote himself more
freely and more effectively. He was very interested in the improvement
of training for young Brothers, for whom he set up un advanced
Scholasticate. And Brothers who had several years of teaching behind
them also joined these courses in order to update their knowledge, their
teaching methods, and their religious studies. For Brothers who were
older he set up a course of spirituality which still exists in the Institute,
even if under another name and following a different methodology,
modelled on the Jesuits’ “third Year.” He planned and inaugurated this
course of spirituality for Brothers between the ages of 40 and 50, and he
called it the “Second Novitiate.” Its modern version is found in the
Centre for International Lasallian studies (CIL).
Also noteworthy was the organisation he set up for lay collaborators in
the 76 Brothers’ schools in Paris at the time. In addition to organising reg-
ular retreats promoting their spiritual and Lasallian formation, he set up a
kind of insurance company for them very much like those existing today.
During the Franco-Prussian war (1870 – 1871), Brother Exupérien
was put in charge by the municipal authorities of the largest field hos-
pital in Paris, both to set it up and run it. It was called the “grande am-
bulance de Longchamp.” He mobilised hundreds of Brothers and other
helpers to serve as nurses and stretcher bearers. He was also the brains
and support behind several initiatives in the Paris region that benefitted
young people from all walks of life. Among these:
– The Seine youth clubs: they operated in the Brothers’ schools and of-
fered a whole range of after-school activities;
– The Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Society for those who wanted more
20
than what the Youth clubs offered, and wanted to be better able to
support others.
After some years the number of members rose to around 1,000. In the
course of forty years, some 300 priestly and religious vocations were
nurtured in its ranks, plus hundreds of truly Christian families, along
with the founders of the CFTC (Confédération Française de Travailleurs
Chrétiens - French Federation of Christian Workers), the French JOC
(Jeunesse Ouvrière Chrétienne – Young Christian Workers ), and the
Wooden Cross Singers. And what were the pillars of their formation?
Spiritual direction, frequent communion and an annual 3-day retreat.
– The Francs-Bourgeois Fellowship and the St. Nicolas Fellowship. The
first served young Catholic students belonging to the middle class;
the second was established for young workers who were obliged to
live away from their families;
– The Maison d’Accueil, a kind of Dining Club for business employees,
in order to help them dine and meet in good company;
– The Business and Industry employees Union, the first Catholic trade
Union in France, from which would grow the CFTC.
21
From 1897 to 1904 Brother Exupérien formed part of the Higher
Council of Public Instruction, serving as a representative of non-State
schools. The supernatural influence that he radiated broke down the re-
sistance of some of the members of this national body and led to real
conversions, as in the case of Xavier Marmier and François Coppée. On
January 31st 1905, at the age of 76, Brother Exupérien passed away,
mourned by many close to him, but also revered by many as a saint.
In 1922 his Cause of beatification and canonization was introduced in
the diocese of Paris; In 1990 the Cause made a definite step forward with
the publication of the decree of his heroic virtues and the title of
Venerable.
22
VENERABLE BROTHER BERNARD – PHILIPPE FROMENTAL
CAYROCHE
Chauvet (France), 06.27.1895 – Mexico City, 12.05.1978
Commonly known as Hermano Juanito
23
ness, of discovering others’ needs. We might even discover the value of
his “fault”, if one might call by this name his free and easy adhesion to
his superiors’ directives; that refreshing embrace of the gospel of charity,
of which we often speak, but to which, in practice, we do not give high
priority. “By their fruits you shall know them” (Mt. 7, 20) It cannot be
denied that his work has transformed hundreds of lives, lives that might
have become lives full of faith, hope and charity, of dedication to others,
but without purpose or focus. What we are referring to, of course, are
the hundreds of excellent religious of the Congregation which Brother
Juanito founded and which keeps on growing, having already sunk its
roots into three Continents”.6
Brother Juanito died on December 5, 1978, seven days before the feast
of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron of Mexico, which he celebrated in
heaven. But, before he closed his eyes, he had the joy of seeing the
Congregation of the “Hermanas Guadalupanas de La Salle” approved
by the Holy See on April 10th 1976. The two letters sent by him - one to
the archbishop of Mexico City Card. Miguel Darío Miranda, the other to
Pope Paul VI - asking for this recognition, are the only ones in which he
calls himself clearly the founder.
The Cause, having reached Rome, had the theologians’ examination
on January 2012, followed by that of the cardinals and bishops. The
Decree of his herois virtues led him to the Venerability.
24
V ENERABLE B ROTHER T EODORETO G ARBEROGLIO
Vinchio d’Asti (Italy), 02.09.1871 – Turin, 05.13.1954
25
Brother Leone di Maria wrote: “Brother Teodoreto is the first and so far
the only Brother who has attempted, and succeeded, in establishing an
institution which in no way departs from the spirit of the Institute
founded by De La Salle. On the contrary, one must assert with full con-
viction that it belongs fully and completely, since it expresses the quin-
tessence of the original foundation. With his foundation, Brother
Teodoreto brought to full fruition the enterprise of Christian education
the holy Founder had set before the Brothers’ Institute, guiding the best
disposed among the students to the high peaks of Christianity, namely
the evangelical counsels; grounding them firmly in that full belonging
to the Christian life that is consecration to God: pouring into them that
sanctity he himself lived, the spirit of his religious family and his same
passion of educator and catechist.
Looking upon Brother Teodoreto’s institution as if it stood at the pe-
riphery of the Lasallian project would be to disown it and to distort it.
Whoever studies the subject intelligently will agree that his institution
holds a central position, perhaps near the very top of the Lasallian proj-
ect, crowning the splendid pyramid based on the solid ground of basic
instruction and civil and religious education, and eventually reaching
the heights of faith and love, of authentic holiness. Certainly not every-
thing makes it to the top, but Brother Teodoreto has mapped a possible,
although not easy, way. From the Lasallian school perspective, and
standing next to its religious educators, we now see the nature of this
fruitful offshoot, these lay religious, workers who are living in the midst
of the world and who, within their own family, provide a bright cate-
chetical flame, bringing light to all sorts of environments and profes-
sions.”7
The cause for his beatification and canonization was introduced in
the diocese of Turin in 1961. On April 30th 1990, Pope John Paul II prom-
ulgated the “decree on the heroism of his virtues”, and declared Brother
Teodoreto Venerable.
26
SERVANT OF GOD BROTHER NYMPHAS-VICTORIN ARNAUD
Onzillon (France), 09.07.1885 – San Juan de Puerto Rico, 04.16.1966
27
Brothers from abroad.
On the arrival of Fidel Castro in Cuba, he was exiled for the second
time. From his second exile, after 1961, until his death, he devoted all his
energy to trying to reorganize the various Associations among the
Cuban refugees in New York, Miami and Puerto Rico.
He died in the latter country on April 16th 1666.
The diocesan enquiry, opened in San Juan de Puerto Rico in
September 8th 2000, ended on January 8th 2003. At present, the “positio”
document on his life, virtues and reputation of sanctity is at the
Congregation of the Causes of the Saints in Rome.
28
“EVERYDAY” SAINTS
Side by side with the Brothers whom we mentioned earlier and who,
thanks to their strong personality, marked the age in which they lived,
there are others, also raised to the honours of the altars, but who took a
more ordinary road. We could call them “everyday saints,” because they
are less eye-catching, less extraordinary and for this reason, much closer
to us. Their road to sanctity grew day by day, through the difficulties of
community life: intolerance, antipathy, offences and rudeness, sorrows
and opposition. All of them brought about acts of virtue, transforming
what appeared as negative into grace, shadows into light. For them
every difficulty provided an opportunity to master themselves; the
humblest services were carried out as if they were the preferred ones,
the more onerous tasks were carried out with total dedication.
In the case of all of these men and in the case of others also, it is their
everyday holiness that impresses us. They transformed a simple exis-
tence, bound up with their school or town, and with the humdrum rep-
etition of ordinary duties and actions, into a continuous gift of them-
selves to God and to others. “Holiness is not attached to extraordinary
acts, but to common, everyday acts performed in an uncommon way”:
these were the authoritative words with which Pius XI, as we have al-
ready recalled, endowed with a heroic quality “the wearisome tedious-
ness of daily existence”, the “terribile quotidianum”.
29
SAINT BENILDE ROMANÇON
Thuret (France), 06.14.1805 – Saugues, 08.13.1862
30
was canonised, her ’little way‘ was not formally recognised. It was similar
to the ’very little way‘ of Brother Benilde. It was then inevitable that the
Promoter of the Faith, popularly called ’the devil’s advocate,’ should use
this statement of ’nothing extraordinary‘ to deny the heroism of Brother
Benilde’ virtues. And with what ardour he did so ! That was his role, no
doubt, but perhaps it was out of conviction that he raised this animadver-
sion, or objection, at every stage of the process - in the introduction and
then at the three successive stages. The defence lawyers used the cleverest
pleading imaginable to oppose the objection: first one lawyer, then a sec-
ond who finally gave up and was replaced by a third, who argued more
boldly and mustered even stronger arguments. It was Pope Pius XI who
saved the humble Brother Benilde from this so often repeated objection.
He was a great Pope, one with eyes looking toward heaven and with his
Alpine climber’s feet firmly planted on the ground. It was he who made
the proclamation, first in somewhat restrained words in the more intimate
setting of the general Congregation, but later fully orchestrated in the
public address of January 6th 1928. The Pope affirmed the possibility of
reaching heroism by fulfilling perfectly one’s daily duties. This truth had
remained eclipsed until then. The Pope felt that it should be fully dis-
played, to shine for ever. In these words – I only quote the gist – Pope Ratti
expressed himself:
“What is extraordinary, great events, splendid enterprises – simply by be-
coming known arouse and awaken our best tendencies, acts of generosity, dor-
mant energies often hidden deep in the soul…But what is common, what occurs
everyday, what does not stand out, what is not brilliant, does not excite us and
fascinate us. But the life of so many people is like that. It is usually woven
around common, daily events. For this reason the Church appears to us very
wise when we are invited to admire examples of the commonest and humblest
everyday virtues, all the more precious because humble and common. How often
do we have to face extraordinary events in life? Very seldom. Woe to us if holi-
ness were to be tied solely to those extraordinary circumstances. What would
most people do? And yet the call to holiness is made to all without distinction…
Here then is the great lesson this humble Servant of God brings us once again:
holiness is not attached to extraordinary acts, but rather to common, everyday
acts performed in an uncommon way”.8
In this way Brother Benilde, without intending to and without want-
31
ing to, furnished a great Pontiff with the opportunity to move in the di-
rection of a better interpretation when it comes to valuing heroism
through the practice of virtue – from one that is based on the exceptional
and the extraordinary to one that is based on the normal and the com-
monplace.
In this way, holiness came to be presented as unsophisticated, as built
into the very fabric of everyday life, family life, professional life, civil
life, religious life. What a difference there lies between what we see and
a reality that was extraordinary, as in Brother Benilde’s case“.9
His was a very long process. It started on November 23rd 1899 at Le
Puy, France, and it was not until April 4th 1948 that he was beatified by
Pius XII, and on October 29th 1967, he was canonized by Paul VI.
His liturgical feast is on August 13th.
32
SAINT MUTIEN-MARIE WIAUX
Mellet (Belgium), 20.03.1841 – Malonne, 30.01.1917
33
him nothing was more important than obedience, nothing more joyful
than poverty, nothing more urgent than the obligations of the common
life, than welcoming his students or whoever went to him. Faithful to
the humble tasks that had been confided to him, day after day, Brother
Mutien gifted his life to God, in a self forgetfulness that became natural
for him”10
On the day of his death, people claimed that they had received
favours thanks to his prayers.11
Less than six years after his death, his canonical process was opened,
one that led him to the glory of sainthood. On October 30th 1977 he was
beatified by Paul VI, and on December 10th 1989 canonized by Pope
John Paul II.
His liturgical feast is on January 30th.
“Even tod
I know ho ay
w to be
attentive
to you an
to make d
myself
available
...”
10 From the Homily of John Paul II for his canonization (AAS LXXXII, 1990,
551-556).
11 F. Mélage, Fratel Muziano, ed. italiana a cura di M. Sborchia, Casa Generalizia
34
BLESSED BROTHER ARNOULD RÈCHE
Landroff (Lorraine) September 2nd 1838 – Rheims October 23rd 1890
35
BLESSED BROTHER SCUBILION ROUSSEAU
(1797 - 1867)
36
obtain their emancipation. It was on December 20th 1848 that slavery was
abolished on the island. Brother Scubilion is remembered with good rea-
son as “the apostle of the slaves”.
He died at Sainte Marie, Réunion, on April 13th 1867. His tomb is
continually visited by pilgrims.
The process of his beatification was very long: Opened at La Réunion
in 1902, it was interrupted for a long period. Finally it was resumed in
Rome in 1981 and resulted in his beatification, which was proclaimed in
La Réunion by John Paul II on May 2nd 1989.
His liturgical feast is held on September 27th. On the Island itself, his
feast is held on December 20th, a national holiday commemorating free-
dom from slavery.
37
will and even from our body. Brother Gregory lived this kind of poverty.
“He is the poorest man I knew”, we read in one testimony of the canon-
ical process. “To begin to belong entirely to God, we need to make our-
selves poor. We even need to have as much affection for poverty as peo-
ple of the world have for riches. This is the first step that Jesus Christ
wishes us to make when we enter the way of perfection”. 12
He died a holy death at Torre del Greco (Naples) on December 11th 1973.
The cause for his beatification was started in Naples on 15 December
1981, and closed in Rome on April 6th with the proclamation of the
heroism of his virtues and the title of Venerable. As for all the Venerabili,
a miracle following his intercession, will bring about his beatification.
12 S. JB. de La Salle, Meditation for the feast of St. Ambrose (7 dec.). Works,
Med. 81,1, p. 367, Lasallian Publications, 1994 by Christian Brothers
Conference U.S.A.
38
him to the foot of the Cross, in union with Christ crucified, the Lord of
glory”, as would be later said of Edith Stein.
“As members of Jesus Christ, you ought likewise to consider it an ho-
nour to suffer like him and for him. After the example of Saint Paul, you
glory only in the cross of your Saviour (Gal. 6, 14)”13 He remained in his
apostolic work up until the final moment of his life. He died in Paris on
April 6th 1898. His body rests now in Saint Joseph’s parish church, the
same church where he used to bring his pupils.
He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II on January 12th 1996.
13 S. JB. de La Salle, Meditation for the Holy Saturday, n. 28, 3, p. 84, Lasallian
Publications, 1994 by Christian Brothers Conference U.S.A.
14
S. JB. de La Salle, Meditation for the Friday after the Octave of the Most
Blessed Sacrament, Med. n. 55, 2, p. 125, Lasallian Publications, 1994 by
Christian Brothers Conference U.S.A.
39
During the Spanish Civil War, he suffered several months’ imprison-
ment.
He died at Griñon on March 11th 1969.
His Cause of beatification, was introduced in Spain on October 7th
1974 and arrived to Rome in 1989. It was examined by theologians in
2006 and judged favourably; and by the commission of cardinals and
bishops in 2008. He received the title of Venerable on July 3rd 2008.
15S. JB. de La Salle, Rule of the Brother Director, p. 209, Lasallian Publications,
1994 by Christian Brothers Conference U.S.A.
40
SERVANT OF GOD BROTHER ADOLFO LANZUELA (1894 – 1976)
Cella (Spain), 11 – 08 – 1894 – Madrid, 03 – 14 - 1976
41
42
FAITHFUL…EVEN
TO GIVING ONE’S LIFE
The Lasallian Martyrology“ is not simply a list of names, but it is
rather the living witness of members of our Institute who have shared
the fate of the disciples of Christ, even to the point of shedding their
blood. This kind of response has occurred repeatedly since Christ said to
his disciples: “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves“ (Lk 10,3).
The wolves that kill them do not realize that by leaving a trail of
death behind them they demonstrate, paradoxically, the extent to which
the example of the self-sacrifice of Christ on the Cross continues to be
powerful and relevant: “By their sacrifice they prolong and diffuse in
the world the victory of Christ over sin and death“ (John Paul II, Angelus,
24/3/1996).
Among this number are included Brothers of all ages: the youngest,
Brother Raimundo Bernabé was only 18 years old, the oldest, Brother
Raphaël Pataillot, was 74. They belong to various nations: France, Spain,
United States, Viet-Nam, Mexico, Poland, Philippines, Romania. We
can’t write about all of them in a booklet like this, and so we will limit
our examples to some of the more significant cases.
44
Blessed Brother Solomon Leclercq
Boulogne-sur-Mer, 14.11.1745 - Paris, 02.09.1792
45
Brother Solomon holds the 57th place among the 151 martyrs that are
listed in the Teterrima ac miseranda seditio, which is the bull of Pius XI that
was issued for their beatification on October 17th 1926.
A miracle, which was examined by the diocesan commission in
Caracas (Venezuela) in 2011, is now being considered by the
Congregation of the Causes of the Saints in Rome.
46
many different scenarios. In some
places the people had been alerted
about the detainees’ passage so as to
welcome them with hostility.
In Rochefort the number of prison-
ers grew as the different groups ar-
rived. At the end, there were altogeth-
er 829 prisoners there, crowded to-
gether on two “pontons” or old hulks,
used for storage, prisons or barracks.
Deprived of everything, even of bre-
viaries and rosaries, crowded together
in very restricted conditions, with lit-
tle and poor food, and no hygiene,
and subjected to continuous abuse,
they began to fall ill and to die.
Initially, they lived in hope of set-
ting sail soon, but as days passed this
hope faded, the French boats being un-
able to leave port because it was block-
aded by the English fleet. In those months of imprisonment, some 542 pris-
oners died. The remaining 287 survivors were released on April 12th 1795.
It was possible to collect trustworthy documentation regarding the
lives and last days of these heroic victims only in the case of 64 persons
out of a total of 542 who died. These are the 64 proclaimed Blessed on
October 1st 1995 by Pope John Paul II, in the occasion of the 2nd centenary
of their martyrdom.
Their liturgical feast is September 2nd.
47
Among the 64 there are 3 Brothers of the Christian Schools.
48
Little is known of the life and activities of Brother Uldaric during his
eight years in the apostolate in Nancy which followed his novitiate.
After the revolutionaries closed the school, Father Guillon says that
Brother Uldaric «was very attached to the poor children of Nancy; he
stayed in this city for them, where he secretly continued instructing
them in piety and in the art of reading and writing».
Discovered, he was arrested on May 17 and condemned to deporta-
tion at the age of 38.
The caravan left for Rochefort on April 1 at 7.0 am and it arrived on
the 28th. Brother Uldaric was incarcerated on «The Two Associates». A
victim of the epidemic on board and of much suffering, he died on
August 27, 1794, and was buried on the island of Madame.
49
Brother Moniteur (Maurice Martinet)
Mezières, 26.04.1750 – Rennes, 06.10.1794
50
Brother Raphaël (Jacques Pataillot)
Bouhans (Besançon), 22.01.1720 – Uzès, …? 1794)
Let’s now jump a century and look at other corners of the world.
51
Mexico
Viet-Nam
52
Servant of God Brother James Miller
Stevens Point (WI, USA), 22.09.1944 – Huehuetenango (Guatemala),
12.02.1982
53
aware of the threats to his person, he remained where he was… and he
was killed!
The “witness” risks his life for love of Christ, for the diffusion of
God’s reign. He chooses to follow Jesus Christ knowing from the begin-
ning the danger he faces with that choice. Jesus in fact said: If they per-
secuted me, they will persecute even you”
He was 66 years old.
54
A BLOOD-STAINED
SPAIN
In the same year there were 1,087 Brothers of the Christian Schools in
Spain, divided into 3 Provinces: Barcelona, with 353 Brothers, Madrid,
with 311, and Valladolid with 423. During the persecution 165 Brothers
were killed, 15,7% of the total number. 97 Brothers were killed in
Barcelona province, that is, 28%; 60 in Madrid, that is 17%; and 8 in
Valladolid, that is 2%.**
56
8 Brothers of the Community of Turón (Asturias)
They were the first victims in order of time, from the mining village of
Turón, in the province of Asturia, killed together with their chaplain, in front
of the school which was attended by the sons of some of their killers.
It was the foretaste of the tempest that would be unleashed on the coun-
try within twenty months. They died young, undaunted in the face of death,
certain in the knowledge that by giving up their physical lives for their faith
they would find eternal life.
They are:
Cirilo Bertrán (José Sanz Tejedor), director of the Community, 46 years
old
Marciano José (Filomeno López y López), 34 years old
Victoriano Pio (Claudio Bernabé
Cano), 29 years old
Julián Alfredo (Vilfrido Fernán-
dez Zapico), 33 years old
Benjamin Julián (Vicente Alonso
Andrés), 26 years old
Augusto Andrés (Román Martí-
nez Fernández), 24 years old
Aniceto Adolfo (Manuel Seco Gu-
tiérrez), 22 years old
Benito de Jesús (Héctor Valdi-
57
responsible for the execution. Because he remained standing after the first
shots were fired and even after a second volley. Frightened, the platoon
dropped their guns and fled, while the cursing captain fired his pistol into the
temple of the victim, who thus entered into the Kingdom of his Lord Jesus.
The 8 Brothers of Turón, together with the Catalan Brother and the chap-
lin Rev. Fr. Inocencio de la Inmaculada, attained the great glory of canoniza-
tion on November 21st 1999. The miracle that occurred through their inter-
cession, and was studied and approved by the competent Vatican court, was
the inexplicable cure of Auxiliadora Bravo Jirón, who was from León
(Nicaragua), a miracle that occurred on the same day as their beatification.
Their liturgical feast is on October 9th.
7 Brothers of Almería
58
They died in on two separate occasions and on different dates, but in the
same manner: they were taken by jeep to Tabernas, to a place called “Venta
de Yesos”, where there were some dry and abandoned wells. There they
were killed and thrown down into them. They were:
5 Brothers of Valencia
59
gion, Aragón, and so they had to pass through Valencia. They undertook
the journey on foot and in Valencia they learned that, because of the war,
it was impossible to reach Aragón.
Brother Honorato found lodging in the home of the Adelantado fam-
ily, where he was later joined by Brother Florencio Martin; while Brother
Ambrosio León stayed at another house and gave private lessons to
young children. The three of them wanted to carry on their professional
work, and looked for a school among the many that were around which
needed a teacher. It was essential to show one’s teaching credentials;
they lacked this documentation and said that they would seek further
information from the Barcelona Teacher Training College. The College
confirmed they were teachers, but also Brothers of the Christian Schools;
this was more than enough to seal their fate.
On October 22, 1936 at 11:30 in the morning, a group of militia came
to the house where the Brothers were staying and arrested them. They
took them to the “Cheka” Seminary. At around 6 o’clock in the afternoon
of the same day, October 22, the three Brothers were executed in
Benimaclet, a suburb of Valencia.
They were beatified by John Paul II on March 11th 2001.
Their feast, once celebrated on September 22nd, has now been trans-
ferred to November 6th, together with all the Blessed Martyrs of the
Spanish religious persecution of the 20th century.
44 Brothers of Barcelona
60
but transport connections were impossible. They sought accommoda-
tion in the Cadi Hotel on July 22. The owner, Jamie Sarrià, was a fervent
Catholic. Meanwhile, they kept on searching for other ways to reach
Barcelona.
On August 7, Brother Dionisio went to the U.G.T. headquarters to ask
for his passport. But his appearance raised suspicion and immediately
the militia went to search his room at the Hotel. The outcome was that
they arrested both Brothers and the next day took them to a place called
“Baños de Sugrañes” near Traverseras, where they shot them.
The citizens of Traverseras buried the bodies which later were ex-
humed and identified. Today their remains are at San Martin de
Sasgayolas.
The other 95 Brothers of the District suffered the same fate : the
youngest among them was only 18, while the oldest was 60.
61
Edmundo Angel (Pedro Massó Llagostera), 39 years old, Salt school.
Eliseo Vicente (Vicente Alberich Lluch), 30 years old, Carmen School.
Emerio José (José Plana Rebugent), 36 years old, Girona School.
Esiquio José (Baldomero Margenat Puigmitja), 39 years old,
Fortianell School.
Eusebio Andrés (Eusebio Roldan Vielva), 41 years old, La Salle-
Josepets School.
Félix José (José Trilla Lastra), 28 years old, Monistrol School.
Florencio Miguel (Ruperto García Arce), 28 years old, Berga School.
Francisco Alfredo (Francisco Sánchez), 20 years old. S. Juan de
Palamós School.
Francisco Magín (Antonio Tost Llabería), 21 years old, Santpedor
School.
Hilarion Eugenio (Eugenio Cuesta Padierna), 24 years old. San Juan
de Palamós School.
Honesto María (Francisco Pujol Espinalt), 42 years old, Manresa
School.
Honorato Alfredo (Agustín Pedro Calvo), 23 years old, San Hipálito
School.
Hugo Julián (Julián Delgado Diez), 31 years old, Girona School.
Ildefonso Luis (José Casas Lluch), 50 years old, director of Horta
School.
Indalecio de María (Marcos Morón Casas), 37 years old, Condal
School.
Jacob Samuel (Joseph Henri Chamayou Aucles), 52 years old, La Seu
de Urgel School.
Jaime Bertino (Antonio Jaume Secases), 31 years old, Manresa School.
José Benito (José Más Pujolrás), 23 years old, Montcada School.
Lamberto Carlos (Jaime Mases Boncompte), 42 years old, La Salle-
Bonanova College.
Leonardo José (José María Aragonés Mateu), Provincial, 50 years old,
Residencia Provincial.
Leónides (Francisco Colom González), 49 years old, S. Coloma
School.
León Justino (Francisco del Valle Villar), 30 years old, Manresa
School.
Lorenzo Gabriel (José Figuera Rey), 24 years old, Condal School.
Luis de Jesús (Joseph-Louis Marcou Pecalvel), 55 years old, La Salle-
Josepets School.
62
Mariano León (Santos López Martínez), 26 years old. Moncada
School.
Miguel de Jesús (Jaime Puigferrer Mora), 38 years old, Condal
School.
Olegario Angel (Eudaldo Rodas Saurina), 24 years old, San Hipólito
School.
Onofre (Salvio Tolosa Alsina), 56 years old, La Salle-Bonanova
College.
63
Raimundo Eloy (Narciso Serra Rovira), 60 years old, director of
Santpedor School.
Valeriano Luis (Nicolás Alberich Lluch), 38 years old, Condal School.
Vicente Justino (Vicente Fernández Castrillo), 24 years old. Moncada
School.
Victorio (Martin Anglés Oliveras), 49 years old, director of Manlleu
School.
The following Brothers of Catalonia, for various reasons, were not in-
cluded in the diocesan Processes:
64
5 Brothers of the Community of Santa Cruz de Mudela
(Process of Ciudad Real)
65
The five Brothers were:
The diocesan enquiry was held in the diocese of Ciudad Real be-
tween 1956 and 1958. It had 102 sessions and 84 witnesses were called
The approval of Rome was obtained in November 1992 and the Decree
on the martyrdom in April 28 2006.
On July 30, 1936 a group of persons showed up at the San José School
who said they were “Workers for Education” and they demanded that
the property be turned over to them in the name of the “Popular Front”.
Brother Director called the school’s lawyer, José Maria Campoy, who
succeeded in putting off what those men demanded.
But when the Brother Director was waiting for them to return to de-
mand the handover of the building, those who came were 20 militia
from the C.N.T. (National Confederation of Labour). They invaded the
house, made a search of all the rooms looking for weapons and money.
66
They found neither so they ended up placing the Brothers under arrest,
tying them up and taking them away. On that day they were locked up
in the basement of the building that housed the CNT headquarters.
On August 1 the Brothers were moved to a jail where other priests,
religious and Catholics who were well-known for their beliefs were al-
ready incarcerated.
On September 30 a popular court was convened to judge the
Brothers. The judge ordered that they be set free because the charges
against them did not amount to any crime. But on October 2 a document
from the Committee of the Popular Front of Lorca ordered the judg-
ment to be set aside since those prisoners were considered dangerous.
As a result, the Brothers continued to be detained.
Days passed with no clear future in sight except that of death. It was
Wednesday, November 18, 1936. One of the militia who took part the ex-
ecution, Juan Meras, later spoke of the event.
A militia chief by the name of Avelino ordered the two priests and
five Brothers to be taken from their cells at 5 o’clock in the morning.
They tied their arms, ordered them into a truck and told them that they
were being taken to another place in order to testify.
67
But where they did take them was to the outskirts of the town, to a
mountain where there were sulphur mines. One of the mine’s pools was
more than 100 metres (300 feet) deep.
They ordered them to sit down while still tied up and to pray. A
squad of militia went behind them and the order was given to fire.
Afterwards, they were finished off with a revolver one by one with a
bullet to the head. The story goes that some of the militia began to dance
and trample on the corpses. Then they untied them and, dragging them
by the feet, they brought them to the pool where they threw them in.
“It’s deep enough so that no one will find out that they’re here and even
if they do, Catholics will not come to venerate their remains”, said one
of the militia.
The pool is currently known as the “Pool of martyrs”.
The canonical process took place in the diocese of Cartagena in the
years 1958-1959. The Decree of validity was granted in Rome on May
29th 1992, and that on the mardyrdom on December 16th 2006.
39 Brothers of Tarragona
68
house of the Brothers : he knew them well and so he refused.
Threatened with death himself, he was forced to shoot them in the head,
to the accompaniment of the sneers and blasphemies of those present.
Others were arrested and taken to a boat which would serve as the
“Río Segre” prison, where hundreds of persons ended up. Each day,
groups would be taken out and summarily shot.
69
Brothers Martyrs of Tarragona
70
Elías Paulino (Javier Pradas Vidal), 40 years old, San José, Cambrils.
Elmo Miguel (Pedro Sisterna Torrent), 58 years old, Cambrils.
Exuperio Alberto (Miguel Albert Flos), 55 years old, Condal.
Fausto Luis (José María Tolaguera Oliva), director of the free school
of Bonanova, 32 years old.
Félix Adriano (Francisco Vicente Edo), 33 years old, Mosquerula.
Fulberto Jaime (Jaime Jardí Vernet), 35 years old, Manlleu.
Gilberto de Jesús (José Boschdemont Mitjavila), 56 years old,
Residencia Provincial.
Honorio Sebastián (Sebastián Obeso Alario), 26 years old, Tarragona.
Hugo Bernabé (Francisco Trullén Gilisbarts), 41 years old, San José,
Cambrils.
Jacinto Jorge (José Camprubí Corrubi), 48 years old, Cambrils.
Jenaro (Mariano Navarro Blasco), 33 years old, Tarragona.
Justino Gabriel (Gabriel Albiol Plou), 26 years old, Condal.
Leoncio Joaquin (Joaquin Palleroa Feu), 44 years old, San José,
Cambrils.
Luis Alberto (Ildefonso Alberto Flos), 56 years old, director of the
school of Alcora.
Magín Pedro (Francisco Salla Saltó), 18 years old, San José, Cambrils.
Marciano Pascual (Pascual Escuin Ferrer), 29 years old, Tarragona.
Rafael José (Patricio Gellida Llorach), 65 years old, San Feliu.
The diocesan process lasted very long, starting in 1952 and ending in
1959. It was so long because, besides these 39 Brothers, there was 1 bish-
op, 69 priests and seminarians, 20 Benedictines of Montserrat, 7
Claretians, 10 Carmelites and 1 Capucin. 984 witnesses were called to
testify, and 354 sessions were needed to complete it. In Rome it obtained
the Decree of validity only on December 4th 2002, while that on the mar-
tyrdom on June 28th 2012.
71
21 Brothers of the Process of Madrid n. 1
72
Brother Angel Gregorio, the infirmarian, was mistaken by those who
went to search the infirmary for a hospital employee who was caring for
the sick. But when he saw that they were going to kill the Brothers, he
himself said: “I am a religious also”. And they ordered him to go out
with the group in front of the chapel.
With no further explanation, the group leader ordered a squad of
militia to open fire. The Brothers fell in a heap, riddled with bullets.
After their massacre, they left by the same way they had come. The
bodies remained where they had been killed.
The town of Griñón, upon hearing what had happened, was shocked. A
group of townspeople, along with a judge, helped to identify the bodies and
take them away. Then they dug a grave in the Brothers’ property and respect-
fully deposited the bodies, with their heads pointing towards the chapel.
There were ten Brothers who were martyred in Griñón on that July
28, 1936:
73
Pablo de la Cruz (Saturnino Sanz Sanz), 57 years old, murdered at
Paracuellos de Jarama.
Floriano Félix (Emiliano Santamaría Angulo, 37 years old, murdered
at Paracuellos de Jarama.
Juán Pablo (Gregorio Alvarez Fernández), 32 years old, murdered at
San Ferdinando del Jarama.
Ismael Ricardo (Martin Arbé Barrón), 30 years old, murdered at
Paracuellos de Jarama.
Brothers Basilio Julián and Eufrasio María are still waiting for the
Decree on Martyrdom.
74
Oseas (Guillermo Alvarez Quemada), 46 years old
Crisologo (Juan Sanz y Palanca), 56 years old
Esteban Vicente (Luis Herrero Arnillas), 53 years old
Junian Alberto (Alberto J. Larzábal Michelena), director of the “Vida
y Luz”, 43 years old.
75
A last word regarding another act of cruelty committed in Romania
seems appropriate. Romania is a place where many Brothers were im-
prisoned and condemned to hard labour during the communist dicta-
torship. The most representative figure among these Brothers is
He was 24 years old in 1948 when Catholic priests and religious were
dispersed and their properties nationalized. He was arrested in 1958, af-
ter 10 years in hiding. After a farce of a trial, and with ridiculous accu-
sations, he was condemned to 15 years of hard labour, after which he
was sent to the penal settlement of Stoinesti. Together with 800 other
prisoners he was put to work building a dyke on the Danube River. The
situation of these hard labour, camps are very well known, because
there was no difference between these and the ones that we have seen
many times used by the nazi or marxist regimes: no way to change
clothes, very scarce nourishment, little and bad water, lack of hygiene,
continuous beatings and abuses of all kinds, illnesses flourishing among
the detainees, and so on. Brother Tiberiu was on the point of dying.
Fortunately, in 1964 there was an amnesty and many prisoners were
freed. Among them was Brother Tiberiu. But the new conditions were
76
equally unpleasant because in practice, everyone was under police surveil-
lance, with frequent and humiliating controls and restrictions of every
kind. Neither an academic certificate nor any other titles were accepted
when trying to find work. From Rome and Vienna, Brothers, with differ-
ent strategies, tried to help him and the other Brothers, dispersed through-
out various localities. Finally he found work at a forest enterprise in Bata
Mare, and afterwards in a mine. In 1991, after the end of the tyrannic years
of Ceausescu, when the Brothers could meet again, many Spanish Brothers
arrived in Romania in order to help reconstitute some communities.
Brother Tiberiu joined the community of Iasi. In the meantime, the Bishop
had already offered him hospitality at the seminary, where the Spanish
Brothers too went to Mass and other religious ceremonies.
After more than forty years on calvary, at least the last years of this
authentic “martyr” were serene and he received the esteem and admi-
ration of all those who were at his side.
77
Rome, Generalate FSC
Martyrs’ Chapel, Mosaic
78
CONCLUSION
79
Colours of the day
Sue Mc Clellan
80
INDEX
Notable Brothers:
Saint Miguel Febres Cordero 15
B. Raphaël-Louis Rafiringa 17
Ven. Exupérien Mas 19
Ven. Bernard-Philippe Fromental Cayroche 23
Ven. Teodoreto Garberoglio 25
S.o.G. Victorin Arnaud 27
“Everyday” Saints:
Saint Benilde Romançon 30
Saint Mutien-Marie Wiaux 33
B. Arnould Rèche 35
B. Scubilion Rousseau 36
Ven. Gregorio Bühl 37
Ven. Alpert Motch 38
Ven. Andrés Hibernón 39
Ven. Adolphe Chatillon 40
S.o.G. Adolfo Lanzuela 41
A blood-stained Spain:
SS. MM. of Turón 57
81
BB. MM. of Almería 58
BB. MM. of Valencia 59
BB. MM. of Barcelona 60
BB. MM. of Ciudad Real 65
BB. MM. of Cartagena 66
BB. MM. of Tarragona 68
BB. MM. of Madrid – Griñón 72
BB. MM. of Madrid – Sagrado Corazón 74
Tiberiu Rata 76
Conclusion 79
Many thanks are due to Brother Allen Geppert for his revision of the text of this
2nd edition.
82