Servant of God Father Simon William Gabriel Brute de Remur

Born: March 20, 1779
Death: June 26, 1839
Cause for Canonization Opened: September 12, 2005
Declared Servant of God: 2005

Servant of God Father Simon William Gabriel Brute de Remur, born in France in 1779, attended schools in Rennes, France until the French Revolution interrupted his studies. Not wanting her child to participate in the Reign of Terror, his mother taught him the printing trade, which was his late father’s trade. He witnessed trials and executions of priests as well as visited imprisoned priests, smuggling in the Blessed Sacrament. In 1796 he studied medicine, yet upon graduation in 1803 he entered the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris. Ordained in 1808, he taught theology for two years before emigrating to the United States. At St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, he taught philosophy for two years then transferred to Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, Maryland and taught while serving as pastor to local Catholics. He struggled with mastery of English, becoming able to write but never fluent in conversational English. He also served as the spiritual director of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. In 1834, he was assigned as Bishop to the diocese of Vincennes — modern day Indiana and eastern Illinois — after which he visited France to secure priests and funds to build Churches throughout his diocese. At the time of his death there were 25 diocesan priests and 20 seminarians serving throughout the diocese.

Read his life of simplicity, prayer, and abandonment to God’s will here. 

Prayer for the Canonization of Servant of God Bishop Simon