Louis Joseph François was born in Busigny on the 3rd of February 1751. He was Ordained a priest in 1773 and was known for his intense pastoral activities. He was martyred in the seminary of Saint-Firmin (formerly Bons-Enfants) alongside J. E. Gruyer. Both were beatified on October 17, 1926.
Jean Enrico Gruyer was born in Dôle on the 13th of June 1734. After being ordained a priest in St.-Cloud, he was primarily responsible for the training of seminarians. He was martyred in the seminary of Saint-Firmin on the 3rd of September 1792, for refusing to take the oath of allegiance.
Jean Charles Caron was born on the 31st of December 1730. He entered the Congregation on the 9th of October 1750.
Nicolas Colin was born on 12th of December 1730. He entered the Congregation on the 9th of October 1747.
Peter Rene Rogue was born in Vannes on the 11th of June 1758. He was ordained a priest on the 21st of September 1782 and was engaged in teaching in the seminary and in parish ministry, despite the dangers of the revolution. He was martyred in his own city on the 3rd of March 1796, and was beatified on the 10th of May 1934.
Invitatory Antiphon: The Lord is the King of martyrs; come let us adore Him.
Hymn
The martyrs living now with Christ
In suffering were tried,
Their anguish overcome by love
When on his cross he died.
Across the centuries they come,
In constancy unmoved,
Their loving hearts make no complaint,
In silence they are proved.
No man has ever measured love,
Or weighed it in his hand,
But God who knows the inmost heart
Gives them the promised land.
Praise Father, Son and Spirit blest,
Who guides us through the night
In ways that reach beyond the stars
To everlasting light.
Antiphon 1: Let us give ourselves to God that he may give us grace to prefer afflictions and death rather than the misfortune of losing his love
Antiphon 2: Let us offer God this oblation in advance, in confidence that God sill strengthen us in the hour of need.
Antiphon 3: It can happen that the occasion will present itself of suffering prison, torture, fire, or martyrdom.
Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 1:3-5.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Short Responsory
V. We give thanks to God from whom all help come.
R. We give thanks to God from whom all help come.
V. His help will never fail.
R. We give thanks to God from whom all help come.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. We give thanks to God from whom all help come.
Benedictus Antiphon: These men were faithful witnesses. They will dwell in the Kingdom of heaven forever.
Intercessions
In prayer, we ask Christ, the crown of martyrs, to protect and faithfully guard the Vincentian family, just as He supported our martyrs in their testimony of fidelity to the Church:
R. Lord, holy and faithful, hear us.
Eternal light, rising on the horizon of the world to dispel our darkness, awaken faith, hope, and charity within us. R.
Rising Sun from above, grant us a prosperous and peaceful day, allowing us to live in the light of Your presence. R.
Savior of the world, who walked the path of passion and the cross, grant us the ability to communicate Your redemptive death and share in the glory of Your resurrection. R.
Source of charity, help us to build our communities day by day in trust and with a common desire for conversion, so that we may march together toward You. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who have bound blessed Louis Joseph François and companions,
with love for Your Church,
enriching them with invincible strength
in defending their freedom;
as we celebrate with joy the memory of their martyrdom,
may we learn to love the Church as our mother,
and to proclaim with evangelical firmness, Your word of truth and justice.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
Hymn
Our Lord the path of suffering trod
And since His blood for man hath flowed,
’Tis meet that man should yield to God
The life he owed. Alleluia, Alleluia.
No shame to own the Crucified -
Nay, ’tis our immortality
That we confess our God who died,
And for Him die. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Filled with this thought, with patient smile
All threats the martyr doth withstand,
Fights, Lord, Thy cause, and leans the while
Upon Thine hand. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Beholding his predestined crown,
Into death’s arms he willing goes;
Dying, he conquers death; overthrown,
Overthrows his foes. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Lord, make us Thine own soldiers true
Grant us brave faith, a spirit pure
That for Thy name, Thy cross in view,
We may endure. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Eternal Father of the Word,
Eternal Word, we Thee adore,
Eternal Spirit, God and Lord,
For evermore. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Antiphon 1: God grant that all those who enter the company come with the thought of martyrdom.
Antiphon 2: Oh, how we ought often to ask this grace and disposition of the Lord: to be ready to risk our lives for his glory.
Antiphon 3: If our Lord loved us so much as to die for us, why should we not desire to be ready to do likewise for him.
Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 4:5, 8-10.
For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Short Responsory
V. We are afflicted in every way but not forsaken.
R. We are afflicted in every way but not forsaken.
V. For God is our strength and consolation.
R. We are afflicted in every way but not forsaken.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. We are afflicted in every way but not forsaken.
Magnificat Antiphon: With our lives we glorify the Lord, carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
Intercessions
In memory of our martyrs, we ask Christ for the grace of participation in the fruit of His salvation. For the world, the Church, and the Vincentian family, we pray:
R. Support, Lord, our service.
Lord, who promised to be with Your Church until the end of time, make Her constant in proclaiming the word and strong in defending human freedom. R.
Jesus our Savior, allow us to complete what is missing in Your passion, to share the glory of Your resurrection. R.
Raise authentic messengers of Your word, to announce Your Gospel to the ends of the earth. R.
Turn Your gaze of goodness to the sick and suffering whom You have associated with Your cross; may they feel the comfort of Your presence. R.
Transfigure the bodies of our departed brothers and sisters into the image of Your glorious body and admit us one day into the heavenly Jerusalem. R.
Our Father
Concluding Prayer
O God, Who have bound blessed Louis Joseph François and companions,
with love for Your Church,
enriching them with invincible strength
in defending their freedom;
as we celebrate with joy the memory of their martyrdom,
may we learn to love the Church as our mother,
and to proclaim with evangelical firmness, Your word of truth and justice.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
Copyright © 2007 - 2025. All Rights Reserved