August 26
Bl. Jacques Retouret was born at Limoges in France on 15th September 1746 to a merchant family. He was a serious young man, a lover of books and greatly gifted.
At fifteen years of age, he entered the Carmelite house in his native city. After ordination, his zeal and learning were widely admired and large crowds of people were attracted by his way of preaching.
Unfortunately, he was often unable to fulfill all his engagements, due to his persistent bad health which plagued him throughout his life.
Like so many clergy who stood up for religious freedom, he died during the French Revolution after being imprisoned for some time.
Jacques died at Madame Isle, some miles distant from Rochefort, on 26th August 1794 at the age of. 48 years.
He was beatified, together with 63 other priests and religious, as martyrs for the faith, on 1st October 1995 by Pope John Paul II.