Who is Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS?
Louis Brisson was born in 1817 in Plancy, France, and ordained a priest in 1840 for the Diocese of Troyes. When he was a diocesan priest, Fr. Brisson was assigned as chaplain to the monastery of the Visitation of Holy Mary in Troyes. Mother Marie de Sales Chappuis, Superior, was convinced that it was the will of God that their humble chaplain start a religious congregation of men to follow the spiritual legacy of Saint Francis de Sales.
Brisson responded and founded the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a congregation dedicated to spreading the optimistic, inspired-common-sense wisdom of Saint Francis de Sales in a variety of ministries and apostolates in 1875. Father Brisson was beatified, at the authorization of Pope Benedict XVI, in 2012, in Troyes, France. The cause for his canonization remains active.
On October 12, the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales celebrate Bl. Brissons’s feast day and Founders’ Day, a day in which we remember the first Oblates beginning their novitiate. On this day in 1873, Bishop Ravinet of Troyes, France, presented the Oblate religious habit to Fathers Brisson, Gilbert, Rollin, Lambert, Lambey, and Perrot as they began their novitiate. Thus, this was the day that the congregation of Oblates of St. Francis de Sales began! This day is also the Feast of Father Brisson, as declared at his Beatification.
"There is always within our neighbor something of God; therefore, there is always within our neighbor something loveable."
— Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS
Read more about Blessed Louis Brisson:
“Respect the Soul of Your Students” by Blessed Louis Brisson, OSFS
“Blessed Brisson” by Fr. Alexander Pocetto, OSFS
“Another ‘Special’ Prayer” by Fr. David Whalen OSFS
The above reflection series was written by Fr. Michael Newman, OSFS.
Favorite Bl. Brisson quotes…
“If God graces you from His great abundance, then profit from it. But if you remain dry, dry as a piece of wood, then just say, ‘Lord, here is a piece of wood, please wrap your arms around it.’”
Fr. Dave Whalen, OSFS
“If we should love those who love us, how much more we should love those who come from other countries.”
Fr. Paul Colloton, OSFS
“The Congregation of the Oblates today is you. Within ten years, the Congregation will still be you... in a hundred years, in two hundred years, if it still exists, it will be you, yourselves. Understand that well. It is a heritage that you have received and that you will pass along to others: let it not deteriorate in your hands!”
Fr. Barry R. Strong, OSFS, Superior General
