Saint Claude La Colombière

Life story

Claude La Colombière was born on 2 February 1641 at Saint-Symphorien-d'Ozon, near Lyon, France. He entered the Jesuits at Avignon in 1659, studied at Lyon and Paris and was ordained a priest. He quickly became known as a preacher and was given teaching and preaching work in Lyon.

In 1675 he was made superior of the Jesuit community at Paray-le-Monial. There he met the nun Margaret Mary Alacoque, who reported visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He supported her and helped her to present her case, and he is often mentioned alongside her in the history of the Sacred Heart devotion.

In 1676 he was sent to London as preacher to Mary of Modena, Duchess of York. In 1678, when the Popish Plot set off a wave of arrests, he was imprisoned. After a short time in prison he was banished from England, but his health was badly damaged. He returned to France and resumed his work at Paray-le-Monial.

He died there on 15 February 1682. His retreat notes were published after his death. He was beatified in 1929 and canonised by John Paul II on 31 May 1992.

Works and witness

• Entered the Jesuits in 1659 and became a noted preacher
• Superior of the Jesuit community at Paray-le-Monial in 1675
• Preacher to the Duchess of York in London (1676)
• Imprisoned and banished from England in 1678
• Canonised in 1992

Saints from the same country

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

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Decrees of beatification (1929) and canonisation (1992)
• Jesuit biographical sources

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