Born at Euilly (Ardennes), May 6, 1832.
Taking of the habit at Notre Dame de l’Osier, October 31, 1855.
Oblation at Notre Dame de l’Osier, November 1, 1856. (no. 420)
Ordination to the priesthood at Marseilles, June 28, 1857.
Expelled from the Congregation, July 22, 1864.
Louis Stanislas Sacré was born at Euilly in the diocese of Rheims on May 6, 1832. After two years of theological studies at Rheims, he entered the novitiate at Notre Dame de l’Osier on October 31, 1855 and made his oblation there before Father Hippolyte Courtès on November 1, 1856. In the October 24, 1856 session of the General Council, he was admitted to vows. The secretary wrote in his report of the session: “This brother is endowed with a temperament that is strong, fiery and of a great impressionability. His vocation has withstood all trials. His novitiate went well. Solid prayer life, but not given much to devotions. A thoughtful and serious mind. A bit of self-complacency, in his manners, at least. [….] His intentions are upright and his views are supernatural.”
Scholastic brother Sacré spent one academic year at the scholasticate of Montolivet before being ordained to the priesthood by Bishop de Mazenod on June 28, 1857. Father Mouchette, moderator of the scholastics, saw in him more faults than positive qualities. Among other things, he wrote; “1856, forthright character, open. Somewhat too blunt, too cutting; 1857, health somewhat feeble. Talks too much, unmortified, likes to take it easy, abrupt, regular in his observance, […] a bit inclined to particular friendships.”
According to a letter to Father Fabre, Father Sacré was initially a mission preacher in Corsica, then in Autun in 1862, at Limoges and in Bordeaux in 1863. In the 1862-1863 Personnel Registry, they wrote after his name: “Self-satisfied character, liberal in his prayer life, liberal in his opinions, liberal in his conduct. Rich in talents, has talent as a preacher. Mission preacher at Autun, Limoges (1863), at Bordeaux (1863). He was sent there in May and paid no heed to preaching or confessions.”
At the July 22, 1864 session of the General Council, the decision was taken to expel him. “On the verge of leaving Vichy where he has been frequenting the thermal baths,” we read in the report of the session, “Father Sacré asked to be sent to an Oblate house more or less of his choice in order to take a few days of holidays. But our Very Reverend Father General reminded the Council that this individual has several grave accusations lodged against him, among others, seven in the diocese of Limoges alone; he added that, in conscience, he can no longer entrust ministry to this individual, nor can he take responsibility for him. The Council, giving consideration to the fact that the priest in question has long been an albatross around the neck of the Congregation for whom he is a source of scandal, unanimously asked that Father Sacré be expelled in a time frame to be determined by our Very Reverend Father General…”
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
