The
popularity of St. Francis Régis, S.J. has interested people over four
centuries so accommodating pilgrimages to venerate him has became
one of the village of Lalouvesc's main attractions. At one point there
were 12 hotels for visitors,
although now there are only two. Nevertheless, enthusiasm for this saint
has never
waned, and today it has taken on new dimensions. Lately, people are
coming to Lalouvesc to
enjoy the beautiful countryside as a return to Nature or to seek a
refuge from urban life. Some are undoubtedly inspired by
Pope Francis’ 2015 environmental encyclical, Laudato Si!: On the Care of Our Common Home--
and, more recently, the Covid pandemic.
Many young couples are even buying
old homes and renovating them in order to develop new way of
living in a small village of four square miles with 500 people,
less
than 50 miles from Le Puy-en-Velay (population 19,000).
The Jesuits have also renovated St. Regis’ House, which has 50 rooms for visitors—students,
Jesuits, pilgrims, and retreatants—and coupled it with a café and a small but
interesting museum on the life of St. Francis Regis. The Pilgrim Shelter, built in 1920, is another venue, although a very
rustic and cheap place appealing to hikers, cyclists, motorcyclists, and
families. It is run by teams of volunteers.
The Life of St. Francis Régis
Jean-François Régis was born 31 January 1597, in Fontcouverte, Aude, in the Languedoc region of southern France. At age 19 in 1616, he entered the Jesuit novitiate of
Toulouse. He became a grammar teacher and was sent to Le Puy where he served at
the Église-du-Collège. He was ordained a priest in 1630 and aspired to be a missionary in
Canada, however, his superiors wanted him to stay in France and act as a
missionary at home. Besides,
he had chronic bronchitis and frequent frost-bite of his hands.
As a teacher he wasn’t content with just book learning,
but he pushed his students into action on their knowledge. For example, they
spoke Latin in class and practiced it during recreational periods. They recited
Latin poetry in order to acquire a taste for eloquence. Students also participated
in theatrical productions.
Regis also taught adults how to acquire a Christian life of
prayer with daily Mass, regular confessions, the examination of conscience,
partaking of the sacraments, cultivation of Christian virtues, and avoiding
vices. He encouraged them to sing songs and hymns and to recite poetry. He also
spoke to the people in their own language, including lenga d'òc in the Occident.
A man of multiple charisms, he was a passionate witness to the
mercy of God through activism. For example, he intervened for poor people in order to preserve
their dignity and defended the lace makers whose work was threatened by
burdensome regulations and physical abuse. He started soup kitchens for those who didn’t have
access to proper nutrition and engaged volunteers to run the kitchens, which
were maintained until the French Revolution of 1789.
Francis Régis led the fight against people’s misery in order to
save both body and soul. He cared for people abandoned or dying in hospitals.
He visited others and made sure they had food to eat. He protected prostitutes,
especially from violence, as well as orphans and prisoners.
He had chronic bronchitis and died in Lalouvesc in 1640 at age 43.
He was beatified in 1716 and canonized on June 16, 1737.
Basilica of Saint Francis Régis
The Jesuits built the basilica in Lalouvesc in 1860 for the purpose of welcoming pilgrims who wanted to
venerate St. Régis and honor his legacy. Jesuit priests missioned here are still inspired by St. Francis Régis’
400-year-old legacy by offering pilgrimages, ecological projects, artistic
endeavors, and a return to Nature.
The remains of St. Francis Régis are interred at a side altar to the right of the main
altar.
The basilica features other religious art works and memorials.
On
a column to the left of the main altar is a memorial to the Jesuit
priests who were executed by the Salvadoran Army on November 16, 1989:
Ignacio Ellacuría,
Ignacio Martín-Baró, Segundo Montes Mozo, Armando López Quintana and
Juan Ramón Moreno Pardo of Spain; Joaquín López y López, a Salvadoran
priest; and
Julia Elba Ramos, a housekeeper, and her teenage daughter Celina.
A modern Madonna and Child Jesus
A fierce and fiery dragon on the mosaic floor of the main altar.
St.
Thérese Couderc (1805-1885), co-founder of the Sisters of the Cenacle, is also honored in the Basilica of Saint Francis Régis.
During her life as a nun, she underwent humiliations and was ridiculed
and mocked due to
false accusations made against her. In spite of it all, she was a
spiritual writer on sacrifice and
service to God, and after her death, she left a series of spiritual
writings. Pope Pius XII beatified her in Saint Peter's Basilica on
November 4, 1951 and in 1970 she was canonized as a saint by Pope Paul
VI. The sisters' convent of 50+ rooms was recently sold to house
visitors to Lalouvesc.
Régis Museum
Near
the basilica is a small museum on the life of Francis Régis. Ceramic
dioramas depict different aspects of his life and illustrate the
miracles he performed. Below are several scenes presented.
12 -
Each night, Régis spent long hours in prayer and got little sleep. To
those who met him during the day, he seemed as though he were in the
presence of God. "He seemed constantly in touch with God, fully
dependent on Him," people said. "His example illuminates the love of God
in everyone's hearts."
10
-- In Le Puy, the misery of families led to prostitution. Régis created
a refuge for women quo wanted to change their lives. He is assaulted
many times as a result. One night, four young men decided to kill him.
They layed a trap for him in front of the Église-du-Collège.
However, his words touched their hearts and they not only didn't kill
kill him, they were transformed.
11
-- The decrees of Louis XIII forbid wearing lace on clothes. The
lacemakers of Le Puy fell into unemployment as a result. Régis saw this
crisis as a means of creating solidarity among the workers. He
predicted that their industry would provide them with a decent living.
Since then he is venerated as the patron of lacemakers.
Régis and Brother
Bideau left Le Puy on December 25, 1640, to head toward Lalouvesc, a
45-mile journey on foot in deep snow and over mountains. The only
shelter they could find was a barn. As a result, Régis became ill with
fever, but continued walking to Lalouvesc.
Régis
fights an intense fever after various remedies are ineffective. Around
midnight he had a vision of God that opened him to paradise. "Between
your hand, O God, I hand back my spirit," he said. He died at age 43.
Francis Régis death bed.
St. Francis Régis died in 1640. He was beatified in 1716
and canonized on June 16, 1737. He was known as a defender of the poor and a
missionary and apostle of the countryside. He was also a man of multiple charisms
and a passionate witness to the mercy of God.
Living during the
post-Reformation period, he promoted dialogue with Protestants, and he was
known as a protector and promoter of women, especially the lace workers who populated this area of France and
were frequently abused. Régis’ relationship with the
lace-makers of south-central France was legendary to the point that he was
heralded as the saint of the lace-makers.
With no social services available in this poor area, Régis invented the soup kitchen, mostly for the lace-makers who were
constantly threatened with regulations that made their lives more difficult and
reduced their access to good nutrition. (In Le Puy, he started the soup kitchen
known as the L’œuvre du Bouillon, which is up the hill from the Église-du-Collège.)
He recruited a group volunteers to work at the soup kitchen, which was
maintained until the French Revolution in 1789. 
Régis was also known as a fighter against people’s misery
where he aimed to save body and soul alike, care for the abandoned or the
dying, and visiting people to make sure they were eating. He also protected
orphans, prisoners, and prostitutes, many of whom were victims of violence.
A
souvenir shop full of religious medals, ceramics, pictures and other
items are sold to visitors and pilgrims to this small village.
While the pandemic has put a halt to further development
at this time, the village’s focus for the future remains the same: ecological
projects, pilgrimages, return to the countryside, and art. This vision is all
quite in line with the life of St. Francis Régis who was a walker who moved
around a lot. He visited people and welcomed them into community although not just
for religious reasons. He worked with the young as well as couples. In these
ways his 400-year-old message remains the same: Christians should be open to others,
filled with hope, and inspiring to others in their way of life.
St. Francis Régis in Le Puy
Although
he didn't stay a long time, Franics Régis lived in Le Puy, taught at
the Église-du-Collège, and started a soup kitchen for the poor. Every
year around June 16, the Église-du-Collège holds St. Régis Day where
parish officials open up his old room and conduct tours there.
His
small and modest room contained his worldly goods plus an altar where
he could say Mass and sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
People
are invited to sit in St. Francis' room to be inspired by the man who
ministered to the poor and helped realize the new apostolic movement in
the Church.
Mary
Ann visited the Centre 13 years ago. She painted these two pictures and
gave them to the Centre where they still hang on the top floor. She and
her artist-friend, Carolyn, spent much time sketching scenes of the
pilgrimage.
The group visited the Sisters' Chapel near the Kitchen where they also had Mass. The chapel has a close tie to the St. Augustine Congregation because the sisters who went to Florida to educate the newly-freed American slaves took their vows in this chapel. They were also sent on mission from this chapel. It was a meaningful moment of history and legacy.
