LE NOBLETZ, MICHEL, Venerable. – Popular missionary in Brittany, b. at Kerodern in Plouguerneau (formerly in the diocese of Léon) on 29 Sept. 1577, d. at Le Conquet on 5 May 1652. Ordained priest in Paris in 1607, he returned to Brittany and, after an unsuccessful attempt to enter the Dominican Order, became a missionary and traversed nearly all Lower Brittany, preaching, catechizing, and making the contempt of the world the central theme of his preaching, in accordance with a vision he had had during his studies.
Soon he established his apostolic centre at Douarnenez, where he remained for more than 20 years, perfecting his effective method of instruction by means of vivid tableaux designed to strike the faithful. For each tableau he wrote commentaries rich in psychological insight and rigorous spirituality. Forced to leave Douarnenez because of the misunderstanding of his brethren, he retired to Le Conquet, where he lived in solitude in great poverty and the strictest austerity until his death. Many miracles are attributed to him. St. Pius X declared his heroic virtues on 14 Dec. 1913.