How many humble churches do you know? Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre is one of Lille’s most unassuming district churches. Notice its simple brick exterior and small campanile. It doesn’t stand out compared to its neighbors. These are Saint Pierre-Saint Paul and Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph is now a chapel.
The story of Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre Church begins in 1889. Canon Carton blessed it on November 22nd. Initially, the Sisters of the Holy Childhood used it as a private chapel. Over time, local children and churchgoers began to frequent it. The church is dedicated to Saint Benoît Labre. He was born in Amettes in the Pas-de-Calais region. He is considered a “wanderer of God” or a “pilgrim hermit.”
At twenty, Benoît wanted to join a monastery. But nobody accepted him. They criticized his young age and “uncultured and dirty savagery.” He dedicated his life to God. He made pilgrimages throughout Europe. He went against the grain. Saint Benoît Labre walked all his life. He sought the path to heaven.
Originally, the sisters installed a statue of N.D. de Pellevoisin above the main altar. To the right was a reproduction of the Lourdes Grotto. It is now gone. The baptistery was on the left. The main altar was made of white marble. The gilded bronze tabernacle depicted Christ as the Good Shepherd. He carried the lost lamb on his shoulders. A parishioner crafted the wrought iron communion bench. The paintings behind the altar showed angels. They carried the nails, lance, Jesus’s garment, and the cloth with which Veronica wiped his face. Below, a map showed the streets where the neighborhood’s 12000 residents lived. This symbolized the parish’s roots.
Over the years, the choir became less severe. Abbé Pruvost, an artist-priest, redecorated the choir in the 1930s and 1940s. The choir was painted over in 1967. Only a large angel figure remains on the left side. The wooden and wrought iron doors of the confessionals were placed on the walls around the main altar. Painted portraits of Saint Benoît Labre and a tapestry depicting his life’s major events were added. The stained-glass windows were redone. The bell was reinstalled.
In 2015, Father Pierre Samain sought to renovate the church. He wanted to refresh Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre Church. Plans included redoing the floor and repainting. There were plans to restore some of the painted decorations. These had been covered in white. Liturgical enhancements were also planned.
Some of Abbé Pruvost’s décor remained. Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne professors and their art restoration students worked in the church in 2016 and 2017. They uncovered an angel figure carrying a chalice. The altar from the former Loos prison, now demolished, was placed in the church. The new ambo was placed near the altar. The baptistery was placed in the central aisle. It served as a reminder of baptism.
Philomène Zeltz proposed a large Christ teaching above the tabernacle. It was modeled after traditional icons. Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre and companions were at Christ’s feet. They were praying. These companions are symbols of a living Church. It serves in a neighborhood. Pope Francis urges us to go to these peripheries. The Companions of Saint-Benoît Labre are a group of Christians. Father Arthur started it in 2008. They offer a listening ear and prayer. They offer coffee, meals, and clothing. They foster fraternity in the parish.
Saint Benoît-Joseph Labre Church, in its simplicity, reflects its namesake. It stands as a beacon of hope and community in Lille.