Saverne and Fr Libermann.
For Spiritans, Saverne recalls above all the homeland of Jacob
Libermann. He was born there on the 12th of April 1802 and he lived
in the confines of the Jewish ghetto there under the authority of his
father, Rabbi Lazarus, until he was 20. Then Lazarus sent him to the
Talmudic school at Metz to undertake studies that would allow him to
succeed his father as rabbi. He returned home only briefly, at the
beginning of autumn 1826. His father, under the impression that he
was faithful to his Jewish traditions, sent him to Paris for further
study. A few weeks later in a small room at College Stanislas, Jacob
received the grace of conversion to Jesus, the Messiah whom he had
learned to long for with all his heart. His conversion was a crushing
blow to Rabbi Lazarus. He didn't visit his family house until 10
years later when he was at Issy as the bursar's assistant "who
dealt with the domestic staff and the laundry". He made the
journey to Alsace and stayed at Saverne from the 11th -13th of
September 1836. When he met his stepsister Sarah, he renewed with her
a fraternal friendship, at the same time deflecting the insults of
his stepbrother Isaac, who was engaged in the study of Talmudic
theology. The Jewish community were not at all disposed to welcome
him and some wanted "to stone the renegade."
Maison Saint-Florent
Maison Saint-Florent originated as a building owned by the police.
The Congregation acquired it and took possession on the 98th
anniversary of the birth of Fr Libermann, 12 April 1900. Dependent on
Knechtsteden, the apostolic school was enlarged from year to year by
the acquisition of adjoining land. In 1913, the year of the
ordination of the first past pupil to
become a Spiritan, there were 130 students being taught by about 20
priests and brothers. After the First World War, having become a
house of the province of France, Saint-Florent attracted the same
number of young candidates for the missionary life, while the younger
ones were accommodated at Blotzheim (near Saint-Louis) and at
Neufgrange (near Sarreguemines). The work of formation continued
without interruption until the Second World War, at the outbreak of
which, the students were dispersed to other "apostolic
schools". However 80 returned at the end of 1940, under pressure
from the Nazi ideology.
After the war life returned to normal. In 1947 there were 14 priests
and 12 brothers at Maison Saint-Florent. Its reputation was at its
peak as major anniversaries were celebrated; in 1950 the 50th of its
foundation and then in 1952 the centenary of the death of Fr
Libermann, which was the occasion of a memorable triduum at which
several bishops participated as well as Fr. Francis Griffin, Spiritan
Superior General.
From the middle of 1960 Saint-Florent experienced important changes
arising from the twinning with the African Missions of Lyon and the
change in requirements for the exams at the end of secondary school.
Groups were welcomed to make retreats at the house and "Foi et
Mission", a movement of missionary animation, was founded.
However, the number of students began to decrease. By 1970 they were
only 46. In 1973 alas, the school had to be closed. It has the proud
boast of having educated 2,169 students, of whom 420 became Spiritan
missionaries (396 priests and 24 brothers) while 64 became diocesan
priests or members of other societies. Missionary animation at
Saint-Florent, well underway for some time, has become its principal
work. The missionary exhibition, which attracts many visitors, has
been reorganised. Animation in the spirit of Libermann is carried on
by means of conferences and sessions in a building recently renovated
and freshly equipped. 1996 saw the inauguration of the Libermann
Centre, a centre rich in resources and recognised by the Spiritan
provinces of Europe.
Reminiscences of François Libermann to M. Gamon about his
years as a Jew.
(ND I p.60-68)
I was about twenty years old when God set to work on my
conversion. My father, who was a well-known Rabbi, had me studying
the Talmud close to him. He was satisfied with my progress and was
consoled by the thought that eventually I would succeed him in his
post, in his knowledge and in the respect that he enjoyed from others
of his religion. It was around the time of which I am speaking that
he decided to send me to Metz to finish off my studies. He made this
decision not so much for me to gain the knowledge that I could just
as easily have acquired under his guidance, but to show off my
erudition and talents and to make a good impression on the Rabbis who
were coming in large numbers to study in that town. He gave me
letters for two of the professors of the rabbinical school, one of
whom was his past student and the other a personal friend. This is
where I can first detect the merciful intervention of Providence. It
was God's plan to pull me out of the error into which I had fallen by
testing me with annoyances and rebuttals that I was hardly expecting.
The Rabbi, who had been a student of my father and who had always
been treated as one of our family, receive me with a haughtiness and
disdain which I found very hurtful; as a result, I decided from the
start to have nothing more to do with him. The other Rabbi, who was a
nice old man, took an interest in me at first but it did not last
long. I wanted to teach myself, so I started studying French and even
Latin: this was more than enough for me to incur the disapproval of
my protector.
Welcome
to the site of the TransCanada Province of the Spiritans. We are a
Roman Catholic Religious Congregation of over three thousand members,
founded in 1703. Our missions are spread worldwide. While we may be
found involved in many diverse ministries, we have dedicated
ourselves to working with the poor and in those situations where the
Church has difficulty in finding ministers. We hope you enjoy your
visit to our site and that while browsing you will keep us in your
prayers. May God bless you.
