Born at Massongy (Haute-Savoie), May 27, 1826
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, July 9, 1847
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, July 10, 1848 (no. 199)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 29, 1851
Left the Congregation in 1872.
François Picus was born at Massongy, diocese of Annecy, May 27, 1826. On July 9, 1847, he entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier where he made his oblation on July 10, 1848. In their June 28, 1848 deliberations, the General Council had admitted him to vows while taking note of the fact that he was lacking in piety and was somewhat given to frivolity. But, there were no serious grounds for reproach in this regard. “In any case,” they added, “he makes up for it by his other qualities. He is very attached to his vocation, a faithful observer of the Rules. As for his talents, he offers more than sufficient promise in that area. As for his character, he is one of those who seem to be the most suited for community life.”
He studied theology at the major seminary of Marseilles and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Eugene de Mazenod on June 29, 1851. He spent a few weeks resting at Notre-Dame de Lumières in July-August 1850. Upon sending him there, Father Tempier wrote to Father Bise, the superior at Lumières: “I most strictly enjoined Brother Picus not to engage in singing or playing the flute, something to which he is much inclined . More explicitly, he has a kind of passion for that kind of thing and he pays dearly for it in terms of his health.”
From 1851 to 1863, Father Picus taught dogmatic theology at the major seminary of Fréjus, acted as choir master and was in charge an outreach organization for churches in need. Like the other professors, he preached a few nuns’ retreats during summer vacation. From 1864 to 1871, he was in residence at the general house in Paris, was given responsibility for ministry at the chapel on Saint-Pétersbourg street and preached retreats.
Appointed superior of the house at Le Calvaire in Marseilles in 1871, he remained there for only one year. Indeed, without asking permission, he initiated some repairs. By a decision of the General Council of February 26, 1872, he was forbidden to continue this work which was based on “alleged marvellous occurrences,” and which was launched in a manner that was “hardly straightforward, certainly not tactful and was irregular.” He persevered with his plans and on April 10, 1872, the General Council authorized him to ask Rome for a dispensation from his vows. According to a note contained in his dossier at the General Archives, after leaving the Congregation, he founded an orphanage at Thonon and a second one in Nice. It seems he died in 1897.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
