Blessed Élie Desgardin

His life:

+ Augustin-Joseph was born in Hénin-Liétard, France, in 1750. He became a Trappist monk at Sept-Fons Abbey and received the religious name Élie.

+ When the monastery was suppressed in September 1791 by the anti-clerical leaders of the French Revolution, he and the other monks relocated to an abandoned Capuchin friary in Monluçon.

+ In February 1793 the revolutionary government suppressed all religious houses and the monks were dispersed. Élie was arrested and placed on the prison ship Deux-Associés in the port of Rochefort. He spent time caring for the other imprisoned priests and religious but died from starvation and illness on July 6, 1794.

+ Blessed Élie Desgardin was beatified with other “Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort” in 1995.

For prayer and reflection:

“This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God and did not fear the words of the godless, for he was built on solid rock.”—Entrance Antiphon for the Mass “for One Martyr”

Spiritual bonus:

On this day, we also celebrate the young martyr Saint Maria Goretti. In June of 1902, when Maria was only 12 years-old, the son of a neighboring family made sexual advances towards Maria, threatening to kill her if she told anyone. On July 5, he entered the Goretti home armed with a dagger. When Maria refused to submit to his advances, he stabbed her 13 times. Maria died on July 6, 1902, after having forgiven her attacker; she was 11 years old. Pope Pius XII canonized Maria in 1950 in the presence of her mother and other members of her family.

Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, who brought your Martyr blessed Élie to overcome the torments of his passion, grant that we, who celebrate the day of his triumph, may remain invincible under your protection against the snares of the enemy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr)

Saint profiles prepared by Father Silas Henderson, S.D.S.