Étienne Pernet

Étienne Pernet A.A. (1824–1899, born Claude-Étienne Pernet-Cordelet) was a French Roman Catholic priest of the Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption, and co-founder of the Little Sisters of the Assumption. He was declared venerable by John Paul II in 1983.

Biography He was born on the July 23, 1824 at Vellexon, a small village in Franche-Comté (in the east of France), into a Christian family, country people of humble background. His father was an agricultural labourer and also worked at the blast furnaces attached to the ironworks in the region. His mother, Magdeleine Cordelet was the village midwife. Étienne was the second of seven children, of whom only four survived. His father died young; Étienne was fourteen years old at the time. His education was provided by the village priest.

The family gradually sank into poverty. To prepare for the seminary, he left his village to go to school at Membrey. He then entered the seminary of Luxeuil in 1840, studied philosophy at Vesoul in 1842, and theology at Besançon in 1843. He was then 19 years old, but was afraid of the challenge of the priesthood, and left the seminary.

At the age of twenty, Permet became a preceptor in an orphanage, then a tutor for wealthy families. He left for Paris in 1849 to look for a more stable job. There he experienced the difficulties of all those who arrive in a big city without experience, without friends, and feeling homesick, at a loss, he fell ill. Every day he went to the Basilica of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires.

Timid by nature, with frail health, he painfully bore this question for fourteen years :"I had suffered, severely, for fourteen years to be certain of what God wished of me."

Sent to Paris in October 1863, join the community of the Rue François 1er, and helped Father Ricard. A simple man, he entered easily into contact with people, gained the trust of all by his kindness and understanding. He heard confessions, preached and visited the sick. Pernet felt more comfortable in his priestly ministry than at the college. More and more affected by the suffering and disarray of workers' families, especially when the mother of the family was ill, he felt an apostolic call.

Veneration Pernet's spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 5 June 1927 and 13 February 1942. His cause was formally opened on 30 March 1931, granting him the title of Servant of God.