Claude Poullart des Places: Spiritan Congregation Remains His Legacy
A 24-year-old layperson, Claude Francis Poullart des Places, founded the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in Paris in 1703. The son of a rich businessman, he abandoned a brilliant career in law to serve the poor, gathering together needy students with interest in pursuing studies for the priesthood. This community of “poor scholars” would flourish as the Congregation of the Holy Spirit.
According to the Spiritan Rule of 1734, the Spiritans “will be ready for everything: to serve in the hospitals, to evangelize the poor…to prefer above all others the most humble and most laborious posts, for which it is difficult to find laborers.” (Regulae, Chapter 1).
Finally ordained a priest at the age of 28, des Places died two years later, on Oct. 2, 1709, and was buried in a common grave for the poor in Paris.
His legacy will be celebrated at the Eucharist on Sunday, Oct. 3, in the University Chapel.