Life

Of

St. Benilde Romançon FSC

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Saint Benilde Romançon FSC is known for his extraordinary religious sense which was evident to

everyone. Especially when St. Benilde was at a Mass with the students in the parish church, when he’s

teaching catechism, preparing boys for their first communion, visiting and praying with the sick, and rumors

of near – miraculous cures.

His parents, Jean Romançon and Anne Chauty were married in the year 1800. Both were devout

Catholics. His mother could read and write but his father couldn’t. He had 4 siblings but the two youngest

died at a very young age. His family does farming. They were well off but far from wealthy.

He was originally named Pierre Romançon. His name “Pierre” is a French term which means

“Peter” in English. He was born on the 14th of June, year 1805, in Thuret, France. He was not like the other

boys at his time, he was more interested in reading, studying and doing devotional practices hence his

body, since he was a small and frail – looking boy, was not built for farming. So his enrollment in a Christian

Brothers school at Riom, France led him to his calling as a teacher. St. Benilde was a very intelligent boy;

he was so far ahead of his classmates in elementary school, that when he was only fourteen years old, his

teachers, which were the Brothers, would often assign him as a substitute teacher. Hence, him being a

director of a school and stayed there to teach his students. This is where he also died of natural causes.

LIFE & WORKS

At an early age, he became a tutor to his fellow children. He was teaching them how to pray. Year

1818, Pierre, aged thirteen, saw the Christian Brothers in a market at Clermont – Ferrand, which was in

central – France. After that, he instantly felt a strong desire to become a Brother. His father was against
this, but he was enrolled so at the Brothers’ school. At first, the Brothers were reluctant to accept him

because of his size and appearance. He was small and he looked like a child. But he prayed a novena to

St. Colette. Eventually, on the 10th of February, year 1820, he joined the Brothers, at the age of fourteen

and served at several Brothers’ schools in south – central France. He assumed the name “Benilde” when

he became a follower of John Baptist de La Salle on the 22nd of June, year 1820. After a year, his mother

died was told to go home for the funeral and to remain as long as necessary.

In the same year, he was sent to taught in Aurillac to teach the primary class. In September 1825,

he was sent to Moulins and was in charge of an intermediate class. In 1829 he was sent to Limoges and

was in charge to the senior class and to the kitchen. In 1836, September 11 he was sent to Clermont and

was in charge of the second class. In 1839 of September, he became the Director of the school in Billom.

Lastly, because of his service, in 1841, he was sent and appointed as the Director and principal of

a school in Saugues. Saugues was an isolated village on a plateau in the southern part of France. This

was the place he stayed for the rest of his life. For the next twenty years, he worked as a strict but fair

disciplinarian, quiet but effective teacher and principal. He educated the boys in the village of Saugues and

some more from its neighboring farms. Many of whom he was teaching were in their teenage years and

had never been to a school ever before.

He also looked after all his students by preparing meals in the kitchen for them, converting their old

robes into coats or pants for them, and spending lots of time for his students who learned more slowly than

his other students. But more importantly, he referred to his entire students, regardless of their age or

background, as “Monsieur”. Monsieur is a title to formally address French – speaking man; in short, it

corresponds to Mr. or Sir.

 In time, the little school became the center of the social and intellectual life of the village. It even

serves in the evening for the adults and tutoring for the less gifted students. His religious sense was evident

to everyone; when he’s with the students in the parish church, when he’s teaching catechism, preparing

boys for their first communion, visiting and praying with the sick, and rumors of near – miraculous cures. He

was especially effective in attracting religious vocations. During his last 21 years of life, he didn’t have a

good health. He had rheumatism and arthritis that eventually paralyzed his left shoulder. He also suffered a

serious attack during the school year 1855. At his death, on the 13th of August, year 1862, which is also his

feast day, more than 200 Brothers and a good number of priests had been his students at Saugues.

WHAT MAKES HIM A SAINT

Brother Gabinus says this about Brother Benilde, “he said he would rather live on potato skins than

be unfaithful to his vocation.”

Brother Benilde was well known to another Brother which is Brother Philippe who visited the

Saugues community where Brother Benilde was staying. Brother Philippe scolded Brother Benilde for the

lavish dinner that was served. But Brother Benilde replied, “Most honored Brother, this is the first time that

we have had the honor of receiving you in our house. We want to make this a special event. We will have

plenty of time later to repair the damage done to our budget.”

In my opinion, St. Benilde was a type of person who puts others’ sake before his. Like what he did

for the students, that he would still teach them, day and night just for the sake of them learning. Despite

him, having and enduring half his life not having a great health. He did not waste anything; instead, he

reproduced an item into something to continually benefit from it. He even did something lavish just for the

sake of his other Brothers’ to feel great from his service. He would always put everyone first other than him.
IMPACT TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

Saint Benilde Romançon was beatified on the 4th of April, year 1948 by Pope Pius XII. The Pope

mentioned that St. Benilde sanctification was attained by enduing and by “doing ordinary things in an

extraordinarily way.” The beatification process was from 1928 – 1958.

Saint Benilde Romançon was then canonized on the 29th of October, year 1967 by Pope Paul VI.

He was the second saint after John Baptist de La Salle. The canonization process was from 1959 – 1967.

A shrine was built in the parish church in Saugues to honor him. His remains were placed on an

altar in a chapel in Saugues. An effigy of the Brother was place under the altar behind glass. He was

dressed in his religious habit.

SOURCES

 https://wiki2.org/en/Benildus_Romançon

 https://prezi.com/sagfvyk61avp/brother-benilde-romancon-fsc/

 http://www.lasalle.org/en/who-are-we/lasallian-holiness/saint-benildus-romancon/

 https://www.dlsud.edu.ph/offices/ulfo/lasalliansaints/benilde.htm

 https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=558

 https://prezi.com/oj4lkyptq5rg/the-life-of-st-benilde-romancon/

 https://catholicsaints.info/saint-benildus/