“Who were Antoine and Joseph Caille?” I wonder. This sculpture commemorates two brothers. They were not just any brothers. They were men of the cloth.
The Antoine et Joseph Caille Sculpture stands as a testament to their dedication. It is a reminder of their contributions to Lyon. Antoine and Joseph Caille both hailed from Puygros in Savoie. Joseph was born in 1760. Antoine followed in 1766.
Joseph moved to Lyon at a young age. He was only four. An uncle helped him receive an education. He studied at the Collégiale Saint-Just. Joseph became a priest. He served in the Chapitre de Saint-Just. The chapter dissolved in 1791. Joseph then became a tutor. He taught children from wealthy families. He died in Lyon in 1841.
Antoine also became a priest. He served in the diocese of Lyon. He refused to swear allegiance to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. This led him back to Savoie. Savoie was not French at the time. Republican armies invaded Savoie. Antoine returned to Lyon discreetly. He helped save the archbishopric’s archives from destruction. Antoine died in Lyon in 1828.
Together, the Caille brothers purchased property in Fourvière. It belonged to the d’Albon family. The property included a house and land north of the Fourvière chapel. They welcomed Pope Pius VII there. He reopened the chapel for worship in 1805.
The brothers established a school for orphans there. It became known as the Providence Caille. Lyon priests and lay people administered it. Marist brothers from Saint-Genis-Laval helped run the house.
Joseph bequeathed his possessions in his will. Part went to the Providence. The other part was for a burial site for priests. This was at the Loyasse cemetery in Fourvière. It became known as the carré des prêtres or priests’ square.
A monument stands in the center of this square. It honors the Caille brothers. A cross tops a pyramid. The pyramid rests on three balls. These balls sit on a cube. Today, the Archdiocese of Lyon manages the plots. It also maintains the tombs.
The Antoine et Joseph Caille Sculpture represents their legacy. Their dedication to faith and community endures. It serves as a reminder of their lasting impact on Lyon.