St. Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783)
Image: 365 Rosaries
(Franciscan Media) Born in France in a middle-class family, Benedict Joseph Labre was the eldest of 18 children and his parents were able to give to their children considerable opportunities in the way of education.
Benedict Joseph received his earliest education in a nearby school conducted by the Vicar of the Parish. By the age of 12, Benedict Joseph’s education was taken over by his Uncle (Francois Joseph Labre) with whom he went to live. During the next six years, he made considerable progress in his studies of Latin, History and Philosophy but found himself unable to conquer a constantly growing distaste for learning and knowledge. Benedict Joseph has a love of solitude, discipline and devotion to his religious exercises which were a distinguishable feature of his life.
At the age of 16 Benedict resolved to embrace a religious life as a Trappist (Cistercian Order of Monks established by the Abbot de Rance in 1664 and noted for an austere rule that included remaining silent for much of the time —Oxford Dictionary) however, on the advice of his Uncle Francois, he returned home to seek permission of his parents which they refused to consent so Benedict resume his visits to the Rectory, redoubling his penances and devotion, striving to make ready for his life of complete self-sacrifice to which the voice within his soul seemed to be calling him.
Following the death of his Uncle Francois during an epidemic in 1766 Benedict, dedicated himself to the service of the poor, sick and dying all the while, his absorbing thoughts were still to live a religious life–fearing however that further opposition of his parents would be resistance to the will of God.
Benedict’s petition at Val-Sainte Aldegonde was unsuccessful and he was referred to a different Monastery of the same Order at Neuville. There he was told that because he was not yet 20, there was no hurry and was encouraged to learn plaint chant and logic. During the next two years, Benedict applied twice unsuccessfully to be received at La Trappe, he was finally able to obtain admission to the ‘Cistercian Abbey of Sept-Fonts’ in 1769
After a brief stay at the ‘Cistercian Abbey of Sept-Fonts’ during which time Benedict’s exactness in religious observances and humility, endeared him to the entire community, his health deteriorated and it was decided that his vocation lay elsewhere.
During his time of convalescence he resolved that he would go to Rome and from Italy Chieri, he wrote to his parents a letter (which was the last they would receive from him) in which he informed them his intentions to enter one of the Monasteries in Italy noted for their strictness in religious life. A short time however after mailing the letter to them. Benedict appeared to have an internal illumination which set at rest further any doubts that he may have as to what his manner of living may be. Benedict realized ‘that it was God’s will that like St. Alexis he should abandon his country, his parents and whatever is flattering in the world to lead a new sort of life, a life most painful, most penitential, not in a wilderness nor in a cloister but in the midst of the world, devoutly visiting as a pilgrim the famous places of Christian devotion.’
Benedict traveled from one great shrine to another living off charity, he wore the clothes of a beggar and shared what little food he had with the poor. Filled with the love of God and his neighbor, Benedict had special devotion to the Blessed Holy Mother. While in Rome, he lived in the Colosseum for a time and was called ‘The Poor Man of the 40 Hours of Devotion’ and ‘The Beggar of Rome,’ the locals accepted his ragged appearance better than he did–his excuse to himself was that ‘our comfort is not in this world.’
Worn out by his poverty and self-denial, on the 16 April, 1783 Benedict made his way to the steps of the Church of Santa Maria dei Monti in Rome, utterly exhausted, he was carried a neighboring house where he passed away.
Following Benedict’s death, a multitude of unequivocal miracles were attributed to his intercession. The life written by his Confessor Marconi, evidenced 136 miraculous cures being certified up to 06 July, 1783
Benedict was proclaimed Venerable in 1859 by Pope Pius IX and Canonized in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII
More here from EWTN