Saint César de Bus
Former soldier from Provence who became a catechist-priest and founded the Doctrinaires
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Priest, Founder
- Life
- 1544 – 1607
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 15 April
- Countries
- France
Life story
César de Bus was born on 3 February 1544 at Cavaillon in the Comtat Venaissin near Avignon and had a Jesuit schooling. At eighteen he joined the king's army and fought against the Huguenots. He later meant to join the fleet besieging La Rochelle, but a serious illness prevented it. After three years of pleasure-seeking in Paris he returned to Cavaillon, took a church benefice after his brother's death and gradually returned to a devout life. Biographies generally describe a conversion after these years of worldliness and illness.
He was ordained a priest in 1582 and taught catechism to ordinary people in rural areas lacking instruction; with a cousin he developed a family catechesis programme approved by local bishops. In 1592 the Fathers of Christian Doctrine (Doctrinaires) were founded, and the next year they came to Avignon. On 23 December 1597 Pope Clement VIII approved the institute as a religious congregation. He also founded a women's community, later called Ursulines, which died out in the seventeenth century.
He died in Avignon on 15 April 1607, aged 63. His Instructions familières were published after his death, around 1666. His cause opened on 18 January 1686; Pius VII declared him Venerable on 8 December 1821; Paul VI beatified him on 27 April 1975; Pope Francis approved a miracle on 27 May 2020 and canonised him on 15 May 2022. His feast day is 15 April.
Works and witness
- Joined the army at 18 and fought against the Huguenots
- Ordained in 1582 and taught catechism in rural Provence
- Founded the Fathers of Christian Doctrine in 1592; approved by Rome in 1597
- Wrote Instructions familières, published after his death
- Beatified in 1975 and canonised in 2022
Saints from the same country
References
- Franciscan Media: 'Saint Caesar de Bus', franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-caesar-de-bus
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.