The bishops of the United States voted in favour The initiation at the diocesan level of the cause of the beatification and canonization of the so-called “Martyrs of Shreveport”Five French priests caring for residents affected by the 1873 yellow fever epidemic in Louisiana.
God’s servants are: Jean-Pierre, Isidore Coimris, Jean-Marie Piller, Louis Jargoud, François Livezoetfive priests born in France, whose causes will be the same, by concession of the Vatican Religion to the Causes of the Saints.
According to a prospectus from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), French priests left their homeland to go on missions in what was then the newly erected Diocese of Shreveport, which was on the northern Louisiana border.
They served despite the terrible conditions
When yellow fever hit this community, They attended spiritually To the locals, help the sick to their beds and anoint the dead.
New Orleans newspaper described The Shreveport outbreak has been called “four times worse” than anything seen in decades; However, the five priests chose to remain in the community and continue to serve despite the harsh conditions, as each of them had contracted yellow fever.
The bishops are approved to begin the diocesan phase of the five priests As part of the annual spring meetingWhere is the archbishop Jerome Listecki, of Milwaukee, and chair of the Committee on Ecclesiastical Affairs and Church Governance United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as Bishop Frances Mallon of ShreveportFacilitated bishops discussion.
In this way, by vote, the bishops confirmed Support the advancement of the cause Beatification and canonization at the level of the diocese.
In his request to open the stage of the local inquiry into the lives of priests, Bishop Mallon is cited The faithful benefit from the lives and virtues of priests of the Church in the United States in light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic.
