Rev. Fr. Adrian Caussanel SJ
A French missionary
Reverend Father Adrian Caussanel , entered Indian land in 1888. Understanding the local realities well, he felt the need to initiate the local population into the mission of the Church in this vast country.
It was the beginning of a persistent vision to found the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
Known as the ” Dragon of the South “, he was a person of indefatigable strength and zeal and whose reputation remains proverbial in South India, especially because of his fearlessness manifested on numerous occasions in defending the rights of the people. poor and marginalized.
The missionary spirit, the commitment to the poor and the need to work in rural areas that he had defined and defended, are carried out by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart to this day. The continuity of the congregation is inspired by its charism for justice and solidarity with the poor.
Brother Adrian Caussanel was born on September 27, 1850, from an early age he showed signs of great piety. He was never tired of praying with his sisters who later joined the congregation of the Sisters of Charity.
During his secondary studies at the minor seminary of St Pierre and in Villefranche, he was noticed by his good behavior, his diligence in studies and his accommodating personality. He was highly regarded and appreciated by his companions as well as by his teachers. In St Pierre he was rewarded with Prix d’Honneur. Everyone showed great esteem and sympathy for him at the Major Seminary in Philosophy and Theology. His aptitude for historical studies was remarkable. He also had a great fascination with the various disciplines of ecclesiastical science. The first sermon he gave in the refectory, shortly before leaving major seminary, caught everyone’s attention and demonstrated his promising preaching skills.
He joined the minorSeminaryof Rodez to study philosophy on October 4, 1871.He received the tonsure on June 7, 1873; the minor orders on May 30, 1874 and the sub-diaconate on December 18, 1875.
He left Rodez on December 20, two days after his ordination and went first to Mazières to take leave of his family and then to Albi to see his sisters: Marie, sister of Charity and postulant Emilie.
From Albi, he went to Lourdes to spend Christmas Day and on the evening of the 25th, he arrived at the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Pau. After his novitiate started in Pau and finished in Toulouse (Ste Marie des Champs) Adrian, was sent to the Scolasticate of Vals at the beginning of October 1877.
The following year, in September, he was appointed overseer and professor at Saint Gabriel College in St. Affrique and he worked there with zeal and success until the summer vacation of 1882. His last two years at the college were extremely trying since after the application of the various decrees (taken by Jules Ferry) he remained almost the only Jesuit in place.
The absolute trust that all the students placed in him earned him annoyances from the new professors.
In August 1882, under the order of his superiors, Adrian left for Spain. After spending a few days in Lourdes (from 20 to 22), he arrived on the 25 or 26 of the month at the monastery of Uclés, near