Roux, Marius

Born at Toulon (Var) on February 3, 1821.
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 28, 1846.
Taking of the habit at Marseilles, February 23, 1856.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, February 24, 1857. (no. 435)
Died at Angers, May 2, 1895.

Marius Roux was born at Toulon in the diocese of Fréjus on February 3, 1821. He studied theology at the major seminary of Marseilles, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on June 28, 1846 and appointed assistant priest at Roquevaire. He began his novitiate in Marseilles on February 23, 1856 and made his oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, February 24, 1857. He was admitted to vows in the January 29, 1857 session of the General Council. In presenting him, Father Vandenberghe, the novice master, wrote: “Father Roux of the diocese of Marseilles, whose praise I need not sing, is known to us. I admired him throughout his novitiate. Of all the novices, he showed the most simplicity and the most humility. He endured privations and humiliations without the least recalcitrance. I know of no outstanding defect in him, but I do see great virtue in him. The respect and esteem shown him by everyone around him lead me to assume that they all share my sentiments in this regard.”

In the Personnel Registry of 1862-1863, we read: “After his profession, he lived as a member of the Notre-Dame de l’Osier community as a mission preacher. Fine and strong in physical appearance, gifted with a speech that was persuasive and pleasant, he succeeded perfectly in his mission preaching.” From 1861 to 1867, he was superior at Angers and that is where he spent a good part of his life except for his years as superior at Rennes (1867-1869), at Le Calvaire in Marseilles (1869-1871) and at Notre-Dame de l’Osier (1871-1874). Sent once again to Angers, he remained there as superior until 1893. Following two years of illness, he died on May 2, 1895 at the age of 74.

In Father Roux’s obituary, Father Lucien Reynaud described the man and the religious missionary in this way: “Grace and nature lavished upon him their best gifts to make of him a genuine missionary and thus assure everywhere for him a prevailing success in his apostolate. Tall in stature, his broad shoulders, his well formed features beaming with kindness and good heartedness, his powerful and pleasing voice was striking and captivating from the first moment his audience caught sight of him. His charming manners, the energy of his southern temperament, his French vigour with a dash of Marseilles flavour brought joy to the priests’ houses, enthralled the people and won friends for him everywhere. His upright views, the purity of his intentions, the general self-sacrifice of his own interests, his love of sacrificing his rest, his talents, his strength and his life, the balm of a solid prayer life manifested in continuous prayer, sustained and made fruitful his undaunted zeal, won all hearts for him and enabled him to work those marvels of conversion which won this great missionary high esteem in the district of Anjou…”

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.