Born at Grenoble (Isère), November 14, 1825.
Taking of the habit at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, October 18, 1848.
Oblation at Notre-Dame de l’Osier, October 19, 1849. (no. 264)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, February 15, 1852.
Left the Congregation at the end of 1854 or beginning of 1855.
Ferdinand Revol was born in Grenoble on November 14, 1825. He entered the novitiate of Notre-Dame de l’Osier on October 18, 1848 and made his oblation there on October 19, 1849, before, it seems, he had been accepted by the General Council. Indeed, we read in the report of the session of November 28, 1849: “The admission of Brother Revol had initially been rejected in a first deliberation [October 21] based on the notes presented by the master of novices of l’Osier [Father Santoni], but after more ample information was supplied by Rev. Father Vincens, the superior of the community of Notre-Dame de l’Osier, this brother was accepted to make his oblation.”
After three years of theology at the major seminary of Marseilles, he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on February 15, 1852. In the autumn of that same year, he received his obedience for Nancy. On September 10, the Founder wrote to Father Merlin, the superior at Nancy: “I have selected for you one of the most pleasant and sound men in the Congregation.”(Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1120, p. 102) When he arrived at the end of December, he made a bad impression on Father Merlin. On January 27, 1853, Bishop de Mazenod had to write him: “You are bantering, my dear Father Merlin, when you seem to tell me in all seriousness that I wanted to put you to the test by sending you Reverend Father Revol. But to what kind of a trial did you think I was subjecting you? In my acts of administration all matters are given very serious consideration. Father Revol does not find favour with you because he is scrupulous. It seems to me that, even if he is scrupulous, you should favour him over others who do not possess his qualities. […] Father Revol is a good religious. Gradually, he will become accustomed to working in the sacred ministry and imperceptibly he will shed this excessive delicacy of conscience which he would be the first to recognize is ridiculous.” (Oblate Writings I, vol. 11, no. 1133, p. 116)
From what we gather in a few letters from Oblates, Father Revol was in Marseilles toward the end of 1854 and from there he left the Congregation.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
