Two hundred years ago today. August 30, 1810, Emmanuel d'Alzon was born in Le Vigan, southern France, in the foothills of the pictueresque Cévennes Mountains. His father, Viscount Henri Daudé d'Alzon, was in the words of one of Fr. d'Alzon's biographers, a somewhat timid man, given to study and meditation, rather than to action. His mother, Jeanne Clémence de Faventine Montredon, presented quite a contrast - extremely intelligent, vivacious, strong-willed and the heir of a wealthy estate. Both were deeply religious. When this, their first-born, arrived, Henri was pacing the grounds of their property, and, when notified of the birth, took his son in his arms, raised him up, and said, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Please join us in giving thanks to God for the life and example of this zealous apostle.