Martyr of the French Revolution. Congregation of the Mission.

1. Blessed Pierre René
Rogue, C.M.
Priest and Martyr

2. • Pierre René was born in
Vannes June 11, 1758. He was
baptized that day at the
cathedral.
• His father died on a trip and
would never see his son.
• At the age of 17, he completed
college.
By Wikipedia, user:LimoWreck - Own work, CC BY 2.5
Vannes streets and cathedral
as they look today.

3. • In 1776, he entered the Major
Seminary. This Seminary had
been entrusted to the
Congregation of the Mission
(Lazarists) since 1702.
• The Congregation of the
Mission was in charge of the
parish of Notre Dame du Mené,
where Pierre René was ordained
a priest on September 21, 1782.
• He entered the Congregation of
the Mission (disciples of St.
Vincent de Paul) on October 25,
1786.
• In 1787, he was appointed
professor of theology at the
Vannes seminary.

4. • In 1789, the Revolution breaks
out.
• Priests are reluctant to take the
oaths they are asked to make,
to obey the State. Pierre René,
as a theologian, stands firm,
refusing to take the oath.
• On December 16, 1790, under
the inspiration of Pierre René,
Bishop Amelot summoned his
diocese to St. Anne d'Auray to
ask them to obey the Pope
rather than the State. The
priests of Vannes therefore
refuse the oath.

5. • February 14, 1791, after the
superior of the seminary was
forced to leave Vannes, Pierre
René takes charge of the seminary.
On February 28, the bishop is
arrested and put in prison.
• Pierre René leaves the seminary
which is sold. All Church property
was being nationalized, and priests
exiled.
• On April 30, 1791, his parish Notre
Dame du Mené is suppressed by
the new revolutionary authorities.
• Eight months later, on January 2,
1792, Pierre René took refuge with
his mother. From then on, he went
into hiding. He moved often in
order to secretly exercise his
ministry.

6. • On December 24, 1795, around
9 pm, Pierre René, was
arrested while carrying the
viaticum to a patient at 9 rue
Emile Burgaut, not far from the
cathedral. He was immediately
imprisoned. During his
incarceration, he found strength
to give courage to his
companions.
• Two months later, on March 2,
1796, he was condemned to
death as a "refractory
priest” (stubborn, unmanageable),
in the presence of his mother,
in the church of Notre Dame du
Mené which by then had been
transformed into a
Revolutionary Court.

7. Church of Notre Dame du Mené
Old chapel of the Major Seminary
Courthouse during the Revolution
Torn down in 1968

8. • Pierre René welcomed his
death sentence with serenity.
He spent the night before his
execution as a night of prayer.
• March 3, he was guillotined on
the Place de l'Hotel de Ville,
facing the chapel St Yves, with
his friend Alain Robin.
• Linens soaked with his blood
immediately become relics, and
his tomb a place of pilgrimage
and thanksgiving.
• On May 10, 1934, Pierre-René
Rogue was beatified as Martyr
of the Eucharist. Since then, his
body has rested in the
cathedral.
By Wikipedia, Par Jordiferrer — Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,

10. source: Iconographie Chrétienne (Christian Portraits) blog