FR.Dehon's first appointment

St. Quentin: Our first motherhouse.
Introduction
The social and religious facts.
The life of Fr. Dehon
St. Joseph’s youth club
Founding of the Congregation
Conclusion
Introduction:
Dehon was born 1843 March 14 in La Capple. His father’s name was Jules Dehon and His mother Stephanie Vadelet Dehon. And his brother Henry. Had his initial studies locally. At the age of 12 went to Hazebrocck to continue his studies. After for years in 1859 Leo passed his examination at Donai University and obtained at baccalaureate in literature. And from there to ST: Suplice Paris to a school of higher education. And at the end of his studies there- after five years of study he obtained a doctorate in Civil Law. After a long trouble with family- with his father – at last with audience with Pope Pius IX, who advised him to attend the French seminary in Rome.
He arrived in Rome 1865 at the age of 22. After having a pious life and hard studies-, which he liked, at the end of his studies from there he had three doctorates- in philosophy, in Theology and in Canon Law. Then he received his minor orders and then in year of 1868 his great dream came in the form of Ordination to the priesthood. Which also showed the coming back of his father in religious activity. And he mentions it as the favor that he received on the day of his ordination. Though he got ordained he had to stay in Rome to finish his studies. And mean while he was appointed as a stenographer of 1st Vatican Council, together with other 22 students. And about it we read in his diary in the following way "The council has occupied half of my time this year. It had held up my studies somewhat, but on the other hand, how much valuable knowledge I have acquire! I witnessed in daily contact the life of the church and acquired more experience in one year than in 10 ordinary years".
In 1871, his Roman time came to an end. After a time of confusion – weather to join in the congregation of Assumptinists – or to join in building up of a University in ‘Nimes’ – he at last decided to wait for the clear understanding of the will of God.
And then as he was ordained to the diocese of Soissons- to which he was ordained, his life in St. Quentin begins here.


The social and religious facts.
St. Quentin was at this time a fast-growing textile city of nearly thirty-five thousand inhabitants, mostly factory workers. Fr. Dehon writes: "The workers are filled with hatred for society, antipathy for their employers and dissatisfaction towards their clergy who have failed to show sufficient interest on their problems…. It is a most unsavory situation, all the claims of the worker are based on truth"
The administration of spiritual needs was far from satisfactory. Of the nearly thirty-five thousand inhabitants more than thirty-four were baptized Christians. Fr. Dehon felt sad of a big community and he writes in his diary: ‘ In parishes of thirty-five thousand souls no Christian community can be built up. It would be impossible: the shepherd must know is sheep… our large parishes are a hindrance to the Apostate… It would take centuries to rebuild Christian communities.
Not only the poor social conditions, but also the frivolity of the people, decreasing in number through fear of brining children into the world and the weakness and lack of zeal of many clergy, all call for social reparation to restore love and justice to our Lord’s immature children- and this is precisely what those unschooled workers were – and for clerical reparation to recall priests their lofty deals.
I must tell something more about the poor conditions of the workers of his time. St. Quentin was a middle class society were many people were used to work in factories.
Very poor condition of the workers that they had to live in the same room where woman and girls often lived together. The matters were straw. Police protection was non-existent morals were very lax and many couples were unmarried, especially among the youth. There were even woman whose job it was to recruit girls for the brothels of Paris. Drunkenness was scourge. And on Sunday people get drunk due to the heavy work of other six days of the week.
To such a condition a man of education was sent. His heart was full pity for the people. And hie real zeal of the Kingdome of god made to act to the heart and that is what follows.
Life of Fr. Dehon:
On November 7 1871 for the first time Fr. Dehon visited St. Quentin. On November 16 he began his ministry at the basilica of St. Quentin. He was the seventh and the lowest ranking chaplain. And really his life there was a life of sacrifice. His earnest interest for study and prayer seemed useless. The words of his seminary friend Fr. Guilhen put it clearly, when he says, " I think you are letting us down. There is not way I can get used to the idea of you a chaplain. You a chaplain! It seems ridiculous to me. Dear god, doesn’t Leo Dehon deserve something better?"
He lived with other chaplains in an old house. Those others who lived with him were men of unquestionable spiritual and intellectual stature. The names and peculiarities of these other six could be fond in the book, which is written by Fr. Manzoni. Page No. 193. But how Fr. Dehon saw all these were as God’s Will to be obeyed and his own words prove that " My heart was pounding. I had dreamed of religious life and a life of study. Instead I was getting involved in the hullabaloo of a city vicariate. I would have to be obedient to Providence."
Underlying the concern was the challenge to bring the working class and the church together. This would intensify in future to become one of the principal aims of his priest hood.


St. Joseph’s club :
As the 7th and most recently appointed curate, Fr. Dehon was given particular responsibility for a ministry that seemed unrewarding and unpopular: that of catechism in the primary state school. I think that would have added fuel to the fire of his heart, which was to make a youth club for the youth of his time. We can know that from his diary " for the good of the Apostolate in St. Quentin we are badly in need of a catholic college, a youth center and a catholic newspaper".
Though all these three had come into reality, I give importance to the youth club, because of our youth in India are also not so far from the youth of Fr. Dehon’s time. And also Fr. Dehon got into different kinds of ministries there that are also much important. And then I want to write about the youth club because of the real knowing of the problem of the society Fr. Dehon founded the club. As I have already mentioned the immoral life of youth of his time we can know how important it was to have a youth club were they could feel the morality and goodness of this life.
Fr. Dehon started his work for the youth as soon as he could. He began by letting them use his own room, and obtained permission from one of the neighboring college to use its compus while the students were on holiday.
For the full story of the beginning of the youth club we must turn to Leo’s letters to his parents. The estimate cost of construction was 15000 Franks, but actually which went to 19000 franks. With lots of difficulties by June 1975 the building was completely paid together with furnishings and current expenses. The total cost was 30000 franks. Still needed 20000 franks to buy the land. From his letter we come to know that he used get an annual income of 4000 franks form his parents. On march 16 1873 the club was solemnly blessed, Dehon says about it " the boys received Holy Communion I was moved with tears. It was the first Alter I had built to Lord … impression of the day remained with me. It was one of the great days of my life."
All that needed it make a good youth club was there " reading and recreation rooms, compus, gymnasium; library, a bank in which to deposit savings, classrooms, a band, an office for Fr. Dehon. And the heart of it all, the chapel. I think with all this the club would had looked like our Novitiate house.
To know how much he suffered for this club into a reality it would be good if you can look to Fr. Manzoni’s book page 198-206.
The holy desire of Fr. Dehon to be a martyr was already happed at the end of this story, when the Bishop asked him to leave the club for the diocese. With tears in his heart the saint leaves the club to the will of God. We read in his diary on July 24, 1896: the Bishop is making a decision that’s very painful for me. He is entrusting St. Joseph’s club to Abbe Mercier. It had been 25 years since I began this Apostolsate. In invested considerable amount of money in it. (At least 50000 franks). I applied my self to it with the youthful Arden of my priesthood. It seemed to me that this apostolate should always remain entrusted to our congregation. Diocesan authority has deiced other wise. Fiat!"


Founding the congregation
Saying Fr. Dehon with his congregation would be like a tree without fruit or a nation without people to live in it or Sachin without cricket.
Among many duties of Fr. Dehon, he had to be the chaplain and confessor to the community of the handmaids of the Sacred Heart – sisters’ community. Hies early desire to be a religious was supported by the fonderess of this congregation- St. Mary Ulrich. After having connected with this community, the fire in his heart to be religious was increased. To know the will of God about it he made a retreat in the Jesuit house in Laon under the direction of Fr. Dorr, between March 21- 27th 1876.
Though he made the discernment to be a religious, it was again a confusion to join in which congregation. He thought of joining with Assumptinists, other times he talked with the fonder of the Holy Ghost fathers. At other times he went back to his spiritual Fr; Dorr about joining with Jesuits. But at last his meeting with the foundress of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart was the deciding factor. This gave a new focus for his vision of the religious life; it centered on the spirituality of the hearts of Jesus and the idea of victimhood and reparation.
Thus he began his novitiate on July 31, taking the name of Fr. John of the Sacred Heart. And on June 28, 1878, the feast of Sacred Heart Fr. Dehon pronounced his first vows. Although his novitiate was not one year, Bishop Thibaudier was satisfied " he knew that I had prepared my self for more than one year" the simple ceremony took place in the chapel of St. John’s college. He says about it " I submitted myself unconditional to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I in my heart my vows were already perpetual. I was deeply moved; I felt that I took the cross on my sho8ulders the moment that I surrounded to the master, promising reparation and founding a religious society". Besides the three usual public vows, he took a fourth vow of immolation.
The actual immolation took place in the life of Fr. Dehon when the congregation was banned by the Holy See on behalf some misunderstanding in the year of 1883. But the way Fr. Dehon lived his fourth vow shows how deeply holy he was – Consumatum est. Let it be according to you will was his interior answer. He says about it " terrible year- we remained in the tomb not three days but three months. There came a little resurrection, a Bethlehem. But during the whole year an echo of the death sentence seemed to resound each day. All around there was amazement and confusion. A kind of delusion likes that of the disciples at Emmaus. I can’t express all that I suffered that year, especially during the spring before the humble resurrection of 26 March I certainly needed super natural help (grace) so as not to give in to discouragement or find death" (I see here the Abraham of the old testament who accepted god’s will in his life without a word of complaint.)
At last on March 26, 1884 the congregation was resumed and took the new name from Oblates of Sacred heart to The Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S C J – Sacerdotum A Sacro Code Jesu).
The young congregation showed immediate sings of vitality. With ten years the community had grown into 50 members. On its golden anniversary in 1928, there were 998 members. The congregation’s first missionaries left to Ecuador in 1888 (just four years after its restoration). And in 1911 the Europe, provinces were also divided into different provinces – in to two- the French and Belgian and the Dutch. And the eastern province came to be known as German. IN 1920 THE Italian province came into existence. 1934 the North American province came into existence. 1947 British- Irish province came into reality. 1954 the Italian province was changed into two – south and north. 1964 the province of Zaire came into effect. 1948 the Indonesian province came into reality. And the coming of his missionaries into India in 1994 fulfilled one of the great dreams of Fr. Dehon.
The desire of Fr. Dehon to be a martyr was fulfilled when his 29 brothers were killed heroically in Zaire in the year of 1965. And it continued when the Spanish Fr. Juan De La Cruz was beatified on his account of martyrdom.
There are many other important duties that were undertaken by Fr. Dehon on his stay in St. Quentin. His newspaper- "The Reign of The Sacred Heart in souls and society" is an eminant example of his hard and zealous work, which he began on January 25 1889.
St. John’s college is an another example of his tireless and passionate missions that he did. And the time and energy the he spent for this purposes. The sleepless nights that he spent in writing letters asking help form different people for all these projects.
His zeal for the souls that he undertook so great that till his last breath he was sincere. The banning of his congregation due to his dealing with Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus didn’t prevent him even after that to make connection with them. Rather he continued to work with them. He always prayed for them. They never ceased to pray for him and for the congregation.
Much more could be said of his heroic life, that which ended on August 12 1925. By saying " for him I lived and for Him I die" due to lack of time I cap my pen by saying a small observation of mine on the life of Fr. Dehon





























Conclusion
Fr. Dehon a man who lived for the Heart of Christ. " I leave you the most beautiful gift – the Heart of Christ was his great gift to his congregation and to all others who met in his life.
Fr. Dehon who radically followed the person of Jesus who lived with the people of His time. Who lived by ‘benefactors" who lived for all the words of Fr. Dehon proves it when he says " the roaring lion of is reduced into a sacrificed lamb --- proclaiming only to the sick and dying, ladies and children. His intention to bring Christ for the entire world.
A man who lied with the zeal for the kingdom of God.
A man whose life whose life was full of sacrifice – in club, the college, the members, the congregation- founding all these and at the end of it all, who had to suffer great pain, last when pain comes to his life saying " FIAT"!
A man of love – love for all the creatures around him- the garden which he tenderly grew around St. Quentin- love for the people around him- love for the pope- love for his god - a man who loved and lived lovingly by others all- a man who was mad for love of god and all others.
At last never the least who lived sincerely – "I lived for Him and I die for Him" was his last words, since he lived it he could say it from the depth of his heart.
May Fr. Dehon inspire each one of us and encourage us to be a radical religious.

My sincere thanks to Fr. Adrian for his guidance and support.










He lived with other chaplains in an old house. Those others who lived with him were men of unquestionable spiritual and intellectual stature. The names and peculiarities of these other six could be fond in the book, which is written by Fr. Manzoni. Page No. 193. But how Fr. Dehon saw all these were as God’s Will to be obeyed and his own words prove that " My heart was pounding. I had dreamed of religious life and a life of study. Instead I was getting involved in the hullabaloo of a city vicariate. I would have to be obedient to Providence."
Underlying the concern was the challenge to bring the working class and the church together. This would intensify in future to become one of the principal aims of his priest hood.