Louis-Antoine-Rose Ormières

To remedy the educational neglect of children in the countryside after the Revolution, Father Ormières founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Guardian Angel. With the help of Father Gabriel Deshayes, a first community was established in Quillan on December 3, 1839, under the direction of Sister Saint-Pascal (Julienne-Marie Lavrillouz). The institute received diocesan approval and then official recognition in France by imperial decree of Napoleon III on December 12, 1852. The congregation developed rapidly in France and Spain. Father Ormières died on January 16, 1890, in Gijón during a pastoral visit.

The reputation for holiness of Louis-Antoine-Rose Ormières endured after his death in France and Spain. The diocesan informative process opened in Oviedo on March 25, 1954, and closed on September 10, 1955. After the examination of the Positio in Rome, Pope John Paul II signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues on March 8, 1997, conferring upon him the title of Venerable.

The beatification was made possible by the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession: the healing of a nun suffering from cancer of the palate in 2002. After the diocesan inquiry in Madrid, Pope Francis authorized the decree recognizing this miracle on July 8, 2016. The beatification ceremony was celebrated on April 22, 2017, in the Cathedral of Oviedo by Cardinal Angelo Amato. The following day, Pope Francis publicly honored his memory during the Regina Caeli.

The spirituality of the Blessed rests on evangelical simplicity, trust in Providence, and the imitation of the guardian angels. For him, education allows for the restoration of human dignity and the transmission of the faith to the poorest. Today, the Sisters of the Guardian Angel continue this educational and charitable mission in about fifteen countries around the world. His liturgical feast is celebrated on January 16.