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Blessed Jacques Retouret
Priest & Martyr
August
26: An Optional Memorial from the Common of One Martyr.
Bl. Jacques
Retouret was born at Limoges in France on 15th September 1746 to a merchant
family. He was a serious young man, a lover of books and greatly gifted. At
fifteen years of age, he entered the Carmelite house in his native city. After
ordination, his zeal and learning were widely admired and large crowds of people
were attracted by his way of preaching. Unfortunately, he was often unable to
fulfil all his engagements, due to his persistent bad health which plagued him
throughout his life. Like so many clergy who stood up for religious freedom, he
died during the French Revolution after being imprisoned for some time. Jacques
died at Madame Isle, some miles distant from Rochefort, on 26th August 1794 at
the age of 48 years. He was beatified, together with 63 other priests and
religious, as martyrs for the faith, on 1st October 1995 by Pope John
Paul II.
Prayer
God of power and mercy,
you gave Jacques Retouret, your
martyr,
victory over pain and
suffering.
Strengthen us who celebrate
this day of his triumph
and help us to be victorious
over the evils that threaten us.
Through Christ our Lord.
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