Daughters of the Cross Series: Yellow Fever
St. Mary’s Convent, 1872, seen from the rear, Daughters of the Cross Collection; Courtesy of Northwest Louisiana Archives at LSUS
The year is 1873. The Daughters of the Cross are operating five schools: Presentation Academy in Marksville, St. Joseph’s in Isle Brevelle, St. Hyacinthe’s in Monroe, St. Mary’s in Shreveport, and St. Vincent’s at Fairfield Hill, three miles from Shreveport. Mother Hyacinthe has been recalled three years prior from Relecq, France, where she has established a novitiate to supply Sisters for the American mission. In 1870, she lists 31 Sisters (of which nine are lay Sisters) and eight novices in America.
Every summer, the Sisters return to the motherhouse for vacation. In early September, 1873, Mother Hyacinthe sends her Sisters out to their schools to begin the term. Soon, reports are spreading of yellow fever in Shreveport. On September 9, she receives a message from Father Pierre of Holy Trinity requesting Sisters to help nurse the sick. There are two Sisters at St. Mary’s in Shreveport already, and she can send but three more.
Father Jean-Marie le Biler, a young relative of Mother Hyacinthe who has been the Sisters’ chaplain for the last two years and eight months, also receives a summons from Father Pierre. For the next three days he comes back to the convent only to sleep, say early Mass and eat a quick breakfast. On Saturday the 13th, Father Biler returns late with news that Father Pierre has fallen ill and Father Isidore Quemerais, his assistant at Holy Trinity, is exhausted. After a quick meal, he returns to Shreveport. Early the next morning, he arrives at St. Vincent’s to say Sunday Mass, hear the Sisters renew their vows, and expose the Blessed Sacrament. Then he hurries back to Shreveport, promising to return in the evening for benediction. This time, when he returns, he relates that Father Quemerais is ill, as well. The next day, Monday, September 15, he makes a brief visit in the afternoon to report that Sister Marie Marthe Denes has fallen sick, and that he has given last rites to Father Quemerais. After a little nourishment, he rushes back to town to plan the funeral for Father Quemerais, who dies at 7 p.m.
On Tuesday, the 16th, he comes to St. Vincent’s at 11 p.m. to report that Father Pierre has died several hours earlier. After a quick meal he returns to Shreveport, refusing to rest. The next morning, as the Sisters at St. Vincent’s are reciting the Office of the Dead for Father Pierre, a note arrives stating, “Sister Marie Marthe died at 2 o’clock. If I can, I shall go to perform the funeral at 11 o’clock. Biler, priest.” He does return, and the services for Sister Marie Marthe are held outside at the convent graveyard.
Father Biler, now the only priest in a city with an estimated eight or nine hundred sick residents, sends a telegram to Father Louis Gergaud at St. Matthew’s in Monroe, requesting his help. Mother Hyacinthe writes Bishop Auguste Martin, pouring out her fears that there may soon be no priests to assist the dying. On Friday, the 19th, Mother Hyacinthe receives word that Sister Marie Angele Nedelec and Father Biler are sick at St. Mary’s. Since the staff at the rectory is also ill, the Sisters at St. Mary’s convert the convent to a hospital. The next day, Saturday, Father Gergaud arrives from Monroe. He administers Last Rites to Sister Angele, and on Sunday she and Father Biler both rally. Father Biler is even allowed to return to St. Vincent’s on Monday in a closed carriage. He recovers enough to write some letters and eat some chicken. But Sister Marie Angele succumbs on Tuesday, September 23, and that same night, Father Biler’s fever spikes.
After performing the funeral for Sister Angele at St. Vincent’s on Wednesday, Father Gergaud offers the Last Rites to Father Biler, but the sick priest declines. He expects to recover. Father Gergaud promises to return but is unable to do so; that very afternoon he comes down with the fever.
Meanwhile, Mother Hyacinthe is devoting every minute to the care of her younger relative. The doctor is summoned for Father Biler, but the first one to arrive is inebriated; the second, too young to inspire any confidence. The following day, Mother Hyacinthe, exhausted, falls ill and is forced to go to bed. When Father Biler’s doctor finally arrives on Friday, the 26th, he gives the suffering priest just hours to live. Mother Hyacinthe cries out, “O, my God! Wilt Thou permit Thy servant to die without the Last Sacraments, him who has administered them to so many others…?” Her prayer is answered. Father Francois le Vezouet of Natchitoches appears just in time to assist Father Biler before he dies. Thus prepared, a euphoric Father Biler exclaims, “I am going to Heaven! Je vais au Ciel—Chan d’or Baradoz!” in English, French and Breton.
Considering the prospect that Father le Vezouet, too, could fall ill and die, leaving the citizens without a priest, Mother Hyacinthe writes, “Fiat! Fiat!” On Wednesday, October 1, Father le Vezouet returns to the convent with news of Father Gergaud’s passing. Five days later, Sister Rose of Lima Desselles dies at St. Mary’s. A novice, she makes her vows on her deathbed, having proved herself a true Daughter of the Cross. Father le Vezouet follows his confreres to Heaven on October 8. He is assisted by Father James Duffo, S. J., and Father Charles Ferec, who arrive just in time. They have come in response to the desperate plea of Bishop Martin for priests from New Orleans who have already had the fever.
In another month, the epidemic is over. Three Daughters of the Cross and five priests have given their lives caring for the sick. Their selfless charity, based on the rock of their unshakable faith and radical trust in God, continues to amaze and inspire almost 150 years later. Today, a cause has been mounted for the canonization of the five martyr priests, and they have been named Servants of God.