Born at Saint-Pierre (Ardèche), December 9, 1822
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, March 13, 1847
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, December 18, 1847
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, March 14, 1848 (no. 186)
Died at the major seminary of Marseilles, October 5, 1849.
Jean François Régis Mounier was born at Saint-Pierre, in the diocese of Viviers on December 9, 1822. March 13, 1847, he entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier. He made his oblation on March 14, 1848. Since he was already a deacon, he was called to Marseilles where Bishop de Mazenod ordained him to the priesthood on December 18, 1847 and sent him back to the novitiate as assistant to Father Vincens, the novice master.
In September of 1848, Father Mounier was appointed spiritual director of the scholastic brothers at the major seminary in Marseilles where he replaced Father Bellon who had been sent to England. He died October 5, 1849. In an old register of the personnel, we read after his name: “He was a deacon when he arrived at the novitiate where he distinguished himself as much by his enthusiasm and his abundant virtue as by his clear-headed thinking. Rev. Father Vincens, superior of the house and novice master at that time, made use of his services to help in running the novitiate where there were a great number of novices. The Lord Bishop, our beloved father, wants to confer the priesthood upon him before the end of his novitiate. Consequently, in September of 1848, he summoned him to the major seminary at Marseilles to take over from Rev. Father Bellon as moderator of the Oblate scholastic brothers. He was loved by all as the most devoted of friends and considered a genuine saint. This life of devotion and total involvement which he accepted under obedience exhausted him all too soon. In the month of September 1849, he was struck down by an illness that brought him to the grave in a few short days…”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
