Some Outstanding Friars

This biography of Pere Jacques Bunel,
who was sent to the concentration camps by the Nazis
for hiding Jewish children in the Carmelites' school in Avon, France,
tells the full story of the priest-hero of Louis Malle's award-winning film,
Au revoir, les enfants!

 

• St. John of the Cross (1542-1591) Collaborated with St. Teresa in establishing the Discalced Reform. A great lyric poet, he wrote spiritual treatises which earned him the title of Doctor of the Church.
  Feast: December 14
  
  
• St. Rafael Kalinowski (1835-1907) A hero of the Polish resistance to Russia, he was sent to Siberia, but after his release entered Carmel and was a leader in its rstoration in Poland. His tomb in in the monastery in Wadowice, the home of Pope John Paul II who often prayed there as a young man.
  Feast: November 19
  
  
• Blessed Denis Berthelot (1600-1638) and Blessed Redemptus Rodriguez (1598-1638) Fr. Denis and Br. Redemptus were the first Discalced to shed their blood for the faith, dying on a mission to Sumatra. Feast: November 29
  
  
• Blessed John Baptist Duverneuil (1737-1794), Blessed James Gagnot (1753-1794) and Blessed Michael Louis Brulard (1758-1794) were all priests imprisoned after the French Revolution in a slave ship off the coast of France where they died from malnutrition and pestilence.
  Feast: August 18
  
  
• Blessed Francisco Palau y Quer (1811-1872) Driven from his monastery by the persecution of the Church in Spain, Blessed Francisco dedicated himself to catechesis and founded communities of Carmelite missionaries. His spirituality is based on his profound mystical experiences of the Church.
  Feast: November 7
  
  
• Blessed Alphonsus Maria Mazurek (1891-1944) Noted for his great love for the Rule of Carmel, Blessed Alphonsus was one of the many Polish victims tortured and slain by the Nazis during World War II.
  Feast: June 12
  
  
  The following are friars whose causes for beatification have been introduced:
  
  Francis of Jesus (1529-1601)
  Francis of the Child Jesus (1544-1604)
  Dominic of Jesus and Mary (1559-1630)
  John of Jesus and Mary (1564-1615)
  Thomas Aquinas of St. Teresa (1612-1642) Martyr
  Angel of St. Joseph (1622-1643) Martyr
  Peter of the Mother of God (+1643) Martyr
  John Anthony Cardinal Gaetano (1674-1759)
  Isidore of the Nativity (1696-1769)
  Jose Maria of Mount Carmel (1763-1837)
  Anthony Intreccialagli (1852-1924)
  John Vincent Zengotitabengoa (1862-1943)
  Luke of St. Joseph (and companions) (1872-1936) Martyrs
  Rafael Carlos Cardinal Rossi (1876-1948)
  Gerard Stantic (1876-1956)
  Zechariah Salterain (1887-1957)
  Aurelian Landeta (1887-1963)
  Marcelo Marton (1887-1966)
  Eusebio Fernandez (and companions) (1888-1936) Martyrs
  Eufrasio Barredo (1897-1934)
  Jacques de Jesus (Bunel) (1900-1945)
  John Vilaregut (and companions) (1907-1936) Martyrs
  Benigno Calvi (1909-1937)