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Feast Day: December 5
Birth: September 12, 1851
Death: December 5, 1926
Blessed Jean-Baptiste Fouque, also known as the Saint Vincent de Paul of Marseilles, was born on 12 September 1851 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhåne, France. He grew up in a devout household, the son of Louis Fouque and Adèle Anne Remuzat. From a young age, Jean-Baptiste demonstrated a strong calling to the priesthood and pursued his education at the school run by Servant of God Joseph-Marie Timon-David.
On 10 June 1876, Jean-Baptiste was ordained a priest in Marseilles. He began his ministry as a parish priest in the French cities of Auriol and La Major, serving from 1876 to 1888. It was on 15 April 1888 that he was assigned to the Sainte Trinité parish, where he dedicated the rest of his life, over 38 years, to serving the spiritual needs of the community.
In December 1891, Jean-Baptiste's vicar-general approached him with a request to organize care for orphans and abandoned children. Responding to the need, he founded the "Le Sainte Famille" home for girls, which later came under the care of the Presentationist nuns. This initiative served as a model for the establishment of additional houses throughout the diocese, some catering to young girls, others to young boys, and some to older children who could work as domestics.
In 1905, Father Jean-Baptiste opened "L'oeuvre de Salette," a home for the elderly and infirm, utilizing an old convent for this purpose. During World War I (1914-1918), he dedicated himself to assisting the wounded and displaced individuals affected by the conflict. Though resources were scarce in the aftermath of the war, Father Jean-Baptiste managed to convince physicians to volunteer their time to care for the impoverished and neglected.
Recognizing the pressing need for medical facilities to serve the underprivileged, Father Jean-Baptiste initiated the construction of a hospital for the poor in 1919. This endeavor materialized as the Saint John Hospital, opened on 20 March 1921. It stood as a testament to his unwavering commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the less fortunate.
Blessed Jean-Baptiste Fouque passed away on 5 December 1926 at the Saint John Hospital in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhåne, France, due to natural causes. His remains were re-interred at the Saint Joseph chapel of the hospital on 29 April 1993.
In recognition of his exemplary virtues, Pope Francis declared him venerable on 21 December 2016. Furthermore, on 30 September 2018, Pope Francis presided over his beatification ceremony, which took place in the Cathedral of Sainte-Marie-Majeure, Marseille. Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu officiated the beatification, honoring the life and accomplishments of Blessed Jean-Baptiste Fouque.
Through his tireless efforts in establishing homes for the vulnerable, caring for the elderly and infirm, and providing medical services for the poor, Blessed Jean-Baptiste Fouque left a lasting legacy of compassion and selflessness. He continues to inspire countless individuals with his unwavering dedication to the virtues of charity and service to others.