Fr. Henri Caffarel’s movement to help married couples grow in holiness has spread around the world in multiple ways.
Pope Leo XIV officially recognized the heroic virtues of Fr. Henri Caffarel, a French priest who started the organization, Équipes Notre-Dame (Teams of Our Lady). This means he is now known as “venerable” and is one step closer to being recognized as, “blessed.”
A miracle through his intercession is now required for him to be beatified and another miracle for him to be canonized.
This also marks an important moment in the history of the Teams of Our Lady movement, as it recognizes the holiness of its founder.
Who was Fr. Henri Caffarel?
Born in France in 1903, Fr. Caffarel initially attended law school, but was forced to discontinue due a chronic illness. He was then attracted to the religious life after reading a book by Italian nun Benigna Consolata Ferrero.
He wanted to join the Trappist Abbey of Notre-Dame-des-Dombes in Plantay, but his spiritual director advised him to wait, as he did not think Caffarel could handle the rigor of the monastery.
Caffarel was eventually ordained a priest for the Diocese of Paris, and was at first assigned to work with Catholic Action, and then with an apostolate that used the radio and cinema for evangelization.
He was then able to devote himself to preaching retreats and ministering to young people. Caffarel began meeting with married couples and established in 1939 the Teams of Our Lady. The mission of the organization is as follows:
Teams of Our Lady is a movement of Christian Marriage Spirituality, which brings together couples united by the Sacrament of Matrimony, and who wish, together, to deepen the graces of their Sacrament.
It offers married couples a pathway toward love, happiness and holiness. This movement’s aim is to help couples live fully their Sacrament of Marriage.
Caffarel spent the rest of his life developing the apostolate and spreading it throughout the world.
It is present in the United States and Caffarel’s work has also inspired other organizations, like Domestic Church, which uses much of his formation program to help couples grow in holiness together.
Caffarel died on September 18, 1996, and his life and writings continue to help married couples around the world draw closer together on their journey to heaven.
