Who is Jules Chevalier? Part 3
The miracle of the Virgin Mary’s intercession on December 8 was the source of good news received. December 8, 1854, is the beginning and foundation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). The benefactor of the 20,000 francs came from the Supician priest, Fr. Abbe de Champgrand, a professor at St. Walter’s seminary, Bourges. He was a wealthy and charitable priest. His brother-in-law announced the 20,000 Francs to Fr. Chevalier in the sacristy. However, Fr. Abbe Champgrand did not know that the two priests wanted to form a religious community with vows. He thought it would be a pious group of priests. He felt that the least France needed was another religious community surfacing. He even considered withholding the donation. However, Fr. Crozat responded, “A promise is a promise.” The charitable Crozat even raised the donation price to 25,000 Francs. The Diocese of Bourge approved the donation with the expectation that Frs. Chevalier and Maugenest would use the funds received to begin a new missionary community.
Most of the money went to purchasing property. The property included a former barn converted into a chapel. Mr. Voisin lent 5,000 Francs to help pay for the property. In the barn, on the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, September 9, 1855, His Eminence officially installed the two men as Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. This event launched the group of missionaries as Religious. Consequently, the diocese released the priests, who then moved forward as MSC. (The Cardinal sent two diocesan priests to replace the two Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.)
In 1855, Fr. Chevalier initiated the process of drafting the community’s rules. He and Fr. Maugenest began their novitiate in October of 1855. It was a year of prayer, reflection, study, and manual labor. The novitiate time ended on December 25, 1856, when the two professed private perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In 1856, another seminary friend joined the two priests. Fr. Charles Piperone, was born July 26, 1828, in Vierzon and ordained on June 10, 1854. He would always remain a loyal friend in the community and a faithful friend of Fr. Chevalier. Now, there are three Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.
The priests predominantly preoccupied themselves with serving the People of God. They dedicated themselves to the pastoral mission to aid the material and spiritual needs of the people. All their efforts did not just focus on building progress. Property was not their sole interest.
Fr. Chevalier already had experience responding to children from his previous assignments. He, for example, established catechetical programs for children. A pastoral concern the priest had to address in Issoudun was that very few men came to worship. In response to this spiritual need, Fr. Chevalier established a Men’s League of the Sacred Heart, which he began in October 1856. As a missionary, Fr. Chevalier could not just sit in the presbytery and wait for visitors. On the contrary, the good Father Chevalier visited the people’s homes and made many personal contacts. He asked each man to commit himself to attend Mass on Sundays once a month and receive holy communion. The program opened with 10 men attending church for Mass and holy communion, marking the first public communion of men in Issoudun since its founding. In another month, his chapel had 30 members listed in the League. The group consisted of winegrowers, farmers, workers, etc. By Easter 1857, the group had grown to fifty men. The League of the Sacred Heart had 300 members listed by the end of that year. Fr. Chevalier’s idea was a grand feat and an achievement for Catholics in Issoudun.
In addition to the monthly Men’s Mass, Fr. Chevalier’s ministry included celebrating daily Mass in the mission church, helping people when he could, and working on the rules for the community.
When one enters a religious community’s formation program, the person has high idealism about his or her vocation. Over time, through God’s grace of perseverance and living the vowed life, idealism does not fade away but begins to take on a clearer and more realistic vision of one’s mission and vocation. Stumbling blocks often get in the way of maintaining a steady course to achieve goals. Fr. Chevalier never lost his idealism and perseverance despite facing many obstacles. He knew his vision for the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart would not end in vain. In 1870, Chevalier wrote, “When God wants something done, obstacles for him are means. He challenges human wisdom and its assumptions and brings to life what it believes should never exist. He gives growth, strength, and fruitfulness to what human wisdom has condemned to death.“
In 1858, the chapel’s ceiling collapsed on St. Joseph’s side; it did not discourage Chevalier, even though the Cardinal condemned it and closed it temporarily. This ceiling collapse, however, did not deter Chevalier. He and Maugenest prayed to St. Joseph, their “Friend of the Sacred Heart,” for assistance since it collapsed on St. Joseph’s side. They trusted their patron, St. Joseph, to help prepare the chapel. A benefactor, Mr. Vosinn, helped pay for the repairs. Upon its completion, the Cardinal approved the reopening of the chapel. However, this event led Fr. Chevalier to understand the necessity of building a church.
Fr. Maugenest was a gifted and popular preacher. Bishop James Cuskelly, MSC, says that he was in “great demand.” At that time, the diocesan cardinals and bishops were their legitimate superiors. The Cardinal Archbishop of Bourge wanted Fr. Maugenest to serve in his diocese. Fr. Maugeneset became well known and admired for preaching at Advent services in the Cathedral. The Cardinal wanted Fr. Magenest to be the archpriest of the Cathedral. The pleading of the three priests (Frs. Chevalier, Maugenest, and Piperone) for Fr. Maugenest to remain in Issoudun did not win the Cardinal’s favor. The decision was final. Thus, Maugenest had to leave the small community to be the archpriest of the Cathedral.
Fr. Piperone served as the prison, hospital, and hospice chaplain. He also was the treasurer for the community. In the future, he would hold positions of great significance. Fr. Piperone passed on much of the community’s MSC history.
Returning to the situation with Fr. Maugenest, the Cardinal’s decision resulted in a devastating blow to the MSC. In the words of Fr. Chevalier, Fr. Maugenest was the “most gifted” of the three. Now, there are only two members in the congregation. Now, what do we do? Fr. Maugenest joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) in later years. However, he always saw the MSCs as his friend. On several occasions, he returned to Issoudun for retreats at St. Cyrs. He also spoke at Fr. Piperone’s funeral.
Following Maugenest’s departure, the two remaining priests embarked on a several-day retreat in a Trappist monastery. In 1858, Fr. Chevalier’s priest friend visited the two missionaries. He invited Fr. Chevalier to come with him on pilgrimages. They visited the tomb of St. Margaret Mary Alocoque. In July 1859, Chevalier made several pilgrimages, e.g., the Tomb of St. Francis Regis. Significant among his pilgrimages was his meeting with the Cure of Ars, Fr. John Vianney, on July 14, 1859. He explained his plight to the saintly priest. Fr. John Vianney offered him comforting words: “Heaven will bless your work but not until you have had many trials.” These words were prophetic and came true.
