JUAN MARTÍN MOYË: BIOGRAPHY - HISTORY - 2025

Juan Martín Moyë (1730 - 1793) was a French priest who showed a strong devotion to the Catholic religion. He was known for motivating the women of China to consecrate themselves to religious life of their own choosing.

The foundation of the Congregation of Poor Sisters of the Christian Schools has been recognized as one of the most relevant creations of the priest. Currently the organization bears the name of "Congregation of Divine Providence". After its founding, seven similar groups have been created.

Paralacre, from Wikimedia Commons

Furthermore, Moyë's early work as a priest focused on helping young men of the time who could not read and write, which led him to found a school in Saint-Hubert.

He was also part of the Society of Foreign Missions in Paris, where he was sent to a town in China. Shortly thereafter, Moyë devoted himself to rural missions and expanding the congregation he had founded.

Pope Pius XII beatified him on November 21, 1954 for his work as a religious, a century after his death.

Biography

Early years and studies

Juan Martín Moyë was born on January 27, 1730 in the French town of Cutting, located in the Lorraine region, France. His parents were Jean Moyë and Catherine Demange, from a family quite devoted to the Catholic religion.

Moyë's birthplace belonged to a rural area, whose stables were spacious, with varied harvests and stocked wine cellars. Her parents instilled in her the work of the field as part of their routine; however, the activities were not an excuse for the young man to neglect his studies.

Although there is little information regarding the priest's early years, it is known that he completed his early studies at a Jesuit college, located in a community in northeast France. The priest was noted for his mastery of ancient languages, logic, and the history of the Church.

After completing the stage of his initial education, Jean Moyë began to receive academic training at the Episcopal University of Strasbourg. In addition, he started a seminary in 1751 and was ordained a priest on March 9, 1754, at the age of 24.

First steps as a priest

When Moyë was ordained a priest, he went to a church in the French town of Vigy to perform his role as a religious. During his work at the institution, he dedicated himself to helping young people who could not read or write.

In 1762, his commitment to the social group motivated him to found a school in Saint-Hubert, a town located in France.

Moyë felt that girls, like boys, needed to receive a proper education that would allow them to develop freely in the environment around them.

For this reason, she decided to found the Congregation of Poor Sisters of the Christian Schools; This was an organization that currently bears the name of the Congregation of Divine Providence, and has seven different branches.

Work as a writer

Since he became involved in priestly life, Moyë became interested in providing parishes with the necessary means to deepen their spiritual lives. For this reason, she began to publish some treatises, in collaboration with other colleagues.

The first writings were pamphlets mainly addressed to the theme of the baptism of newborns and especially the baptism of stillborn babies. The publications were approved by ecclesiastical institutions and became recognized at the time.

A few years later, he decided to make other publications on pious practices, in addition to comments on ecclesiastical texts of writers recognized at the time.

I work as a missionary

Congregation of Divine Providence, France. Symposiarch, from Wikimedia Commons

In 1768, six years after founding the Saint-Hubert school, the priest was appointed rector of the Saint-Dié seminary.

In 1771, Moyë entered the Society of the Foreign Missions of Paris; an organization of secular and lay priests belonging to the missionary Catholic religion, which was dedicated to work in other countries.

While he worked for the foundation, he was appointed as a missionary in Sichuan, a town located in China. His work in the Asian country lasted more than 10 years, having to face a complicated society in order to defend the rights of the youngest.

However, a series of health problems forced him to return to his native country in 1784, when Moyë was 52 years old.

Last years

The priest dedicated the last years of his life to activities in rural missions and the expansion of the Congregation of Poor Sisters of the Christian Schools.

During the time of the French Revolution, Moyë refused to accept the oath of allegiance to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, so he decided to flee to the city of Trier, in Germany.

Upon arrival in the new country, Moyë did not abandon his desire to help the sickest. Therefore, she dedicated herself to visiting people with typhus. She worked with these people until she contracted the deadly disease.

The priest passed away on May 4, 1793, after contracting typhoid fever at the age of 63. The remains of Jean-Martin Moyë were buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity.

Beatification

The process to begin the beatification of Moyë began in 1880, exactly 87 years after the death of the priest. For approximately five years, the diocesan process to beatify the French religious was introduced.

On May 21, 1945, approximately 65 years after initiating the procedure, Pope Pius XII declared Jean-Martin Moyë venerable. Finally, the Pope beatified him on November 21, 1954.

The Roman Martyrology - a catalog of martyrs and saints of the Catholic Church - states that May 4 is the day designated to commemorate Jean-Martin Moyë.

The image of the blessed is represented with the clothing used by the priests of France who lived during the 18th century.

In addition, it has the characteristic insignia of missionaries, such as a cane that is used on travel. This staff is placed in one of the hands, while the other holds a book of the Catholic liturgy with a rosary.

There are also other representations in which Moyë is shown preaching in front of a Cross.

References

1. Jean-Martin Moyë, French Wikipedia, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
2. Jean-Martin Moyë, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
3. Juan-Martín Moyë, Portal Catholic.net, (nd). Taken from es.catholic.net
4. Juan-Martín Moyë, Portal Theological Institute of Religious Life, (nd). Taken from itvr.org
5. Biography of Blessed Juan-Martín Moyë, Portal Juan Martín Moye, (nd). Taken from juanmartinmoye17.blogspot.com