Born at Vinay (Isère), April 21, 1821
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 1, 1841
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, November 1, 1842 (no. 99)
Ordination to the priesthood, September 20, 1845
Dispensed from his vows, June 22, 1864.

Jules Piot was born in Vinay, diocese of Grenoble, April 21, 1821. He began his novitiate at Notre-Dame de l’Osier on November 1, 1841 and made his oblation there November1, 1842. After three years of theological studies at the major seminary of Marseilles and at l’Osier, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod at Viviers on September 20, 1845. He owned some goods which he wanted to administer himself, but in 1842, Bishop de Mazenod asked him to entrust the use of his riches to his superior.

Father Piot was very attached to Notre-Dame de l’Osier. When he was a scholastic brother, he used to go there at least during the summer vacation and for a long time subsequent to this he refused to leave that house, where, in any case, he showed himself to be very useful as preacher. This resulted in his being twice expelled from the Congregation.

In 1850, he was sent to Nancy with Father Louis-Toussaint Dassy. There, he was an incessant “thorn in the side of his superior and a source of bad example to his confreres because of his lack of regular observance, his inordinate demands with regard to food and clothing, his unsettled air, his censorious assessment of everything around him.” Then, without warning, he left Nancy and returned to l’Osier. At the General Council session of October 31, 1850, the decision was taken to “dismiss” him from the Congregation. At l’Osier, he repented, promised to do better in the future and insisted on remaining an Oblate. Father Vincens, the superior of l’Osier, interceded for him. At the Council session of November 4, the decision taken was upheld, but it was left “to the prudence and wisdom of the Superior General to make the decision and to personally specify to the guilty party the kind of reparation the society would demand of him before restoring his rights to him.”

In 1855, Father Piot’s conduct at l’Osier proved unsatisfactory once again. In order to place him in a house of very regular rhythm of life, the Founder appointed him professor of history and Sacred Scripture at the scholasticate at Montolivet. Father Piot protested and the Superior General enforced the decision taken in 1850. On November 8, 1855, he wrote to Father Charles Baret that “[Father Piot] having merited it countless times, has just been sent away too late, much too late for the Congregation’s honour. For the latter I had poured out the full measure of mercy, and he abused of it to the point of scandal. He did not measure up and ask on his own and by his conduct for the house to which I had called him only to withdraw him from the occasions to which his weakness succumbed elsewhere.” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1850-1855, Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1296, p. 291)

Once again, he repented. Father Florent Vandenberghe, superior of l’Osier, interceded on his behalf in order that “the fatal sentence would not be put into execution.” In their session of December 3, 1855, the Council acceded to this request. We read in the report: “Consequently, the decision was taken that one more effort would be made by sending him back to Montolivet on the condition that he make public reparation for the wrongs he has committed by asking for forgiveness and promising to do better in the presence of the entire community assembled.” The Founder communicated this decision to Father Bellon, the provincial, and added: “This is the way that almighty God gives his grace again to a truly repentant sinner, even though he may foresee and know that this sinner will fall into sin again.” (Letters to the Oblates of France, 1850-1855, Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1301, p. 295)

Father Piot remained at Montolivet only during the 1855-1856 academic year. He then returned to being a mission preacher and took up residence at Limoges, where Father Burfin, whom he knew well, was superior. We find him once again at Nancy in 1860-1861, then at Notre-Dame de Cléry from 1862 to 1864. His name subsequently appeared a few times in Missions O.M.I. He preached a great deal and also helped out the priests at Autun and Limoges. In June of 1864, he asked to be dispensed from his vows, alleging that he was too feeble and sick to continue his life of mission preaching. Father Fabre consented to his leaving the Congregation and gave him 6000 francs in compensation for the assets Father Piot had brought with him upon entering the Congregation.

Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.