U.S. Bishops to Vote on Advancing Beatification Cause of Five Priests who Died in Yellow Fever Epidemic

In a historic move, the U.S. bishops will hold a consultative vote this week on whether to advance the beatification cause of five priests who died during the 1873 Yellow Fever epidemic in Shreveport, Louisiana. The priests, known as Servants of God Isidore Quémerais, Jean Pierre, Jean Marie Biler, Louis Gergaud, and François LeVézouë, sacrificed their lives while ministering to the sick and dying in one of the worst Yellow Fever outbreaks in U.S. history.

These priests, all hailing from France, were serving as missionaries in Louisiana in the mid-1800s. They responded to a call from Bishop Auguste Martin to serve in the new diocese of Shreveport, despite knowing the risks and sacrifices that awaited them.

During the epidemic, the priests worked tirelessly to care for the sick, even as the virus continued to spread. Fr. Pierre chose to remain in Shreveport to minister to the sick, while Fr. Quémerais, who was recovering from a separate illness, immediately came to assist him. The other priests, Biler, Gergaud, and LeVézouët, also joined in the effort to care for the sick and dying.

Tragically, all five priests fell ill and eventually succumbed to the virus. Their selfless dedication to serving others in the face of danger and death has led to their cause for beatification being opened in 2020.

Bishop Francis Malone of Shreveport praised the priests’ “extraordinary zeal” and “free offering of their lives” in the service of others. Their story of sacrifice and service continues to be celebrated today, as the U.S. bishops consider advancing their cause for beatification.

The consultative vote on the beatification cause of these heroic priests marks a significant moment in the history of the Catholic Church in the United States, honoring the memory and legacy of those who gave their lives in the service of others.