Born at Saint-Affrique (Aveyron), July 12, 1810
Taking of the habit at Marseilles, May 31, 1834
Oblation at Aix, June 1, 1835, 1835 (no. 60)
Expulsion, October 21 1835.
Auguste Roustan was born in Saint-Affrique, diocese of Rodez, July 12, 1810. he began his novitiate at Marseilles on May 31, 1834 and made his oblation at Aix on June 11, 1835. He followed the novices and scholastic brothers to Notre-Dame du Laus during the cholera epidemic during the summer of 1835. He was at the major seminary of Marseilles at the time of his expulsion.
No Oblate mentions his name in their correspondence and the Founder mentions him only three times. In his Diary entry of September 19, 1837, he speaks of several postulants who entered the novitiate in 1834, among others, a certain Casimir Périer, “one of the bandits of Albi and surrounding country who, by I know not what evil spell, invaded our ranks, took advantage of us, deceived us, kept us enthralled for too long, and these same individuals we had to send them away one after the other, after the situation was such that I was able to take a close look at them and judge them myself. It was at Notre-Dame de Laus that I was able to observe this phenomenon closely. Unfortunately, it was too late for the odious Roustan who had already made his oblation…”
Apparently, Auguste Roustan did a good novitiate. His whole attitude changed after taking vows. In the October 21, 1835 report of the General Council, we read: “No restraint in his use of language, … criticizing his superiors, complaining about everything… A hypocrite who sought to deceive by offering the appearance of virtue in order to be admitted into the Congregation, and from there reach the priesthood, a priesthood not only for which he had no taste, no intention of exercising the duties of the religious life, but one who is greatly suspect with regard to basic morals… It was unanimously decided that Brother Roustan be expelled forthwith from the Congregation to which he had become unworthily attached and which he would have, without fail, dishonoured.”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
