Blessed Guillaume Repin

Early Life

Guillaume Repin was born on the 26th of August in the year 1709. He wasborn in Thouarcé, Maine-et-Loire, France.

He was the second child to Renato Repin and Renata Gourdon. There isn’ta lot of information about what this pious man did in childhood.

There are no known records of where he received his primary education orwhat type of upbringing he went through. However, when Saint GuillaumeRepin was 19 years old, which was cira 1728, he joined the seminary.

He chose to join a Church in Angers where he was appointed a priest,even at a young age.

Dedication and Devotion

Saint Guillaume was a devout young man. He was also selfless andgenerous. He not only spent his time praying, preaching, and meditating,but he also participated in activities that aimed at alleviating theproblems of the poor and sick.

From 1734 to 1749, Saint Guillaume was appointed as coadjutor. He wasmade a bishop whose main job was to assist the diocesan bishop of theChurch of Giuliano di Angers.

Saint Guillaume Repin remained pious even in authority. He served forsome time and then he was unanimously voted as the parish priest of SanSempliciano.

While he was still parish priest, Guillaume was named a canon.

He continued to rule the ministry for what seemed to be a long time. Hewas loved and revered by all who knew him.

While in authority, he made sure that the Church was always welcoming asusual. Some records show that he had the parishes renovated severaltimes. He believed in keeping what he considered the abode of Godbeautiful and clean.

It was while he was in power that the French Revolution war broke out.The new government that had assumed authority had sworn to persecuteChristians.

In order to be free, Christians who were arrested we’re required todenounce or swear off their faith. If they refused, these Christianswere tortured, stolen from, exiled, or killed.

The authorities even required ministers and priests to take an oath thatwent against their religion and God. It required them to pledgeallegiance to what was called the “Civil Constitution of the Clergy.”

Many Christians could not withstand the heat and so cross to the otherside of their religions. These people joined the mob and persecutedtheir former brothers and sisters.

Saint Guillaume Repin was one of the few Christians who refused toincriminate their brothers or give up their faith. He staunchly refusedto be a partaker of the oath and so was impeached on the 10th ofFebruary, 1791.

Afraid of the backlash, Saint Guillaume Repin fled back to Angers. Hestayed in hiding for a few weeks until the 17th of June, 1792 when hewas caught.

He was imprisoned with other presbyters who refused to take the oath. Atthis time, Guillaume Repin was around 82 years old and was the olderpriest to be held in the large holding cell.

While imprisoned, he continued to lead mass.

Legacy

On the 14th of August in the same year, taking the oath was non optionalfor every French citizen. Refusal to take the oath was not to beforgiven or lenient.

Still, Saint Guillaume Repin refused to change his mind. He was notgoing to take the oath.

On the 30th of November, Guillaume and other aged and feeble priestswere taken to one of the Christian institutions called the School of theBrothers of the Christian Doctrine. They were held prisoners there.

On the 17th of June, 1793, all the priests were set free by Insurgents.However, unable to follow his Samaritan due to his rapidly failinghealth, Saint Guillaume Repin hid in the Magues until he was once againcaptured.

After a series of interrogations, Saint Guillaume was found guilty andcondemned to death.

Death and Canonization

Saint Guillaume died by beheading using a guillotine. He died for hisbelief in God.

He was killed on the 2nd of January, 1794. Saint Guillaume Repin wasbeatified by Pope John Paul II on the 19th of February, 1984.