BUCH (BUCHE, BUSCH), MICHEL-HENRI, called LE BON HENRI. — Founder of the “Frères cordonniers,” born on 13 May 1598 at Arlon (Luxembourg), where he attended the Carmelite school, died in Paris on 9 June 1666. As an itinerant shoemaker travelling through Luxembourg, the Rhineland, and France, he carried out, following the example of ss. Crispino and Crispiniano, an effective apostolate among his fellow tradesmen, and led many of them from vice to an exemplary Christian life. Having settled in Paris and become the friend and Renty (v.), one of the leaders of the “Compagnie du St-Sacrement,” he founded there, under his patronage and with the support of s. Vincenzo de' Paoli and the approval of Archbishop Gondi, the association of the “Frères cordonniers.”
The Société des frères chrétiens cordonniers de st Crépin et st Crépinien (act of foundation dated 2 February 1645, in A. Bessières, p. 430) united its members in a community of life and work, in order to serve God and neighbour. Without taking actual religious vows, the members promised celibacy and obedience to the superior whom they elected, living from the proceeds of their own work and giving the surplus to those in need, especially to those of the same profession. The Association of Tailors arose on this model in 1647. Similar foundations followed elsewhere. B. continued to direct his work and died, after a long illness, in a reputation for holiness on 9 June 1666.
The French martyrology (under 9 June) and the Petits Bollandistes give him the title of venerable, but there is no evidence that his cause of beatification was ever introduced. His work, which spread widely, survived until the French Revolution.