SAINT FEAST DAY 15 APRIL: ST CESAR DE BUS

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL

Saints celebrated on the 15th of April

Prayer to the Angels and the Saints

Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.

In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.

Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.

Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.

SAINT CESAR DE BUS, PRIEST AND FOUNDER

Saint Cesar de Bus was priest and founder of two religious congregations, born February 3, 1544, at Cavaillon, Comtat Venaissin (now France); he died April 15, 1607, at Avignon. 

At eighteen he joined the king’s army and took part in the war against the Huguenots. After the war he devoted some time to poetry and painting, but soon made up his mind to join the fleet which was then besieging La Rochelle. Owing to a serious sickness this design could not be carried out. 

HIS TIME IN PARIS

Up to this time de Bus had led a pious and virtuous life, which, however during a sojourn of three years in Paris was changed for one of pleasure and dissipation. From Paris he went back to Cavaillon. Upon the death of his brother, a canon of Salon, he succeeded in obtaining the vacated benefice, which he sought for the gratification of his worldly ambitions. 

HE CHANGED HIS WAYS

Shortly after this, however, he returned to a better life, resumed his studies, and in 1582 was ordained to the priesthood. He distinguished himself by his works of charity and his zeal in preaching and catechising, and conceived the idea of instituting a congregation of priests who should devote themselves to the preaching of Christian Doctrine. 

THE FOUNDATIONS

In 1592, the “Prêtres séculiers de la doctrine chrétienne”, or “Doctrinaires”, were founded in the town of L’Isle and in the following year came to Avignon. This congregation was approved by Pope Clement VIII, December 23, 1597. Besides the Doctrinaires, de Bus founded an order of women called “Filles de la doctrine chrétienne” and later the Ursulines. Pope Pius VII declared him Venerable in 1821. Five volumes of his “Instructions familières” were published (Paris, 1666). [Fr de Bus was beatified in 1975 and canonised on May 15, 2022.]

(Information from: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)