Born at Saint-Véran (Hautes-Alpes), October 6, 1834.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, July 15, 1854.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, August 1, 1855. (no. 394)
Dispensed from his vows July 29, 1856.
Jean Blanc was born at Saint-Véran in the diocese of Gap on October 6, 1834. He entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier on July 15, 1854 and made his oblation there on August 1, 1855. He was admitted to vows in the July 10, 1855 session of the General Council. In his report of the session, the secretary general wrote: “He is more capable than [Bassoul], but does not have as strong a prayer life or consistency in his thinking. In addition to that, there is something odd in his makeup. Any yet, he has always shown a sincere attachment to his vocation, a love of regular observance, docility toward his superiors and a genuine spirit of charity with regard to his confreres.”
He spent the 1855-1856 academic year at the scholasticate of Montolivet. In his reports, Father Mouchette, moderator of scholastics, consistently only speaks about the faults of this brother. Among other things, he wrote: “This brother has retained a good deal of the worldly spirit. He has some conceit and self-complacency. I have already had to humble him on several occasions. He began to form a clique with a few others. I have very often been obliged to rebuke him about his failings against the rule…”
At the General Council session of June 2, 1856, the decision was taken to dispense him from his vows for the following reasons. “This young man, who already in his novitiate fell short of living up to his novice master’s expectations and who, as a result, was not admitted to oblation without some difficulty, since his arrival at Montolivet to live in the Oblate community has fully confirmed the fears we had about him. He lived with little regard for regular observance, showed that he had no prayer life or love for his vocation. An arrogant fellow, full of conceit and with little docility, he has almost always conducted himself in a way that brought little edification to his confreres and always sided with the most deficient individuals and has even allowed to show a certain tendency toward particular friendships…” This decision was implemented on July 29, 1856. Shortly after leaving, Jean Blanc asked several times to be readmitted. This was never accepted because they felt these requests were only motivated by a desire to evade the military draft.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
