Blessed Jeanmarie Joseph Lataste

Biography

Blessed Jeanmarie Joseph Lataste, also known as Alcide-Vital Lataste, was born on 5 September 1832 in Cadillac-sur-Garonne, Gironde, France. He was the youngest of seven children born to Vital, a cloth merchant and vineyard owner, and Jeanne Lataste.

In his early years, Alcide pursued a career in administration, working in the tax office in various cities across southern France. It was during this time that he became friends with Father Jean-Baptiste-Henri Dominique Lacordaire, a renowned Dominican preacher, and they maintained a long-standing correspondence.

Inspired by his friendship with Lacordaire and his experiences working with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Alcide felt a calling to religious life. At the age of 25, he entered the Dominican Order in Flavigny, France on 13 November 1857, and later made his solemn profession on 10 May 1862. Alcide was ordained a priest on 8 February 1863 in Marseilles, France.

Father Lataste's ministry was deeply influenced by his experiences and encounters with those in prison. He developed a prison ministry, emphasizing God's forgiveness for those who sincerely sought repentance. His preaching centered around the message of redemption and the transformative power of God's love.

In 1867, Father Lataste founded the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, a religious congregation dedicated to serving abused women. The Sisters continue their important work today in several locations across Europe, providing support, healing, and empowerment to those who have suffered from domestic violence and exploitation.

On 10 March 1869, at the age of 36, Father Lataste passed away from tuberculosis in Frasne-Le-Château, Haute-Saåne, France. As he entered his final moments, he softly sang the Salve Regina, a testament to his unwavering faith and devotion. He was buried in Frasne-Le-Château on 12 March 1869, but his remains were later reinterred in a chapel in the convent of the Sisters of Bethany in Montferrand-le-Château, France in 1870.

Since the day of his burial, countless parishioners and pilgrims have visited his tomb to seek his intercession, leaving behind letters and notes sharing their prayer intentions. This enduring devotion is a testament to the profound impact Father Lataste had on those who encountered his ministry and witnessed his holiness.

In recognition of his exemplary life and virtue, Pope Benedict XVI declared the heroic virtues of Jeanmarie Joseph Lataste on 1 June 2007, leading to his veneration as Blessed. He was officially beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 3 June 2012, in a ceremony held at the Parc des Expositions Micropolis, Besançon, France. The beatification miracle associated with Father Lataste involved a healing in 1942 in the diocese of Namur, Belgium, although specific details about this miracle are currently unavailable.

Blessed Jeanmarie Joseph Lataste's life and legacy continue to inspire and challenge believers to embrace compassion, forgiveness, and love in their own lives. His dedication to the marginalized, particularly those imprisoned and abused, serves as a reminder of the transformative power of God's grace and the importance of advocating for justice and healing.