Today, April 15, is the memorial of Blessed Cesar de Bus.
Cesar led a wild life of partying. Back in his home town of Cavaillon, Cesar succeeded his deceased brother as canon. The problem was, Cesar only wanted to become a canon because he could get money off it and increase his influence.
He was going to a party one night when he noticed an image of the Blessed Virgin in a shrine, lit only by a small flame. He then recalled a friend who was praying for Cesar’s conversion. Cesar saw his disconnect from God: he cannot get to Heaven with all his vices. That same night, he experienced a conversion and changed his life.
He was ordained priest in 1582 and became Avignon’s canon. He was so inspired by St. Charles Borromeo’s autobiography that Cesar resolved to follow his example and dedication to catechesis.
He became a tireless catechist, going to areas previously unexplored and teaching people in the outer reaches of society. St. Francis de Sales admired him so much he called Cesar “a star of the first magnitude in the firmament of Catechesis.”
Cesar founded the Daughters of Christian Doctrine, later called Ursulines which is not connected to the religious order of the same name) and the Fathers of Christian Doctrine.
Cesar died in 1607 of natural causes. Pope St. Paul VI beatified him in 1975.
In May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a miracle attributed to Blessed Cesar’s intercession, thereby clearing the way for his canonization.