The Vatican has announced that 16 Carmelite nuns who were martyred for their Catholic faith during the French Revolution have been made saints.
The 16 nuns, known as the Martyrs of Compiègne, were all guillotined during the revolution period known as the Reign of Terror.
Historical accounts from the time of their execution say that the women sang at the foot of the execution block while awaiting their deaths. The gruesome scene is portrayed in a French film about the 16 Carmelites called Dialogue de Carmelites.
The deaths of the nuns was brought to the stage in Francois Poulanc’s dramatisation of Bernanos’ Dialogue des Carmelites.
They are reported to have sung Salve Regina, Te Deum, Psalm 51, and other hymns during their ordeal.
Mother Teresa of Saint Augustine and her 15 companions were guillotined in Paris on the 17th of July 1797, this date will henceforth be celebrated by Catholics as the Feast Day of the martyr saints.
After an audience yesterday with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis declared the canonisation of the sisters.
Fr. John S. Hogan OCDS points to fact that the youngest sister, now St. Constance of St,Denis was directed by the Prioress, now St Teresa, to go first to the guillotine in order that the young woman should not be “horrified by the gore of the killings and lose heart.”
Fr. Hogan, who is a co-host EWTN’s Forgotten Heritage, said that “While the fidelity and heroism of all the martyrs are superlative and need to be remembered and celebrated, the Sisters of Compiègne’s experience seems to represent them all.”
He added that he hopes to see the Sisters of Compiègne included in the General Calendar of saints.
Fr. Hogan said that the experience and example of the 16 nuns is “relevant for us as we Christians are now challenged on a societal level” with “political forces” enshrining in law “various measures to silence and persecute us.”
He says an example of this are “hate speech laws so beloved of progressives”, adding that the history of the French Revolution is “convoluted”, “controversial”, and “fascinating”.
Fr. Hogan says that “one thing in all of it is clear: it was a process that was led and effected by frail and often mistaken human beings, many captured by ideals that rendered them oblivious to humanity; angry, self-righteousness and proud individuals and many who surrendered to the most brutal violence.”
He says it was a “red lust of violence” that was “settled quite comfortably with calculating rationale which possessed the leaders of the revolution,” adding that this should be “a warning to us all!”
“Many innocents were slaughtered in the service of that rationale. It was a violence that claimed everyone,” he said.
“Hatred and violence claim even their servants.” said Fr. Hogan.
“The example of our new Saints, the Martyrs of Compiègne shine with serenity, fidelity & forgiveness. They conquered hatred by love. As did all the Martyrs of that terrible Terror. Let them be our models of behaviour and life.”
The nuns who were canonised are:
Saint Teresa of St Augustine Lidoine, Prioress;
Saint Marie of Jesus Crucified Piedcourt;
Saint Charlotte of the Resurrection Thouret;
Saint Euphrasia of the Immaculate Conception Brard;
Saint Julie Louise of Jesus Crétien de Neuville.
Saint Teresa of the Heart of Mary Hanisset.
Saint Martha Dufour (lay sister);
Saint Catherine Soiron (extern);
Saint Marie of the Holy Spirit Roussel (lay sister);
Saint Teresa of St. Ignatius Trézel;
Saint Henriette of Jesus de Croissy;
Saint Teresa Soiron (extern, blood sister of St Catherine Soiron)
Saint Louis Brideau, Subprioress;
Saint Marie Henriette of Divine Providence Pelras;
Saint Francis Xavier Verolot (lay sister);
Saint Constance Meunier (novice) proto-martyr of Discalced Carmelite nuns.