Claude Poullart des Places

Claude-François Poullart des Places, C.S.Sp. (26 February 1679 – 2 October 1709) was a French Catholic priest who founded the Congregation of the Holy Spirit in 1703 at the age of 24. The decree opening his cause of canonization was promulgated on 1 October 1989, but has not yet proceeded to his beatification. A charcoal drawing of Claude-François Poullart des Places by Pierre-Leon Annould, from a print held by the Center for Spiritan Studies at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

Biography Early life Claude des Places, was born on 26 February 1679 in Rennes, France, the son of a French aristocrat, François des Places, and his wife, Jeanne le Meneust. He was baptized the next day. His father was one of the wealthiest businessmen in the city and enjoyed considerable standing in the community as an attorney in the Breton Parliament. Claude's mother also belonged to the aristocracy and, prior to her marriage, served as governess to the family of the President of the Provincial Parliament.

His family moved twice in his childhood. Following a relocation to Saint-Sauveur-en-Rue, des Places entered the Jesuit Collège Saint-Thomas in October 1690. He was a talented student, however, and was the valedictorian of his class. For his remarkable graduation dissertation he was invited to Versailles as a guest of France's royal family.

Religious life Des Places' life began to change when he became aware of the needs of the poor while studying law—he was soon moved to help the homeless boys and chimney sweeps by giving them money from his allowance. Though he graduated with his degree in law from Nantes in 1700, his growing involvement with the poor inspired the young des Places to give up his career. The formation process of the new society was uniquely modelled after that of religious institutes, rather than on that of clerical seminaries.

Des Places received minor orders on 6 June 1705, the same year his community moved to Rue Neuve-Saint-Étienne-du-Mont (Rue Rollin); he was ordained to the subdeaconate on 18 December 1706, and a deacon on 19 March 1707.

Veneration The decree for the cause for his canonization was promulgated on 1 October 1989.

Selected bibliography