Born at Arlon (Luxembourg), June 23, 1831.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, September 16, 1852.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, September 17, 1853. (no. 354)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 28, 1857.
Dispensed from his vows, July 22, 1864.
Jean Pierre Michaëlis was born at Arlon in the diocese of Namur on June 23, 1831. He began his novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on September 16, 1852 and made his oblation on September 17, 1853. He was admitted to vows in the September 4 General Council session with “a favourable report for prayer life as well as for character and talents.”
He studied philosophy at the major seminary of Marseilles in 1853-1854 and theology at Montolivet from 1854 until his ordination to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on June 28, 1857. In the reports made on the scholastic brothers Father Mouchette stressed the good health of Brother Michaëlis, his frankness, and his diligence in all his tasks, but also mentions his “jaunty air,” his “lack of fidelity in little things” and of his “attachment to his own will.”
After his ordination, he was sent to Nancy with a view to replacing Father Guinet as novice master. Father Guinet stayed on at Nancy and so plans were made to appoint Father Michaëlis master of novices at Sicklinghall in England to take over from Father Arnoux who was needed as superior at Dublin. It seems he did not go there. Rather, he received his obedience for Cléry as mission preacher.
In 1861, with the permission of Father Tempier, the vicar general, he went to settle some family business at Arlon and accepted a position as parish priest near Sprincourt (Meuse), allegedly to help out his indigent parents. Some time after his election as Superior General at the end of 1861, Father Fabre summoned Father Michaëlis to Paris and granted his parents an annual pension. Father Michaëlis was sent to Nancy where he was in 1863. He took part in a few parish missions, but soon returned to his family home. At the May 25, 1864 session of the General Council, the decision was taken to recall him to live in an Oblate house. Father Michaëlis asked to be able to exercise his ministry for two or three years outside the Congregation in order to better assist his parents. He did, however, admit that community life for him was distressing. Father Fabre subsequently dispensed him from his vows following a decision of the General Council on July 22, 1864.
Father Michaëlis corresponded with Fathers Fabre and Sardou up until 1883. He constantly repeated his attraction for preaching the Gospel to the poor and, in 1873, even asked to live and preach along with the Oblates without being bound by vows.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
