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Father Louis Chauvet
Founder of the Congregation of the
Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres
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!
Written
by: Sr. Ma. Luisa Escanlar, SPC
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