Exupérien Mas
| Venerable Brother Exupérien Mas, F.S.C. | |
|---|---|
| Religious | |
| Born | Adrien Mas 7 June 1829 Poujols, Hérault, France |
| Residence | Paris, France |
| Died | 31 January 1905 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church (Brothers of the Christian Schools & French Confederation of Christian Workers) |
| Major shrine | Notre Dame des Retraites, Athis-Mons, Essonne, France |
Exupérien Mas, F.S.C. (7 June 1829 – 31 January 1905), was a French member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He was an educator, spiritual guide and social activist. The cause for his canonization has been accepted by the Holy See and is currently being studied.
He was born Adrien Mas in Poujols, Hérault, France. At the age of 10 he was enrolled in a boarding school in Beziers run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and became an outstanding student at the school. He felt called to follow their way of life and, despite the opposition of his parents, entered the Brothers' novitiate in Toulouse. He received the religious habit on 8 December 1847, at which time he was given the religious name of Brother Exupérien.
Following his novitiate year, Mas was sent to teach at his old school. There he was a successful teacher, as well as a spiritual guide to the students. He felt drawn to the Marian spirituality then spreading through France, from which he developed a commitment to the spiritual development of the nation. After a time, he was named the Brother Director of the school. Despite these responsibilities, he gained a reputation among both the Brothers and the students of being a saintly man.
In January 1859 he was chosen as a Councilor to the Superior General of the Institute, for which he was transferred to the motherhouse in Paris. He was also appointed as Director of Formation for the Institute and Master of novices. During this, his last post which lasted 32 years, he accomplished remarkable apostolic work among his fellow members of the Institute. He established the practice of a monthly spiritual retreat, intended to revive the spiritual life of the Brothers on a regular basis, at Notre-Dame des Retraites, a center he established in the Parisian suburb of Athis-Mons. He also introduced the nine-month long second novitiate, as a form of sabbatical. He founded the St. Benedict Labre Association with the aim of leading young men to live an authentic Christian life, who would also meet there.
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