Canonization of Brother Solomon Le Clercq, FSC

On October 16, 2016, along with four others, Pope Francis canonized Blessed Brother Solomon Le Clercq, FSC. Brother Solomon was martyred on September 2, 1792, during the French Revolution. He was the first Brother of the Christian Schools to be martyred, and the first to be beatified. Soon after his death, three more Brothers were martyred; they are recognized as the Blessed Martyrs of Rochefort. September 2nd marks the feast day of all of these Brothers.

The four others who were canonized on October 16, 2016 include: Manuel González García, a Bishop of Spain; Lodovico Pavoni, an Italian priest; Alfonso Maria Fusco, priest and founder of the Sisters of Saint John the Baptist; and Elizabeth of the Trinity, a French Carmelite nun.

Saint Brother Solomon (Nicholas Le Clercq)
Born at Boulogne, France on November 14, 1745
Entered the Novitiate on March 25, 1767
Martyred on September 2, 1792
Beatified on October 17, 1926

Once the monarchy had been overthrown early in the French Revolution, the next target was the Church. In 1790 the Civil Constitution of the Clergy gave the state complete control over the Church in France. In order to continue to function, priests and religious were forced to take an oath to support the constitution. Most of the Brothers of the Christian Schools refused and so were forced gradually to abandon their schools and communities. Eventually the Institute was deprived altogether of legal status in France.

Brother Solomon was secretary to Brother Agathon, the Superior General, after having been a teacher, director and bursar. He always showed a great love for people and a great attachment to his work. Having refused to take an oath, he lived alone in Paris in secrecy. The Institute still has many of his letters to his family. The last one is dated August 15, 1792. That very day he was arrested and imprisoned in the Carmelite monastery, which had become a prison, together with several bishops and priests. On September 2, 1792, almost all the prisoners were killed by sword in the monastery garden. He was beatified on October 17, 1926, together with 188 of his fellow martyrs.