Born at Ménil (Mayenne), September 6, 1827.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, September 7, 1852.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, September 8, 1853. (no. 350)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, September 22, 1855.
Died at Aix-en-Provence on June 19, 1871.
Louis René Pineau was born at Ménil in the diocese of Mans on September 6, 1827. He made his secondary studies at the minor seminary of Précigné and part of his theological studies at the major seminary of Mans. On September 7, 1852, he entered the novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier; he made his oblation there on September 8, 1853. The general council had admitted him to vows in its session of September 4 with the following comments: “This brother has a lot of virtue and dedication and is well trained in religious life.”
He continued to study theology at the major seminary in Marseilles in 1853-1854 and at Montolivet in 1854-1855. Father Mouchette, the moderator of scholastics, often mentions in his reports on the Oblate scholastics that his health is rather fragile, which makes him “cautious” but he also stresses his “gentle, candid character and the fact that he is assiduous in his duties, regular in his observance, calm, full of love for his vocation and his superiors.”
Bishop de Mazenod ordained him to the priesthood on September 22, 1855. Obedience subsequently sent him to several houses: Nancy in 1856 and 1857 where he did a limited amount of ministry in the prisons, Talence in 1858-1861, Cléry in 1862, Limoges in 1863, Notre-Dame de la Garde in Marseilles in 1864, and probably right up until 1868, Le Calvaire in Marseilles from 1868 to 1871. In his obituary, Father Fabre wrote: “His fragile health never allowed him to take on an active ministry. It would seem that God called him to be among us to dedicate himself to the interior life and, in this way, by a continuous flow of prayer, to associate himself with our apostolic workers.”
He was sent to Aix shortly before his death which took place on June 19, 1871. Father Prosper Boisramé, his classmate from the time they were together at the minor seminary of Précigné right up to Montolivet wrote in his obituary: “As long as I knew him, our confrere was good hearted, kindly, smiling. His companionship was sought after because in his company one was sure to find joy and edification. His continually exemplary conduct, the air of serenity that you could see in his face, his obvious recollection in prayer, his eagerness and his fidelity to draw the living waters of grace and of pure love at the fountains of the Saviour, the final years of his life spent, they tell me, almost entirely before the tabernacle, his perseverance in his life of constant oblation, amidst the tribulations of a rather weak and sickly constitution, do we not find in all this so many irrefutable pledges of this genuine and sincere prayer life of which after twenty years our former confreres retain the treasured and sweet remembrance?”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
