Born at Colla, Italy, March 17, 1839.
Taking of the habit at Montolivet, June 13, 1855.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, February 24, 1857. (no. 436)
Left the Congregation, September 2, 1859.
Étienne Bobone was born in La Colla in the diocese of Vintimille on March 17, 1839. On June 13, 1855, at 17 years of age, he began his novitiate at Montolivet. In January of 1856, he was sent ot the church school at Vico because he could not keep up in the course of the last year of classics taught at Montolivet. He continued his novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier where he made his oblation on February 24, 1857. In presenting him to the General Council for vows, Father Vandenberghe, the master of novices, wrote: “This brother seems to have a naturally happy disposition with a good and upright heart. Most recently, he has made great progress in his prayer life and has given signs of an ardent desire to consacrate himself to God. His intellectual faculties have never been developed, but he enjoys a certain facility for doing things and he has shown sound judgment. His exterior appearance is a bit disheveled…”
Brother Bobone studied philosophy and began his theological studies at Montolivet. His conduct never met Father Mouchette, moderator of scholastics’, expectations. In his reports, among other things, he wrote: “1857, very goodhearted, regular observance, but too childish and often flighty; 1858… flighty character, completely scattered, too hasty and even vulgar in his opinions. It seems he does not possess the tact to govern his conduct. His prayer life suffers because of his flightiness…; 1859, we do not find in him any marked vice nor virtue, lackadaisical, absolute in his opinions, rarely takes things seriously, wishy-washy, coarse in his form and bearing. Sent away on September 2 because of his incorrigible faults.”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
