Blesseds Jacques Retouret, John Baptist, Michael Aloysius, and James, priests and martyrs, refused to take the oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy during the French Revolution which, among other things, demanded public election of the Pope and Bishops. Saint Pope John Paul II beatified 63 priests and religious on October 1, 1995 who had been imprisoned on board two ships stationed in Rochefort Bay, France, for ten months awaiting deportation into slavery.
The following are excerpts from Resolutions Drawn Up by the Priests Imprisoned on the Ship Les Deux Associes:Up by U
They will never give themselves up to useless worries about being set free. Instead, they will make the effort to profit from the time of their detention by meditating on their past years, by making holy resolutions for the future, so that they can find in the captivity of their bodies, freedom for their souls...
If God permits them to recover totally or in part this liberty nature longs for, they will avoid giving themselves up to an immoderate joy when they receive the news. By keeping their souls tranquil they will show they support without murmur the cross placed on them, and that they are disposed to bear it even longer with courage and as true Christians who never let themselves be beaten by adversity.
They will not show grief over the loss of their goods, no haste to recover them, no resentment against those who possess them.
They will never get mixed up in the new politics, being content to pray for the welfare of their country and prepare themselves for a new life, if God permits them to return to their homes, and there become subjects of edification and models of virtue for the people, by their detachment from the world, their assiduousness in prayer, and their love for recollection and piety.
The following are excerpts from Resolutions Drawn Up by the Priests Imprisoned on the Ship Les Deux Associes:Up by U
They will never give themselves up to useless worries about being set free. Instead, they will make the effort to profit from the time of their detention by meditating on their past years, by making holy resolutions for the future, so that they can find in the captivity of their bodies, freedom for their souls...
If God permits them to recover totally or in part this liberty nature longs for, they will avoid giving themselves up to an immoderate joy when they receive the news. By keeping their souls tranquil they will show they support without murmur the cross placed on them, and that they are disposed to bear it even longer with courage and as true Christians who never let themselves be beaten by adversity.
They will not show grief over the loss of their goods, no haste to recover them, no resentment against those who possess them.
They will never get mixed up in the new politics, being content to pray for the welfare of their country and prepare themselves for a new life, if God permits them to return to their homes, and there become subjects of edification and models of virtue for the people, by their detachment from the world, their assiduousness in prayer, and their love for recollection and piety.