Heroes of Faith: St. Viator of Lyon

About St. Viator of Lyon

W

hen Fr. Louis Querbes formed the Clerics of St. Viator in the 1830s, he decided to honor a well-loved saint from his hometown by the name of Viator. Viator was born sometime in the early 4th century in the city of Lyon, in an area we now call France, in Western Europe. Some information about the times in which Viator lived helps to make sense of the story you are about to read, especially because the events in this story took place almost 1,700 years ago.

During the life of Viator, Lyon was a part of a province of the Roman Empire known as Gaul. This province was so huge, Roman leaders developed Lyon as a central location to govern the region. Over time, Lyon grew in size and importance and became the capital of Gaul, the most important city in the region.

Lyon was the birthplace of two Roman emperors as well as a very important Catholic bishop from the 2nd Century, St. Irenaeus. St. Irenaeus was named bishop of Lyon only after the previous bishop was martyred by the Roman leader, Marcus Aurelius. Following the severe persecution under Marcus Aurelius, Christianity slowly began to spread throughout Gaul in the 3rd and 4th Centuries.

As a youth, Viator was active in sharing his Christian faith with children living near the cathedral in Lyon. He read Scriptures to children and taught them how to live and celebrate their faith. His zeal in serving as a lector and catechist gained the attention of Lyon’s bishop, St. Just. St. Just could see that Viator was strongly committed to serving Jesus and the two became life-long friends. This is the story about their friendship and how this friendship helped them live out their faith.

T

About the Story

he story you are about to read is old, very old. It is found among some of the most ancient collections of stories about the lives of the saints, some more than 1,800 years old. Such stories transport us into the lives of ordinary men and women whose lives demonstrated extraordinary acts of faith, hope and love. For this reason, the Church publically honors these men and women of faith and makes special efforts to direct our attention to the pious practices of our ancestors in faith.

This retelling of the life of St. Viator appeared originally in Spain in 1960. Owing to the simplicity and beauty of the story, we decided to redraw the images and translate the story into English. We thank Fr. Goio Esquíbel, C.S.V., Provincial Superior of Spain, for sharing the original images. A thorough account of the life of St. Viator can be found in St. Viator and the Viatorians by Fr. E.L. Rivard, C.S.V. (Chicago:1916) as well as in the excellent pamphlet, Saint Viator: Our Patron Saint, by Fr. Jack Linnan, C.S.V. Complimentary copies of this pamphlet are available upon request in writing or through our website.

The Clerics of St. Viator 1212 East Euclid Ave.

© 2014 The Clerics of St. Viator

Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60004

All rights reserved

IN ROMAN GAUL, PAGAN AND CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS BLENDED TOGETHER

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FOURTH-CENTURY, IN LYON, CITY OF ROMAN GAUL, MANY EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS TOOK PLACE. THIS IS THE STORY OF ONE SUCH EXTRAORDINARY EVENT. THIS IS THE STORY OF ST. VIATOR.

IT IS SAID THAT SOME CHRISTIANS SACRIFICED OXEN TO “BAPTIZE” NEW MEMBERS IN BLOOD...

THESE WERE TIMES OF CONFUSION AND IGNORANCE...

ILLUSTRATED BY ANTONIO CARDOSO

AROUND THE YEAR 350 A SOLDIER NAMED MAGENTIUS BEGAN TO STAND OUT AS A STRONG LEADER OF THE ROMAN ARMIES...

1

MANY ADORED MAGENTIUS...

YOU ARE SO WONDERFUL,

I AM POWERFUL,

MAGENTIUS, WE BOW

YOU ARE RIGHT!

DOWN TO YOU...

MAGNIFICENT LEADER, YOU ARE WORTHY...

RUMORS SPREAD THROUGHOUT GAUL: MAGENTIUS WAS GOING TO BE THE NEXT EMPEROR OF ROME...

THE SOLDIERS GIVE THEIR SUPPORT..

I KNOW THAT THIS MAN SPEAKS THE TRUTH...ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THIS CITY MUST GIVE ME THE HONOR I DESERVE. I WANT A BANQUET PREPARED TO HONOR ME...MIGHTY MAGENTIUS!

2

RESTORE THE GODS OF ROME TO THEIR OLD PEDESTALS!

AT THE BANQUET IN HONOR OF MAGENTIUS...

EVERYONE DRANK TOO MUCH...

ALL PRAISED MAGENTIUS...

WHAT DO YOU WANT ?

WE WANT YOU TO BE THE EMPEROR!

THE CROWD CHEERED...

LONG LIVE

LONG LIVE EMPEROR

MAGENTIUS!

MAGENTIUS OF GAUL!

ROME WILL SEND ALL THEIR

THE CROWD RESPONDED TO MAGENTIUS...

ARMIES TO FIGHT AGAINST ME!

WE WILL FIGHT,

WILL YOU JOIN IN THE FIGHT?

MAGENTIUS!

3

WITH THE BACKING OF THE GAULS, MAGENTIUS PREPARED FOR WAR...

AS EXPECTED, THE ROMANS CAME READY FOR A FIGHT...

THE ROMANS PUT DOWN MAGENTIUS AND HIS FORCES TWICE...

MAGENTIUS FLED IN DEFEAT...

TO LYON, WE WILL FIND HELP THERE...

BELIEVING LYON WOULD SUPPORT HIM, MAGENTIUS RETURNED...

4

PERHAPS YOUNG VIATOR WATCHED THE PAGAN SOLDIERS ENTER LYON...

MAYBE VIATOR LISTENED TO THE PREACHING OF BISHOP VERÍSIMO OF LYON...

SUPPORT FOR MAGENTIUS BEGAN TO CRUMBLE...

NEVER ABANDON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH!

MY ARMY HAS DESERTED ME...COWARDS...I AM ALONE WITH NO HOPE!

WE SERVE THE LIVING GOD, NOT IDOLS! VIOLENCE IS NOT THE WAY OF JESUS...

FEELING DESERTED AND HOPELESS...

MAGENTIUS TOOK HIS OWN LIFE IN AN ACT OF CONFUSION AND RAGE...

5

THIS TOOK A TOLL ON THE AGING BISHOP...

YOU NEED TO REST, BISHOP VERÍSIMO!

THE SCANDAL WITH

YOU MUST

MAGNETIUS HAS LEFT

LIE DOWN!

ME WEAK, FR. JUST!

VERÍSIMO SOON DIED AND THE CHURCH LEADERS MET AT THE CATHEDRAL TO ELECT A NEW BISHOP

THE LEADERS ELECTED FR. JUST TO BE THE BISHOP. HE WAS AN OLD FRIEND OF VERÍSIMO...

BISHOP JUST WAS LOVED...

BISHOP JUST WILL BE LIKE A FATHER FOR US!

6

IN TRUTH, BISHOP JUST WAS A LOVING AND ABLE PRIEST...

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE CHURCH IS OUR TEMPLE, OUR HOME, OUR SCHOOL...

ONE DAY, THE MOTHER OF VIATOR PRESENTED HER SON TO THE BISHOP...

YOUNG VIATOR...COME TO THE CATHEDRAL...YOU

PLEASE INSTRUCT

CAN PREPARE TO BE A

MY SON.

PRIEST...

WITH THE APPROVAL OF BISHOP JUST, VIATOR DEDICATED HIS TIME TO STUDYING THE SCRIPTURES...

7

VIATOR READ THE GOSPEL AND TAUGHT THE PEOPLE ABOUT GOD’S LOVE AND TRUTH

ONE DAY...

VIATOR, YOU ARE READY TO BE A LECTOR AND CATECHIST.

LATER...

THANK YOU, SIR!

VIATOR, WE NEED TO TEACH OTHERS

YES,

MAGENTIUS CONFUSED THE PEOPLE,

BISHOP.

MAKING THEM WORSHIP IDOLS. WE NEED TO INSTRUCT THEM SO THEY

OUR FAITH...

KNOW JESUS...

YOU SPEAK WELL.

THIS DESIRE TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS WITH EVERYONE I MEET MAKES ME FEEL ALIVE! TO KNOW CHRIST AND SHARE HIS MESSAGE...

8

IN THE YEAR 381, BISHOP JUST LEFT FOR THE COUNCIL OF AQUILEIA...

VIATOR, YOU STAY HERE AND TAKE CARE

WHEN BISHOP JUST RETURNED, IMPORTANT EVENTS BEGAN TO TRANSPIRE IN LYON...

OF THE FAITHFUL.

AT FIRST THE DAYS WERE FILLED WITH FURTHER STUDY BETWEEN THE BISHOP AND VIATOR...

NICE WORK, VIATOR!

BISHOP JUST, HERE ARE THE SACRED BOOKS I COPIED.

THANK YOU...WHAT IS THAT NOISE IN THE STREET?

9

SUDDENLY, LYON FILLED WITH SHOUTS AND CONFUSION

WHAT IS

HE’S POSSESSED

HAPPENING?

BY SATAN!

STRUCK MAD, A MAN WAS ATTACKING ALL WHO PASSED NEAR HIM WITH A SWORD...

THE TOWNSPEOPLE PULLED TOGETHER AND ORGANIZED A TRAP...

NO ONE CAN STOP HIM!

CUT OFF HIS ESCAPE ROUTES!

HE’LL KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T RUN!

???

10

THE MAN WAS SKILLFUL, DISARMING THOSE WHO TRIED TO RESTRAIN HIM...

HE BOLDLY BROKE THROUGH THE TRAP..

IN DANGER, THE MAN REGAINED HIS REASON...

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

THEY WILL KILL ME IF I DO NOT FIND SANCTUARY IN THE CHURCH OF MACCABEES! IN THOSE TIMES, CHURCHES WERE SAFE ZONES FOR THOSE FACING DANGER...

11

THIS TIME, THE CROWD WAS FRANTIC WITH RAGE...

EXPEL THAT MAN FROM THE CHURCH!

BISHOP JUST ARRIVED AT THE CHURUCH TO CALM THE ANGRY MOB...

WE’LL BURN THE CHURCH DOWN!

RESPECT GOD’S SANCTUARY !

DEAR FRIENDS, YOUR

HONORABLE BISHOP JUST, IT IS IN THE

VERSION OF JUSTICE WILL

INTEREST OF YOUR CHURCH THAT YOU

KILL THIS MAN. THE CHURCH

SHOULD SEND OUT THAT DEMON-

OFFERS SANCTUARY...

POSSESSED FUGITIVE TO FACE OUR JUSTICE...

12

WE WILL NOT KILL HIM. WE WILL ESCOURT HIM TO JAIL.

YOU PROMISE TO RESPECT THIS MAN?

I GIVE YOU MY WORD, BISHOP JUST! WHEN THE MAN EXITED THE CHURCH, THE ANGRY MOB POUNCED ON HIM...

WE TRUST YOUR WORD. I PLACE HIS LIFE INTO YOUR HANDS...

O GOD, THIS MAN’S

AS BISHOP JUST LOOKED ON, THE MOB KILLED THE MAN...

MURDER IS MY FAULT. I TRUSTED MAN RATHER THAN YOU!!!

13

BISHOP JUST GREW OLD, UNABLE TO FIND FORGIVENESS...

I’M A DISGRACED BISHOP, UNFIT TO CONTINUE. I’VE DECIDED TO GO INTO THE

BISHOP JUST, I DON’T

DESERT AS PENANCE FOR THE

UNDERSTAND...YOU’VE

REMAINDER OF MY LIFE!

DONE NOTHING WRONG.

WITHOUT YOU, BISHOP, I AM LOST. I WILL GO WITH YOU TO SEEK OUT GOD’S PERFECT WILL IN LIFE. I WILL NEVER DEPART FROM YOUR SIDE...

MY CHILD, I’LL LIVE OUT MY LIFE IN A MONASTERY, SEEKING GOD’S MERCY FOR MY ERROR!

14

HE WENT ALONE TOWARD THE PORT AT MARSEILLE

BISHOP JUST SLIPPED OUT IN THE NIGHT WHILE EVERYONE WAS SLEEPING...

I’LL JOURNEY TO THE DESERT...

IN VAIN, VIATOR SEARCHED FOR BISHOP JUST IN THE CATHEDRAL...

VIATOR WAS AROUND 20 YEARS OF AGE AND DETERMINDED TO SEEK GOD IN THE DESERT...

HE’S GONE...I CAN STILL CATCH HIM IF I GO BY BOAT...

AT THIS SPEED I WILL ARRIVE IN MARSEILLE BEFORE BISHOP JUST...

KNAPSACK IN HAND, VIATOR REACHED THE RODAN RIVER...

15

THROUGHOUT THE JOURNEY, VIATOR WAS STRUCK BY BEAUTIFUL SCENES...

UPON REACHING MARSEILLE...

BISHOP!

VIATOR, PLEASE GET BACK YOUNG VIATOR?

ON THE BOAT TO LYON. YOU CAN’T GO TO THE DESERT!

VIATOR PRESENTED HIS CASE TO BISHOP JUST IN THESE WORDS...

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, MY MOTHER GAVE MY LIFE TO SERVE YOU. FOR THIS REASON I MUST GO WITH YOU...

16

I WANT TO FOLLOW YOU...

IN ROUTE TO EGYPT...

BISHOP JUST AGREED...

YOU MAY COME WITH ME TO THE

IT WILL BE

DESERT...

BETTER TO LIVE FAR FROM LYON...

YES, UNTIL THEN WE WILL SEEK GOD’S

MAY WE LIVE FOR THE

FORGIVENESS...

DAY WHEN WE CAN RETURN TO LYON...

MANY DAYS LATER, THE BOAT REACHED ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT...

17

ONCE IN EGYPT, THEY SET OUT ON FOOT FOR THE DESERTS OF THEBAID ...

WE WILL EXPLORE THE MONASTERIES NEAR KELLIA, NITRIA AND SCETIS...

WHICH IS BEST?

PACHOME LIVE IN

TO SAY...

I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT IN NITRIA IS THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING THEIR LEADER, THE YOUNG MACARIUS...

THE DISCIPLES OF

IT’S HARD

TABENNISI...

SOME MILES FROM HERE IS SCETIS,

LET’S GO

THE “PEARL OF THE DESERT.” IT IS

THERE!

THE MOST DEMANDING WAY OF LIFE...

18

THEY JOINED A CARAVAN DEPARTING FOR THE DELTA NILE...

HOW DO WE REACH

THE ONLY WAY IS BY

SCETIS?

BOAT AND IT’S DANGEROUS!

NOTHING STOOD IN THEIR WAY...

THE RIVER IS INFESTED WITH CROCODILES! YOU MUST GO BY BOAT. THEY DEPARTED FOR SCETIS ON A BOAT MADE OF BALSA, WATCHING FOR DANGEROUS CROCODILES...

WE MUST MOVE SILENTLY TO AVOID AN ATTACK.

19

STAY CALM WHEN YOU WALK BY.

ONCE THROUGH THE CROCODILES, THEY BEGAN THE LONG WALK THROUGH THE EGYPTIAN DESERT...

THEY OBEYED THESE WISE WORDS...

HOURS LATER...

A SIGN ON THE FRONT DOOR...

THERE IS THE MONASTERY!

HALT… ALL MAY ENTER, NONE MAY EXIT.

THE NIGHT STARS WILL GUIDE OUR WAY...

WILL THEY LEAD US TO SCETIS?

20

OUR LIVES ARE IN GOD’S HANDS NOW.

YES!

WE WILL ABANDON OUR WILL AND SERVE

ARE YOU READY?

GOD IN HUMILITY...

A MONK APPEARED...

IF YOU WISH TO ENTER THE COMMUNITY, YOU MUST FIRST GRASP THE WAY IN WHICH WE ALL LIVE...

YOU CAN’T ENTER THIS PLACE UNTIL YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HANDLE OUR WAY OF LIFE. ONE WEEK CAME AND WENT, THE DOORS OF THE MONASTERY REMAINED CLOSED...

21

DRINK THIS WATER FROM OUR WELL.

FINALLY...

LEAVE YOUR PRIDE AND

YOUR DEDICATION IS

RESISTANCE

OBVIOUS... WE’LL HELP

OUTSIDE...OBEDIENCE IS

YOU FIND PERFECTION.

WHAT MATTERS HERE.

COME IN!

THE ABBOT WAS MACARIUS THE EGYPTIAN, FOUNDER OF THE MONASTERY AND MASTER OF HIGHEST EXPRESSIONS OF CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY...

VIATOR AND BISHOP JUST BEGAN THEIR NOVICIATE AS HERMITS, LIVING IN NEARBY CELLS...

VIATOR’S HEAD WAS SHAVED, SYMBOLIZING HIS LIFE AS A MONK...

22

...HE WORE A MONK’S HABIT. VIATOR DISCOVERED A NEW LIFE IN THE DESERT.

ALL THE HERMITS CONTRIBUTED THE GIFTS THEY WERE GIVEN TO THE COMMUNITY...

SOME WOVE FIBER BASKETS...

OTHERS, LIKE VIATOR, COPIED SACRED BOOKS BY HAND...

MONKS BROUGHT THE GOODS TO THE MARKET IN ALEXANDRIA...

THEY BOUGHT SEEDS, BREAD AND CLOTH WITH THE MONEY THEY EARNED THROUGH COLLECTIVE EFFORT...

23

THEY GATHERED TO SING SACRED SONGS, SOMETHING VIATOR GREATLY ENJOYED...

YEARS PASSED IN PERFECT PEACE...BISHOP JUST AND VIATOR SOMETIMES MET AND SPOKE TO ONE ANOTHER WHILE WORKING...

FATHER, ARE YOU EVER GOING TO TELL THE COMMUNITY OF YOUR POSITION AS BISHOP?

THIS DAY WAS A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL AND ALL THE MONKS WERE CALLED TO EAT IN THE GENERAL REFRECTORY...

THE ONLY THING I WANT IS MORE HUMILITY IN THIS PLACE, MY CHILD.

THE ABBOT IS

LET’S GO IN

CALLING US TO

TOGETHER.

THE TABLE...

24

AWAITING THEM WAS A TABLE WITH SOUP...SOMETIMES NOTHING MORE THAN BREAD AND WATER...NOTHING ELSE!

A MONK NAMED EVAGRIUS STOOD, APPEARING RATHER THIRSTY...

ABBOT MACARIUS,

ABBOT MACARIUS DREW NEAR...

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU NEED, EVAGRIUS...

MAY I ASK A FAVOR...

MAY I DRINK SOME

ARE YOU THIRSTY

WATER BEFORE THE

DEAR BROTHER?

OTHER MONKS?

GO OUTSIDE AND FIND SOME SHADE...

MACARIUS WAS SO RIGOROUS THAT HE TOLERATED NO SIGN OF DISSENT OR RESIGNATION...

25

LATER, AT THE DOOR OF THE REFECTORY, A MONK ANNOUNCED...

...THREE PILGRIMS FROM GAUL ASKING REFUGE IN THE MONASTERY...

...WITH YOUR PERMISSION, ABBOT

FATHER MACARIUS, WE COME FROM LYON, DRAWN HERE BY THE FAME OF THIS SACRED MONASTERY!

ABBOT FATHER...WE WISH TO LIVE IN THE DESERT, LIKE YOU, TO PURIFY OUR SOULS OF ALL WORLDLINESS...

WE SHALL SPEAK OF ALL OF THESE MATTERS AFTER THE MONKS RETURN TO THEIR DUTIES...

AFTER THE MEAL, THE MONKS FILED OUT OF THE REFECTORY IN SILENCE...

26

THE PILGRIMS PASSED BISHOP JUST...

FATHER JUST! ARE YOU HERE?

HOW IS IT THAT KEPT A SECRET FROM US? YOU ARE A BISHOP?

HE IS BISHOP JUST OF LYON! A MAN OF VIRTUE AND HUMILITY.

HUH? YOU KNOW HIM?

RIGHT UNDER OUR VERY NOSES, BROTHERS, A LIVING EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY...

I CAN EXPL...

27

THIS MONK IS NONE OTHER THAN VIATOR, THE LECTOR FROM LYON’S CATHEDRAL. HE TAUGHT MY NIECES AND NEPHEW...

VIATOR, WHY DID YOU KEEP QUIET ALL THIS TIME? HUMILITY IS THE WAY OF JESUS...

THE EXAMPLE OF THIS NOBLE DISCIPLE SERVES TO SHOW US HOW TO LIVE. HUMILITY IS THE WAY OF JESUS!

BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE, THE HOLINESS OF BISHOP JUST AND VIATOR WAS MADE KNOWN TO THE WORLD...

...THE NEWS REACHED LYON...BISHOP JUST WAS LIVING IN THE DESERT! OUR BISHOP IS A HOLY MAN!

ALL IN LYON CELEBRATED...

HE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOLINESS!

BISHOP JUST IS ALIVE!

28

AND NOW HE CAN RETURN TO LEAD LYON!

BRING VIATOR TOO! I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JESUS!

FRIENDS, I WILL SEEK OUT OUR AGED BISHOP AND YOUNG VIATOR.

LATER, A PRIEST NAMED ANTIOCHUS SPOKE TO THE PEOPLE...

I’LL TELL THEM OF OUR JOY AND HOPE FOR THEIR QUICK RETURN TO LYON.

MAY BISHOP JUST AND VIATOR RETURN TO LYON!

LONG LIVE OUR BISHOP AND VIATOR!

BRING THEM BACK!

29

BEFORE DEPARTING FOR EGYPT, ANTIOCHUS SPOKE...

WITH GOD AS MY WITNESS, I WILL DO ALL I CAN TO BRING THEM BACK. BISHOP JUST WAS MY TEACHER AND VIATOR MY FRIEND...

IN THIS MOMENT, BISHOP JUST HAD A REVELATION...

MY STUDENT ANTIOCHUS IS ON HIS WAY...

OH!

DAY AFTER DAY, HE ANNOUNCED ANTIOCHUS’ PROGRESS...

ANTIOCHUS HAS BOARDED A BOAT...

YOU SEE HIM? BISHOP JUST SEEMED TO FOLLOW ANTIOCHUS’ EVERY STEP IN THE JOURNEY...

TODAY HE IS CROSSING THE DESERT ON A CAMEL. HE IS IN A CARAVAN OF TRADERS...

30

YES, HIS BOAT IS NOW NEARING ALEXANDRIA...

HE WILL ENTER THIS MONASTERY IN THREE DAYS!

AGAIN, BISHOP JUST PROVED CORRECT AND TEACHER AND STUDENT MET...

I BEG YOU...

RETURN TO LYON!

NO, ANTIOCHUS, MY FRIEND, LEAVING HERE WOULD MEAN THE END OF OUR JOURNEY TOWARD HOLINESS. WE ARE STAYING HERE.

ABBOT MACARIUS SPOKE LOVINGLY TO ANTIOCHUS...

GOD HAS BROUGHT US TO THIS PLACE AND WE CAN’T JUST WALK AWAY...

THEY ARE RIGHT AND YOU CAN SEE THIS...

WHY DON’T YOU LIVE WITH US? WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW BROTHERS!

31

ATTRACTED BY A LIFE OF HOLINESS, ANTIOCHUS STAYED IN THE MONASTERY...

FINALLY, ONE DAY...

GOD’S VOICE GROWS EVER

MY DEATH IS CLOSE...

CLEARER. I KNOW THIS VOICE, HAVING HEARD IT ALL MY LIFE...

IN THE 1830S, FR. LOUIS JOSEPH QUERBES, OF THE DIOCESE OF LYON, ESTABLISHED A SOCIETY OF CATECHISTS UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF ST. VIATOR. HIS MEMORY AND HIS EXAMPLE WILL LIVE FOREVER. THE FEAST DAY OF ST. VIATOR IS OCTOBER 21.

IN THE YEAR 390, BISHOP JUST PASSED AWAY…VIATOR DIED SHORTLY THEREAFTER...

32

About the Clerics of St. Viator

Father Louis Joseph Querbes (1793-1859)

T

he Clerics of St. Viator was founded in Vourles, France in the 19th Century during the years following the French Revolution. It was a time of political upheaval and social unrest.

Christian education, especially in the rural areas, was woefully neglected. It was within this context that Fr. Louis Querbes (1793-1859) founded the congregation. Realizing the need to provide education for youth, Fr. Querbes’ vision was to send religious brothers and lay catechists of deep faith and competent learning to parish schools in the countryside. In addition, these men assisted country pastors in their parishes. Episcopal approval of the congregation for vowed members only was granted on Nov. 3, 1831 followed by papal approval on Sept. 21, 1838. Canonical regulations prevented the inclusion of the lay catechists by Rome.

In 1865, three Viatorians from the recently established Province of Canada implanted the vision of Fr. Querbes on U.S. soil in Bourbonnais, Illinois, 40 miles south of Chicago. On Aug. 2, 1882, the Province of Chicago was established.

In 1978, the congregation gave new life to the “lay catechists” that Fr. Querbes had imagined and accepted lay men and women associates who would commit themselves to participate in the charism of the congregation. In 1999, the first associates of the Province of Chicago were welcomed.

I

nstitutions bearing the name of St. Viator in the Province of Chicago: St. Viator Parish, Chicago, Illinois Saint Viator High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois St. Viator Catholic Community, Las Vegas, Nevada Colegio San Viator, Bogatá, Colombia Chunox St. Viator Vocational High School, Chunox, Belize

The Clerics of St. Viator also serve in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, France, Haiti, Honduras, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Peru, Spain and Taiwan.

33