Blessed Nicolas Barré

We are delighted to commemorate the 27th anniversary of the beatification of Nicolas Barré in Rome on 7 March 1999 by Saint John Paul II. This is an opportunity to revive and better understand the figure of our founder.

Born on 21 October 1621 in Amiens into a wealthy merchant family, he was the eldest and only boy with  four sisters. Although his future seemed all mapped out – taking over his father's business – he chose the priesthood and entered the Order of Minims at the age of 19, in 1640. Sent to Rouen, he established the first Écoles Charitables (Charitable Schools) there in 1662. Concerned about the education of disadvantaged populations, he brought together young women who wanted to teach, founding a lasting institution that is now perpetuated by the Sisters of the Infant Jesus, an institute comprising two branches: the Sisters of the Infant Jesus Nicolas Barré and the Sisters of the Infant Jesus Providence of Rouen. His work influenced other religious figures of the 17th century, such as Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, founder of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. When he died in 1681, the cry was unanimous: ‘The Saint of the Minims is dead!’

His beatification process began in 1999. Why so late? The vagaries of history played a role: the disappearance of the Order of Minims in France during the Revolution made the archives inaccessible for a long time. His cause for beatification was finally officially introduced on 5 April 1976 by a decree of Pope Paul VI, and he was recognised venerable on 21 March 1983 by Pope John Paul II. A healing, due to his intercession in December 1989, was recognised as miraculous in 1997. Liturgically, Father Nicolas Barré is commemorated on 21 October. On 10 October, in Rouen, a Nicolas Barré memorial and a permanent exhibition in the church of the former Minimes monastery where he lived (14 rue du Bourg-l'Abbé) will be inaugurated.

Blessed Nicolas Barré is known in many countries around the world, and our sisters continue to keep his charism alive on four continents.

To learn more about the life of Nicolas Barré, visit: https://archives-ejnb.org/exhibits/show/nicolas-barre and https://nicolasbarre.wixsite.com/bienheureux

‘Different species of trees produce different fruits. You cannot expect cherries from a plum tree. The same is true of souls. Each must bear the fruit of its own species, which is that of its grace and attraction’.