Francis Mary Paul Libermann, CsSp (French: François-Marie-Paul Libermann; born Jacob Libermann; 14 April 1802 – 2 February 1852) was a French Jewish convert to Catholicism and a Spiritan priest. He is best known for founding the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary, which later merged with the Spiritans. He is often referred to as "The Second Founder of the Spiritans". He was declared venerable in the Catholic Church on 1 June 1876, by Pope Pius IX.
Jacob Libermann was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Saverne, Alsace, France in 1802. As a young man, Libermann prepared to follow in the footsteps of his father, the Chief Rabbi of Saverne.[2]
He would later relate how he lost his faith in Judaism after entering a yeshiva. Treated with disdain by two of the professors there, he began to read French literature, especially Rousseau, with the result that he became an agnostic. Later during this period of agnosticism, another rabbinical student gave him a Hebrew translation of the Gospels. Being always a very moral person, Libermann was captivated by the high moral tone of Jesus' discourses, though he could not accept the supernatural elements in the Gospels. Then, however, his eldest brother first, and afterwards two other brothers, embraced Catholicism. Although Jacob deeply resented their change of religion, he gradually came to recognize their happiness, which was in strong contrast with his own distracted frame of mind.[3]
After arriving in Paris, where his father had sent him to pursue his studies, he made the acquaintance of David Paul Drach, a convert from Judaism, who had him received into the College Stanislas.[3] The knowledge of his conversion was long concealed from his father, who was horrified to learn of his favorite son's actions. When the news of his baptism reached Saverne, his father mourned him as dead.
François Libermann, 19th century.
"That moment for me was one of extreme pain. My complete loneliness, the gloom of the cell with its one sky-light, the thought of being so far from my family, my country, all this plunged my heart into the deepest sadness and weighed down my heart with oppresive melancholy. Then it was that, remembering the God of my fathers, I cast myself on my knees and implored Him to enlighten me regarding the True Religion. I conjured him to make it known to me that the belief of Christians was true, if it was so; but if it was false, to remove me instantly far from it. The Lord, who is near to those who invoke him with their inmost soul, heard my prayer. I was at once enlightened; I saw the truth; faith penetrated my mind and heart. Setting myself to read Lhomond, I assented easily to all that it recounted of the life and death of Jesus Christ. Even the mystery of the Eucharist, though rather imprudently presented to my consideration, in no way repelled me. I believed all without difficulty. From that moment my greatest desire was to see myself plunged into the sacred Font; and my happiness was not long delayed. I was at once prepared for this admirable Sacrament, and received it on Christmas Eve. Next morning I was allowed to approach the Holy Table."
— Francis Libermann, describing his conversion from Judaism to the Roman Catholic Church[4]: 9
Jacob Libermann was baptized on 24 December 1826, taking the name François Marie Paul.[1] He entered the Saint-Sulpice seminary in Paris in the same year to study for the priesthood.[2]
St. Maria Magdalena und St. Andreas des ehemaligen Prämonstratenser Church, Klosters Knechtsteden, Dormagen, Germany.
Priest and missionary
On the very eve of his ordination to the subdiaconate, he was stricken down by an attack of epilepsy which was to be his companion for the next five years. During that time he was kept by his charitable superiors at the seminary of Issy. It was there that he was brought into close apostolic relationship with two Creole seminarians, M. Le Vavasseur, from Bourbon, and M. Tisserand, from Santo Domingo, both of whom were filled with zeal for the evangelization of the poor ex-slaves of those islands.[3] Libermann suffered from epileptic seizures, which prevented his ordination for nearly fifteen years. It was only when these seizures ceased in 1841 that he was able to become a priest. After his ordination, Libermann created the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary centered around missionary activity towards newly freed slaves in Réunion, Haiti, and Mauritius.[1]
As this group attracted more members, the Holy See merged his society with the older Congregation of the Holy Spirit, otherwise known as "Spiritans". Due to this event, Libermann is often referred to as the "Second Founder" of the Spiritans.
Although, Fr. Libermann himself never went overseas, he recruited and educated missionaries going to Africa, both lay and clerical. He exhausted himself in the process of leading his great enterprise, and died on 2 February 1852 before his 50th birthday.[5]
His letters, hundreds of which survive, are frequently used as a guide in the devotional life. Fr. Libermann was a pioneer of strategies now recognized as a blueprint for modern missionary activity. He urged the Spiritans to "become one with the people" so that each group received and understood the Gospel in the context of their own traditions.[5]
^ abcMurphy, John I. "Ven. Francis Mary Paul Libermann." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 1 Aug. 2022 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Lee, George, CSSp. (1911). The Life of the Venerable Francis Libermann. Reissued by Roger A. McCaffrey Publishing.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Ven. Francis Mary Paul Libermann". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Bibliography
Goepfert, Prosper (1880). The Life of the Venerable Francis Mary Paul Libermann. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son.
Burke, Christy (2010). No Longer Slaves: the mission of Francis Libermann (1802–1852). Dublin: Columba Press.
External links
A newsletter about Fr. Libermann written by the Hebrew Catholic Association.
The Life of Fr. Libermann as told in articles by the Spiritans.
The Provisional Rule of the Missionaries of the Holy Heart of Mary, written by Libermann.
Jesus through Jewish Eyes Volume 1, Commentary on John's Gospel Libermann, a convert from Judaism.
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Francis Mary Paul Libermann CsSp French Francois Marie Paul Libermann born Jacob Libermann 14 April 1802 2 February 1852 was a French Jewish convert to Catholicism and a Spiritan priest He is best known for founding the Society of the Holy Heart of Mary which later merged with the Spiritans He is often referred to as The Second Founder of the Spiritans He was declared venerable in the Catholic Church on 1 June 1876 by Pope Pius IX VenerableFrancis Paul LibermannCsSpAn 1880 lithograph of Francis Libermann the image in the upper left corner is of the Immaculate Heart of Mary BornJacob Libermann14 April 1804 1 Saverne FranceDied2 February 1852 1852 02 02 aged 49 Paris FranceVenerated inRoman Catholic Church Contents 1 Early life 2 Priest and missionary 3 Legacy 4 Gallery 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksEarly life EditJacob Libermann was born into an Orthodox Jewish family in Saverne Alsace France in 1802 As a young man Libermann prepared to follow in the footsteps of his father the Chief Rabbi of Saverne 2 He would later relate how he lost his faith in Judaism after entering a yeshiva Treated with disdain by two of the professors there he began to read French literature especially Rousseau with the result that he became an agnostic Later during this period of agnosticism another rabbinical student gave him a Hebrew translation of the Gospels Being always a very moral person Libermann was captivated by the high moral tone of Jesus discourses though he could not accept the supernatural elements in the Gospels Then however his eldest brother first and afterwards two other brothers embraced Catholicism Although Jacob deeply resented their change of religion he gradually came to recognize their happiness which was in strong contrast with his own distracted frame of mind 3 After arriving in Paris where his father had sent him to pursue his studies he made the acquaintance of David Paul Drach a convert from Judaism who had him received into the College Stanislas 3 The knowledge of his conversion was long concealed from his father who was horrified to learn of his favorite son s actions When the news of his baptism reached Saverne his father mourned him as dead Francois Libermann 19th century That moment for me was one of extreme pain My complete loneliness the gloom of the cell with its one sky light the thought of being so far from my family my country all this plunged my heart into the deepest sadness and weighed down my heart with oppresive melancholy Then it was that remembering the God of my fathers I cast myself on my knees and implored Him to enlighten me regarding the True Religion I conjured him to make it known to me that the belief of Christians was true if it was so but if it was false to remove me instantly far from it The Lord who is near to those who invoke him with their inmost soul heard my prayer I was at once enlightened I saw the truth faith penetrated my mind and heart Setting myself to read Lhomond I assented easily to all that it recounted of the life and death of Jesus Christ Even the mystery of the Eucharist though rather imprudently presented to my consideration in no way repelled me I believed all without difficulty From that moment my greatest desire was to see myself plunged into the sacred Font and my happiness was not long delayed I was at once prepared for this admirable Sacrament and received it on Christmas Eve Next morning I was allowed to approach the Holy Table Francis Libermann describing his conversion from Judaism to the Roman Catholic Church 4 9 Jacob Libermann was baptized on 24 December 1826 taking the name Francois Marie Paul 1 He entered the Saint Sulpice seminary in Paris in the same year to study for the priesthood 2 St Maria Magdalena und St Andreas des ehemaligen Pramonstratenser Church Klosters Knechtsteden Dormagen Germany Priest and missionary EditOn the very eve of his ordination to the subdiaconate he was stricken down by an attack of epilepsy which was to be his companion for the next five years During that time he was kept by his charitable superiors at the seminary of Issy It was there that he was brought into close apostolic relationship with two Creole seminarians M Le Vavasseur from Bourbon and M Tisserand from Santo Domingo both of whom were filled with zeal for the evangelization of the poor ex slaves of those islands 3 Libermann suffered from epileptic seizures which prevented his ordination for nearly fifteen years It was only when these seizures ceased in 1841 that he was able to become a priest After his ordination Libermann created the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary centered around missionary activity towards newly freed slaves in Reunion Haiti and Mauritius 1 As this group attracted more members the Holy See merged his society with the older Congregation of the Holy Spirit otherwise known as Spiritans Due to this event Libermann is often referred to as the Second Founder of the Spiritans Although Fr Libermann himself never went overseas he recruited and educated missionaries going to Africa both lay and clerical He exhausted himself in the process of leading his great enterprise and died on 2 February 1852 before his 50th birthday 5 Legacy EditHe was declared venerable by Pope Pius IX in 1876 His letters hundreds of which survive are frequently used as a guide in the devotional life Fr Libermann was a pioneer of strategies now recognized as a blueprint for modern missionary activity He urged the Spiritans to become one with the people so that each group received and understood the Gospel in the context of their own traditions 5 Francis Libermann Catholic High School in Toronto 2 and College Libermann in Douala Cameroon are named in his honor Gallery Edit Charcoal Drawing of Libermann circa 1900s by Pierre Leon Annould Holy Ghost Fathers seal 1903 Commemorative plaque of Father Francois Libermann in Saverne Bas Rhin his hometown Stained glass Church Notre Dame de la Nativite Saverne Alsace Bas Rhin France 1925 Supporter Monument dedicated to Francois Libermann at Saverne Bas Rhin his Alsatian hometown References Edit a b c Koren C S Sp Henry J The Spiritans Duquesne University Ad Press Ltd New York 1958 a b c The Story of Francis Libermann Francis Libermann Catholic School Toronto a b c Murphy John I Ven Francis Mary Paul Libermann The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 9 New York Robert Appleton Company 1910 1 Aug 2022 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Lee George CSSp 1911 The Life of the Venerable Francis Libermann Reissued by Roger A McCaffrey Publishing a b Francis Libermann Spiritans USA This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Ven Francis Mary Paul Libermann Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Bibliography EditGoepfert Prosper 1880 The Life of the Venerable Francis Mary Paul Libermann Dublin M H Gill amp Son Burke Christy 2010 No Longer Slaves the mission of Francis Libermann 1802 1852 Dublin Columba Press External links EditA newsletter about Fr Libermann written by the Hebrew Catholic Association The Life of Fr Libermann as told in articles by the Spiritans The Provisional Rule of the Missionaries of the Holy Heart of Mary written by Libermann Jesus through Jewish Eyes Volume 1 Commentary on John s Gospel Libermann a convert from Judaism Jesus through Jewish Eyes Volume 2 Jesus through Jewish Eyes Volume 2 Catholic Church titlesPreceded byAlexandre Monnet Superior General of theCongregation of the Holy Spirit1848 1852 Succeeded byIgnace Schwindenhammer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Libermann amp oldid 1139230760, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
