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Leo
John Dehon was born on 14th March 1843 at La Capelle (Aisne) in
France in the diocese of Soissons. From his distinguished and respected family he
developed as a person full of humanity and able to relate well with all types of people.
He would thank God particularly "for the gift of a mother who taught him the love of
the divine Heart".
While still at school he felt the
call of God to the priesthood on Christmas day 1856. But his father, wanting the best
social standing for him, tried to distract him from his call by sending him to study civil
law. However eventually Leo Dehon followed the desires of his heart and ended up in the
French Seminary in Rome (1865). He was ordained a priest in the lateran Basilica in Rome
on 19th December 1868. As he wrote in his diary " I stood up a
priest, taken over by Jesus, totally his, filled with love for the Father, with his zeal
for souls, his spirit of prayer and sacrifice".
His first assignment was as
assistant priest in the Basilica of St. Quentin (diocese of Soissons). Here his heart went
out in compassion to the spiritual and social needs of the people at that time, most
especially the workers and the youth who lived and worked in the most miserable conditions
and who felt far from God and the Church. It is said that he was " a pioneer
in going to the people", preached by Pope Leo XII in his Encyclical Letter
"Rerum Novarum" (1891) whose ideas Fr. Dehon energetically presented to many
priests and people.
He took many initiatives in
responding to the spiritual and social needs of the people. He attended and was involved
in the first Congress of workers associations. He published a Catholic Newspaper.
He also set up a house and youth club to receive and educate young people.
In July 1877 the new bishop of
Soissons, Mgr. Thibaudier commited to him the task of opening a Catholic College
in the town of St. Quentin; it was to enable him to set up the beginnings of a new
Religious Congregation, the Oblates (Priests) of the Heart of Jesus
(1878). The heritage which he passed on the Congregation were in his own words: "To
draw priests and faithful to the Heart of Jesus and offer to him a daily service of
adoration and love; to improve the lot of the masses by the establishment of a Kingdom of
Justice and Christian Charity".
Supported by the goodwill of
several Popes Leo XIII, Benedict XV and Pius XI, to whom he had always shown faithful and
practical respect, Fr. Dehon pursued the mission entrusted to him in his writings, talks,
his attendance at social conferences and most of all in the many works undertaken by his
Congregation. "The passion of my life" he would write
in the final pages of his diary "the vow I made with tears in my youth, was to be a
missionary and a martyr. It seems to me that wish has been fulfilled. I am a missionary by
my hundred and more missionaries spread throught the world; I am a martyr because Our Lord
brought my vow of victim to fulfillment".
Fr. Dehon died in Brussels on 12th
August 1925. Through contemplation of the pierced heart of Christ he developed
what was remarked in him as a constant trait of character, a charming kindness which made
him attractive to others, especially the young. Mgr. Philippe, his first successor would
say "He could attract and charm people's heart, youth especially were drawn to him,
recognizing how much he loved them. Rarely was a superior held in such affection; to his
death he was known as the 'very kind Father'. His desire was always to draw people,
especially the young to Christ".
"I know the one in whom I have
put my trust" (2 Tm 1, 12); faith perfected in trust. This was the rock on which Fr.
Dehon had built his life and mission. "That unbroken confidence", as Mgr.
Philippe was to write "was the special characteristic of our Father's interior
life". This expressed itself in his stance of hope, despite many painful trials,
which always led him to turn his gaze towards higher things and through the love of Christ
burning within him to become more and more generous in what he would do for Christ.
Because of his reputation for
holiness during his life, the cause for his beatification and canonization was begun. And
so in 1997 Pope John Paul II asked that decree be drawn up pointing out the 'heroic
virtues' of the Servant of God, Fr. Leo John Dehon and which was
published on 8th April 1997.
See also:
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Father Dehon
Visits the Philippines
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Our Charism in the life of the Founder
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