With Help from Our Sisters

My "cloistered brothers" keep in touch with the Dominican Sisters of Bethany in Europe.  Once in a while

they send letters to the pope.  The subjects vary but they all ask for the grace of the canonization of our founder, Blessed M. John Joseph Lataste, OP.  We never get a response from the Holy Father.

Now one of our sisters in an audience with Pope Francis handed the pope a letter from one of my "cloistered brothers."  Here are some photos of Sister M. Emmanuelle giving the letter to the pope.  How much do you want to bet that Fr. Lataste's cause for canonization is advanced!!!!

Deo Gratias.

My Dear Sisters

My Dear Sisters, Life of Bl. Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP, Apostle to Prisoners (1832-1869 by Fr. Jean-Marie Gueullette, OP, translated by Fr. George G. Christian, OP

Author: Fr. Jean-Marie Gueullette, OP
Genre: Biography
Date Published:  Les Editionos Du Cerf, www.editionsducerf.fr, Paris 2012.  Translated 2018 by Fr. George G. Christian, OP, New Hope Publications, New Hope Kentucky, www.newhope-ky.org
Number of Pages: 260 softcover
Print Price: $22.95

This 2018 translation of the recently beatified Fr. M. Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP, the spiritual father of the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, was written by the Vice-Postulator of his cause for beatification, Fr. Jean-Marie Gueullette, OP.  Gueullette tells Fr. Lataste’s life, from birth to death in a balanced and thorough account and is very much worth reading for fans of Catholic biographies, and those involved in the Catholic chaplaincies inside prisons. The author’s rendering of the intellectual and social milieu of the times adds understanding to the situations Fr. Lataste had to deal with.  Fr. Lataste was a prophet, and like all prophets, his ideas were not universally welcomed, not even by his order.  But you can’t hold down the Holy Spirit, and God’s will prevails.

Fr. Lataste was all about mercy and redemption.  He is known as the "Apostle of Prisons."  He was a French Dominican who lived in the 19th century.  As a new preacher, he was assigned to preach a retreat in a women's prison.  The women were used to sermons that condemned them for their crimes and emphasized their unworthiness.  But Pere Lataste's sermon spoke of God's love.

           My dear sisters!
           I am not sure whether you noticed: in the beginning, what I called you: My dear sisters,--
          My dear sisters!  Do you understand that? After all, what are you to me? P. 98

The women were surprised.  They came into the chapel with their heads down, disgraced women who were too ashamed to look a priest in the eyes.  But as the good friar spoke of God's love, then one by one their heads popped up.  Their expressions changed from surprise, to attentive, to hopeful, to being, oh, so very open.

Nota Bene: this is Lataste spirituality.  He tells the inmates that they are equal to nuns  and monks. Appreciating women as his sisters in Adam and in Jesus Christ, Fr. Lataste developed an idea absolutely original in the history of the Church…he ventured to formulate the notion of welcoming into religious life ex-prisoners.  God forgave them and they felt called to contemplative life. P. 232

    The community of Bethany was conceived in the heart of Fr. Lataste during adoration
     of the Blessed Sacrament in prison, while he was praying in the midst of inmates like
     a brother among his sisters and as he felt overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that
     filled the chapel.  P.233

This is the biography Fr. Gueullette relates. Although it is a scholarly work, written by an academic, it is very readable.  You learn not only about Fr. Lataste but about his innovative idea of prisoners becoming Dominican nuns.  His spirituality is all about God’s immense love and mercy.  Fr. Gueullette meticulously researched his biography and his intellectual scholarship adds credibility to this interesting new biography.

150 Years a Priest

The Apostle of Prisons, Pere Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. was ordained a priest 150 years ago, on February 8, 1863.  Here are some of his impressions on that very day.  These are compiled by Renata Commazind from the Resurrection Community in Casco, Maine.

Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Lataste – February 8, 1863  The Apostle of Prisons

Approaching his Ordination, Fr. Lataste still felt the fear before the sanctity which such a mission demands. But he is not crushed anymore by that call, as when he was young.; he trusts now in God’s mercy:

He writes;” Oh! How the power of the Priest is high, marvelous, redoubtable! Also, when one often sees men at the hight of their position of their work in the world, never though can a priest, as virtuous and saintly he might be, ever be worthy of his mission, rigorously speaking; he will always be less; what he will be, he will be, not by his merits but only by the great mercy of God towards him.”  

                                                                                                  Pg. 100 of “Ces femmes qui etaaient mes soeurs”      

                                                                                                              Book by Fr. Jean Marie Gueullette O.P.             

February 8, 1863- Marseille - Br. Jean Joseph Lataste is ordained to the Priesthood by Msg. Petagna, representing the Bsp. of Marseille. In the Oratory of the Third Order Sisters of St. Dominic.

February 10.- Fr. Jean Joseph celebrates Mass for the first time. It is the Commemoration of the suffering of Our Lord.

Febr. 11, - Feast of the Engagement of Mary and Joseph. Fr. Lataste celebrates the second time ,Holy mass at the Grotto of St. Mary Magdaleine at La St. Baume.

February 23, 1863 he writes to Mrs. Piron ( a good friend )  “ Yes, now I am a priest, a servant of God, priest for all eternity. I leave it to you and your heart and piety to guess what feelings were then in my soul and still are every day. Feelings of joy, gratefulness, love, of total giving of myself to the will of God, who is so good, so merciful, so wonderful toward his children, even to the weakest and most unworthy. The 8th and 10th of Feb., are two days, which I will never forget. My father and my oldest brother Theophil and the youngest of the three, my brother Honore, were with me. The always pious and good Honore and the two others were first uneasy, but then deeply touched. The light has not yet touched their souls, but everything moved them: the dignity of the celebration, the impression which a first Mass gives, especially in the presence of 80 Monks, a day of a solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the fraternal welcome, which they received, the intimate joy and the true fatherly affection which one receives in a Cloister.”            By Robert and Claude Evers in “Apostle of Prisons” 

The Apostle of Prisons

Image via Wikipedia

Why have I been so discombobulated, today?  It's because my mind's been on the Apostle of Prisons.  Every since I've learned that Pere Marie Jean Joseph Lataste, OP has been favorably considered for beatification, I can't wipe the smile off my face.  I'm so happy!  All we "Latasties" are celebrating.

My "cloistered brothers," and others who follow the spirituality of Pere Lataste are thrilled.  The Dominican Sisters of Bethany, (Lataste founded them) I'm sure, are planning a party.  And I want to go.

Who is he?  Pere M. Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. was a French Dominican Friar who lived in the nineteenth century.  He had a vision for the rehabilitation of prisoners through God's love.  He saw something marvelous happen during the first retreat that he gave at Cadillac prison in 1865.  He saw redemption, not as an abstract concept, but right in front of him.  The Holy Spirit not only touched the women prisoners, but also his own heart.  You can see the tone of his retreat change, as he nears the middle of his talk.  He was one of the converts, himself!  

Since the time was the nineteenth century, his converts had a hard time finding work, once released from prison.  What jobs could women do then?  They didn't want to go back to the old ways of life that had landed them in prison.  They needed a community for support.  Hence, the Dominican Sisters of Bethany was born.  And it wasn't easy.  I can just imagine the look on the Dominican friars' faces, at Lataste's proposal: "What!  You want to put a prostitute in a Dominican habit!"  Pere Lataste had what my "cloistered brothers" would call "theological cojones."

But you know, if it's the work of the Holy Spirit, it will happen.  And so it did.

My "cloistered brothers" tell the same story when they tried to set up a Lay Dominican Chapter.   They still have the "cease and desist" letter from the Archdiocese of Boston, in their archives.  There's an online book about my brothers' journey called A Word of Hope, if your interested.

Everyone who follows Pere Lataste's teachings is known as a Latastie.  We Latasties are celebrating now.  We have been praying for Pere's beatification for awhile.  He already was made venerable in 2007.  In fact, I made up a prayer, for his beatification   

O Lord of all that is good and holy. You see those of us who love and serve You faithfully. If it be Your Will, I ask you to glorify Your faithful friar, Father Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. He exemplified Jesus' teachings on mercy, forgiveness, and love. He taught the forgotten, the poor, the marginalized, and the imprisoned, that all Your people are loved equally by You. Pere Lataste said that the prisoner was loved the same as a priest, in Your eyes. His clear and courageous preaching of Your Truths converted many hardened hearts to embrace the Faith. His love for the Blessed Mother moved many to love Your Son. He inspired the lives of the women prisoners in Cadillac, France, to establish the Dominican Sisters of Bethany. He gave his all for You, zealously bringing people to You. His will was to do Your Will.
Lord, if it be Your Divine Will, I ask you to glorify Your loving and faithful servant, Father Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen


Deo Gratias!  It is God's Will.


Providentially, the Dominican Sisters of Bethany have constructed a new chapel for Fr. Lataste's remains.  He is buried there and pilgrims can visit.  MMmmmmm.......wouldn't that be the perfect place for a celebratory ceremony?

Glorious NEWS!!!!!

Sister Ruth sent this email, this morning:

dear Ruth and dear brothers of Norfolk
I don't know if you receive the great news from Rome, yesterday : trial on miracle for the beatification of our father Lataste is finished, cardinals voted yes ! We have to wait the pope's decree and to organize the bigest feast of Bethany's story !
yours sincerely
fr. Jean Marie Gueullette, o.p.
Couvent de la Tourette
B.P. 105
69591 L'Arbresle Cedex
Tél direct : 04 72 19 15 24


Thank you Lord!  

Prayer for Beatification and Canonization

Pere Lataste's remains were moved from
the nun's chapel to his very own new chapel.

This prayer is to be prayed privately, because it is not officially recognized, by church authorities.

O Lord of all that is good and holy. You see those of us who love and serve You faithfully. If it be Your Will, I ask you to glorify Your faithful friar, Father Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. he exemplified Jesus' teachings on mercy, forgiveness, and love. He taught the forgotten, the poor, the marginalized, and the imprisoned, that all Your people are loved equally by You. Pere Lataste said that the prisoner was loved the same as a priest, in Your eyes. His clear and courageous preaching of Your Truths converted many hardened hearts to embrace the Faith. His love for the Blessed Mother moved many to love Your Son. He inspired the lives of the women prisoners in Cadillac, France, to establish the Dominican Sisters of Bethany. He gave his all for You, zealously bringing people to You. His will was to do Your Will.

Lord, if it be Your Divine Will, I ask you to glorify Your loving and faithful servant, Father Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, O.P. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior. Amen