Saintly Saturday - St. Claude of Colombiere


Born in 1641 of French nobility, St. Claude's life was happy & socially active among his family & friends. At the age of 17, he entered the Jesuit novitiate. As a Jesuit priest, his gospel inspired sermons were solid & serious. They produced many spiritual fruits full of confidence in God. He vowed to follow the Rule & Constitutions of the Society of Jesus. It was within this society that he was able to open his heart more fully to minister to others. 

In 1675, he was sent to Paray-le-Monial, France to become the rector at a Jesuit college. It was here that he met Sr. Margaret Mary Alacoque, becoming her spiritual director & confessor. She had begun to have visions from our Lord, who encouraged devotion to His Sacred Heart. After much discernment in prayer, St. Claude believed her visions were authentic & encouraged her to write about her experience. By accepting the authenticity of her visions, he assisted in the spread of the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion...a devotion still prevalent to this day. 

A move to London in 1676 saw him as preacher to the Duchess of York, who later became the Queen of England. It was here that he also gave spiritual direction & instruction to those who had left the Catholic Church. Many returned to their Faith & after one year there he said, "I could write a book about the mercy of God I've seen Him exercise since I arrived here!" (https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19920531_la-colombiere_en.html) 

Despite the occurrence of serious pulmonary disease brought on by his work pace & poor climate conditions, he kept on with his work. In 1678, he was caught in an alleged plot to assassinate Charles II, imprisoned, & eventually sent back to France in 1681. His already weakened health further deteriorated & he died at the age of 41 on February 15, 1682. 

St. Claude of Colombiere was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1992 & his feast day is celebrated February 15. He is the patron saint of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Claude of Colombiere, Pray for Us!

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