Claude Bret

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Claude Marie Xavier Bret

  • Born 29 July 1808, Lyons

Attended the minor seminary of Meximieux, 1820-1824 (School roll about 200) (Pierre Chanel was a student there 1819-1823. Denis Maitrepierre 1820-1824)

  • Pastoral Experience 1827-1828: school teaching at Amberieu

(Curate that year was Pierre Chanel)

  • Joined the Marist group 1831: Appointed to the staff of Belley College (sub-deacon)

(Jean-Claude Colin is the superior, Pierre Chanel is on the staff)

  • Ordained 1832 as a priest for the Diocese of Belley
  • Attended the retreat for Marist aspirants at Belley College 15-23 October 1834.
  • Appointed 1835 to Valbenoite (parish mission work).
  • Professed as a Marist: 24 September 1836
  • In Paris 5 October - 12 November 1836 with Bishop Pompallier, Catherin Servant and others. Stayed at the Picpus Fathers head house.
  • Sailed: 24 December 1836, Le Havre.
  • Died: Mid-Atlantic Ocean 20 March 1837, 0 degrees 40' N, 24 degrees 30' W at 7pm. Buried at sea.


Claude Bret sm (1808-1837)[1]

Born on 29 July 1808[2] in Lyons, 108 rue Grenette, to Jacques, shoemaker, and Alexandrine Simone Rive, their only child. The names, Xavier Marie, were added at the time of his confirmation.[3] Bret attended the clerical school[4] of the parish of Saint-François-de-Sales (to which school Pompallier had also gone[5] ) and then went to the Minor Seminary at Meximieux, at least from 1821.[6] It is here that he met Pierre Chanel and Denis Maîtrepierre.[7] Bret completed rhetoric in 1823-24.[8] [9]
At the minor seminary at Belley from 1824, he completed philosophy and started mathematics.[10] In June 1825, Jean-Claude and Pierre Colin and Etienne Déclas moved into the minor seminary at Belley as one of Bishop Devie’s diocesan mission bands.[11] Jean-Claude Colin taught the mathematics class.[12]
On 1 March 1826, Bret entered the first year of theology at the major seminary of Brou in Bourg-en-Bresse.[13] Second year of theology in 1826-27 with tonsure on 15 July 1827. In 1827-28, Bret became director of the choir of Ambérieu,[14] where Chanel had been appointed curate. He was perhaps still there the following year. In 1829-30, he was a teacher at the clerical school of Marboz[15] and received minor orders and the sub-diaconate on 27 March 1830. In 1830-31, he was still at Marboz. At the end of the school year, he joined the planned Society of Mary and attended the general retreat of Marist aspirants in September 1831,[16] at the same time as his friends, Chanel and Maîtrepierre. They had thought of joining in America, Bishop Loras, the former superior of Meximieux.[17] It appears that the three of them had applied for membership in the Society at least several months beforehand.[18] In October 1831, Bret was appointed teacher of quatrième [Year 9] at Belley and remained there for two years,[19] receiving the diaconate on 21 April 1832 and the priesthood on 22 December 1834. In 1833-34, he taught troisième [Year 10],[20] but in the autumn of 1834, as part of exchanges between the groups of Lyon and Belley, he left as one of the two vicars to Valbenoîte,[21] where his signature is found in registers between 9 November 1834 and 27 May 1836.
On this latter date, the Society of Mary was already approved by the Holy See. Bret had made himself appreciated in the parish,[22] and was one of the first to respond to the call of Pompallier seeking subjects for the mission of Western Oceania.[23] Claude Chavas (who was vicar with him at Valbenoîte) recollected, “He was very generous, generous to the point of heroism, when he believed that God was calling him to the missions in Oceania. Firstly, I was the confidant of his plans and feelings when the decisive moment arrived. He astonished me beyond words with his courage, his greatness of soul, his absolute detachment, and his ardent desire to faithfully fulfil his sublime vocation.”[24] Worried about the effect of his decision to go to Oceania would have on his mother, he consulted Bishop Devie, and persevered in his decision.[25]
According to Chavas, from June, he prepared himself in retreat at Belley;[26] while Maîtrepierre included him in the list of [spiritual] directors at the minor seminary.[27] At the general retreat, for the election of the Superior General and the first vows, he was one of the two secretaries.[28]
When at the minor seminary in Belley 1831-34, with the help of Colin, Bret overcame doubts when he saw others leave the project.[29] Colin recommended at the 1836 retreat that Bret read Bossuet’s Discours sur l'acte d'abandon.[30] On 24 September 1836, he made his religious profession with the other nineteen priests, who had attended the retreat, the first Marists to do so.
Shortly after the end of the retreat, Colin sent him and Pierre Convers to Lyons to rent a house, which was to be the administrative headquarters and novitiate.[31] On 12 October, he was in Paris and began a journal in which he noted,[32] among other things, the dates of his departure from Paris (11 November), his arrival in Le Havre (13 November), his embarkation (24 December), and others up to 18 January 1837. When the vessel stopped at Tenerife, the majority of those aboard became unwell and Bret looked after them. At their departure, Bret had a headache, which did not ease, followed by a fever. Chanel, his cabin mate, remained with him as much as possible.[33] Two months later, on 20 March 1837, at seven o'clock in the evening, he died at sea at 0° 40' north latitude and 24° 30' west longitude, after nineteen days of illness.[34] [35] News of his death reached Lyons on 13 November 1837, in a letter from Pompallier to Colin dated 17 July 1837, sent from Valparaiso.[36] [37]
“I only want to inform you of a piece of news which will not fail to console you, while putting to the test your feelings for one of your spiritual sons, whom the Lord no doubt crowned in heaven when we were in the midst of the ocean. Dear Father Bret died from an illness of about 19 days in length, from two days after his embarkation at Santa Cruz, to the equatorial line. At first there were only vague and passing headaches; then the fever took hold of him; it was reduced; he seemed to be recovering, then he relapsed and did not further recover. Up to the last day he was conscious; he himself told us of his approaching death; we could not accept it. All sorts of care were given him, but God had decided to take him from us and to crown him in advance in heaven. Alas! May his plans be adored and his holy name be blessed. Let us hope that this dear collaborator will be henceforth a most devoted intercessor with God and Mary on behalf of the mission to which he had consecrated himself in this life. Be consoled, venerable Father, and may the peace of Jesus Christ be with you.”
Chanel added in his letter, “But he will always remain our friend, our confrere; he has only changed his title, from missionary to protector of our mission.”[38]
On learning of Bret’s death, Colin, amidst his tears, uttered several words demonstrating his submission to the will of God.[39] As for Bret’s parents, Bataillon was sure that Chavas, who had taken over the filial role, “would undoubtedly do everything possible to console them and make the sentiments of religion triumph over those of nature.”[40] Chanel had kept some locks of Bret’s hair and noted, “The reaction of his virtuous parents upon learning of his death was very edifying and comforting to me.” [41]
When Jean Forest’s band sailed a similar route in 1842, “As well we each said a Mass for the repose of the soul of our beloved confrère, Father Bret, and we said it at the approximate place, at the place where he died.”[42]
Bret’s father had the foot measurements of the departing missionaries, yet Chanel did not call for him to make further pairs at that time,[43] perhaps being sensitive to his bereavement. Jacques Bret did continue to be of service to the missionaries,[44] even if sickness precluded him from making shoes for one shipment.[45]
In their time of need, the Society of Mary took charge of Bret's parents.[46] When his mother needed some rest, she was received for a few days in the Marist Sisters' house, Montée de la Boucle in La Croix-Rousse, now a suburb of Lyons.[47] However, she fell sick and despite the care given by the Sisters, she died there on 1 August 1850.[48] It would appear that Jacques Bret moved in with the fathers in Puylata after his wife’s death,[49] where he in turn died on 31 October 1851.[50]
In 1844, a confrere had started taking successful daguerreotypes; Colin had Bret’s funeral scene recreated.[51]

Notes

  1. ↑ Prepared for the NZ Province by Elizabeth Charlton, August 2025; based on the biography published in Origines Maristes 4. The document referenced, “Detours CB1 62-65” was not sighted.
  2. ↑ Archives Municipales de Lyon. Cote 2E133 Birth Register Lyon Mairie unique 01/01/1808-31/12/1808 Entry no. 2234
  3. ↑ OM4 p.206 note 3
  4. ↑ No exact definition found for an “école cléricale”; it appears to have been a parish-based school, preparatory to the minor seminary.
  5. ↑ Keys, Lillian Gladys. 1957. The Life and Times of Bishop Pompallier. Christchurch [N.Z.]: Pegasus Press. p.23
  6. ↑ Rozier gives both 1820 and 1821 as Bret’s arrival at Meximieux. To have entered in quatrième and completed rhetoric in 1824 makes 1820 more likely. Rozier, Claude. 1960. Ecrits de saint Pierre Chanel. Rome: Society of Mary. p.22; p.58, footnote 2.
  7. ↑ Bourdin, J. A. 1867. Vie Du Vénérable P.-M.-L. Chanel : Prêtre de la Société de Marie, Provicaire Apostolique et Premier Martyr de l’Océanie. Paris [France]: Jacques Lecoffre et Cie. p.57
  8. ↑ Prize list of 17 August 1824. Source of document not listed in OM4.
  9. ↑ In NZ, secondary school is a five-year course, Years 9-13. At the time Bret was in school, the French school system was still in fluidity; however, the naming system for secondary classes was set, i.e. the smaller the number, the more advanced the class: 6e to 2e, then rhetoric and philosophy. https://ehne.fr/fr/encyclopedie/th%C3%A9matiques/education-et-formation/acteurs-et-actrices-de-l%27education/les-lycees-xixe-xxe-siecles
  10. ↑ Archives of Institution Lamartine. Register of students
  11. ↑ OM2, doc.746 [1] 1839-1841? – Brèves notes du p. Colin sur l’histoire de la Société de 1825 à 1832
  12. ↑ Rozier p.62 note 2.
  13. ↑ Archives of the major seminary of the Diocese of Belley, register of entries
  14. ↑ Bourdin, p.108
  15. ↑ Annuaire du clergé de Belley p.545
  16. ↑ OM1 doc.236 18310908 Consécration à la Sainte-Vierge
  17. ↑ On these projects, OM2 doc.748 [16] and note there
  18. ↑ OM1, p. 513, note 2; OM2, p. 599, note 2
  19. ↑ Annuaire de l'Ain 1832
  20. ↑ OM1 p.649, note 1
  21. ↑ AAL, état du clergé 8
  22. ↑ Mayet II 19-29, reproduced OM2 doc.732 1849? Notice sur le p. Bret, Chavas-Mayet
  23. ↑ OM1 doc.370 [2] 18360217 Pompallier-Champagnat
  24. ↑ OM2 doc.732 [14] 1849? Notice sur le p. Bret, Chavas-Mayet
  25. ↑ OM2 doc.732 [14] 1849? Notice sur le p. Bret, Chavas-Mayet
  26. ↑ OM2 doc.732 [17] 1849? Notice sur le p. Bret, Chavas-Mayet
  27. ↑ OM2 doc.752 [40] 1853 Récit du p. Maîtrepierre
  28. ↑ OM1 doc.403, [5, 19, 25] 18360920-24 Procès-verbal de la retraite générale des prêtres maristes
  29. ↑ OM2 doc.752 [22] 1852 Récit du M. Maîtrepierre
  30. ↑ OM2 doc.727 1843-1845? Hésitation de M. Bret avant sa profession religieuse
  31. ↑ Mayet III, 407; OM3 doc. 819 [96] 1869-1870 Mémoire sur l’origine et la fondation de la Société de Marie
  32. ↑ LRO doc.1 18361012-18370118 Journal du p. Bret. English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0001
  33. ↑ Rozier doc.35 [2] 18370723 A sa famille
  34. ↑ Rozier, p.162, note 4
  35. ↑ Day-by-day details in LRO doc.12 18361224-18370718 Journal de voyage de Jean-Baptiste-François Pompallier et de ses missionnaires, rédigé par Pierre Bataillon ; English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0012
  36. ↑ LRO doc.15 [2] 18370717 Pompallier-Colin; English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0015
  37. ↑ Bataillon also writes about Bret’s death to Etienne Séon. LRO doc.19 [1] 18370730 Bataillon-Séon E; English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0019 and Chanel to his family Rozier doc. 35 [2] 183705 A sa famille
  38. ↑ Rozier doc. 24 [1] 18370723 Au T.R.P. Colin et aux élèves du petit séminaire de Belley
  39. ↑ Mayet, S1, 84s
  40. ↑ LRO doc.19 [1] 18370730 Bataillon-Séon E; English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0019
  41. ↑ Rozier doc.54 [9] 18391012 Au p. Antoine Séon
  42. ↑ LRO doc.140 [6] 18420403 Forest-Colin; English translation https://mariststudies.org/docs/Girard0140
  43. ↑ Rozier doc.36 [5] 18370723 Chanel-Françoise Chanel
  44. ↑ LRO doc.739 18480802 [10] Brother Sauveur Conil-Colin
  45. ↑ Poupinel doc.204 [7] 18501221 Poupinel-Rocher
  46. ↑ APM 2367-13664. Fonds Lagniet. Notes historiques sur feuilles grand format F56
  47. ↑ Mayet VB1 Notices sur la vie de quelques Maristes, P. Bret, pp. 32-46
  48. ↑ Archives Municipales de Lyon. Cote 2E1625 Death Register La Croix-Rousse 16/06/1851-31/12/1851 Entry no. 268
  49. ↑ Mayet VB1 Notices sur la vie de quelques Maristes, P. Bret, pp. 32-46. APM 1592-23098 18511111 Lagniet-Chavas. Lagniet’s handwriting can be interpreted in both singular and plural, i.e., “the last year/s of his life”; however, Jacques Bret does not appear on the 1846 census list for Puylata, so his entry to the house dates after this. Archives du département du Rhône et de la métropole de Lyon. Cote 6M70 p.5/19 https://archives.rhone.fr/ark:/28729/dfxb780kt36p/f1953c36-1cd2-43a7-bb0d-2bd4d540c285)
  50. ↑ Archives Municipales de Lyon. Cote 2E456 Death Register Lyon Mairie unique 16/06/1851-31/12/1851 Entry no. 4533
  51. ↑ Mayet S2, 154s. In 2025 searches for this daguerrotype in the collections of La Neylière, SM France Archives and General Archives were not successful.

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