Born: Gigean (Hérault), March 24, 1833.
Took the habit: N.-D. de l’Osier, November 20, 1853.
Vows: Marseilles, December 8, 1854 (No. 379).
Priestly ordination: Marseilles, June 8, 1856.
Died: Paris, April 26, 1870.
Charles Mestre was born in Gigean, diocese of Montpellier, on March 24, 1833. His parents were Charles Mestre-Lagrenade and Marguerite Fesquet. He had to interrupt his studies and become a teacher in order to defray the expenses of his education. He did one year of theology in the major seminary of Montpellier before entering the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier on November 20, 1853. He made his vows in Montolivet on December 8, 1854. In his report on the novices in December 1853, Father Florent Vandenberghe first refers to the qualities and virtues of the candidate: “Mestre, generous piety, great docility, plenty of dedication and activity, very open, even with his brothers, is quite happy.” Afterwards, Father Vandenberghe points out the Brother’s faults and on November 2, 1854 he finished with these words: “Basically, he is very good, and devout. His character leaves something to be desired; he is caustic, nit-picking, susceptible and touchy like a man from the South, … somewhat vain.”
Brother Mestre spent the years 1854-1856 in the scholasticate of Montolivet. In 1855, Father Antoine Mouchette wrote about him: “Mestre, punctual, many good qualities and many faults.” Then, in 1856: “Always a difficult character, He will always cause those who live with him to suffer. He is often capricious. He is punctual. He wants only the foreign missions.” Bishop de Mazenod ordained him to the priesthood on June 8, 1856 and, in August, he gave him an obedience for Canada. He ministered for a while in Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, Montreal (1856), Kahnawake (1856), in Plattsburgh, New York (1857-1858). He then went to Saint-Boniface, Manitoba (1860-1863), and was responsible for ministry in Saint-Norbert (1861-1863). He became ill and returned to Eastern Canada where he worked at Saint-Pierre-Apôtre, Montreal (1863-1865). In the words of Father Antoine, “The faithful liked his preaching which was very animated and with a heavy accent. Assiduous and persevering in the confessional, he had a number of penitents in Montreal.” He exercised his ministry in Saint-Sauveur, Quebec (1865-1870) and then returned to France on April 15, 1870. He suffered from partial paralysis and headaches. He died in Paris on April 26, 1870 and is buried in the cemetery of Montmartre.
Yvon Beaudoin
and Gaston Carrière, o.m.i.
