Philibert Vrau

Who they were

Philibert Vrau, 'the holy man of Lille', son of a thread manufacturer, gave up practising his faith for four years under the influence of a false philosophy, yet worked for the aged poor.

After his conversion in 1854 he wished to be a religious, but stayed to rescue the family firm and gave himself to the lay apostolate, working with his brother-in-law to make Lille a truly Catholic city. He died on 16 May 1905.

The miracles

The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe his cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A businessman who gave his life to the apostolate of the laity.