Bl.Arnold Reche

  Posted on October 24, 2018  by admin  No comments

Born: 2 September 1838 Landroff, Moselle, July Monarchy

Died: 23 October 1890 (aged 52) Rheims, Marne, French Third Republic

Venerated: in Roman Catholic Church

Beatified: 1 November 1987, Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II

Feast: 23 October

Attributes: De La Sallian habit Patronage Educators

Son of Claude and Anne Flausset Reche, a poor family in a small village. His father was extremely religious shoemaker, his mother given to fits of depression over their impoverished condition, and Nicholas was one of nine children. He grew up with strong religious values and a fear of sin. Considered the only serious student in his cathechism class, he taught catechism to the younger children. However, when he moved to the Charlesville as a young adult, he began drifting to a more secular life.

He worked as a coachman for a wealthy family, and a mule driver for a contractor building a local church. His aunt, who lived nearby, convinced him to make some changes in his life; Nicholas began to attend classes conducted by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and returned to a life of active and intense prayer. He joined the LaSalle Brothers in 1862 at age 28, taking the name Brother Arnold, and making his final vows in 1871.

He worked as a medic, treating the wounded in the trenches during the Franco-Prussian War, and was awarded the bronze cross for his work. Taught at the Brothers boarding school at Rheims, France; noted as a mediocre teacher of classroom topics, but an outstanding teacher of Christian doctrine. Novice director for the congregation in 1877, a move that got him out of the class rooms where he felt he was a failure. Director general of the house at Courlancy from March 1890 till his death a few months later.

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