Blessed Basil Moreau

Life story

Basil Moreau was born on 11 February 1799 at Laigné-en-Belin, near Le Mans, at the close of the French Revolution, when the Church had suffered heavy losses. He was ordained in 1821 for the diocese of Le Mans and then spent two more years with the Sulpicians in Paris. From 1823 he taught philosophy, later serving as assistant superior and spiritual director at the Le Mans seminary.

In 1835 he took charge of the Brothers of St Joseph, a group founded in 1820 by Father Jacques Dujarié. On 1 March 1837 this group and the auxiliary priests he had gathered were united as the Association of Holy Cross, named after the Sainte-Croix district of Le Mans. In 1841 he also founded a society of religious women with Léocadie Gascoin.

That same year he sent Father Edward Sorin and six brothers to the diocese of Vincennes in Indiana, in the United States, where the University of Notre Dame took shape and was founded in 1842. In May 1857 the Holy See approved the association as the Congregation of Holy Cross.

Moreau resigned as superior general in 1866 but kept preaching and leading retreats. He died at Le Mans on 20 January 1873. Declared venerable in 2003, he was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI at Le Mans on 15 September 2007.

Works and witness

• Ordained in 1821; taught philosophy and served at the Le Mans seminary
• Founded the Association of Holy Cross on 1 March 1837
• Founded a women's society in 1841 and sent the first group to Indiana
• Beatified on 15 September 2007

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, IN), profile of Blessed Basil Moreau (saintmarys.edu)
• Faith ND, Blessed Basil Moreau, Holy Cross, and Notre Dame (faith.nd.edu)
• Congregation of Holy Cross sisters' page (cscsisters.org/father-moreau)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.