Blessed Nicolas Roland

Biography

Blessed Nicolas Roland, also known as Blessed Nicolas Roland Deslandres, was born on 8 December 1642 in Rheims, Marne, France. He was raised in a pious family and received a thorough education under the guidance of the Jesuits. Nicolas showed great intellectual promise and a deep devotion to the Catholic faith from a young age.

As a seminarian, Nicolas's commitment to serving God led him to be appointed as the Canon of Rheims, France. Despite still being in seminary, he embraced the responsibilities of this position with dedication and fervor. Nicolas was ordained a priest and became renowned for his eloquence and fervent preaching. His sermons touched the hearts of many and drew people closer to God.

After serving in various capacities, Nicolas was assigned as the parish priest in Rouen, France. It was during this time that he discovered his calling to help the marginalized and abandoned in society. Recognizing the plight of poor girls, he envisioned starting schools for them. Nicolas seized a run-down orphanage in Rheims and transformed it into a successful school for orphaned and abandoned girls.

Driven by his passion for education and his desire to provide a brighter future for these girls, Nicolas founded the Soeurs de l'Enfant-Jésus (Sisters of the Infant Jesus). The first members of this religious congregation were teachers at his school. On 9 May 1678, the Sisters received formal approval for their work, thus establishing a lasting legacy of educating and caring for the less fortunate.

With the support of the Sisters, Nicolas expanded the work of the congregation and founded more schools around the city of Rheims. His tireless efforts brought education and hope to countless girls who would have otherwise been neglected. His dedication to the cause earned him the admiration and respect of many, including Saint John Baptist de La Salle, who would become his friend and mentor.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle, inspired by Nicolas's work, took on the task of supervising the Sisters and continued their mission of education by founding schools for boys. Together, they championed the cause of providing quality education to children regardless of their social standing, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.

Blessed Nicolas Roland's life was tragically cut short when he passed away on 27 April 1678 in Rheims, France, due to natural causes. He was interred in the crypt of the Sisters of the Child Jesus, the congregation he had founded, in Rheims.

Blessed Nicolas Roland's profound virtues and selfless dedication to the education and care of orphaned and abandoned girls came to be widely recognized. On 21 December 1992, Pope John Paul II declared his heroic virtue, and he was beatified on 16 October 1994. His life serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and the compassion that lies at the heart of the Catholic faith.