Blessed Alfred Pampalon
Québec Redemptorist priest who died of tuberculosis at 28
- Rank
- Venerable
- Kind
- Priest, Religious
- Life
- 1867 – 1896
- Era
- 19th century
- Countries
- Canada
Life story
He was born on 24 November 1867 in Lévis, Québec, Canada. After a near-fatal bout of pneumonia, which he attributed to St Anne, he walked from Lévis to the shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in June 1886 and asked to join the Redemptorists, as his brother Pierre had done. A month later he left for the novitiate at Saint-Trond (Sint-Truiden), Belgium.
He was ordained a priest on 4 October 1892 and then ministered in Mons, Belgium. In September 1895 he returned to Québec and was assigned to the basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
He died on 30 September 1896 at Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré of tuberculosis, aged 28. His cause for beatification was opened in the 1920s, and he was called a Servant of God. On 14 May 1991 Pope John Paul II recognised his heroic virtues, making him Venerable. According to some sources, people struggling with addiction invoke him; this is popular devotion. According to the sources consulted, he has not been beatified. He was only 28 when he died, four years after his ordination, and spent his last year at the shrine where he had first asked to join the Order.
Works and witness
- Asked to join the Redemptorists in June 1886 after recovering from pneumonia
- Studied at the Sint-Truiden novitiate in Belgium from 1886
- Ordained a priest on 4 October 1892
- Returned to the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré basilica in September 1895
- Declared Venerable on 14 May 1991
Saints from the same country
References
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography, "Pampalon, Alfred" (biographi.ca)
- Redemptorists of Canada, "Venerable Alfred Pampalon" (redemptorists.ca)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.