to become a member of the Trappists while the others - who were ordained in May 1877 - were reluctant to return with Chevrier to the congregation. He knew his death was approaching in September 1879 due to his ailment. Chevrier died on 2 October 1879 after suffering a long illness. Around 10000 people attended his funeral. His order was approved of diocesan right in 1924 and was aggregated to the Conventual Franciscans in 1930. The order received the papal decree of praise of Pope John XXIII on 28 October 1959. Beatification The beatification process commenced once a diocesan investigation commenced into his life. Its closure allowed for theologians to compile all of his written works and assess whether or not such writings adhered to the official magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church - these were cleared and approved on 11 January 1911. The formal introduction to the cause did not come until 11 June 1913 under Pope Pius X. This granted Chevrier the title of Servant of God - the first stage in the process. The second process opened and continued the work of the first following the introduction of the cause. Both processes received formal ratification from the Congregation of Rites on 19 November 1930 which would allow for Roman officials to begin their own investigation into Chevrier's cause. On 16 January 1953 he was proclaimed to be Venerable after Pope Pius XII recognized that Chevrier had lived a model Christian life of heroic virtue. The process on a miracle commenced in its diocese of origin and after closure was validated on 11 November 1930. It wasn't until decades later that Pope John Paul II approved it and beatified Chevrier on his visit to France on 4 October 1986. References External links Hagiography Circle Institute of the Priests of Prado Sisters of Prado 1825 births 1879 deaths 19th-century venerated Christians 19th-century French Roman Catholic priests Beatifications by Pope John Paul II Founders of Catholic religious communities French beatified people Clergy from Lyon Members of the Third Order of Saint Francis