BENILDO, FRATEL, blessed. — In the world Pierre Romançon, born at Thuret on 14 June 1805, died at Saugues on 13 August 1862. He received the habit of the Brothers of the Christian Schools at Clermont on 10 February 1820. He spent his entire life in the humble and exhausting work of an elementary school, first at Aurillac, Moulins, Limoges, Clermont, Montferrand, and Billom, and finally, for more than twenty years, at Saugues. Through the catechetical apostolate, which he particularly cherished, he formed several generations of fervent Christians and fostered a very large number of religious vocations. A model Catholic teacher, he was beatified by Pius XII on 4 April 1948.
BIBL.: G. Rigault, Un Intituteur sur le s. autel. Le Bx. Bénilde, Paris, 1948.