Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 9, 2022
Fr. Brisson was born on June 23, 1817, in Plancy,
France, the only child of Toussaint and Savine Brisson.
He was educated by a local priest who had a large
library. Louis read everything; he had a special interest
in the sciences.
Brisson was ordained a priest on December 19, 1840.
He began as an instructor at the Visitation School in
Troyes. He then became chaplain to the sisters of the
Visitation. Mother Marie Therese de Sales Chappuis,
the superior, told him many times that the Lord wanted
Louis to find a society of priests who would live the
Spiritual Directory of St. Francis de Sales and promote
Salesian Spirituality. Brisson refused; Chappuis was
persistent in her demands. One day after again arguing
with Mother Chappuis, Christ appeared to Louis. As he
looked into the Lord’s eyes, Louis’ heart was converted,
and he gave his consent to follow the Good Mother’s
direction.
In 1859, Brisson opened a home for girls working in
textile factories. Louis needed the help of religious for
his girls’ homes and invited (St.) Leonie Aviat to begin
a new congregation, the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de
Sales.
On August 27, 1876, Louis and five other priests
professed vows as Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.
Louis instructed both Oblate communities: “Hold the
child in high esteem and instead of frustrating, lend a
hand to the work grace accomplishes in these young
souls.”
Louis argued with the bishop over authority in the
Oblates. In 1881, he spoke with Pope Leo XIII and
accepted a foreign mission which put the governance of
the Oblates under the Pope through the Propagation of
the Faith.
In 1887, Brisson finished the biography of Mother
Chappuis for the opening of her cause for beatification.
On December 7, 1887, the Constitutions of the Oblates
were approved by Rome for ten years. Final
approbation came from Rome on December 7, 1897.
In the early 1900′s, the French government closed
religious houses in France. The Oblates transferred
their General House to Rome. Because he was too old
to travel, Fr. Brisson went to his family home in
Plancy. He died on February 2, 1908, with Mother
Leonie Aviat, OSFS, and Oblate priests at his bedside.
-Taken from Spending a Month with Louis Brisson,
compiled by Michael S. Murray, OSFS.