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Father Louis Chauvet
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Father Louis Chauvet slides presentation available @ OLCC. For details write to: |
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When Father Louis Chauvet died on June 21, 1710 at the age of 46, he was a spiritually accomplished man at such an early age: · Founder of a flourishing 14 year old Congregation known at that time – 1710- as the Community of the Daughters of St. Maurice or officially as Sisters of St. Paul. · Spiritual father, pastor, and educator who pioneered the establishment of school for girls in the region of Beauce. There were at least 5 in existence when he died. A renowned, respected parish priest of his adopted village, Levesville-la-Chenard becoming a perfect model of missionary adaptation during the 16 years of his selfless and dedicated service to this region more than 900 kilometers away from his native Provence. · Theological and Spiritual Formator of two seminarians and a highly admired and respected colleague of the most trusted and most brilliant clergymen of the Diocese of Chartres Today, it is 294 years since our dear Founder left his beloved daughters to receive his heavenly reward. We haven’t met him, nor touched him nor even had a glimpse of how he physically looked like. But from the spiritual wealth that he left behind, we are able to see clearly, to feel and spiritually vibrate with the kind of heart, mind and soul that he had, with the kind of person that he was. For eyes, he had the eyes that saw beyond the ugly, the dirty or even the repulsive features of the poor and the abandoned. He had the eyes that saw only the beauty of the persons loved by God. And he saw them hungry for the divine, thirsty for the good news. For ears, he had the ears that listened long and deep – to the miseries of the down-trodden, the silent cry of the meek reduced to less than human conditions. And he heard the depths of their need for a humane treatment and even the dignity of being considered his brothers, sisters, mothers and friends – all because he also had ears attuned to the silent but urgent promptings of the Holy Spirit. For heart, he had a big, compassionate heart that felt the pain of the lonely, that felt the mute wailings of the suffering. He had a heart that hurt with their hurts and rejoiced with their joys. So his arms, his hands and his feet were those that gave blessing, brought solace, ran to the needy and embraced the least and the lost. His voice taught and enlightened, pacified and communicated of forgiveness, and the infinite mercy and tenderness of Jesus Christ and His Father. He was thirty when he came to Levesville, thirty-one years when he conceived the SPC in his heart through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and he was thirty-two when he founded us, the SPC Congregation. His youth, his total gift of self to God, brightened that obscure, tiny village of Levesville to send a spark to Chartres and later, to the rest of the world. Then, in the fullness of his springtime, on the day when spring ends and summer begins - June 21 of 1710, he left us, only to inspire us from above. Indeed, dear Father Louis Chauvet, you are one whose light shines like the dawn – like your master Jesus Christ!
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 Parish Rectory |
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St. Maurice |
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 Chartres |
