Born at Marseilles, September 29, 1801.
Taking of the habit at Aix, March 30, 1817.
Oblation at Aix, November 1, 1819. (no. 9d)
Left in 1820.

Guillaume Dalmas was born in Marseilles on September 29, 1801 and was admitted to the Youth Association of Aix on July 6, 1816. He began his novitiate in Aix on March 30, 1817, but was still in the first form of classical studies in 1818. He made his oblation on November 1, 1819 as a tonsured cleric. Father Tempier, who was one of the people in charge of the students in Aix before being appointed superior of Notre-Dame du Laus at the beginning of 1819, wrote to the Founder on July 25, 1819: “Take every precaution to keep Dalmas, this young man has to be kept busy at all times. See to it that he doesn’t get addicted to literature, for literary types are rarely pious, it is the pitfall of young people. […] If I were you, I would never allow this young man to go to Marseilles and rarely to his home, no matter how much his parents may insist. You can let his father know the motives which prompt you to act in this way; his father is able to understand and accept that.” (Oblate Writings II, François de Paule Henry Tempier: Second Father of the O.M..I. vol. 2, no. 17, p. 39 & 40)

In spite of his precautions, Dalmas left in 1821. On November 29, 1820, the Founder wrote to the Oblates of Notre-Dame du Laus: “I thank the good God for all that he has inspired in you … on the occasion of the execrable apostasy of the wretch who could not be brought back to his duty by the example of conduct as edifying as yours…” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 6, no. 56, p. 71) After this name in the Register of entries to the novitiate, Father de Mazenod wrote: “Not only was he admitted to novitiate, but, in consideration of his impeccable conduct during his novitiate, it was with pleasure that we agreed to accede to his most pressing desires by authorizing him to make his oblation […] But, alas, the first one to do so, he offered us the most shameful example of apostasy, a New Judas. May he not share his lot.”

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.