SOULAS, ANDRÉ. - Priest, founder of the Sisters of Our Lord for the care of the sick, b. at Viols-le-Fort (diocese of Montpellier) on 25 February 1808, d. at Montpellier on 4 May 1857.
Already as a seminarian he distinguished himself by his effective and persuasive art in speaking to his companions and to the people, so that he was at once put in charge of catechesis for the newly-communicant children and of preaching in certain institutions. Ordained a priest in 1835, after a brief period of ministry at Salvetat, he was called to Montpellier and put in charge of missions in the diocese, in which the fruit gathered exceeded all expectation. Later he also traveled through the whole of southern France, preaching. For the good of the sick he wished to found a Congregation, which the bishop approved in 1845 and which began with two novices under the direction of Virginia Montegnol de Cavillac. As vocations increased, the program of apostolate also expanded, adding to the care of the sick that of orphan girls, to be educated also in work, of infants and of children, and perpetual adoration. S. also revived with the greatest affection the association of diocesan missionaries, which he had found reduced to a few persons. His cause of beatification was introduced on 14 December 1914.
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