Saint of the Day – 13 August – St Benildus Romançon FSC (1805-1862) Confessor, Teacher, Principal and Brother of the Christian Schools, or the De La Salle Schools – Born on 14 June 1805 at Thuret, Auvergne. Central France as Pierre Romancon and died on 13 August 1862 at Saugues, France of natural causes, aged 57. Patronage – of Teachers, Accordionist and Concertina musicians (when working with the children’s groups, he would often lead songs by playing a Concertina) and of many Schools and Colleges dedicated to him. He is the first Brother of the Institute to be Canonised and the second Saint after St Jean Baptiste de La Salle Canonised in 1900 by Pope Leo XIII. Also known as – Benilde, Peter Romancon, Pierre Romancon, Benildo Romancon. Additional Memorial – 29 January for the De La Salle Brothers. St John Baptiste’s life here: https://anastpaul.com/2022/05/15/saint-of-the-day-15-may-st-john-baptiste-de-la-salle-1651-1719-confessor-known-as-the-father-of-modern-education/
Benildus was born Pierre Romançon on 14 June 1805, in the town of Thuret, Puy-de-Dôme, in France to a farming family. A small and frail-looking boy, he was not physically created to be a farmer but his enrolment in a Christian Brothers School at Riom, also in Auvergne led him to his vocation as a teacher. He was so far ahead of his classmates in Elementary School that, when he was only 14 years old, the Brothers often assigned him as a Substitute Teacher.
He joined the Brothers in 1820, just before turning 16 and served at several Brothers’ Schools in south-central France. In 1841 he was appointed Director of a School in Saugues, an isolated village on a barren plateau in southern France. For the next twenty years he worked quietly and effectively as Teacher and Principal to educate the boys in the village and some from the neighbouring farms, many of whom were in their teens and had never been to School before.
Short of stature as he was, he was known as a strict but fair disciplinarian. He also looked after his pupils by preparing meals in the Brothers’ kitchen for hungry childrens, converting old Brothers’ robes into coats or trousers for them and spending hours tutoring children who learned more slowly than others. He referred to all pupils, regardless of age or background, as “Monsieur – Mister.”
He always put particular effort into teaching the Catechism – in this matter, he did not allow any pupil to remain ignorant. He, therefore, took the those ones needing extra attention apart and persisted with them, until they had properly learned the teachings and their meaning. In fact, he is represented in this typical attitude on the Altar dedicated to him in the Chapel of the General House in Rome, by a beautiful marble group created by the Sculptor ,Ciocchetti; while a canvas by the Painter, Mariani depicts him in the act of consecrating the pupils to St Joseph, for whom he always showed great veneration and devotion.
In time, the little School became the centre of the social and intellectual life of the village, with evening classes for the adults and tutoring for the less gifted children. Brother Benildus’ extraordinary religious piety and love, was evident to everyone – at Mass with the children in the Parish Church, teaching Catechism, preparing boys for First Holy Communion, visiting and praying with the sick and amazing recounts of miraculous cures. He was especially effective in attracting religious vocations.
At his death, on 13 August 1862, more than 200 Brothers and an impressive number of Priests, had been his pupils at Saugues!
Benildus had such an ability to penetrate the souls of young people as a Teacher and, even more, as a spiritual guide that many sought special heavenly gifts, obtained by assiduous prayers and penance, under his guidance. Among the people of Saugues, he always enjoyed a true reputation for holiness. A Crucifix which belonged to him, is still carried today to the sick of the Town, who piously kiss it, invoking the intercession of the blessed, to whom a Chapel of the Parish Church is consecrated and where he is buried.
Benildus was Beatified on 4 April 1948 by Pope Pius XII, who mentioned that his sanctification was attained by enduring “the terrible daily grind” and by “doing common things in an uncommon way.”
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