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Division for Mission
For more information: Visit the Brothers
of Holy Cross Website
Venerable
Basil Anthony Moreau
 BBeatification Celebration Events
Moreau's
Mission Today... Founder
of the sisters, brothers and priests of Holy Cross
With heartfelt gratitude and pride, the Holy Cross family of sisters, brothers and priests celebrated the beatification of Father Moreau on September 15, 2007. A crowd of 5,000 could not contain its joy Saturday afternoon in Le Mans, France, when Venerable Father Basil Anthony Moreau was pronounced “Blessed.”
View Photos taken during the three-day beatification celebration in Le Mans, France. More Photos
Read the following for more information:
• Circular
Letter of
the four Superiors General Decree Super Miraculo
in English,
Spanish, Portuguese and French (in
downloadable PDFs)
• Media
Release
• Canonization
Process
The example and the
teaching of Basil Moreau continue to inspire
the religious family of sisters, brothers
and priests of Holy Cross, which he founded
to serve the people of God. (See Virtues.)
About
Basil Anthony Moreau:
Born
on February 11, 1799, in Laigné-en-Belin
near Le Mans, France, Father Moreau
experienced the devastating consequences of
the French Revolution. Ordained
a priest at 22 years of age, he taught and served as assistant
superior of the major seminary in Le Mans. Deeply
committed to preaching and Christian
education in France, he laid the foundations
for the society of auxiliary priests.
In
1835, at the bishop’s request, he took
direction of the Brothers of St. Joseph, founded
in 1820 by Father James Dujarié. On
March 1, 1837, the auxiliary priests and the Brothers of St.
Joseph were united into the Association of
Holy Cross. With papal approval in May 1857,
this association became the Congregation of
Holy Cross.
In
1841, to respond more effectively to the mission,
Father Moreau founded a group of women religious.
Today, the women form three distinct congregations:
Marianites of Holy Cross, Sisters of the Holy
Cross, and Sisters of Holy Cross.
Although
Father Moreau resigned as superior general in
1866, he continued an active preaching and retreat
ministry until his death on January 20, 1873.
Prayer
Provident God,
we give you joyful thanks
for the life of your servant and our Founder,
Venerable Basil Moreau.
His vision of service to the Church
and the world is enlivened in us today
and calls us to continue the works
entrusted to us.
Grant us your generous grace
to meet the challenges of this day
with zeal and generosity.
May our family of Holy Cross,
through the intercession of Mary,
Mother of Sorrows,
grow in unity through ever-stronger bonds
of love and service.
We ask this grace through your Son,
Jesus the Christ. Amen.
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