Meet Our Founder
Who was Pierre Bienvenu Noailles?
Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was an enthusiastic young priest of Bordeaux who, at the age of 27, began to found the Association of the Holy Family – a task which took him forty years to complete. The painting to the right was painted by Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat in 1899 – read more about Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat
Bienvenu was born at the height of the French Revolution, October 27, 1793. Ordained priest on 5 June 1819 in the parish church of St. Sulpice in Paris, he celebrated his first Mass the following day, Trinity Sunday. He was appointed curate in the parish of St. Eulalie, Bordeaux, in August of that year and as part of his pastoral work, set up a catechetical programme for young women, three of whom formed the first Holy Family community which was established on 28 May, Trinity Sunday, 1820.
Church of St. Eulalie
Pierre Bienvenu Noailles was the eighth of ten children, seven of whom survived to adulthood, born to Pierre Noailles and Madeleine Richard. Before the Revolution, the Noailles family was quite well-off, M. Noailles being a businessman – an importer – in the prosperous city-port of Bordeaux. However, the upheaval of the Revolution caused serious difficulties for the business and almost ruined it. The Revolution also affected Bienvenu’s education. While he was very intelligent and eventually studied a variety of subjects at second level, he went to work when he was thirteen or fourteen years of age, first in the Préfecture and then, when he was seventeen, in the office of M. Peyronnet, a lawyer, where he remained until he left for Paris in 1816. It was while he was working in M. Peyronnet’s office, that he began to take his studies seriously.
Cathedral of St. André
Bienvenu did not have a good religous formation. Having neglected religious practice for some time, in 1810 he went to confession with his father who, up to then had not been practising his religion either. It was a turning point for Bienvenu and, even though he still continued to lead a rather dissipated life-style, God began to have a more important place in his life. On the eve of his first Communion which he made when he was twenty years old, he had a profound spiritual experience as he prayed before a statue of Our Lady in the Cathedral of St. André.
It was also as he prayed before a statue of Our Lady, this time in the parish church of St. Sulpice in Paris, that he had another conversion experience on 10 October 1816. He had arrived in Paris at the beginning of the month with the intention of studying law. Seeing the church of St. Sulpice, he went in. His eyes were drawn to a statue of Our Lady holding Jesus in her arms in such a way that she seemed to be presenting him to those who were there, praying to her. It was an intense moment of grace for Bienvenu. He went to confession straight away. The priest encouraged him to think about the priesthood and invited him to visit the Seminary of St. Sulpice – at that time, the most prestigious seminary in France, some would say in the world. Three days later, abandoning his plans to pursue a career in law, he entered that seminary and began his studies at Issy-les-Moulineaux.
Two years later, while he was still a student, Bienvenu, praying one day in the chapel of Our Lady of Loreto, conceived the idea of an association where all Christians could live a life of holiness under the patronage of the Holy Family. His dream began to be fulfilled on 8 January 1820, seven months after his ordination, when a young woman approached him, wanting to give herself totally to Jesus Christ. She explained to him that she could not find anything to suit her among existing orders or institutes. Two others followed shortly afterwards and, four and a half months later, the community of Loreto was established. This was the first community of the Association of the Holy Family which Fr. Noailles continued to expand and develop by founding various constituent congregations, branches and groupings until 1859. During his lifetime over 20,000 people had become lay, religious and priest members of the Holy Family and the Association had been established in 46 dioceses in France, Spain, Belgium and Algeria.
Tomb of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles in Bordeaux indicating the various branches of the Holy Family in its infancy
After a prolonged and painful illness, bravely and patiently endured, Fr Noailles died on 8 February 1861. His last message to those gathered at his bedside was:
“Have but one heart, one mind, one will – to make Our Lord loved and to win all hearts to him. Then, this good Master will dwell in your midst, and the Holy Family Association, faithful to its mission, will continue to do good upon the earth.”
For more information on the life and work of Pierre Bienvenu Noailles click here www.sfb.pcn.net/htm