Born at Pommier-de-Beaurepaire (Isère), July 25, 1822
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, August 14, 1845
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, September 14, 1846 (no. 160)
Expelled on October 15, 1847.
Joseph Martin was born at Pommier-de-Beaurepaire, in the diocese of Grenoble, on July 25, 1822. He entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier on August 14, 1845 where he made his oblation September 14, 1846. After a year of study with the scholastic brothers at the major seminary of Marseilles, he was expelled from the Congregation by a decision of the General Council on October 15, 1847. On October 19, Bishop de Mazenod wrote to Father Vincens, superior of the house of Notre-Dame de l’Osier. “The same council recognized that Brother Martin was not suitable for the Congregation. His independent spirit was never able to bend to the requirements of the Rule. He became a rallying point for other imperfect candidates like himself; he could not hold his tongue, felt compelled to make judgments on everything, criticized everyone and all that was done; in short, he gave no hope that he would ever take on the spirit of our Society […] My friend, let us take it as a lesson that when a candidate does not fit himself into the mould from the first months of the novitiate, we must not hesitate. It is useless to deceive ourselves that he will improve later on, the contrary happens…” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1843-1849, Oblate Writings I, vol. 10, no. 949, p. 185-186)
In 1849, Joseph asked to be readmitted to the Congregation. The secretary general wrote in the report of the General Council session of August 1, 1849: “We shelve the re-entry of Joseph Martin in order to test the constancy and the perseverance of the petitioner.” He became a priest with the Minims.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
