Born at Pluméliau (Morbihan), April 7, 1833.
Taking of the habit at Nancy, October 29, 1858.
Oblation at Montolivet, May 27, 1860. (no. 513)
Ordination to the priesthood at Ajaccio, June 22, 1861.
Died at Saint-Andelain, November 18, 1889.
François Busson was born at Pluméliau in the diocese of Vannes on April 7, 1833. After one year of theology, he entered the novitiate at Nancy on October 29, 1858. In his November notes, Father Guinet, the master of novices, wrote: “Busson, solid virtue, calm, a little slow. Does not possess that quickness of mind that enables him to grasp things the first time around. His habit and his need to use snuff gives his voice a nasal quality, but since his voice is strong, if he pays attention to his diction, he can very well make himself heard. A good fellow, without guile. He could make a good candidate. The progress he needs to make is in his outward demeanour rather than his interior life.” During the following months, the novice master consistently judged this novice favourably and sent him to Montolivet in September of 1859 saying that he “is of good character, gentle, reserved, good and has a prayer life.”
The novice spent only one academic year at Montolivet where he made his oblation before Bishop de Mazenod on May 27, 1860. In his reports, Father Mouchette, the moderator of scholastics, wrote only the following lines on François Busson: “A candidate very calm in character, very serious. I believe his is well grounded in virtue. His talents are average, but he does possess judgment.” Sent to the church school of Vico in September of 1860 as professor of Latin, it was at Ajaccio that he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Casanelli d’Istria on June 22, 1861. He spent one year as assistant priest at Notre-Dame de Sion in 1862-1863 and returned to teach in Vico in 1862-1863. In August of 1865, Father Mouchette, the superior at Vico, discovered “truly reprehensible correspondence between the young Father Busson and a young lady of Notre-Dame de Sion.” In the August 12 session of the General Council, a unanimous decision of expulsion was decided upon. This decision was communicated to him at Notre-Dame de l’Osier shortly after September 6.
In 1866, Abbé Busson wrote several letters to Father Fabre to request to be readmitted to the Congregation. He gave evidence of having repented and the priest who had given him hospitality gave him a good report. In the March 25, 1866 session of the General Council, the opinion inclined toward mercy, all the more so since in this case there had been no public scandal. Nevertheless, he was sent to Father Boisramé to redo his novitiate in England where he was not known. He made his oblation there on June 9, 1867 and kept his oblation number.
The subsequently returned to France, but we do not know the precise dates of his obediences. According to his letters and the rare mention of his name in Missions O.M.I., he is at Autun in 1868, at Talence in 1874 and 1875, at Angers in 1880-1882 and arrived at Saint-Andelain on December 5,1884. His voice did not permit him to preach. He was assistant priest at the parish and did not do much work. Father Jungbluth, who lived with him at the time, wrote in his obituary that he was “punctual and regular in his observance, very little bother, not demanding, charitable in word, devoted to the Blessed Virgin. He spent his days in a way that was uneventful, unvarying and sometimes a little sad.” He had a bad heart and difficulty breathing. On November 18, 1889, he was found in his room, dying.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
