Pierre Olivaint (1816–1871) was a French
Jesuit
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
who was killed by the
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune (french: Commune de Paris, ) was a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the French National Guard had defended ...
.
Early life
Pierre Olivaint was born in 1816 of parents who were not religious.
At twenty, he left home, and the
College of Charlemagne, where he had studied, imbued him with the doctrines of
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet (; 21 November 169430 May 1778) was a French Age of Enlightenment, Enlightenment writer, historian, and philosopher. Known by his ''Pen name, nom de plume'' M. de Voltaire (; also ; ), he was famous for his wit, and his ...
. He wrote at the time, "I desire, if by any possibility I should become a priest, to be a missionary, and if I am a missionary to be a martyr". In 1836, he entered the
École Normale
École may refer to:
* an elementary school in the French educational stages normally followed by secondary education establishments (collège and lycée)
* École (river), a tributary of the Seine flowing in région Île-de-France
* École, Savoi ...
. Led at first by
Philippe Buchez
Philippe-Joseph-Benjamin Buchez (1796–1865), more commonly called Philippe Buchez, was a French historian, sociologist, and politician. He was the founder of the newspaper ''L'Atelier'', and he served briefly, in 1848, as the president of the C ...
's
neo-Catholicism and then won by the sermons of
Lacordaire, he made his profession of faith to
Gustave Delacroix de Ravignan (1837). At the École Normale, he formed a Catholic group.
The Conferences of
St. Vincent de Paul
Vincent de Paul, CM (24 April 1581 – 27 September 1660), commonly known as Saint Vincent de Paul, was a Occitan French Catholic priest who dedicated himself to serving the poor.
In 1622 Vincent was appointed a chaplain to the galleys. Afte ...
attracted the élite of the schools, and Olivaint with twelve of his companions established them in the parish of
Saint Ménard. In 1836, Olivaint heard that Lacordaire was going to restore the
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
in France. Several of his friends had already decided to follow Lacordaire, but Olivant had the duty of supporting his mother.
Career
After a year of professorship at
Grenoble
lat, Gratianopolis
, commune status = Prefecture and commune
, image = Panorama grenoble.png
, image size =
, caption = From upper left: Panorama of the city, Grenoble’s cable cars, place Saint- ...
, he returned to Paris, and occupied the chair of history at
Bourbon College; in 1841 he accepted a position as tutor to the young George de la Rochefoucaud.
In 1842 Olivaint won the junior fellowship in a history competition. His lecture was on
Pope Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII ( la, Gregorius VII; 1015 – 25 May 1085), born Hildebrand of Sovana ( it, Ildebrando di Soana), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 April 1073 to his death in 1085. He is venerated as a saint ...
, and Saint-Marc Girardin closed the assembly with these words: "We have just heard virtue, pleading the cause of virtue". At the time, war was declared against the Jesuits. Quinet and Michelet changed their lectures into impassioned attacks against the society. On 2 May 1845,
Adolphe Thiers
Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers ( , ; 15 April 17973 September 1877) was a French statesman and historian. He was the second elected President of France and first President of the French Third Republic.
Thiers was a key figure in the July Rev ...
was to conduct before the assembly an interpellation against the religious order. Olivaint saw that it was his duty to be present. "I hesitated", he said to
Louis Veuillot
Louis Veuillot (11 October 1813 – 7 March 1883) was a French journalist, author and anti-Semite who helped to popularize ultramontanism (a philosophy favoring Papal supremacy).
Career overview
Veuillot was born of humble parents in Boyne ...
, "I hesitate no longer. M. Thiers shows me my duty. I must follow it. I enter to-day". The day of the proposed interpellation, he entered the novitiate of
Laval
Laval means ''The Valley'' in old French and is the name of:
People
* House of Laval, a French noble family originating from the town of Laval, Mayenne
* Laval (surname)
Places Belgium
* Laval, a village in the municipality of Sainte-Ode, Luxem ...
.
After a year's novitiate, he was made professor of history at the College of
Brugelette
Brugelette (; pcd, Brujlete; wa, Brudjlete) is a municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium.
On January 1, 2006, Brugelette had a total population of 3,284. The total area is which gives a population density of .
The ...
, in
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
. On 3 May 1847, he made his first vows, and on the completion of theological studies he received
holy orders.
Meanwhile, the law of 1850 had established in France the right of controlling education. Olivaint was summoned to Paris, where he remained. On 3 May 1852, Pierre arrived at the
College of Vaugirard of which the Jesuits had accepted the charge. He was to spend thirteen years there, first as professor and prefect of studies and then as rector. Among his works were and for the workmen of the parish of Vaugirard.
After twenty-five years devoted to teaching, Olivaint was named Superior of the House in Paris (1865). In the meantime, a spirit of revolt agitated Paris and spread throughout France. In January 1870, Olivaint wrote, "Persecution is upon us; it will be terrible; we will pass through torrents of blood".
Death
On 4 April 1871, the ''
fédéré
The term ''"fédérés"'' (sometimes translated to English as "federates") most commonly refers to the troops who volunteered for the French National Guard in the summer of 1792 during the French Revolution. The ''fédérés'' of 1792 effected ...
s'' arrested
Georges Darboy
Georges Darboy (16 January 181324 May 1871) was a French Catholic priest, later bishop of Nancy then archbishop of Paris. He was among a group of prominent hostages executed as the Paris Commune of 1871 was about to be overthrown.
Biography
Da ...
and several others. The next day, they took possession of the house on Rue de Sèvres, and Olivaint quietly gave himself up. On 24 May, Darboy and five other prisoners were executed; on the twenty-sixth, fifty-two victims, with Olivaint marching at their head, were dragged through Paris and massacred in the
Rue Haxo. The next day, the
Paris Commune
The Paris Commune (french: Commune de Paris, ) was a revolutionary government that seized power in Paris, the capital of France, from 18 March to 28 May 1871.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the French National Guard had defended ...
was overthrown.
The remains of Olivaint and the four priests who fell with him (Ducoudray, Caubert, Clere, and
de Bengy) were placed in a chapel on Rue de Sèvres.
Veneration
The cause for Olivaint and his companions was formally opened on 17 February 1937, granting them the title of
Servants of God
"Servant of God" is a title used in the Catholic Church to indicate that an individual is on the first step toward possible canonization as a saint.
Terminology
The expression "servant of God" appears nine times in the Bible, the first five in ...
. Their spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 20 November 1940 and 16 March 1946.
See also
*
Conférence Olivaint
The ''Conférence Olivaint'' is a French youth association, recognised as being of general interest.
Founded in fall 1874, it is the oldest student association in Franc Its mission is to provide young people with training in public life, notably ...
References
*Clair, (Paris, 1878);
*de Ponlevoy, (Paris, 1878);
*Olivaint, (2 vols, Paris, 1872).
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Olivaint, Pierre
1816 births
1871 deaths
Clergy from Paris
19th-century French Jesuits
Servants of God