1.
Blessed Daniel Brottier
September 7th
1876
February 28th
1936

2.
…born Ferte St. Cyr, a small village in the
Diocese of Blois in central France

3.
Determined to be a missionary
and a priest, Daniel entered the
senior seminary in 1893.
• Parents Jean and
Bertha were
hardworking country
folk.
• Young Daniel Jules
Alexis grew up in an
ordinary but simple
and loving
environment.

4.
Young Daniel at the seminary

5.
Military Service
According to
French law,
Daniel had to
perform military
service while still
a seminarian at
Blois.

6.
Ordination
• Ordained for diocesan
priesthood, October
22nd, 1899
• Assigned by his
bishop to teach at the
college of Pontlevoy
for three years.

7.
Brottier Joins the Spiritans
1902
He applied for admission to the Congregation of the
Holy Ghost and the Immaculate Heart of Mary and began his
novitiate at Orly, near Paris The decision was not taken
without pain. He wrote to his future novice master, the saintly
Father Genoud, on June 6th 1902- “I did not think it would be
so hard to leave the world.When one measures it against the
sacrifices other people have to make, it seems little or nothing,
but when it touches you directly, it is a very different matter.
Yet. I am consoled that in the depth of my being, I experience
the same enthusiasm that moved me during my retreat last
year”.

8.
A Religious and a Missionary
Letter to Superior General, written in
September 1903, Brottier says:
“I do not wish to appear
presumptuous, but if you have a
danger-post to fill where life itself is
at risk, I say in all simplicity, I’m
ready.”

9.
In Senegal
• Arrival in Dakar – Nov. 26th, 1903
Bishop
Jalabert

10.
Brottier’s health suffers in Africa
June 1911 Brottier returns to
Paris. He is not sure whether or
not his health will permit a return
to his beloved Senegal.
“I have promised to leave all to Providence
and take no steps for or against. That is the
only way for a religious to do his duty.”

11.
The African Memorial Cathedral
• 1911-1923 Brottier
raises funds in France
for a new cathedral in
Dakar.
• 1936 the cathedral is
consecrated.

12.
At night, he buried the dead; in the day, he rescued
World War I
and succoured the wounded, even under enemy fire.
His charity and courage were equalled only by his
spirit of humility and self-denial. He was untiring in
his labour, contemptuous of danger, calm,
recollected, utterly dedicated. This may seem high
praise. It is not ours, but the tribute paid him by
soldiers and officers alike, some of whom were, to
say the least, rather anti-clerical. It was these who
recommended him for the highest rewards of the
French State, the Legion of Honour and the Croix de
Guerre. Between 1916 and 1918, he was six times
mentioned in dispatches’

13.
The National Union of
Growth of Union of Ex-Servicemen
2,000,000
Ex-Servicemen
1,800,000 In 1917, before
1,600,000 demobilisation began, he
1,400,000 had already enlisted
1,200,000 8,000 members. At
1,000,000 demobilisation 160,000.
Members
800,000 Eventually, this was to
600,000 rise to 2 million
400,000
200,000
0
1917 1918 Maximum

14.
African Cathedral: Phase II
Brottier continues to raise money for the
cathedral in Dakar.
Brottier’s special devotion to St. Teresa “the
little flower.”
January 12th , 1920, “L’Afrique” is
shipwrecked with the loss of 463 people, among
them Brottier’s friend, Bishop Jalabert.
A time of great loss and trial for Brottier.

15.
The Auteuil Project
In 1923, Cardinal Dubois, Archbishop of Paris, with the approval of the Superior-
General of the Holy Ghost Fathers, Archbishop Le Roy, appointed Father
Brottier as Rector of the Orphanage at Auteuil.
At once, he visited the badly-lit, badly heated, badly equipped buildings
and workshops which cried out silently to him a story of neglect, decay
and inefficient “make-do”. He saw, he pictured what might be and in his
mind laid his plans silently He had the space. He would give to Auteuil-
solid buildings, airy and well-lit, suitably furnished, creating an
atmosphere of joy and stability; class-rooms too, and well-equipped
workshops which would be hives of industry, well-equipped to
encourage professional skill and efficiency and hope of a decent
livelihood to follow.
He was not just one man battling with adversity, but many men in one;
ruler, administrator, diplomat, financier, and yet serene, peaceful, patient
and charitable, inspiring confidence and affection.

16.
1400 The Growth of Auteuil
1200 1923 -1936
1000 More
800
orphanages
Orphans
600
400
are
200 associated
0
1923
with Auteuil
1936

17.
A Basilica to the Little Flower
The following year, 1924, the foundation-stone
was laid. In 1930 the basilica was opened.
The most distinguished architects and artists,
the most skilled craftsmen co-operated. Seven
million francs had been collected. It was a
triumph of faith! It was to become a centre of
devotion to Saint Teresa of Lisieux, a place of
pilgrimage for Paris and for France.

18.
The Auteuil Project

19.
The Auteuil Project

20.
The Auteuil Project

21.
The Auteuil Project

22.
The Auteuil Project

23.
The Auteuil Project

24.
“Heaven’s
Businessman”
His methods were unusually modern for those days:
advertisements in the Paris Underground, gala
performances at the massive Trocadero Theatre,
which had to be repeated twice more to satisfy all
who sought to attend, a concert of religious music at
the Madeleine Church, a “Golden Book,” articles in
the press of the capital, talks, flag-days; even in our
day, few promoters would be as imaginative. He was
indeed “Heaven’s businessman” and it did not go to
his head! Prayer kept him humble and self-forgetting
in the midst of success.

25.
Brottier’s Death
About 4:15 in the morning of
28th February, he gave three
profound sighs and - Daniel
Brottier, intrepid missionary,
builder of churches, legendary
army chaplain and priestly father
of 1400 ophans was with God

26.
O GOD, you filled the heart of your servant
Daniel with a great spirit of charity. You drove
him forward into doing great things, to relieve
the unhappiness of many of your children. He
worked, we know, for your glory as well as
the well being of those he served. Grant us
now, we ask you the gift of living that same
life of generosity and caring charity to help
our fellow brothers and sisters in distress. And
we pray you to honour your servant, Daniel,
here on earth by granting us the graces which
we so much need. Amen.

27.
The End
Laval Media 2002 (Revised 2005)
Produced by Paul McAuley, CSSp
Text and B & W Photos from: Blessed Daniel
Brottier: Friend of Youth by Gerald Fitzgerald, CSSp
Colour Photos by Paul McAuley, CSSp