An Incredibly Beautiful Story from 'The Life of Leo Dupont,' Apostle of the Holy Face Devotion

Read this very powerful story and then ask yourself, "How well can I see?"

Leo Dupont (1797 - 1876) was studying to become a lawyer in France.  His father had already entered eternal life and left the family with a sizable fortune, and Leo received a handsome allowance while a student in Paris.  He was enjoying a very privileged life.   

He lived at a hotel while attending school and had an indoor servant named Luke to wait on him.  He also had a new cabriolet along with horses and fine clothes.  At one point, Leo decided that in addition to having an inside servant, he also needed an outside servant, so he hired a boy named Clement to serve as his jockey, or groom.

Clement had been a street sweeper, and was recommended to Leo by the hotel doorman.  Clement was a wonderful jockey to Leo (he drove the carriage), who, having an outdoor servant then, considered himself a Parisian in the fullest sense and a gentleman of the world.

Everything was turning out for him just as he wanted. He was twenty-one years old, living and studying in Paris, was a frequent guest of parties at palaces, and now he had an indoor servant as well as one for outdoors. 

What else could a man want. 

Leo was very content, that is until the day when Clement showed up late for work.  When his boss demanded an explanation, Clement said he was at a meeting with a Mr. Bordier.  It turned out that the man was a fine gentleman who gathered chimney sweepers and other youths from the street and taught them Christian doctrine to prepare them to receive the sacraments.

Leo became intrigued by such charitable behavior, and asked to meet Mr. Bordier.  He wanted to know what type of person would gather youth from the slums of Paris to teach them religion in the heat.

One day, Leo paid the man a visit and they had a very nice discussion about Mr. Bordier's lessons.

Subsequent to that, Leo visited a former school friend of his who had become a priest.  Leo had some grand thoughts on his mind.    

What follows is the exquisite fruit from that meeting. 

Leo brought Father Frayssinous up to speed on his latest activities, stating that once he had secured a jockey, he was very pleased because he thought that at last, he had everything he could possibly want.  Then, he said, "Suddenly I was brought face to face with contradiction.  Clement, the last and most cherished of my worldly ambitions, turns into a symbol of reproach.  How strange." 1

Father Frayssinous asked Leo if Clement had done anything wrong.  

Leo said that he had not, and continued speaking.

"It is only that Clement, whom I secured to satisfy my worldly ambition, Clement, who, as the groom at my side, completed for me that desirable setting, that final pinnacle in fashion and elegance which I fancied went into the making of a Parisian gentleman - yes, this Clement, through a force of circumstance, suddenly hurled me into a world I never expected to learn about...you see, Clement brought me face to face with my own soul."

Leo told Father about his having met Mr. Bordier. 

"Just think of it, Father, I meet a gentleman of fine circumstances, Mr. Bordier, who gathers dirty and neglected chimney sweeps from the gutter to teach them catechism and to prepare them for the sacraments!  And suddenly I see myself as I am. 

"Oh, I managed to have Clement sought out because I wanted an outdoor servant to add to all my other worldly possessions, whereas Mr. Bordier, on the other hand, seeks out Clement, not to hire him, mind you, but rather to hire himself out to Clement, without charge, to serve Clement's spiritual needs.  

"Now, there's the rub, and the poet Shakespeare would put it.  Mr. Bordier is farsighted.  He is working for heaven.  I am nearsighted.  I work only to satisfy my earthly ambitions.  And yet, we both have only one lifetime in which to work for eternity.  When that one lifetime is finished, we'll be given no second chance." 2

Now THAT'S profoundly Catholic!  

Learn more about this Apostle of the Holy Face Devotion, Venerable Leo Dupont.  His inspiring stories are certainly worth sharing, learning from, and emulating.  

God Uses the Lowly in Very Powerful Ways: A Story from the Life of Venerable Leo Dupont (click here).  A poignant story from the extraordinarily holy life of Venerable Leo Dupont, Apostle of the Holy Face Devotion.  

How is God at work in you?

 ____________

Source:

1. Dorothy Scallan, The Holy Man of Tours: The Life of Leo Dupont (Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1990), p. 20.

2. Dorothy Scallan, The Holy Man of Tours: The Life of Leo Dupont (Rockford, IL: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1990), p.20-21.