OLIER DE VERNEUIL, Jean Jacques - A Stan Klos Biography
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OLIER DE
VERNEUIL, Jean Jacques, French clergyman, born in Paris, 20
September, 1608; died there, 2 April, 1657. He was the second son of Jacques
Olier, one of the secretaries to the king's council, and in his youth was given
the abbey of Pibrac, in Auvergne. Here he sheltered Vincent de Paul, and, at the
latter's suggestion, he engaged in missionary work in Auvergne.
In 1640 he refused the bishopric of
Châlons-sur-Marne, but two years later he accepted the appointment of vicar of
the Saint Sulpice Parish in Paris, which he thoroughly reformed, founding in
1645 the famous Saint Sulpice Seminary for the training of theological students.
In 1655 he drew the plan and laid the foundation of the present magnificent
church of Saint Sulpice.
In 1636 he obtained from Richelieu
permission to found with five associates the Company of Montreal for the
colonization of that island, which he purchased in 1640 for 20,000 livres, or
about $40,000. Toward the close of that year he sent to New France an expedition
of eight priests and ninety laborers and mechanics; but they found the island
deserted, and several, complaining that they had been deceived as to the
condition of the country, returned immediately to France.
Olier continued to the end of his life to
give attention to the missions of Canada, and yearly sent parties of priests and
laborers, he obtained large sums from the merchants of Paris, which he spent in
clearing land around Montreal, building churches, schools, convents, hospitals,
and seminaries, some of which still exist.
Several accounts of Olier's life have
been published. The most recent and complete is by the Abbe
Faillon, "La vie et les oeuvres de Jean Jacques Olier de Verneuil, curé de la
paroisse de Saint Sulpice, 1642-1653" (Paris, 1855). Olier published
several works upon religious subjects, including " Le cathechisme du chrétien
pour la vie interieure " (1645). His letters, which contain a narrative of the
establishments that were founded in Canada by the missionaries of the
Congregation of Saint Sulpice, were afterward collected in a volume and
published under the title "Lettres et correspondance du Pere Olier de Verneuil
sur les etablissements de la foi dans la Nouvelle France" (1674).
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001
VirtualologyTM
OLIER DE VERNEUIL, Jean Jacques, French clergyman, born in Paris, 20 September, 1608; died there, 2 April, 1657. He was the second son of Jacques Oiler, one of the secretaries to the king's council, and in his youth was given the abbey of Pibrac, in Auvergne. Here he sheltered Vincent de Paul, and, at the latter's suggestion, he engaged in missionary work in Auvergne. In 1640 he refused the bishopric of Chalons-sur-Saone, but two years later he accepted the appointment of vicar of the Saint Sulpice parish in Paris, which he thoroughly reformed, founding in 1645 the famous Saint Sulpice seminary for the training of theological students. In 1655 he drew the plan and laid the foundation of the present magnificent church of Saint Sulpice. In 1636 he obtained from Richelieu permission to found with five associates the Company of Montreal for the colonization of that island, which he purchased in 1640 for 20,000 livres, or about $40,000. Toward the close of that year he sent to New France an expedition of eight priests and ninety laborers and mechanics ; but they found the island deserted, and several, complaining that they had been deceived as to the condition of the country, returned immediately to France. Olier continued to the end of his life to give attention to the missions of Canada, and yearly sent parties of priests and laborers, he obtained large sums from the merchants of Paris, which he spent in clearing land around Montreal, building churches, schools, convents, hospitals, and seminaries, some of which still exist. Several accounts of Olier's life have been published. The most recent and complete is by the Abbe Faillon, "La vie et les oeuvres de Jean Jacques Olier de Verneuil, curd de la paroisse de Saint Sulpice, 1642-1653" (Paris, 1855). Olier published several works upon religious subjects, including " Le cathechisme du chrdtien pour la vie interieure " (1645). His letters, which contain a narrative of the establishments that were founded in Canada by the missionaries of the Congregation of Saint Sulpiee, were afterward collected in a volume and published under the title "Lettres et correspondance du Pere Olier de Verneuil sur les etablisse-meats de la foi dans la Nouvelle France" (1674).
