LA COLOMBIÈRE, CLAUDE, blessed. — Jesuit, propagator of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, born at St-Symphorien d'Ozon (Dauphiné) on 2 February 1641, died at Paray-le-Monial on 15 February 1682. Having entered the Society of Jesus, overcoming a terrible aversion, he became, after completing his studies, a preacher in Lyons, and then (1675) the first superior of the residence at Paray-le-Monial; at the end of 1676 he was sent to the English court as preacher to the Duchess of York, Maria Beatrice di Este. The supposed conspiracy of Titus Oates led to his imprisonment, from which he was released through the intervention of the French ambassador and then exiled. He returned to Paray, where he died.
His name is linked to the propagation of devotion to the Sacred Heart, which he had been charged with, at-
through the revelations made to S. Margherita Alacoque on 16 June 1675; he had approved the Saint’s spirituality and the reality of the divine messages in the face of the disapproval of many, and accepted the charge with complete enthusiasm, immediately consecrating himself to the Sacred Heart and spreading devotion to it among those whom he directed. Although, for reasons of health, he had to leave Paray-le-Monial, he nevertheless remained there, in accordance with the Saint’s celebrated note: «He [Jesus] has told me that he desires the sacrifice of your life here».
His Sermons prechez devant son Altesse Royale, Madame la Duchesse d'York were published posthumously (3 vols., Lyons 1684; expanded to 4 in the 2nd ed., there 1687; Italian translation, Venice 1707 and Turin 1913); La retraite spirituelle (there 1684); Le lettres spirituelles (2 vols., edited by P. Charrier, Grenoble 1902, Italian translation, Milan 1907). All these works went through numerous editions and translations.