Characteristics of the person of Fr. Chevalier

according to Jan Bovenmars

Characteristics of Fr. Jules Chevalier

Fr. F. Xavier Maillard, who has been Assistant General to Fr Chevalier, writing from Quebec on 17^th October 1923 at the request of Fr Brocken MSC, gives four characteristics of Jules Chevalier:

1. Faith and trust.

Although things were not always easy in the life of Jules Chevalier, he was a man of faith and trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was also a man of perseverance. If he had something in mind, he worked hard for it and he trusted that it would come true.

2. Jules Chevalier was a man who knew how to use his time.

He never wasted time, but devoted himself totally to the mission entrusted to him. He was also kept fully occupied with a lot of work: he was superior of the ‘little Society’, parish priest, propagandist of the devotion of the Sacred Heart, etc.

3. Jules Chevalier took time to recreate

Although Jules Chevalier worked very hard he also spent time with his confreres. He had a very lively character and a good sense of humour. He liked playing and joking with his confreres.

4. Jules Chevalier was very good and hospitable to secular priests, the people in general and especially to the poor.

When meetings took place in his house, for which a certain amount was supposed to be paid, he never asked for the money. When the amount was given without him asking to do so, he thanked abundantly as if it was a gift.

Profile

When we read the “Profile”, an outline of the life of Fr. Chevalier prepared as part of the cause of canonisation, written by Jan Bovenmars at the request of Lucio De Stefano MSC, the former postulator, we see that it describes three main difficult periods in the life of Fr. Chevalier. At present Jan would add a fourth, initial crisis.

1. In 1858, Fr. Maugenest was taken out of the Little Society by the bishop and appointed as parish priest in the cathedral of Bourges. It was a difficult time, for he was the most gifted of the three members of the Society in preaching the missions. At about the same time, Jules Chevalier was compelled to build the church of the Sacred Heart, as the old chapel building was deemed unsafe. How to get the funds for this endeavour? And what would happen to Chevalier himself? Would he not be made parish priest of Issoudun, as Maugenest was put in charge of the cathedral of Bourges. Great uncertainty and anxiety. Was there a future for the Little Society?

Chevalier went on pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial. He came back a changed man. Later on he travelled to the Parish Priest of Ars who encouraged him not to loose hope. Finally when Jules had an audience with Pope Pius IX in 1860, he received all confirmation he was looking for and from that time he was determined to continue his works. In the sixties things went better for him, especially after Fr. Jouët joined the congregation in 1862. It was like a breath of fresh air.

2. Problems arose about the devotion of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

In 1869, the chapel of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Issoudun was finished and the cardinal blessed the crown of the statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. A lot of people came on Pilgrimage and were grateful to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart for the cures and miracles and they called her ‘Queen of the Sacred Heart’, a title which some people in the Holy See didn’t like for it seemed that Our Lady was in control instead of Jesus. Jules Chevalier was called to Rome and promised not to use the title ‘Queen of the Sacred Heart’ anymore.

A second problem concerned the statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Jules Chevalier had a statue made with the child Jesus standing in front of Mary, where Jesus points to His mother and Mary pointing to the Heart of Jesus. Cardinal Patrici complains about Our Lady overpowering her Son, but he had never seen the statue of Issoudun. Apparently other statues showed more exaggeration. When Fr. Jouet shows a replica of the statue of Issoudun in Rome, it was not condemned.

A third problem arose about the Memorare, a prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, which Jules Chevalier wrote. The Holy See objected to some expressions, like the unlimited power of Our Lady, and questioned why these had not been changed. Jules Chevalier answered correctly that he couldn’t change them himself, for indulgences had already been granted by the Holy See. Any alterations would have to be made by Rome. After a few things were changed the Memorare was approved.

In 1895 Fr. Chevalier and his council were called by the bishop of Bourges who had received a letter from Rome accusing the MSC of spreading the image of Issoudun, even though the statue had not been condemned and the pictures were meant for private devotion and not for public veneration..

All these problems took place within a time span of twenty years and demanded a lot of energy. On the other hand was there also a positive side to it, for it purified the theology about Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

3. A third difficult period was the expulsion of religious from France in 1880. It made life very difficult for the congregation. In 1880, the government forbade the continuance of all religious congregations and the property of the religious was confiscated by the State. The Basilica was sealed. All the MSC were dispersed. Most left France for the neighbouring countries. Jules Chevalier stayed on in Issoudun as parish priest. Communications became very difficult.

4. As a result of the political situation the fourth difficult period arose, an internal crisis within the MSC. It concerned the administration of the society. The term of office of the general superior had not been properly extended, casting doubt on the legality of all professions, appointments etc., even on the legality of the general chapter itself. Much confusion arose. Eventually the irregularities were solved by Rome. Behind the legal problems other differences of opinion made themselves know. They had to do with the needed internationalisation of the authority structure in the society, the emphasis given to current social questions and the existence of a growing generation gap. Fr. Chevalied had stayed behind in Issoudun to save the Annales, but as a consequence the young MSC and the students hardly knew him. This led to a lot misunderstandings on both sides. After a certain time, when the law regarding the status of Religious was less strict in France, Jules Chevalier wanted the scholasticate back in France. He thought that life in the neighbouring countries had become too loose. In the end a few priests and a handful of scholastics left the society and the remaining scholastics were allowed to move north again. The Northern Province was erected. The political crisis in France continued, prompting Jules Chevalier to ask for formal laicisation so as to allow him to stay in Issoudun. This was misunderstood by a number of confreres in several countries who believed that he had left the society in earnest.

Fr. Bovenmars expressed his admiration for Fr. Chevalier for the way he treated the confreres who had turned against him. He was most cordial to those he knew had complained about him to the church authorities.