October 16 is another important Sunday in Rome. The pope will canonize seven saints, including Brother Solomon Leclercq, who was a Brother with the Institute of Brothers of the Christian Schools in France.
Instead of taking over the family business, he entered the Brothers in 1767 and received the traditional French habit, still used today. Soon after, he started in the postulate as a math teacher and became the master of novices.
BR. ROBERT SCHIELER
Brother Superior, Institute of Brothers of the Christian Schools
'It is a great honor for us, obviously, but it's also a reminder that in order to live out our Christian faith, that means, as our own founder St. La Salle said at one time, 'Are you ready, if necessary, to give your life for your students?'â?
The French Revolution began in 1789, first overthrowing the monarchy and then attacking the Church. When the French Revolution threatened the Brothers, they fled to escape persecution. However, Leclercq stayed to take care of the mother-house and was arrested in August 15, 1792 by the revolutionaries.
He was then taken to an old Carmelite monastery that had been converted to a prison. On September 2, he was beheaded on these steps after he refused to take an oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which worked independently from the Church and pope.
ROBERT SCHIELER
Brother Superior, Institute of Brothers of the Christian Schools
'He could have easily, like others at that time, taken the oath of the Constitution of the French Revolution and he would have been spared. But he made a life commitment, as a young man, and he was willing to die for the faith and for that commitment.â?
He will be the 160th saint from this congregation, after his second miracle was received this year. The Brother Superior says the 4,000 teaching Brothers who belong to the congregation, will look at the future St. Solomon as a sign and a witness to minister to all and to remain strong in the faith in times of trial.
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