Saint César de Bus

César de Bus was born in 1544 in Cavaillon, in southern France. As a young man he served as a soldier in the wars of religion and spent time at the royal court in Paris, living a carefree, worldly life. Around 1575, through the example and prayers of devout friends, he experienced a deep conversion, began a life of prayer and penance, and was ordained a priest in 1582.

Seeing how many people knew little about their faith, he devoted himself to teaching the catechism in simple, family-style language to children, the poor and country people. In 1592 at L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue he founded the Fathers of Christian Doctrine, known as the Doctrinaires, to carry on this work, and he helped begin a parallel community of women. In his last years he became blind, yet he continued to teach and pray. He died in Avignon on April 15, 1607. He was beatified in 1975 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2022.

César de Bus is honored especially in Provence, in Cavaillon and Avignon, and by the Fathers of Christian Doctrine. His feast is a good day to thank and pray for catechists and for all who pass on the faith in families and parishes.