Blessed Guillaume Répin
Blessed Guillaume Répin (born August 26, 1709 AD in Thouarcé, Anjou, France; died January 2, 1794 AD in Angers, France) was a French Catholic priest who was guillotined during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution and is honored as the first and best known of the Martyrs of Angers. An elderly parish priest who refused to take the oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, he continued his ministry in secret until he was arrested and condemned. His feast day is February 1.
Guillaume Répin gives his name to the whole company of the Angers martyrs, often called "Guillaume Repin and his companions." Beatified in 1984, he stands as the representative figure of the priests and lay faithful of Anjou who died for their fidelity to the Catholic Church.
Stored in Cargo: Blessed Guillaume Repin, Blessed Guillaume Répin
| Blessed Guillaume Répin | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 01 |
| Profession | Priest; parish priest of Anjou |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Martyrs of Angers; French Revolution martyrs |
| Patronage | Those persecuted for the faith; priests faithful under persecution; the region of Anjou; France |
| Attributes | Palm of martyrdom; priestly cassock; guillotine |
| Birthplace | Thouarcé, Anjou, France |
| Death Place | Angers, France |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; guillotined at Angers during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution for refusing the oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy; elderly parish priest; first of the Martyrs of Angers |
| Primary Shrine | Angers, France |
Biography
Guillaume Répin was born on August 26, 1709, at Thouarcé in Anjou, and was ordained a priest. He spent a long life in the pastoral ministry of his native region, serving as a parish priest in the area of Martigné-Briand.
When the Revolution imposed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1790, requiring priests to swear an oath subordinating the Church to the revolutionary state, Répin, like many of the clergy of Anjou, refused. He became a "refractory" or non-juring priest, forbidden to exercise his ministry publicly. Already advanced in years, he continued to serve the faithful in secret, celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments in hiding.
As the persecution intensified during the War in the Vendée and the Reign of Terror, he was arrested. Brought before the revolutionary tribunal at Angers, he was condemned to death for his priesthood and his fidelity to the Church.
Guillaume Répin was guillotined at Angers on January 2, 1794, the first of the great company of martyrs of that city. Priests were generally guillotined in the city, while many of the lay faithful were shot at nearby Avrillé.
He was beatified on February 19, 1984, by Pope John Paul II, as the first-named of the ninety-nine Martyrs of Angers, whose collective feast is kept on February 1.
Significant events
- 1709 — Born at Thouarcé in Anjou on August 26.
- 1790 — Refuses the oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.
- Continues his ministry in secret as a non-juring priest.
- January 2, 1794 — Guillotined at Angers, first of the Martyrs of Angers.
- 1984 — Beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 19.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Thouarcé, Anjou, France
Death location: Avrillé, near Angers, Maine-et-Loire, France
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Guillaume Répin have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Feast day
February 1
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.