Saint Claude La Colombière
Claude La Colombière was born on February 2, 1641 in Saint-Symphorien-d'Ozon, which is now in the Rhône. Several of his brothers and sisters entered the clergy. He would follow suit. Indeed, after his studies at the Jesuit college of Notre-Dame du Bon Secours in Lyon, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus (known as the Jesuits) on October 25, 1658. Subsequently, he made his religious profession, then his studies, before being ordained a priest. He would go on to exercise his ministry, including as a teacher, preacher, director of conscience, personal advisor and writer.
He died in Paray-le-Monial on February 15, 1682, at the age of 41. He was beatified on June 16, 1929 by Pius XI, then canonized on May 31, 1992 by John Paul II.
He is celebrated every year on February 15, and in particular venerated in Paray-le-Monial, at the La Colombière chapel where his relics are preserved.
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At the end of this article on Claude La Colombière, we also invite you to discover other figures of holiness in the Guide to Saints on Hozana.
What can we learn from Saint Claude La Colombière?
Saint Claude La Colombière, the “faithful servant and perfect friend” of Jesus Christ, who reassured Marguerite-Marie and her superior
A few days after his solemn vows, Claude La Colombière was sent to Paray-le-Monial in 1675 by his Jesuit community.
At that time, there was a visiting nun, Marguerite-Marie, by her religious name, who received private apparitions of Christ. The most famous apparition that the nun received dates from 1675 when Jesus said to her: “This is the Heart that loved men so much, that it spared nothing to the point of exhausting itself and consuming itself to show them its love and for gratitude I receive nothing but ingratitudes.” And for gratitude, I receive from most only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me, in this Sacrament of Love. ”
The manifestations of Christ to the nun earned her criticism from her community, who did not believe her. To Marguerite-Marie, Jesus also said “He told me that he would send me his faithful servant and perfect friend who would teach me to know him and to abandon me to him without further resistance”. This is where Claude La Colombière came in as Marguerite-Marie's spiritual guide. The Jesuit would recognize the divine origin of the manifestations and contribute at the same time to reassuring the superior of Marguerite-Marie. In October 1986, Pope John Paul II said about Claude, during a pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial: “He was “the faithful servant” whom, in his providential love, the Lord gave as spiritual guide to Saint Marguerite-Marie Alacoque. ”
Saint Claude La Colombière, an Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Like Jean Eudes and Marguerite-Marie, Claude La Colombière also revealed himself as an apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in particular by showing his encouragement in spiritual direction to Marguerite-Marie. By accompanying Marguerite-Marie, the Sacred Heart of Jesus would take more and more space in Claude's life, as shown by these few extracts from Claude la Colombière's prayer below.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me the perfect forgetting of myself, since it is the only way through which one can enter into you. Since everything I do in the future will be yours, make sure that I do nothing that is not worthy of you. Teach me what I must do to achieve the purity of your love for which you inspired me. I feel in me a great desire to please you and a great powerlessness to overcome it without a great light and a very special help that I can only expect from you. Do your will in me, Lord I oppose it, I feel it well, but I would like, it seems to me, not to oppose it. It is up to you to do everything, divine Heart of Jesus Christ. Only you will have all the glory of my sanctification if I make myself holy. It seems clearer to me than the day. But it will be a great glory for you, and it is only for this that I want to desire perfection. Amen. ”
What can Saint Yves bring us today?
The devotion to the Heart of Jesus
Saint Claude La Colombière can invite us to rediscover the Sacred Heart of Jesus: “that heart that loved men so much”, as Marguerite-Marie said.
The rediscovery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus invites us first to contemplate and fix our gaze on the heart of Jesus, who reveals the heart of God, to allow ourselves to be loved and transformed by his heart, so that in turn, as baptized and missionary disciple, we can spread the love of Christ around us.
Want to learn more about Devotion to the Sacred Heart? Also discover this article.
Deepen your understanding of Saint Claude La Colombière
Written by Claude La Colombière
It should be noted that Claude La Colombière also left writings, such as:
· Spiritual writings (ed. by André Ravier), Collection 'Christus', Paris, 1962
· The Vain Glory
· Works by R. P. Claude de la Colombière, Avignon, 1832; Paris, 1864
· Complete Works (6 vols), Grenoble, 1900-1902
And other books relating to sermons, spiritual letters, and others.
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Pray with Saint Claude La Colombière
Prayer of “Trust in God” by Saint Claude la Colombière:
“My God, I am so convinced that you watch over those who hope in you, and that nothing can be lacking when all things are expected of you, that I have decided to live in the future without any worry, and to unload all my worries on you: “In peace, I also lie down and sleep, for you give me to dwell, Lord, alone, in trust” (Ps 4:9) Men can strip me of both goods and honor, diseases can take away my strength and means to serve you, I can even lose your grace through sin; but I will never lose my hope, I will keep it until the last moment of my life, and all the demons of hell will make vain efforts to snatch it from me at that time: “In peace, I also lie down and sleep”. Some may expect their happiness from their riches or talents, others rely on the innocence of their lives, or on the rigor of their penances, or on the number of their alms, or on the fervor of their prayers. For me, Lord, all my trust is my trust itself; this trust never deceived anyone. So I am assured that I will be eternally happy, because I firmly hope to be, and that it is from you, O my God, that I hope. Amen.”
“Divine Heart of Jesus Christ” prayer by Saint Claude la Colombière:
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach me the perfect forgetting of myself, since it is the only way through which one can enter into you. Since everything I do in the future will be yours, make sure that I do nothing that is not worthy of you; teach me what I must do to achieve the purity of your love, for which you inspired me. I feel in me a great desire to please you and a great powerlessness to overcome it without a great light and a very special help that I can only expect from you. Do your will in me, Lord; I oppose it, I feel it well, but I would like not to oppose it: it is up to you to do everything, divine Heart of Jesus Christ, you alone will have all the glory of my sanctification, if I make myself holy; it seems clearer to me than the day; but it will be a great glory for you, and it is only for this that I want to desire perfection. Amen”
Rediscover the Sacred Heart of Jesus with Hozana!
Trust your life to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this burning heart of Love, who wishes to be one with you! Here are some offerings on Hozana:
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devote a Novena to the Sacred Heart with Padre Pio
