Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Claude de la Colombière

Claude was born in 1641 to a family of seven children, some of whom had either become priests or lived a religious life. In his youth, he attended a Jesuit school, and at the age of 17, he officially entered the Order itself. Although he despised the demanding training he had to go through in his youth, the order had helped him focus and hone his innate abilities.

After receiving his ordination in 1669 and becoming well-known for being a brilliant preacher, Claude worked as a tutor for the young charges of King Louis XIV’s finance minister.

Claude became the spiritual adviser of a nun that would be later known as St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who had a revelation from God .

In 1678, he was falsely accused of being a part of an alleged Catholic “plot” against the English crown and, as a result, was imprisoned. He managed to endure admirably, but the conditions in the prison destroyed his health before he was expelled from England. In 1678, he was falsely accused of being a part of an alleged Catholic “plot” against the English crown and, as a result, was imprisoned. He managed to endure admirably, but the conditions in the prison destroyed his health before he was expelled from England. He then went back to France and continued his work as a priest and teacher, inspiring the faithful to embrace the Sacred Heart of Christ.

Claude de la Colombière visited Paray-le-Monial again in 1681, the location of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s revelations. The 41-year-old priest passed away there on February 15, the first Sunday of Lent, 1682, from internal hemorrhage.

Claude de la Colombière was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

Source:

Catholicnewsagency.com