Venerable Gabriel Taborin Poncet, FSF
Founder of Brother of The Holy Family
The Institute of the Brothers of the Holy Family, was founded in the Diocese of Belley in France by Venerable Gabriel Taborin Poncet, SFS. It is a religious Institute of Brothers, of a lay character, of pontifical right, approved on August 28, 1841. (C 1)
1799 - 1824
Belleydoux period
Gabriel was born in Belleydoux (Ain) in 1799 into a Christian family that had a profound influence on him. During his formative years, he took part in the awakening of the laity following the French Revolution.
From an early age, he began a series of activities in his native parish. He moved from religious games for children to a period of gradual empowerment: he became a cantor, sacristan, catechist and school teacher in his village. In this context, the young Gabriel soon discovered God’s call to religious life. To respond to this call, he sought out a religious community and, not finding one that corresponded to his desires, circumstances led him to found one himself.
Plaque and relief, Gabriel Taborin house in Belley (Source : wikimedia)
1824 - 1829
Period of itinerant life
Gabriel Taborin Poncet was born on November 1, 1799 in Belleydoux, diocese of Belley (France). At that time, France was experiencing the end of the revolutionary process that ended the Old Regime. Hostilities towards the Church had ceased and the favorable environment for living religion with freedom was progressively expanding. In this historical framework, rebuilding parish life and valuing education as a means of human and Christian promotion, Brother Gabriel Taborin founded the Congregation of the Brothers of the Holy Family in 1835.
The Congregation or Institute was approved by Pope Gregory XVI in Rome in 1841. Brother Gabriel’s intuition was that his religious should be Brothers at the service of the parishes and peoples, in the functions of teachers, catechists and animators of the liturgy. A mission lived by him since his youth in some places, among which is his hometown.
This was the intuition that led him to found an Institute of Brothers, the Brothers of the Holy Family. Pope John Paul II, on May 14, 1991, declared Brother Gabriel Taborin “Venerable”.
1829 - 1840
Belmont period
After overcoming many difficulties, he founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Holy Family at Belmont, in the diocese of Belley. Brother Gabriel was finally able to realise his project: he drew up the identity of the Brother in the Conduite, a rule of life approved by Bishop Devie, formed groups of postulants and novices, and sent the first Brothers as sacristans to Belley Cathedral and as teachers to various schools.
1840 - 1864
Belley period
He arrived in this city, the seat of the diocese, with a large community (more than forty people). Brother Gabriel devoted himself until the end of his days to the formation of his Brothers and the consolidation of the Congregation.
He obtains the approval of the Institute from Pope Gregory XVI and King Charles Albert of Sardinia.
- He frequently visits the communities (almost all state primary schools) and parishes where the Brothers work.
- He writes some books for children and young people, for families and parishes, in which he combines cultural promotion and evangelisation.
- He gathers the Brothers together annually to foster “family spirit” and to take care of their pedagogical, human and spiritual formation.
- He personally takes care of the new foundations and the construction of the Mother House.
While retaining his nostalgia for the contemplative life, which he only carried out for a few years in the monastery of Tamié (Savoy), he encouraged the activity of the Brothers in the service of Christian education in rural parishes and liturgical animation in churches, open to “all kinds of good works”. The Institute is active in 16 dioceses: eastern France and some cities such as Paris, Tours and Lyon.
Driven by a missionary spirit, he sent a group of four Brothers to the United States (Minnesota).
He sought the support of individuals and institutions for his Institute and found, in the midst of much misunderstanding and opposition, those who esteemed and welcomed his work, such as St. John Mary Vianney, the Curé of Ars, in whom he found friendship and important support. At the end of his life, his Institute has about 200 religious working in more than fifty schools and other activities.
Gabriel’s life is profoundly marked by the cross: he pays in his person as a “religious Brother” the price for a choice of life which constitutes a call to a greater fraternity both for the Church and for the world.
Cause of Beatification
The Cause for the Beatification and Canonisation of Brother Gabriel began in 1956, and the first stages were rapidly developed so that in 1959, it was already introduced in Rome. The decree recognising his holy life (“heroic virtues”), which gives him the title of “Venerable” and allows for a private invocation, has dated since 1991.
The Church continues to ask for a special intervention of God, called a miracle, in order to proceed to beatification (or the granting of a limited cult with the title of “Blessed”). A miracle is always a marvellous moment, which goes beyond human comprehension, arouses healthy admiration and stimulates us to live the Christian faith better.
The Church body in charge of these matters (Congregation for the Causes of Saints) approves supposedly miraculous cases after a thorough analysis.
And these cases are often healings. As such, a healing case has to be sufficiently proven by the testimonies not only of the person who has benefited from it, invoking Brother Gabriel, and of the people around him, but also those of the doctors who confirm the fact as inexplicable for science in its present state of knowledge. Only the case of martyrdom is the proof of a miracle exempted from such steps.
Thus, for the process of Beatification of Venerable Brother Gabriel to go forward, the presentation, first in the diocese where it happens and then in Rome, of at least one miraculous case with the corresponding documentation (if it is a cure it must be complete, definitive and not explainable from a medical point of view) together with a list of other graces and favours obtained through his intercession is required. On several occasions, cases have been presented which appeared to be miraculous, but none of them have been validated so far.
Prayers are being said from many places for people who have recourse to Brother Gabriel’s intercession. Prayers are said by members of the Sa-Fa Family, Communities of Brothers and Nazarene Fraternities and by all those who feel in some way linked to the spirituality and mission that has its origin in Brother Gabriel. Let us not forget that the prayer of the children is important
There is already a list of graces and favours received but it needs to be increased. (Orientation n° 2 of the General Chapter of 2019). That is why, it is important to send the testimonies of all that is obtained through the intercession of Brother Gabriel, even if it seems insignificant to us. Anything goes.
But we are waiting for a special event that can be presented to the Church as miraculous. One day it will happen, but when? The answer also depends on us.
Those who have received any grace or favour through the intercession of Venerable Brother Gabriel are requested to communicate them to the following address: postulatore@fsfcuriagen.org
Prayer
Prayer To Ask For a Grace Through The Intercession Of Venerable Brother Gabriel Taborin
God our Father,
who has raised up in the Church
the Venerable Brother Gabriel Taborin
to promote Christian education, catechesis and liturgical animation,
grant that, sharing his charism,
we may know how to carry out our mission today for the good of the family and of society with the strength of your Spirit.
And if it is your will,
grant that he may be numbered among the saints,
granting us through his intercession the grace we need… (mention the names of the persons for whom you wish to pray)
We ask you this with insistence through Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
