Today, August 18, is the memorial of the Blessed Carmelite Martyrs of Rochefort.
The three Discalced Carmelites were Frenchmen: Fr. Jean-Baptiste Duverneuil (Leonard in religious life) was born in 1737, other accounts contend it was 1759; Fr. Michel Louis Brulard was born in 1758; Fr. Jacques Gagnot (Hubert of St. Claude in religious life) was born in 1753.
The trio were victims of the French Revolution. They refused to take the oath of the civil Constitution for the Clergy imposed by the Constituent Assembly of the French Revolution. For them, they would remain loyal to God, the Church and the Pope.
For their refusal, they were condemned to intense suffering. They were held captive on a boat in Rochefort Bay, to be deported for forced labor in Africa. The deportation was not meant to be.
In 1794, the first two friars died: Fr. Jean-Baptiste on July 1 and Fr. Michel-Louis on July 25. They were buried on the island of Aix.
In August, a massive plague broke out aboard the ship. Prisoners still alive were brought to Madame Island and treated harshly. Fr. Jacques died there on September 10 and was buried on the island.
Pope St. John Paul II beatified them in 1995, together with 61 other fellow martyrs of the French Revolution.