Venerable Leon-Papin Dupont

1797-1876

People called him:

"The Holy Man of Tours"

The family is originally from France and they established themselves in Martinique Island. He was born on the 24^th January 1797. He comes from a wealthy family and has no worries for his future.

As a child, he was honest, decided eager to learn and had a good spirit. He remains a very "ordinary Christian" for a long period of time. He said that he was converted during his years of studies at the university in Paris. He made friends with some young men who were in charge of a charity which help underprivileged kids and mainly the "little chimney sweep" . He then decided to dedicate his life to charity. He wrote: "At once, I saw the light. This light made me understand the importance of a good Christian life and also how important was salvation..."

He was immediately received into the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin. All his letters and talks show how important was his devotion to Mary. He will keep this devotion till his death. Leon Dupont, defeated the public opinion of the time and decide to go to confession in order to be able to go to communion often. This attitude was unusual at that time.

Following the death of his mother he used his inheritance for the poor and the needy. He also has a deep sense of Justice.

What should he do, what vocation : priesthood, religious life, what to do when you want to be a saint ? He asked for advice to many good priest and finally decided to get married to a young woman who is 24 years old, he is 30 years old. His wife died a couple of years later. She made years old, he is 30 years old. His wife died a couple of years later. She madder husband promised to have their daughter educated by Usulines nuns. She is eight months old. This promise and also his bad health will make him decide to go back to France. He choose to live in Tours. His mother went with him.

In Tours, he spent his time praying, encouraging those involved in charity work and making pilgrimage. He went on foot and fasting . He was one of the first to go to the apparition at La Salette. He spoke to the children who had the vision and became a propagandist of the message. Inspired by this message sister Mary of Saint-Peter and himself started the "Prayers for Reparation".

His daughter who is 15 years old, likes moving in fashionable circles. This attitude has Mr. Dupont worried knowing how futile is this world and he prayed to God in those words: "My God, if you foresee that my daughter will part from you, I ask you to take her with you so that she will not be separated from you". She died of typhoid fever. Crushed by sorrow, he is still able to sing the Magnificat ... the ultimate gift to God. Like Job he can say :

"Yahweh gave,

Yahweh has taken back.

Blessed be the name of Yahweh !"

This last hardship is like a new start for him. He detached himself from everything except prayer and charity work. He chastises his body often and he fasts. He helps financially many religious communities and especially The Little Sisters of the Poor. He helps rebuild the Saint-Martin Basilica. The work will be completed after his death.

In Tours, he is the founder of the nocturnal Adoration for men . He spends a lot of money and time on that. He recruits new adorers from every walk of life. Meanwhile, sister Mary of Saint-Peter in her monastery, receives a divine communication concerning the Holy Face of Jesus. Jesus insists on Reparation for all the blasphemies and ask her to establish a confraternity for this purpose.

In a vision, sister Mary of Saint-Peter is transported in spirit to the road of Calvary and sees Veronica wiping the most holy Face of Jesus filled with spittle, dust sweat and blood. She hears today's blasphemies said against God, they fall on Jesus' Face. This is how she understands the importance of reparation in the eyes of Jesus.

She does not know how from her monastery she can start this confraternity. Mr. Dupont becomes her instrument. He often talks with mother Marie-de-l'Incarnation, the prioress. She gave him an engraving of the Holy Face, it is a replica of Veronica's veil kept in the Vatican. He immediately light up a votive lamp in front of it. It burns day and night. He quickly becomes a zealous propagator of the devotion. We can see this image today in Tours in his house transformed into an oratory.

After the first healing, pilgrims will come from all over. His house soon becomes the centre of the devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. Till his death, Mr. Dupont stays home to welcome all the pilgrims and adorers of the Holy Face. Thanks to sister Mary of Saint-Peter and the willingness of Mr. Dupont to carry out this mission given to sister Mary by our Lord.

Mr. Dupont is in touch with famous devoted Christians of his time like: father Herman (a convert from Judaism), Father Eymard, the founder of the Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, Dom Guéranger, saint Jean-Marie Vianney who wrote to him: "O my good friend, how nice it will be to be together in heaven and to sing praises to our God."

In his old age, Mr. Dupont, is afflicted by various decease and he is in a lot of pain . Christ wants him to be associated to his own sufferings. His agony will last eight days, during which time he will repeat unceasingly this invocation: "May I die drawn by a scorching thirst to see the adorable Face of our Lord Jesus-Christ !"

Mr. Dupont died in peace and in total submission to the Will of God, on the 18^th of March 1876

"Happy are those who die in the Lord ! Happy indeed, the Spirit says; now they can rest for ever after their work, since their good deeds go with them." (Rev. 14, 13)

THOUGHTS FROM MR. DUPONT :

"TALK ABOUT GOD OR REMAIN SILENT"

"WHEN YOU GIVE ALMS TO SOMEONE, YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH RESPECT, IT IS JESUS THAT YOU HONOR THROUGH THEM".

"HEAVEN, THIS IS OUR GOAL. TO RENOUNCE IT, IS TO BE LIKE A STUPID EAGLE RENOUNCING ITS WINGS, USING ONLY ITS FEET."