FATHER CHEVALIER and BOURGES
1846-1851 : Chevalier
attended the Major Seminary in Bourges, now the Palais de Justice.
1851,
14 June: Chevalier was ordained in the
Cathedral of St. Etienne.
Chevalier received 3 appointments
in quick succession after ordination before arriving in Issoudun as curate in
October, 1854:
·
Ivoy-le-Pré
·
Chàtillon-sur-Indre
·
Aubigny-sur-Nère
“After five years at the major seminary I was ready
for ordination and this took place on June 14, 1851, the eve of Trinity Sunday.
I celebrated my first Mass in the small chapel in the garden, dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin. At the moment of
consecration the greatness of the mystery and the consciousness of my
unworthiness so overwhelmed me that I was brought to tears, and, to complete
the Mass, I had to be encouraged by the priest assisting me. It
was an unforgettable day.” (Personal
Notes)
Jules Chevalier was born 15
March, 1824, and the following day baptised “Jean-Jules” in Richelieu.
Almost every evening, with
his mother, Jules came to the parish church for community prayer. Cardinal Richelieu built the city and the
Vincentians were responsible for the parish.
They were zealous and devoted.
Vincent de Paul installed them there himself at the request of Louis
XIII’s prime minister.
1836 – Jules made his
first Communion; It was a Sunday, the Feast of the Trinity, May 29. After finishing his primary school, Jules
wanted to be a priest. Because of
financial difficulties he could not enter the minor seminary at this time. Instead, he became a bootmaker.
1838 – Jules attended a mission in the parish church,
given by a Vincentian. He knew at this
time that he wanted to give his life to God. “As I listened I felt deep within me: “What a beautiful vocation
is that of a missionary. I’d be so
happy if God gave me this grace one day.””
1839 – Jules was confirmed by Archbishop de Montblac of Tours, May 22.
But Jules parents could not
afford seminary fees. A Miss Elisa
Gillet arranged for Jules to learn Latin from her brother. Some months later, just at the time when the
seminary was prepared to accept Jules, free of charge, the diocesan authorities
changed the superior and forbade the acceptance of any student unable to pay
fees. Jules was unable to go to
seminary of the diocese of Tours.
1841 – A Mr. Juste came
to Richelieu. He was administrator of
the forests around Vatan and was looking for someone to replace him during his
absences. Jules’ father was suggested so
in March of the same year, Jules went with his parents to Vatan. Mr. Juste had also arranged that Jules
continue to learn Latin from a priest in Vatan. He made good progress, and in October, 1841, became a first year
student at the minor seminary of St. Gaultier, of the diocese of Bourges.
CHATILLON-SUR-INDRE
Jules Chevalier arrived 21
January, 1852, and stayed until 14th October, 1853. It was his second parish. From here he went to Aubigny-sur-Nère, and
then to Issoudun 20 October, 1854. He
was in Chatillon for 1 year and 9 months and at that time the population was
3,500.
When Jules arrived, the
parish priest was unable to do any active ministry. The total responsibility of the parish fell onto Jules. He
especially cared for the children, the sick and the poor. He befriended some very generous
parishioners, who later helped him financially for the foundation of the
Congregation in Issoudun.
Here, his dream of one day
founding a missionary congregation stayed very much alive in his heart and even
the seeds of founding a women’s congregation seemed evident through the
expression of some of the spiritual practices he introduced into the parish,
e.g., adoration of the Blessed Sacrament by parishioners fro, 9:00a.m. to
6:00p.m. daily.
It was here also that Jules
became a member of the third order of Saint Dominic. The influence of Dominican spirituality remained with him
throughout his life. In St. Cyr,
Issoudun, there is a Chapel in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary, in which there
is a statue of Catherine of Siena and a statue of Dominic. Also, Maugenest
eventually left the MSC’s to join the Dominicans.
1854 - Fathers Chevalier and Maugenest are appointed
assistant priests of St. Cyr in Issoudun.
Fr. Crozat is the parish priest at the time.
In Nov-Dec Frs. Chevalier and
Maugenest make a novena asking Mary for a “sign” to assure them that their
desires and God’s desires are one.
Frs. Chevalier and Maugenest
receive their “sign” from Mary, but Cardinal du Pont is not quite convinced of
their plans.
1855 - Another Novena! Another sign! The Cardinal, despite opposition from his Council agrees to Frs. Chevalier and
Maugenest’s proposals.
The house on “Vouet
Square” was purchased;
the barn was converted
into a chapel.
Frs. Chevalier and
Maugenest take up residence.
1856 - Fr. Piperon joins the
community. At Christmas Frs. Chevalier and Maugenest make their vows in the
presence of Fr. Piperon.
Fr. Chevalier is
superior; Maugenest, his assistant; Fr. Piperon is chaplain to the hospital.
1857 - The title: Our Lady of the Sacred
Heart is first announced by Fr.Chevalier.
Fr. Maugenest is
appointed parish priest of the cathedral at Bourges.
1858 - Construction of the first part of
the Basilica begins! The original
Chapel (the barn) still remains.
1861 - The first image of Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart appears in the Basilica as
a stained glass window.
The first section of
the Basilica is blessed on June 7, feast of the Sacred Heart.
Fr. Maugenest is
appointed parish priest of St. Cyr.
1863 - The original Chapel (the barn) is
demolished;
the second part of the
Basilica is built.
1864 - Fr. Jouét joins the community.
Among other things, he
will care for younger students, begin the Annals in France and Spain, and be
Procurator between the Congregation and Rome.
Benediction of the
Basilica!
1866 - Fr. Vandel (Jean-Marie) joins the
community and founds the Apostolic School.
1867 - The first group of students moves
to Chezal-Benoit, 17 km from Issoudun.
The building here had formerly been a Benedictine monastery.
1868 - The Chapel of Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart is completed in December,
1867, and opened for worship on 11 April, 1868.
1869 - The statue of Our Lady of the
Sacred Heart is crowned on 8 September, in
the name of the Pope.
1871 - France loses the war against
Germany. Some windows in Our Lady’s Chapel are in rememberance of this war.
1872 -
When
Fr. Maugenest leaves the MSC’s to become a Dominican,
Fr. Chevalier is
appointed parish priest of Issoudun.
Fr. Chevalier works at
the monastery in the morning and returns to the presbytery for his midday meal
staying there until evening.
1874 - Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are founded by Chevalier.
1876 - St. Cyr is rebuilt, but was never finished (because Fr.Chevalier could
not get the land he needed).
A community in
Watertown, USA, is established. This is the first MSC community outside of
Europe.
1880 - All religious are expelled from
France. However, some religious (from various congregations) receive from Rome a
special indult of secularisation for the external forum only. Chevalier, and a few other MSC’s, receive
this indult and remain in France.
As parish priest he
secretly guides the Congregation from his presbytery which becomes his only
residence as the Basilica is closed.
1881 - Marie Louise Hartzer arrives in
Issoudun and joins the community of FDNSC’s.
She is appointed superior of the community in December, 1882.
Fr. Chevalier accepts
the mission in the Apostolic Vicariate of Melanesia and Micronesia. The first MSCs leave Barcelona on 1st
September, 1881, and arrive in Papua New Guinea on 21 September, 1882.
During
this time the Congregation expands throughout Europe: Netherlands, Belgium,
Austria, Germany, Spain, England and Ireland.
1887 - The first mission in Latin America
is begun in Quito, and Ecuador.
Unfortunately, this mission failed in 1894.
1899 - The MSC Sisters are founded in
Hiltrup, Germany, by the Dutch MSC, Fr. Hubert Linckens. The Congregation is formed in the spirit of
Fr. Jules Chevalier.
1901 - French government
opposes the Church and confiscates all Church properties in the country. The Basilica is closed, sealed and
eventually sold.
1907 - January 21, Fr. Chevalier is
expelled from his presbytery.
Monsieur de Bonneval
takes him to Rue Daridan where he remains until his death on 21 October, of the
same year. This house becomes the new
presbytery until 1913 when Fr. Armand Chevalier, the parish priest of Issoudun
at the time, buys the present presbytery at 13 Rue Grande Narette.