Father Jean Marie Biler
Servant of God
Martyr to His Charity caring for Victims of the Yellow Fever Epidemic
Born in Plourivo, Brittany, France, on Nov. 18, 1839
Ordained in St. Brieuc, France, on Dec. 17, 1864
Ministered in Caddo Parish
Died in Shreveport on September 26, 1873
BIOGRAPHY
Fr. Jean-Marie Biler was the third priest to succumb to Yellow Fever in Shreveport. A native of Plourivo, Brittany, France, he born on November 18, 1839 to Joseph and Anne Biler. He was baptized in the village church two days later. He attended the Seminary at St. Brieuc, and was ordained a priest on December 17, 1864. Jean Marie Biler was ordained for the Diocese of St. Brieuc, founded in the fifth century. Just four years a priest, he joyfully followed Bishop Martin to Louisiana in January of 1871. Fr. Biler, a relative of Mother Mary Hyacinth, superior of the Convent and Novitiate of the Daughters of the Cross in Fairfield with its Academy for girls, became the chaplain of the Daughters. Though initially displeased at being in Louisiana and with his difficulty in learning English, he ultimately committed himself fully to the priestly call and responded selflessly to the needs of his adopted community soon to be plunged into crisis.
Fr. Biler answered the call of Fr. Pierre to attend the sick and dying in Shreveport, from his residence three miles away at the Fairfield convent. Fr. Biler, prepared to lay down his life for his friends and the people of Shreveport, quickly answered the call of the virus-ridden Fr. Pierre, Shreveport’s pastor, and entered the quarantine to attend the sick and dying. Fr. Biler provided the final sacraments to both Fr. Quémerais and Fr. Pierre and blessed their graves.
He offered Mass in Shreveport and at the convent and, though the lone priest, gave himself fully to more than 900 sick and dying persons, not simply caring for their bodily needs but more so their spiritual needs robbing death of its terrors as he led souls with confidence to eternal life. His charitable, selfless response led to his contracting the same deadly illness.
During the peak of the crisis, foreseeing his own demise and the need of the people, Fr. Biler sent a plea for more assistance to Fr. Gergaud in Monroe and Fr. LeVézouët, in Natchitoches. Fr. LeVézouët administered the final sacraments to Fr. Biler who, on his deathbed, cried out in English, French, and Breton:
I am going to Heaven!
Je vais au Ciel!
Chan d’or Baradoz!
He died on September 26, 1873, at the age of 33.
Of Fr. Biler, Bishop Martin wrote to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith:
“This excellent priest, 35 years old, from the Diocese of St. Brieuc, had been in our mission only two-and-half years. He had given up everything in Brittany, through the entreaties of Rev. Mother Le Conniat, his relative, to dedicate himself to this establishment to which it was impossible for me to provide a priest. At the first news of the illness of his confreres, he went to them, appointed himself their guardian, assisted them in their final moments and blessed their tombs. Left alone at the height of the plague, he called upon the charity of Messrs. Gergaud and Le Vezouet. The first arrived only a few days later to see him fall in his turn, and to provide him with the consolations which he had given to the others at the expense of his own precious life.”
He is buried with the Daughters of the Cross at the mausoleum at Forest Park Cemetery in Shreveport.
Prayer for Beatification
Almighty and merciful God, You filled the heart of your priest, Servant of God Jean Marie Biler, with abandonment to Your holy will. Inspired and sustained by charity, he entered a disease-ridden quarantine knowing it would bring about his premature death, in order to keep the sacraments and Christ-like care available to the people, consoling his fellow man, regardless of creed, ethnicity or status, during a time virulent epidemic, offering them hope of eternal life.
Bestow upon me the grace to selflessly love my neighbor and fully trust in Your providential love, as did this martyr to his charity. If it be Your will, O God, glorify our beloved Servant of God by granting the favor I now request (mention your request), so that, we pray, all may know of his heroic virtue and holiness and may imitate his love for You and Your Church. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
In 2023, the city of Shreveport will mark the 150th anniversary of the third-worst epidemic of Yellow Fever in United States history. The human toll was staggering: over one-quarter of the population died from the illness within a matter of weeks. The human suffering wrought in 1873 remains unparalleled to this day. Yet amid this tragedy emerged heroic virtue, exemplified in the lives of five priests who voluntarily and freely offered their life for others and persevered with this determination unto death.
Official bio sent to the Congregation
for the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican
Fr. Jean-Marie Biler was the third priest to succumb to Yellow Fever in Shreveport. A native of Plourivo, Brittany, France, he was born on November 18, 1839 to Joseph and Anne Biler. Sacramental records of that village attest to his baptism two days later. He attended the Seminary at St. Brieuc, and was ordained a priest on December 17, 1864. He came to Louisiana in January of 1871 with Bishop Auguste Martin following the First Vatican Council, during which time Bishop Martin made another recruitment effort through his native Brittany. Fr. Biler was a cousin of Mother Mary Hyacinth of the Daughters of the Cross Fairfield Convent. Her correspondence speaks to a dramatic conversion of his heart and mind in his newfound mission field of Louisiana, including his initial displeasure at being in Louisiana, his difficulty in learning the English language and, ultimately, his decision to commit himself fully to the call of his ministry and to respond selflessly to the needs of the community in crisis.
Fr. Biler answered the call of Fr. Pierre to attend the sick and dying in Shreveport from his residence three miles away at the Fairfield convent, and it was Fr. Biler who was present to provide the final Sacraments to both Fr. Quémerais (died September 15) and Fr. Pierre (died September 16). Fr. Biler contracted the same deadly illness shortly afterward, and initially, appeared to be recovering, during which time he was able to continue offering Mass for the convent. At this point, he was the sole Catholic priest, and one of the very few healthy-enough religious of any stripe, to minister to more than 900 sick and dying persons. Yet, it is documented that he remained intently devoted to ministering to the sick and rested only when he had collapsed, working often until past the midnight hour of each day.
He also sent a plea for more assistance to two priests of the diocese in areas yet unaffected by the epidemic: to Fr. Louis Gergaud at St. Matthew’s in Monroe, approximately 100 miles to the east, and Fr. Francois LeVezouet, a priest of Natchitoches, approximately 80 miles to the south. Upon receipt of the message, Fr. Gergaud in Monroe immediately, albeit briefly, responded by wire to Fr. Biler: “am leaving by stage coach this evening.” Fr. Gergaud arrived in Shreveport on September 20 and assumed the role of caregiver and priest. Soon after, Fr. LeVezouet also arrived from Natchitoches, and was the one to administer the final Sacraments to Fr. Jean-Marie Biler who died on September 26.
Of Fr. Biler, Bishop Martin wrote to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith:
“This excellent priest, 35 years old, from the diocese of St. Brieuc, had been in our mission only two-and-half years. He had given up everything in Brittany, through the entreaties of Rev. Mother Le Conniat, his relative, to dedicate himself to this establishment to which it was impossible for me to provide a priest. At the first news of the illness of his confreres, he went to them, appointed himself their guardian, assisted them in their final moments and blessed their tombs. Left alone at the height of the plague, he called upon the charity of Messrs. Gergaud and Le Vezouet. The first arrived only a few days later to see him fall in his turn, and to provide him with the consolations which he had given to the others at the expense of his own precious life.”