Benedict Joseph Labre

Benoît Joseph Labre, Benedict Joseph Labre also ( born March 26, 1748 in Amettes, Pas- de -Calais, † April 16, 1783 in Rome) was a holy pilgrim and mystic.

Life

As the son of wealthy parents, he should become a priest originally. After he was but a poor student, this goal seemed unattainable. At the age of 18, he was dismissed from the Carthusians at Neuville -sous- Montreuil. As a 21 -year-old he was taken in the Cistercian abbey of Sept- Fonts. But he was also here the consecration through illness not reach. The Trappists, he was then taken up but in the community, but straightway unexplained fears presented and he fled from the monastery.

In 1770, Benoît made ​​after his recovery on the way to a pilgrimage to Rome. His parents, he wrote, he had " finally found his destiny ." About seven years he went on pilgrimage through Europe to visit important sites of Christianity. Also alms adverse, then he lived another 6 years under extreme self-denial in Rome. Completely exhausted, he died on April 16, 1783 on the steps of the church of Santa Maria ai Monti in Rome, where his remains are venerated as relics. At the funeral of the poor beggar the streets of Rome were lined with countless believers. In the following three months 136 accomplished by Benoît Joseph miracles of healing were verified.

Aftereffect

Benoît Joseph was in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII. canonized. In Rome, he is one of the most popular saints. He is regarded as a saint of the homeless.

As a protest against the Nazi regime Reinhold Schneider published in 1943 his story "Before the dawn ", is the Labre as an example of credible Christian.

Facilities

In Trier therefore carries the Begnungsstätte Caritas as Benedict Labre House his name. In Cologne, an organization for the homeless named Benedict Labre help, in Munich there are the " Sisters and Brothers of St. Benedict Labre eV " in Graz ( Austria ) is the 20-year long device VinziDorf Benedict Labre dedicated. In VinziDorf people who have previously lived for many years on the road have been found in residential containers a new home. ViniDorf - founder is the minister Wolfgang Pucher, whose organization VinziWerke now 33 facilities for people on the margins of society ( beggar, Roma, alcoholics, etc.) operates.