Born ar Isolabona, Sardegna, May 19, 1827
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, July 15, 1845
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, July 16, 1846 (no. 157)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 29, 1851
Dispensed from his vows at the beginning of 1863.
Jacques Martini was born in Isolabona, in Sardinia, which was then in the diocese of Ventimiglia. On July 15, 1845, he entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier where he made his oblation on July 16, 1846. The following month, on August 22, the Founder wrote him a letter to congratulate him and remind him of the demands of religious life.
After five years of study at the major seminary of Marseilles, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on June 29, 1851 and immediately received his obedience for the house at Le Calvaire. He was then sent to Vico where he preached parish missions in Corsica from 1852-1853 until the beginning of 1862. In the spring of 1862, he preached a Lenten series at Le Calvaire where he remained to take on the work of ministering to the Italians.
On February 5, 1863, he wrote to Father Fabre and asked to be dispensed from his vows. He told him that he was unhappy and wanted “freedom.” He added: “I no longer have faith in my superiors since that time almost one year ago when they showed themselves unjust in my regard.” He stated that they attacked his reputation which he prized highly. His superiors in the beginning of 1862 were Father Jacques Santoni at Ajaccio, Father Antoine Mouchette at Vico and then Father Louis-Toussaint Dassy at Le Calvaire. In the beginning of 1863, dispensation from his vows was granted him. Father Sardou wrote to Father Fabre in the following March: “As for those cowards [Chavard and Martini] who left us in the hour of crisis we were enduring, they are already reaping the punishment for their conduct.” Indeed, they did remain in the diocese of Marseilles, functioning as assistant priests in small parishes outside the city.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
