Born: Violès (Vaucluse), May 17, 1821.
Took the habit: N.-D. de l’Osier, September 14, 1847.
Vows: N.-D. de l’Osier, September 17, 1848 (N. 210).
Priestly ordination: Marseille, February 18, 1849.
Died: Vathiry, Ceylon, June 13, 1551.
Félix François Leydier was born in Violès, diocese of Avignon, on May 17, 1821. After his studies in the minor seminary of Avignon, he did two years theology in the major seminary. It was there that he met Father Léonard Baveux and decided to become an Oblate of Mary Immaculate. He began his novitiate in Notre-Dame de l’Osier on September 14, 1847 and took vows on September 18, 1848. Before sending him to Marseille, Father Vincens, master of novices, wrote: “Leydier, always an excellent child, very devout, a very punctual and very happy character. He has very solid virtue. Since he has done theology, he can be advanced quickly to orders. He has already received the minor orders”. He did a third year of theology in the major seminary of Marseille, was ordained priest by Bishop de Mazenod on February 18, 1849 and immediately received his obedience for Ceylon. He arrived there in the month of April 1849 together with Fathers Frédéric Mouchel and Jean Le Bescou.
His first residence in Ceylon was at the mission of Puloly, but he was also responsible for that of Point Pedro, Pachilipalli and Mullaitivu, while, beginning in 1850, his companion, Father Léon Mauroit took care of the missions of Kilaly and Mirusuvil. He preached, heard confessions and visited the families, especially the sick. That was especially true during the cholera epidemic which ravaged the region in 1849 and 1850. Father Mauroit, who wrote the necrology note on his confrere, tells us that “Father Leydier was not a missionary by halves, that is, he was not content with doing the exercises externally; his principal concern was to work on the interior man. He knew that, in order to be a good missionary, to produce results in others, the priest must become attached first of all to the perfection of his own soul, to be a reservoir before being a canal. He believed these truths with a faith which was practical and applied his efforts to advancing in virtue. “On the eve of the Assumption 1850, he made certain resolutions and signed them with his blood: to eat my rice dry, that is, simply boiled in water…; discipline, sleep on the floor, fidelity to my exercises of piety…” (Oblate Writings, Vol. 11, p. 56).
He became ill with cholera himself and went to his friend, Father Mauroit, where he died on June 16, 1851. He is buried in the church of that mission. Father Étienne Semeria placed on the tomb an inion in Latin which finishes with the words: “For the two years during which he was a missionary in this island, he did much work for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, especially helping and assisting those struck by the illness known as cholera. Thus we can truly say that, like the Good Shepherd, he gave his life for his sheep.” On learning of his death, Bishop de Mazenod wrote to Father Semeria on September 19, 1851. “What a loss for your mission and for the Congregation! And it comes a time when we should be sending you re-enforcements that God takes away from us a member who had already done so much good! All we can do is to prostrate ourselves and adore as always the holy will of God. The details which you gave me are a source of astonishment and suffering for all of us. In his resolutions I can see only a wonderful delicacy of conscience, great fervour and an admirable fear of offending God, a great spirit of mortification, everything necessary to merit what the good God has granted him, a holy death, the final end of the predestined.”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
