Born at Socourt (Vosges), May 28, 1831.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, May 28, 1854.
Perpetual oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, October 15, 1856. (no. 419b)
Dispensed from his vows July 4, 1863.
Nicolas Pierron was born at Socourt in the diocese of Nancy on May 28, 1831. He began his novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on May 28, 1854 and made his annual vows there in 1855, his five year vows on February 17, 1856 and his perpetual vows on October 15, 1856. He was admitted to vows at the General Council session of September 19 of that year with these comments: “His good spirit, his fidelity to the obligations of the Rule, his love of the Congregation, his robust health and his aptitude for every kind of work along with a great deal of energy make of him a genuinely valuable candidate for the house which numbers him among its members.”
We do not know where he lived for a number of years, but from 1861 to 1863, he was in Paris. On October 6, 1861, Father Burfin wanted to have him at Limoges. He wrote to Father Fabre: “You have Brother Pierron whom they are sending from pillar to post and whom they will end up throwing out of the house. Give him to me and I promise you that I will keep him.” Father Burfin asked, however, that before allowing the brother to leave Paris that they should teach him “to cook the evening meal.” On October 18, 1861, Father Magnan, the superior in Paris, wrote to Father Fabre telling him that he is launching services in the chapel. As of yet, he did not dare sing vespers “because he had only the voice of Brother Chounavel and the toothless jaw of Brother Pierron to assist him.”
Brother Pierron remained in Paris where we still find him in May of 1863. On May 19, Father Magnan, the superior, wrote to Father Fabre to complain of the assistants general who were interfering with his role as superior. He added: “At this very moment, here we have Brother Pierron coming to me all upset about some remarks Father Tempier made to him about his trip. It took a long time for me to calm him down, but naturally, I am asking to whom are the brothers responsible? Who can make remarks to them? What one assistant does, another assistant can do…”
What happened next? Through the various Registries we learn that Brother Pierron was dispensed from his vows on July 4, 1863. Under this name in the Personnel Registry 1862-1863, are written several lines: “Endowed with an overwrought imagination which has an impact on his prayer life which is basically sincere. Endowed with an energy which no obstacle can impede, constantly acting on impulse, unstable in his conduct. A character hard to get along with, overbearing and steeped in self-love, sensitive in the extreme. In 1863, after many unpleasant incidents and after he proved himself guilty of several breaches of trust, he was sent away on July [4], dispensed from his vows. He was given 500 francs for which he signed a receipt.” In a July 30, 1869 letter, Nicolas Pierron asked to be readmitted to the Congregation.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
