Augustus Marie Martin

Martin was born February 1, 1803, in Saint-Malo, Brittany, and studied under Jean-Marie de Lamennais. As a seminarian, he was employed the Grand Almonry of France in Paris under Cardinal Gustave Maximilien Juste de Croÿ-Solre.[1]

Martin was ordained to the priesthood May 31, 1828.[2] He served as pastor in Bleurais and Vern before being assigned as chaplain of the Royal College of Rennes. In 1839, Martin accepted an invitation from Bishop Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière to immigrate to the United States and join the Diocese of Vincennes in Indiana.[3]

After arriving in Indiana in 1839, Martin was appointed pastor of St. Vincent's Parish in Logansport, Indiana, and the Cathedral in Vincennes, Indiana. In 1843, he was named vicar general of the diocese (1843–1846), in addition to engaging in the missions of Indiana.[3] During this time, Martin became a confidant of Theodore Guerin, the founder of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in the diocese since 1840. The two corresponded often, exchanging letters back and forth.[4]

Although it was reported that Martin left the Diocese of Vincennes due to failing health, it was in fact due to the problems created by Bishop Hailandiere.[5] Martin had been recruited by Hailandiere, but because of Hailandiere's insistence on total control, many priests left the diocese. In 1846, Martin went to Louisiana, where he was appointed to St. Martin's Parish at Attakapas. In 1847 he became pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Baton Rouge, St. John's Parish at the Plains, and St. Magdalen's Parish in Manchac, Louisiana.[3] Martin was transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1849.[3] He was made vicar forane of north Louisiana under Archbishop Antoine Blanc,in 1850.

On July 29, 1853, Martin was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Natchitoches by Pope Pius IX.[6] He received his episcopal consecration on November 30, 1853, from Archbishop Blanc, with Bishops Michael Portier and James Oliver Van de Velde serving as co-consecrators, at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans.[6] Martin had four priests to serve about 25,000 Catholics scattered over 22,000 square miles. One of his first acts was to return to Brittany, to recruit missionaries. "We offer you no salary, no recompense, no holiday or pension. But, much hard work, a poor dwelling, few consolations, many disappointments, frequent sickness, a violent or lonely death, and unknown grave."[2] Five of those who responded died in 1873, in a yellow fever epidemic in Shreveport.

During his 22-year-long tenure, Martin established a seminary to train native clergy, founded numerous missions, and erected the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.[7] He guided the diocese during the American Civil War (1861–1865), and attended the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (1866) and First Vatican Council in Rome (1869–1870).

Augustus Martin died in Natchitoches on September 29, 1875, at age 72, and is buried at the Basilica.