Blessed Daniel Brottier

Life story

Daniel Brottier was born on 7 September 1876 at La Ferté-Saint-Cyr in France and was ordained a priest on 22 October 1899. After some years of teaching he joined the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (the Spiritans) and was sent to Senegal in 1903, where he served as a curate at Saint-Louis.

Failing health forced his permanent return to France in 1911. From 1911 he raised funds for a cathedral in Dakar; this building, known as the African Memorial Cathedral, was dedicated in 1936, only weeks before his death.

During the First World War he volunteered as a chaplain with the 121st Infantry Regiment and was awarded the Croix de guerre and the Légion d'honneur.

From November 1923 he directed the Orphelins Apprentis d'Auteuil, an orphanage in Paris. Over thirteen years the number of boys in its care rose from 140 to more than 1,400. He was deeply devoted to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and built a chapel in her honour. He died in Paris on 28 February 1936, was declared venerable in 1983 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 25 November 1984.

Works and witness

• Missionary curate at Saint-Louis, Senegal, from 1903
• Raised funds for the Dakar cathedral, dedicated in 1936
• Chaplain of the 121st Infantry Regiment in the First World War; awarded the Croix de guerre
• Directed the Auteuil orphanage from 1923, growing it from 140 to over 1,400 children

Saints from the same country

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

References

• Clairval Abbey, Blessed Daniel Brottier (clairval.com)
• Franciscan Media, Blessed Daniel Brottier (franciscanmedia.org)
• Spiritan General Council page on Daniel Brottier (spiritanroma.org)

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