Philibert Vrau

Philibert Vrau, ( born November 19, 1829 in Lille, France, † May 16, 1905 ibid ) was the organizer of the first International Eucharistic Congress.

Life

The Industrial Philibert Vrau continued during the Industrial Revolution for the spread of the Catholic faith in his home town of Lille in. This city in northern France was one of the centers of the then economic expansion, with all its cultural, social and religious side effects. He helped Catholic elementary and vocational schools to set up. He also campaigned for the establishment of a seminary and a Catholic University in Lille ( Institut Catholique de Lille).

With the support of Pope Leo XIII. he realized his idea of an International Eucharistic Congress in Lille in 1881. During this first congress was attended by 300 people.

He supported the construction of six churches in Lille, a city that grew strongly due to the industrialization. The most important of these places of worship is Notre -Dame-de -la- Treille.

In a time of great conflict of the Catholic Church in France with liberal and anticlerical forces he was the owner of two Catholic newspapers: La Croix and La bonne press.

Since 1930 a process of beatification is pending in Rome.