Merlin, Hector Louis

Born at Vieux-Condé (Nord), July 20, 1808.
Ordination to the priesthood, August 21, 1832.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, February 1, 1851.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, October 5, 1851. (no. 309)
Died at Talence on February 23, 1863.+

Hector Louis Merlin was born at Vieux-Condé in the diocese of Cambrai on July 20, 1808. Ordained to the priesthood on August 21, 1832, he exercised his ministry in the diocese of Cambrai until he entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier on February 1, 1851. He made his oblation there on October 5, 1851 with a dispensation from four months of novitiate. The same day, the Founder told him that he had been appointed superior of Nancy where he was to replace Father Toussaint Dassy who was sent to found the Oblate house of Bordeaux. “Leave at once and go to your post; God in his goodness will be your help since you are moved by obedience alone. This is the help that strengthens us, it makes up for all that we lack initially and which we swiftly acquire with grace.” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1089, p. 63)

When Father Dassy left Nancy, the house lost its only capable preacher who was supposed to preach the Lenten series at Étain. Father Merlin took on the task for the honor of the Congregation. The Founder encouraged the superior and, among other things, wrote to him on September 10, 1852: “…it is only by way of exception and dispensation that we preach a Lenten series. It is missions and retreats that we must undertake, and why then go and compete with all these Orders who have provided men for a given place? Let us go by preference to the most abandoned places.” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1120, p. 102)

During the summer of 1853, the priests of Notre-Dame de Talence (Bordeaux) were all complaining about Father Dassy’s excessively authoritarian rule and telling Bishop de Mazenod that he should call him back to Marseilles. He replaced him at Talence with Father Merlin who remained as superior of the house from 1853 to the time of his death in 1863 with a hiatus of two years from 1857 to 1859 for health reasons.

In addition to being superior of the community, Father Merlin was parish priest and ordinary confessor of the Sisters of Hope. He also ministered to the pilgrims and would go occasionally to preach a parish mission. Abbé Gervais, the secretary to Cardinal August Donnet wrote on February 24, 1863: “Father Merlin had become one of us in virtue of his cooperation with the diocesan works, by the devoted care with which he embellished the shrine of Talence, by his prudent and sure direction which he lavished on souls whose spiritual father he was. His memory will be reverenced in the parish entrusted to his care and among the persons who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Shortly after Father Merlin’s arrival at Talence, Father Depetro had told Bishop de Mazenod on August 24, 1853, that the new superior was very well loved by all. Father Fabre as well wrote in the obituary: “All those who knew him loved him. He was so kind hearted! He was so gentle and easy to get along with in his relationships with others! Genuinely a father for those of whom he was the superior, he was truly a child in his tractability and by his eagerness to serve those who were his superiors. In the different circumstances which brought us into contact with him, how many times have we not witnessed his admirable simplicity, obedience and attentiveness…”

At the beginning of 1863, Father Merlin did not feel very well, but continued his work. On February 23, Father Delpeuch wrote: “We had said evening prayer as usual. We had spent together a pleasant and relaxing recreation.” At ten o’clock, the illness manifested itself (vomiting); at eleven o’clock, he had ceased to live.

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.