| Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P | |
|---|---|
A photograph with the Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P., seated in the middle (1908) |
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| Master General of the Dominican Order | |
| Born | December 8, 1832 Orléans, France |
| Died | December 17, 1916 (aged 84) Rome, Italy |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church (Dominican Order) |
| Beatified | 20 November 1994, Rome, Italy by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 21 May |
Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier, O.P., (8 December 1832 – 17 December 1916) was a French Roman Catholic priest and the seventy-sixth Master General of the Dominican Order, serving in that capacity from 1904 until 1916. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 20 November 1994.
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He was born Louis-Stanislas-Henri Cormier [1] on 8 December 1832, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, in Orléans, France.[2] His father died when he was still young, and his only sibling, his brother Eugene, died in 1847.
Henri entered the junior seminary in 1846, where he excelled in literature, though even more so in music. He was proficient at playing the flageolet, the organ, and the ophicleide, and had a fine singing voice.[2] Moving on to the Major Seminary of Orléans, Cormier studied philosophy and theology,[2] and graduated at the top of his class.[3] He was ordained by Msgr. Félix Dupanloup, Bishop of Orléans.[4]
In June 1856, he took the Dominican habit and began his novitiate at Flavigny.[3] His inspiration for joining the Dominican Order reportedly was the holy life of the Dominican nun, Mother Agnes de Lagneac.[1][4] It was at this time that he took the name Hyacinthe-Marie. Though Cormier excelled in his studies, he suffered from chronic hemorrhage.[3] His health problems were such that they may have prevented him from making his profession with the Dominicans. However, the Master General of the Order at the time, Father Alexandre Vincent Jandel, was willing to make the case to the Holy See and to ask for a special dispensation for him.[3] Thus Cormier traveled to Rome, where Pope Pius IX agreed to let him make his profession upon the condition that he be free from hemorrhage for a month, but noting, "Since it is not for him to live under the religious habit, it will be at least for him to die under it."[3] During that time, Cormier served as secretary to Father Jandrel. When he had met the conditions of health set for him by the Pope, he made his profession in the Dominican Order on May 23, 1859 at the church of Santa Sabina in Rome.[3]
Following his profession, Cormier was appointed sub-Master of novices at Santa Sabina. He was then sent to the friary of Corbara as prior in 1863. Two years later he was instituted as Prior Provincial of Toulouse, a post to which he was re-elected in 1869, and in which he served until 1874.[5] Cormier was then elected prior of the priory in Marseilles, where he completed construction of a church and priory. He left this position when he was once more elected Provincial of Toulouse in 1878, an office he held until 1888. He was subsequently elected definitor for the General Chapter at Lyons in 1891.[5]
After the General Chapter, Cormier was called to Rome as socius to the newly-elected Master General of the Order, Father Andreas Frühwirth (who was later created a cardinal).[5] In Rome, Cormier was appointed Procurator of the Order.[5] In 1904, he himself was elected as Master General of the Order, a post which he would hold until 1916.[1][4] After the end of his term, Cormier retired to San Clemente in Rome. He died soon after on December 17, 1916.[4]
As Master General of the Dominicans, Cormier was noted for the quality of his retreats and his powerful preaching. His influence helped to bring about the beatifications of Reginald of Orléans, Bertrand Garrigua, Raymond of Capua, and Andrew Abellon.[5] He also played a pivotal role in establishing the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) as it exists today, the Dominican university of Rome and one of the major pontifical universities.[1] Cormier also maintained his enthusiasm for music, especially sacred music. Franz Liszt heard him play the organ on one occasion and declared him to be a "master of the art".[6]
Even during his life, Father Cormier was noted for his saintly qualities: "He gives peace to everything he touches."[4] Cormier's cause for sainthood was recognized by the Holy See, and he was beatified by Pope John Paul II on November 20, 1994. His inspiration to Dominican life, Mother Agnes of Jesus, was beatified in the same ceremony with him.
In his sermon for the beatification Mass the Pope noted that in beatifying Cormier, "the Church wishes to recognize and honor the work of the human intellect, illuminated by faith."[7]
The feast of Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier is celebrated with an optional memorial on 21 May,[8] the anniversary of his election as Master General of the Order.[1] His remains rest in the church adjacent to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas.[1]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Andreas Frühwirth |
Master General of the Dominican Order 1904 – 1916 |
Succeeded by Ludwig Theissling |