The Holy Family of Bordeaux

Index

Short  biography

Childhood

Adolescence

Conversion

Seminarian

Curate

Foundation

Like a tree 

Apostolic project

A Family grows

Contemplative in action

Spiritual Guide

Spiritual Testament

CONVERSION

I searched in the world for what can only be found in God.


Living for God

After the Concordat of 1801 between Pius Vll and Napoleon Bonaparte the Church in France began to come cautiously out into the open. Pierre Bienvenu Noailles both witnessed and took an active part in its reconstruction.  His generous nature came to the fore thanks to Fr. Dinéty's intelligent and tactful guidance. The priest had succeeded in gaining the confidence of this fiery personality. His mother watched over him gently and with some concern. What was to become of him, she wondered. "Cheer up, mother. One day I will be a a priest," he told her. Little by little his way of life changed. 

He was a young adult of twenty years when he finally received Holy Communion and shared in the body of Christ. This was one of the key events in the life of Pierre Bienvenu. On the eve of that day he went into the cathedral, the place of his baptism, to pray before the statue of Our Blessed Lady and had a mystical experience of the infinite mercy of God. It filled him with an unforgettable joy that ever after remained for him a reference for what true happiness could be.

One of the first fruits of the divine grace he had been granted was evident in his efforts to detach himself from the frivolous pleasure that still took up his time and attention. He tried to make the gospel his way of life so that God would be the only guide in his life.

Some years later in the seminary he went deeper into this spiritual experience and, referring to this period of his life, wrote in his retreat notes:

"I searched in the world for what can only be found in God alone".

 

Cathedral of St. André, Bordeaux

At that time his duties as secretary left Pierre Bienvenu sufficient time to continue his studies but he was also involved in a multiplicity of interests. In 1814 he founded a literary circle, then a society for Law students and lawyers' secretaries. It was he who drew up the rules and constitutions of these societies and was the driving force behind them. The seed of leadership was growing in this young man, so full of vitality. He had an unusual capacity to bring people together.

He had difficulty settling on a profession. As a supporter of the Bourbon claims to the throne of France, he thought of a military career. His kindness of heart made him think of being a doctor. The legal profession was never far from his mind. There was no lack of eligible young ladies whom he could have married...

Since his first communion the idea of the priesthood was slowly taking hold of his subconscious mind and heart. It was at first little more than a vague notion at first but eventually it came to the surface. Perhaps he had felt himself unworthy but it must be admitted that this was the only way of life capable of channelling his generous nature in such a way as to make it bear fruit in all its fullness.

Overtaken by grace

In this state of uncertainty Pierre Bienvenu, armed with letters of recommendation, went to Paris  to study Law. At least, that is what he told his many friends. But his intimates knew well that he was inwardly struggling with his vocation. He wanted to meet people capable of enlightening him. The Law, however fascinating, was not sufficient to satisfy his aspirations.

On arriving in Paris he was once more overtaken by grace. It was in the church of Saint Sulpice that Pierre Bienvenu's last resistances were overcome. There, too, Mary was at the heart of the event. For that reason he had a lifelong devotion to her and did nothing with having recourse to her help.

"My eyes rested suddenly on a statue of the Blessed Virgin holding the divine child in her arms. She seemed to be presenting him to those who were praying. It was the final act of grace. I heard her voice, she called me, showed me the way. I understood all." he tells us.

Our Lady of All Graces

An irresistible impulse made him kneel in a confessional into which a priest had just gone. He laid bare his soul and told him of the state of indecision in which he found himself. A meeting was fixed for the following day but inwardly his decision had been taken. He went back to his hotel convinced that God was calling him to his service. Three days later on 13 October 1816 he registered at the Major Seminary of Issy near Paris. Some weeks later his young brother, Amand, entered the Major Seminary of Bordeaux.

It was on the 10 October 1816 that Pierre Bienvenu Noailles received the grace to give himself totally to God for the service of his brothers and sisters in the church and the world as a priest of Jesus Christ. He had been granted a powerful experience of the presence of God and of God's infinite love. This new grace conferred on him qualities of discernment, detachment and decisiveness to answer the unambiguous call of God. If God had, in a way, come to look for him, love required him to respond to the invitation.