Litany of Saints
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Louis-Marie Gergaud

French-born Louisiana priest who died nursing yellow fever victims in Shreveport

Servant of GodFull write-upFrance
Born
22 March 1832
verified
Died
1 October 1873
verified
Beatified
—
not yet
Canonised
—
not yet

Who they were

Gergaud was ordained at Nantes in 1854 for the diocese of Natchitoches and was the founding pastor of St Matthew's, Monroe. He went to Shreveport during the 1873 yellow fever epidemic, saying it was his duty, and died there on 1 October 1873.

The miracles

No miracle has been approved. The cause is at its first stage.

Why that counted as sanctity

He is one of the five Shreveport Martyrs whose joint cause, opened by the diocese of Shreveport after the Holy See's nulla osta in 2020, completed its diocesan phase on 28 August 2025.

The cause

Louis-Marie Gergaud is named a Servant of God; the cause continues. Favours received, and offers of help, go to the postulation, the office that carries the cause forward: The cause of Louis-Marie Gergaud.

A miracle approved by the Holy See is needed for the next step. Reporting one begins with the postulation.

Sources

Checked against the sources listed on 24 September 2026. Corrections welcome.

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