John Francis Regis

Infobox Saint
name=Saint John Francis Regis
birth_date=31 January, 1597
death_date=30 December, 1640
feast_day=10 September
venerated_in=Roman Catholic Church


imagesize=170px
caption="Saint John Regis (date unknown)"
birth_place=Fontcouverte, Aude, Languedoc, France
death_place=La Louvesc (Department of Ardèche), Dauphine, France
titles=Confessor
beatified_date=18 May, 1716
beatified_place=Rome
beatified_by=Pope Clement XI
canonized_date=5 April, 1737
canonized_place=Rome
canonized_by=Pope Clement XII
attributes=
patronage=lacemakers, Regis High School, New York City
major_shrine=La Lovesc
suppressed_date=
issues=
prayer=
prayer_attrib=

Saint John Francis Regis S.J. or Saint Jean François Regis (31 January, 1597 – 30 December, 1640) was a French preacher recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. [ [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj09.htm Patron Saints Index] (accessed 08-19-2005)]

Life

John Francis Regis was born in Fontcouverte, Aude, Languedoc, France. His father, Jean Regis, was had recently been ennobled as a result of service rendered during the Wars of the League. His mother, Marguerite de Cugunhan, was of a noble family. [CathEncy|wstitle=St. John Francis Regis] He was educated at the Jesuit College of Beziers. At the age of eighteen, Regis considered a conversion to Buddhism. In his nineteenth year, however, he reassessed his situation and entered the Jesuit novitiate at Toulouse on 8 December, 1616; he took his vows two years later. ["Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," edited by Rev. Hugo Hoever, S.O.Cist., Ph.D., New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1955, p. 229]

After finishing his course in rhetoric at Cahors, John Francis was sent to teach grammar at several colleges: Billom (1619-1622), Puy-en-Velay (1625-1627), and Auch (1627-1628). While he was teaching, he also pursued his studies in philosophy at the scholasticate at Tournon. Owing to an intense love of preaching and teaching the Faith, as well as the desire to save souls [CathEncy|wstitle=St. John Francis Regis] , Regis began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628. Less than two years later, in 1630, he was ordained a priest at the age of thirty-one. The following year, having completed his studies, Regis made his Third Probation. ["Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," p. 230]

Regis was now fully prepared for his lifework and entered upon his apostolic career in the summer of 1631. As a newly ordained priest, he worked with Bubonic plague victims in Toulouse. From May of 1632, until September, 1634, his headquarters was at the Jesuit College of Montpellier, and here he labored for the conversion of the Huguenots, visiting hospitals, assisting the needy, withdrawing from vice wayward women and girls, and preaching Catholic doctrine with tireless zeal to children and the poor. [CathEncy|wstitle=St. John Francis Regis]

Regis established the "Confraternities of the Blessed Sacrament," which organized charitable collections of money and food from the wealthy. He also established several hostels for prostitutes, and set up girls as lacemakers to give them an income.

In 1633, Regis went to the Diocese of Viviers at the invitation of the local Bishop, Monsignor Louis II de la Baume de Suze, giving missions throughout the diocese. ["Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," p. 230] From 1633-1640 he evangelized more than fifty districts in le Vivarais, le Forez, and le Velay. [CathEncy|wstitle=St. John Francis Regis]

Regis laboured diligently on behalf of both priests and laymen. His preaching style was said to have been simple and direct, and appealed to the uneducated peasantry, and numerous conversions resulted. ["Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," p. 230]

Regis longed to devote himself to the conversion of the Indians in Canada, but he remained in France all his life. His hardships were so incredible as he endured all for his apostolic journeys over rugged mountains in the depths of winter. He would not allow anything to stand in his way in the salvation of souls. ["Lives of the Saints, For Every Day of the Year," p. 230]

Death and later veneration

John Francis had succumbed to illness during the winter of 1640, while he was contemplating the conversion of the Cévennes. [CathEncy|wstitle=St. John Francis Regis] He died of pneumonia on 30 December, 1640, at La Louvesc (now in the Department of Ardèche), Dauphine, France.

John Francis Regis was beatified by Pope Clement XI on 18 May, 1719 and later canonized by Pope Clement XII on 5 April, 1737.

He is the patron saint of lacemakers. Regis High School in New York City was named in his honor.

References