John Baptiste Berthier (February 24, 1840 – October 16, 1908) was a
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
missionary and educator. Berthier was born February 24, 1840, in
Chatonnay
Chatonnay () is a former commune in the Jura department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. On 1 January 2017, it was merged into the new commune Valzin en Petite Montagne. He founded a
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
religious institute
A religious institute is a type of institute of consecrated life in the Catholic Church whose members take religious vows and lead a life in community with fellow members. Religious institutes are one of the two types of institutes of consecrate ...
, the Institute for Late Vocations in
Grave
A grave is a location where a dead body (typically that of a human, although sometimes that of an animal) is buried or interred after a funeral. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as grave ...
, the
Netherlands
)
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, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
in 1895 - organized to meet the needs of men who desired to become priests later in their life. The organization received episcopal approval in 1904, and took the name Missionaries of the Holy Family. Berthier died October 16, 1908.Catholic University of America New Catholic encyclopedia, Volume 2 Thomas/Gale 2003. p333 Berthier was the author of 36 ascetical and theological works, largely relating to the diversity of ways to holiness through imitating the holy family.
The group expanded into Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Brazil by 1910.Kleinschmidt, B. (1926). Das Auslanddeutschtum in Übersee und die katholische Missionsbewegung: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von Deutschland u. Österreich von 1875 bis 1925 '. Aschendorff p157 there were Holy Family priests and brothers serving in 22 countries around the world. its members cultivate a special devotion to Our Lady, Reconciler of Sinners, retaining thus a spiritual kinship with the
Missionaries of La Salette
The Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S. - Missionarium Saletiniensis) are a religious congregation of priests and brothers in the Latin Church. They are named after the apparition of Our Lady of La Salette in France. There is also a para ...
, of which Berthier was a member.
The cause for
beatification
Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their nam ...
*Thoughts of Father Berthier: A Treasure with Old and New Things, by Father Berthier - Congregazione dei Missionari della Sacra Famiglia, Editions du Signe, (c) 2011, , www.editionsdusigne.fr. Les merveilles de la Salette Téqui, 1898.