Born at Villefort (Lozère) on August 2, 1831.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on July 31, 1854.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on August 1, 1855. (no. 393)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles on September 20, 1856.
Dispensed from his vows on July 18, 1863.
Édouard Bassoul was born at Villefort in the diocese of Mende on August 2, 1831. After having received minor orders in his diocese, he began his novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on July 31, 1854 and made his oblation there on August 1, 1855. In admitting him to vows, the General Council on July 10 wrote: “This candidate, without possessing anything extraordinary with regard to prayer life or talents, is, however, sufficiently endowed with talents to admit him into the Congregation with the well founded hope that he will prove himself useful. His character is good; he has a docile spirit; he enjoys robust health and his ability is very adequate. Along with this, he is attached to his vocation and has conducted himself in a very regular manner during the time of his testing.”
He finished his theological studies at Montolivet in 1855 and 1856 and Bishop de Mazenod ordained him to the priesthood on September 20, 1856. In his reports, Father Mouchette, moderator of scholastics, described him as being very attached to his vocation with a “an open and happy disposition” “brimming with courage and good will.”
In the personnel Register of 1862-1863, under his name is written: “He was at Aix where, seeing himself too much left to his own devices, he asked to be stationed at Notre-Dame de l’Osier in 1859. Then in 1861 he was sent to Talence and in 1862 to La Blachère [Notre-Dame de Bon Secours]. Ever tormented and bored, he requested to be dispensed from his vows in order to be incardinated in the diocese of Nîmes. Indeed, in the Register of the General Council, under the date June 27, 1863, the secretary wrote: “Bassoul requests to be dispensed from his vows. He bases his request on the state of his health which does not allow him to carry out mission work or to follow the rule of the communities. He does protest his love for and gratitude to the Congregation. The Council believed it saw in this request a profound discouragement. This priest, in spite of some idiosyncrasies of character has always been a good priest and a good religious. If he is at present a burden, that is one more reason to seek to keep him. Consequently, the decision was taken that the requested dispensation would only be granted after repeated requests and that representations would be made to him to communicate to him the sentiments of the Congregation.” He insisted on leaving the Congregation and, at the General Council session of July 18, 1863, “all the assistants voted in favour of a dispensation even though it was rather extorted from them than demonstrated as being necessary.”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
