Billom: Small Medieval Town Where Fr. Medaille Died and Was Buried

 

In 1669, when Fr. Medaille was ill and fragile, he was transferred to Billom where he lived in a senior care home for sick and elderly priests. He continued his ministry, however, by hearing confessions of the people in the town. He died on December 30, 1669, at the age of 59. Presumably he was buried in the cemetery next to the school but during the French Revolution, the cemetery was destroyed. There is no trace of Fr. Medaille's grave or remains, but the Jesuits do have a record of his death certificate. 

 

 

Billom is under 120 kilometers northwest of Le Puy. Fr. Medaille, the itinerant preacher, traversed the many miles of the Avergne region on horseback.

 

 

 

Fr. Medaille was known to live his life of mission with such a reputation of holiness that people often called him a saint. He was also known to be appreciated by the wealthy, the poor, and the bishops in dioceses where he worked. 

Click here for a video review of his life.

 

The open space next to the school may have been the site of the cemetery where Fr. Medaille was buried. The feeling of being there was desolate and a little sad, perhaps as a result of its history. Places sometimes retain sentiments of their past.

 

The Jesuits operated a school in Billom. In 1764, during the expulsion of Jesuits in France, the school was abandoned. From 1886-1963 the school became a military prep school for young people. Today, the building stands empty with some painted windows that look like a school project attempting to beautify the building. A newer lycée (high school) was built across the courtyard from the old building.

  The new lycée across the courtyard from the former Jesuit school.

Remnants from another time, a lion crest with a sword is displayed at the entrance to the school campus.

 

 

 

 

The Jesuit Expulsion

The Jesuit movement was founded by Ignatius de Loyola in August 1534. Under his charismatic leadership, the Society of Jesus grew quickly. The Jesuits’ ministries in education and charitable works spread all over the world during Ignatius’ lifetime, and eventually to the new European colonies in the Americas in the 17th century. The Jesuits played an important role in the Counter-Reformation in Europe and won back many people who had been lost to Protestantism. They also succeeded in converting millions of people around the world to Catholicism.  

However, with the rise of nationalism in the 18^th century the European monarchs felt threatened by the religious order. They began to suppress the Jesuits in what is known as the “Jesuit expulsion” from the Portuguese Empire (1759), France (1764), the Two Sicilies, Malta, Parma, the Spanish Empire (1767) and Austria and Hungary (1782). These moves were ultimately, albeit reluctantly, approved by The Holy See in 1773.

The Jesuit suppression was largely political in nature. As part of their mission and purpose, the Jesuits were closely aligned with the papacy as protectors, however, they were considered too autonomous for the monarchs who were trying to centralize and secularize their political power. Some historians also view the suppression as motivated by economics because by the mid-18th century, the Jesuits had acquired a reputation in Europe for their monetary successes. Monarchs in many European states saw the Jesuits as foreign entities encroaching upon their sovereignty.

In 1814, Pope Pius VII restored the Society of Jesus to its previous provinces, and Jesuits resumed their ministries in those countries.

The Medieval Town of Billom

Fr. Medaille would have been familiar with the old town of Billom that had been built in the Middle Ages. The narrow cobblestone streets, half-timbered buildings, sculpted doorways, and public squares are a common sight in French Medieval towns. People still reside in these towns although their buildings have been significantly updated with modern conveniences.

The Angaud River runs through Billom.

Interesting stone portals of houses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stone sculptures rest high above the street. Many were used as directional street signs for the people who lived in the town and were vastly illiterate. They oriented themselves on the street by turning to the left or right of a sculpture.

 

 

The people usually washed their clothes in a river or in a fountain like this one. Small towns in the southern half of France typically have such fountains.

 

 

 

 

 

Troughs provided water for the horses. Today, they stand as decorative vessels on their own or with flowers planted inside of them. It is interesting that a commonly-used utility sports such intricate carvings.

 

 

This half-timbered house was the former home of a prominent, rich family as indicated by the crest (see close-up below) etched onto the center of the house. The juxtaposition of this medieval house with modern cars is striking.

 

 

Here is another crest over the door of a home

Signs outside doorways used to indicate artisanal shops. Today, they are more decorative, but just as engaging.

 

 

Narrow cobblestone streets make-up the intricate, winding  network of the town. Many streets have been adapted to accommodate cars while others continue to be pedestrian pathways.

A variety of houses adjacent to each other line the town's streets.

 

 

 

City squares were gathering places for markets, festivals, and milling about. A tower gives the town some height and prestige. This one has a clock attached to it.