John Baptiste Berthier (February 24, 1840 – October 16, 1908) was a Catholic missionary and educator. He founded a Catholic religious institute, the Institute for Late Vocations in Grave, the Netherlands in 1895 - organized to meet the needs of men who desired to become priests later in their life.
Life
Berthier was born February 24, 1840, in Chatonnay in southern France.[1] On October 23, 1858, at the age of 18, he entered the seminary in Grenoble. In July 1862, he joined the Missionaries of La Salette. He was ordained a priest in September 1862.[2] Berthier was first assigned to the Minor Seminary of Saint Joseph in Corps.[3]
The organization received episcopal approval in 1904, and took the name Missionaries of the Holy Family. Berthier died October 16, 1908.[1] Berthier was the author of 36 ascetical and theological works, largely relating to the diversity of ways to holiness through imitating the holy family.[1]
The group expanded into Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Brazil by 1910.[4] As of 2014[update] there were Holy Family priests and brothers serving in 22 countries around the world.[5] its members cultivate a special devotion to Our Lady, Reconciler of Sinners, retaining thus a spiritual kinship with the Missionaries of La Salette, of which Berthier was a member.
The cause for beatification for John Berthier has been opened.[6]
Bibliography
- Thoughts of Father Berthier: A Treasure with Old and New Things, by Father Berthier - Congregazione dei Missionari della Sacra Famiglia, Editions du Signe, (c) 2011, ISBN 978-2-7468-2673-1, www.editionsdusigne.fr.
- Les merveilles de la Salette. Téqui, 1898.
References
- ^ a b c Catholic University of America. New Catholic encyclopedia, Volume 2. Thomas/Gale 2003. p333
- ^ "Our Founder", Missionaries of the Holy Family
- ^ "Berthier, M.S. – A Final Procession", Les Annales, La Salette Publications
- ^ Kleinschmidt, B. (1926). Das Auslanddeutschtum in Übersee und die katholische Missionsbewegung: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von Deutschland u. Österreich von 1875 bis 1925. Aschendorff p. 157 (1926)
- ^ Melton, J. Gordon. Faiths Across Time: 5,000 Years of Religious History [4 Volumes]: 5,000 Years of Religious History. ABC-CLIO, 2014. p1587
- ^ Pace, Edward Aloysius, ed. The Catholic Encyclopedia: An International Work of Reference on the Constitution, Doctrine, Discipline, and History of the Catholic Church. Encyclopedia Press, 1922.
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