Born at Digne (Basses-Alpes), February 1812.
Taking of the habit at Le Calvaire, Marseilles, August 27, 1839.
Oblation at Marseilles, September 29, 1840. (no. 86)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, July 3, 1842.
Died at Romans (Valence), January 9, 1855.

Jean Joseph Casimir Chauvet was born at Digne, February 6, 1812. He began his novitiate on August 27, 1839 at Le Calvaire in Marseilles where he made his oblation on September 29, 1840. After two years of theology at the major seminary in Marseilles, Bishop de Mazenod ordained him to the priesthood on July 3, 1842.

While still a deacon, in July 1841, he was appointed professor at the juniorate of Notre-Dame de Lumières. He taught there until the closing of the juniorate at the beginning of 1848 and then turned his zeal toward ministering to the pilgrims while still continuing to function as treasurer, a post he held already in 1845. In 1850-1851, he was a member of the community of Notre-Dame de l’Osier and on July 2, 1851, he was appointed treasurer for the Nord province. He then taught moral theology at the major seminary of Fréjus from 1851 to 1853, then at the major seminary of Romans in the diocese of Valence from 1853 to 1855. On November 6, 1853, Father Adolphe Tortel wrote to Father Henry Tempier: “I have received letters from Romans, telling me that our priests there are working wonders and that Father Chauvet, especially, has charmed all the students by his frequent contact with them.”

He preached a few retreats during the summer vacations of 1854, but he fell ill again and he was put on a diet at the beginning of the academic year 1854-1855. He was seriously ill in December and died on January 9, 1855. That very same day, Father Charles Bellon, the superior of the seminary, gave some details on this death, brought on by “inflammation of the intestines.” On January 13, Bishop de Mazenod replied to Father Bellon’s letter: “Good Father Chauvet is no more at least not amongst us here on earth for the moving details you give me about his illness and death assure me that he still lives in heaven, our true homeland. But what a void his absence creates for us here below!” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1257, p. 255)

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.