Jean-François Régis, SJ, commonly known as Saint John Francis Regis and Saint Regis (31 January 1597 – 31 December 1640), was a French priest of the Society of Jesus, recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1737. A tireless preacher, Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans.
Jean-François Régis was born 31 January 1597, in Fontcouverte, Aude, in the Languedoc region of southern France. His father, Jean Régis, had recently been ennobled as a result of service rendered during the Wars of the League. His mother, Marguerite de Cugunhan, was of a noble family.[1] He was educated at the Jesuit College of Béziers. On 8 December 1616, in his nineteenth year, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Toulouse and he took his vows two years later.[2]
After finishing his course in rhetoric at Cahors, Regis was sent to teach grammar at several colleges: Billom (1619–22), Puy-en-Velay (1625–27), and Auch (1627–28). While he was teaching, he also pursued his studies in philosophy at the scholasticate at Tournon-sur-Rhône . Noted for an intense love of preaching and teaching the Faith, as well as the desire to save souls,[1] Regis began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628. Less than two years later, in 1630, he was ordained a priest at 31. The following year, having completed his studies, Regis made his tertianship.[3]
Regis was now fully prepared for his lifework and entered upon his apostolic career in the summer of 1631. He was a tireless worker who spent most of his life serving the marginalized.[4] As a newly ordained priest, he worked with bubonic plague victims in Toulouse. From May 1632 until September 1634, his headquarters was at the Jesuit College of Montpellier. Here he labored for the conversion of the Huguenots, visited hospitals, assisted the needy, withdrew from vice wayward women and girls, and preached Catholic doctrine with tireless zeal to children and the poor.[5] Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans. He established safe houses and found jobs for them.[4] Regis established the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, which organized charitable collections of money and food from the wealthy. He also established several hostels for prostitutes, and helped many become trained lace makers, which provided them with a stable income and an opportunity to avoid the threat of exploitation.[4]
In 1633, Regis went to the Diocese of Viviers at the invitation of the local bishop, Monsignor Louis II de la Baume de Suze, giving missions throughout the diocese.[3] From 1633 to 1640 he evangelized more than fifty districts in le Vivarais, le Forez, and le Velay.[1] Regis labored diligently on behalf of both priests and laypersons. His preaching style was said to have been simple and direct. He appealed to the uneducated peasantry and numerous conversions resulted.[3]
Regis's labors reaped a harvest of conversions. However, his boldness – perceived as arrogance in some cases – led to a conflict with certain other priests, a period of tension with the local bishop, and even threats of violence from those whose vices he condemned.[6] Although he longed to devote himself to the conversion of the indigenous inhabitants of Canada,[7] he remained in France all his life.
Regis walked from town to town, in rough mountainous areas where travel was difficult, especially in the winter.[4] He died of pneumonia at age forty-three on 31 December 1640,[8] at Lalouvesc (Ardèche).
Statue of St.François Regis, St. Martin-de-Valamas, Ardèche
The altar dedicated to Saint John Francis Regis in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame du Puy
PatronageEdit
John Francis Regis is the patron saint of lacemakers, medical social workers, and illegitimate children.[9]
LegacyEdit
In a 1997 letter to the Bishop of Viviers, Pope John Paul II commemorated the fourth centenary of St. John Francis Regis' birth, honoring him as a "lofty figure of holiness" and an example for the Church in the modern world.[6]
Today, Regis' name lives on across the world. There are lakes, mountains, hotels, apartment complexes, swimming pools, and streets with his namesake.[4]
St. Regis Mohawk Reservation, where a Roman Catholic church named for him stands, is also named in his honor, due to his respect for the native inhabitants of North America.[7]
The Jesuit mission at Conewago, Pennsylvania, was named after him.[13]
^ abcVan Ortroy, Francis (1910). "St. John Francis Regis". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 7 August 2014 – via Newadvent.org.
^ abcde"A Tireless Saint from Southern France". Regis.edu. Regis University, Denver, Colorado. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^Phyllis G. Jestice, Holy People of the World: A Cross-Cultural Encyclopedia (2004), p. 164
^ abc. Catholicnewsagency.com. 16 June 2014. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^ abWilliam C. Sturtevant, Handbook of North American Indians, 1978, p. 473. "It was named Saint Regis in memory of Jean Francois Regis, a French ecclesiastic canonized in 1737 who before his death in 1640 at the age of 43 had wanted to become a missionary to the Iroquois (Hough 1853:113–114)."
^Saint of the Day, Lives, Lessons, and Feast. Americancatholic.org. 2009. ISBN978-0-86716-887-7. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^Justin Baker/Strive Creative (7 December 2012). "St. John-Francis Regis, Patron". Stregis.org. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^. Johnfrancisregis.net. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^. Stjohnsparishhollywood.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^. Regischurch.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
^""The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Conewago" The Diocese of Harrisburg". hbgdiocese.org. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
BibliographyEdit
Holland, Robert E. (1922). The Life of Saint John Francis Regis of the Society of Jesus. Chicago, Illinois: Loyola University Press. ISBN9781117653297. OCLC 1343407.
Hoever, Hugo H. (1955). Lives of the saints: for every day of the year: in accord with the norms and principles of the new Roman calendar (New rev. ed.). New York: Catholic Book Pub. Co. ISBN0899428703. OCLC 24886449.
External linksEdit
Media related to Jean-François Régis at Wikimedia Commons
john, francis, regis, jean, françois, régis, commonly, known, saint, saint, regis, january, 1597, december, 1640, french, priest, society, jesus, recognized, saint, catholic, church, 1737, tireless, preacher, regis, best, known, work, with, risk, women, orphan. Jean Francois Regis SJ commonly known as Saint John Francis Regis and Saint Regis 31 January 1597 31 December 1640 was a French priest of the Society of Jesus recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1737 A tireless preacher Regis is best known for his work with at risk women and orphans SaintJohn Francis RegisSJSaint Francis Regis SJ Preaching Michel Ange Houasse Beginning of the 18th century Museo del Prado Madrid Spain Jesuit missionary priest saintBorn 1597 01 31 31 January 1597Fontcouverte Aude FranceDied31 December 1640 1640 12 31 aged 43 Lalouvesc Ardeche FranceVenerated inCatholic ChurchBeatified18 May 1716 Rome Papal States by Pope Clement XICanonized5 April 1737 Rome Papal States by Pope Clement XIIMajor shrineLalouvesc FranceFeast16 JunePatronageRegis University Regis High School New York City Regis Jesuit High School Aurora Colorado lacemakers Contents 1 Life 2 Veneration 2 1 Patronage 3 Legacy 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksLife EditJean Francois Regis was born 31 January 1597 in Fontcouverte Aude in the Languedoc region of southern France His father Jean Regis had recently been ennobled as a result of service rendered during the Wars of the League His mother Marguerite de Cugunhan was of a noble family 1 He was educated at the Jesuit College of Beziers On 8 December 1616 in his nineteenth year he entered the Jesuit novitiate at Toulouse and he took his vows two years later 2 After finishing his course in rhetoric at Cahors Regis was sent to teach grammar at several colleges Billom 1619 22 Puy en Velay 1625 27 and Auch 1627 28 While he was teaching he also pursued his studies in philosophy at the scholasticate at Tournon sur Rhone Noted for an intense love of preaching and teaching the Faith as well as the desire to save souls 1 Regis began his study of theology at Toulouse in 1628 Less than two years later in 1630 he was ordained a priest at 31 The following year having completed his studies Regis made his tertianship 3 Regis was now fully prepared for his lifework and entered upon his apostolic career in the summer of 1631 He was a tireless worker who spent most of his life serving the marginalized 4 As a newly ordained priest he worked with bubonic plague victims in Toulouse From May 1632 until September 1634 his headquarters was at the Jesuit College of Montpellier Here he labored for the conversion of the Huguenots visited hospitals assisted the needy withdrew from vice wayward women and girls and preached Catholic doctrine with tireless zeal to children and the poor 5 Regis is best known for his work with at risk women and orphans He established safe houses and found jobs for them 4 Regis established the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament which organized charitable collections of money and food from the wealthy He also established several hostels for prostitutes and helped many become trained lace makers which provided them with a stable income and an opportunity to avoid the threat of exploitation 4 In 1633 Regis went to the Diocese of Viviers at the invitation of the local bishop Monsignor Louis II de la Baume de Suze giving missions throughout the diocese 3 From 1633 to 1640 he evangelized more than fifty districts in le Vivarais le Forez and le Velay 1 Regis labored diligently on behalf of both priests and laypersons His preaching style was said to have been simple and direct He appealed to the uneducated peasantry and numerous conversions resulted 3 Regis s labors reaped a harvest of conversions However his boldness perceived as arrogance in some cases led to a conflict with certain other priests a period of tension with the local bishop and even threats of violence from those whose vices he condemned 6 Although he longed to devote himself to the conversion of the indigenous inhabitants of Canada 7 he remained in France all his life Regis walked from town to town in rough mountainous areas where travel was difficult especially in the winter 4 He died of pneumonia at age forty three on 31 December 1640 8 at Lalouvesc Ardeche Veneration EditJohn Francis Regis was beatified by Pope Clement XI on 18 May 1716 6 and canonized by Pope Clement XII on 5 April 1737 nbsp Statue of St Francois Regis St Martin de Valamas Ardeche nbsp The altar dedicated to Saint John Francis Regis in the Cathedrale Notre Dame du PuyPatronage Edit John Francis Regis is the patron saint of lacemakers medical social workers and illegitimate children 9 Legacy EditIn a 1997 letter to the Bishop of Viviers Pope John Paul II commemorated the fourth centenary of St John Francis Regis birth honoring him as a lofty figure of holiness and an example for the Church in the modern world 6 Today Regis name lives on across the world There are lakes mountains hotels apartment complexes swimming pools and streets with his namesake 4 Parishes are dedicated to St John Francis Regis in Arnaudville Louisiana 10 Hollywood Maryland 11 and Kansas City Missouri 12 Regis University located in Colorado along with the Regis Campus of Saint Ignatius College Riverview are both named in his honor as well as numerous elementary and high schools worldwide including Regis High School New York City Regis School of the Sacred Heart Houston Texas Regis High School Stayton Oregon Regis High School Eau Claire Wisconsin and Regis Jesuit High School Aurora Colorado St Regis Mohawk Reservation where a Roman Catholic church named for him stands is also named in his honor due to his respect for the native inhabitants of North America 7 The Jesuit mission at Conewago Pennsylvania was named after him 13 See also EditList of Catholic saintsReferences Edit a b c Van Ortroy Francis 1910 St John Francis Regis The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 8 New York Robert Appleton Company Retrieved 7 August 2014 via Newadvent org Hoever 1955 p 229 a b c Hoever 1955 p 230 a b c d e A Tireless Saint from Southern France Regis edu Regis University Denver Colorado Retrieved 7 August 2014 Phyllis G Jestice Holy People of the World A Cross Cultural Encyclopedia 2004 p 164 a b c St John Francis Regis Catholic News Agency Catholicnewsagency com 16 June 2014 Archived from the original on 11 August 2014 Retrieved 7 August 2014 a b William C Sturtevant Handbook of North American Indians 1978 p 473 It was named Saint Regis in memory of Jean Francois Regis a French ecclesiastic canonized in 1737 who before his death in 1640 at the age of 43 had wanted to become a missionary to the Iroquois Hough 1853 113 114 Saint of the Day Lives Lessons and Feast Americancatholic org 2009 ISBN 978 0 86716 887 7 Retrieved 7 August 2014 Justin Baker Strive Creative 7 December 2012 St John Francis Regis Patron Stregis org Retrieved 7 August 2014 St John Francis Regis Catholic church Arnaudville Louisiana Johnfrancisregis net Archived from the original on 8 August 2014 Retrieved 7 August 2014 St John s Parish Hollywood Maryland Stjohnsparishhollywood org Archived from the original on 11 August 2014 Retrieved 7 August 2014 St John Francis Regis Catholic Church Kansas City Missouri Regischurch org Archived from the original on 8 August 2014 Retrieved 7 August 2014 The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Conewago The Diocese of Harrisburg hbgdiocese org 27 May 2016 Retrieved 22 August 2020 permanent dead link Bibliography EditHolland Robert E 1922 The Life of Saint John Francis Regis of the Society of Jesus Chicago Illinois Loyola University Press ISBN 9781117653297 OCLC 1343407 Hoever Hugo H 1955 Lives of the saints for every day of the year in accord with the norms and principles of the new Roman calendar New rev ed New York Catholic Book Pub Co ISBN 0899428703 OCLC 24886449 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Jean Francois Regis at Wikimedia Commons Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Catholicism nbsp Saints nbsp France Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Francis Regis amp oldid 1179149057, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
