François Libermann

The Worthy Jacob Libermann (François of its Christian name), 1802 - 1852, founder of the Company of the Saint-heart of Marie, joined the Congrégation of the Saint Spirit in the mission of evangilation of the Blacks of the old colonies.

Childhood and conversion

Jacob Libermann was born on April 12th 1802 with Saverne, fifth child of a family of nine. His/her father, Lazare Libermann was the rabbi of the Jewish community of the city.

During all his childhood, Jacob was high in the Jewish religion, his father wishing to see it succeeding to him in his functions. For its education, it sent it to Metz, to perfect its formation at the school israëlite.

During its stay, he learned that his older brother, Samson, had converted with Catholicism, and had been baptized on March 15th 1824. He was deeply shaken by it, more especially as he was during a great time of doubt.

He went then to Paris, where he discovered works of Charles François Lhomond, particularly the History of the Christian Doctrines. He had the revelation of his vocation, whereas he requested in his attic of the Collège Stanislas, and he was upset by it.

A few weeks afterwards, Catéchisé by Paul Drach, it was baptized, on December 24th 1826 and took the first name of Francois, then wishing ardently to become priest, in spite of the curse of his/her father, heavily disappointed in his projects.

Persisting in its vocation, he was admitted, in 1827, with the seminar of Saint-Sulpice. But there, a new test awaited it. Reached epilepsy, which seemed to worsen so much so that with the end of the year 1829, whereas it prepared with the subdiaconate, it had an serious attack, and understood that it would not be allowed with the priesthood, this disease by prohibiting the access.

Because of its excellent influence on the seminarists, it was authorized to remain with the seminar of Issy-les-Moulineaux, where it achieves important tasks. There remained 6 years there, before being sent to Rennes, as an assistant of the Master of the beginners at the Eudistes where there remained two years.

Priesthood and mission

With the seminar, starting from 1833, François Libermann met two young people, Frederic Vavasseur and Eugene Tisserant, Creoles both, who thought of a project of evangelization of the black slaves of the old Française colonies. It then wished highly to encourage, help and take part in this project.

It was initially necessary to obtain the approval of Rome. In January 1840, François left there, helped by David Drach, itself Jewish convert, librarian of the Institution for the propagation of the Faith. They obtirent an audience near the Pope Gregoire XVI on February 17th, gave a report on March 11th, and had the answer on June 6th. The project was accommodated favorably, in the condition that François receives sacerdotal ordination

It then developed the rule of the institution of the Saint Heart of Marie , on which it had already lengthily thought during its stay of Rennes, and took in addition steps near the diocese of Strasbourg in order to prepare with priesthood. It entered on February 23rd 1841 to the Great Seminar of Strasbourg.

After orderbeing ordered deacon on August 10th 1841, François Libermann was ordered priest on September 18th.

The project could then be set up. The noviciate of Neuville could open on September 27th 1841.

The following year, in March 1842, the Libermann Father bought with évêché of Amiens the property of Neuville with which it made associate two wings and a vault. And it is in 1846 that it acquired a building close to Amiens in order to place there the noviciate, which lacked place.

In order to be able to place the students, the philosophers and the theologists, François Libermann bought the Abbey of Notre-Dame of Gard, with Crouy-Saint-Pierre, in order to lodge about thirty people there.

A first departure of missionaries took place, in direction of Africa, in 1843, it was a serious failure, several priests died before achieving their goal. It will be the Désastre of Guinea . But this painful reverse did not stop the life of the Company, which took important measures to accompany the next missions. François Libermann wrote in August 1846, a Mémoire on the missions of the Blacks in general and that of Guinea in particular which will be its charter missionary, and work bases it that him and his/her companions undertook. In 1850, it wrote a report concerning the évêchés colonial ones, and the relationships of the bishops with the capacity in place. It is in 1851 that it wrote its Instructions with the missionaries , which will be to some extent its spiritual will.

In a preoccupation with a better effectiveness, it led as its fellow-members to accept as the Société of the Saint Heart of Marie is integrated into the Congrégation of the Saint Spirit, in 1848, it will be regarded by it as the second founder.

He was elected 11ère higher general, and took by it in heart the fusion of the two authorities by preserving the spiritual richnesses of each one.

End of its life

Towards the end of 1851, whereas it was in Notre-Dame of Gard, the Libermann Father complained about an intense tiredness, which obliged it to keep the room.

From return to the Head office, his/her brother, Doctor Libermann came to his bedside, but its state was desperate. January 27th 1852, it accepted the Viatique, and it died surrounded his brothers, on February 2nd.

Its body was transported to Notre-Dame of Gard, before being transferred to Chevilly-Larue in 1865. Its skin rests since 1967 in the Head office of the Congregation of the Saint Spirit.

Work

Deciding to put at the service the abandoned people in the Church, the priests of the Société of the Saint heart of Marie wanted to become Nègres among the Negros , daily living what they wished to transmit.

Many missions followed one another, with the Meeting with Vavasseur, with the Mauritius with Jacques-Desired Laval, with Haiti with Tisserant.

One of the principal goals of the Libermann Father was to form an indigenous clergy, which could be devoted later on to the evangelization of their brothers autochtones and of would be listened better as much than it would be theirs.

Veneration

the decree of heroicity of the virtues of the servant of God, was published on June 19th 1910 by the Pope Pie X. He is declared as being Vénérable of the Catholic church.
It is celebrated the February 2nd ;

Quotations

Letter of August 9th 1835:

“ It is necessary to be held perfectly quiet and to be given up entirely with the holy control of God; to follow peacefully and with a great love sights of God and grace of his Spirit. ”

Letter of June 21st 1844:

“ Advance more and more in purity of heart, in simplicity in all your control, lapse of memory of the world and of yourself, as a love of god, zeal for your sanctification and that of the others. Imitate your Patron saint in the enthusiasm of his love towards Jesus and Marie. ”

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