Chronological Landmarks
MELCHIOR DE MARION BRÉSILLAC
| 1813 | December 2 | Melchior de Marion Brésillac is born in Castelnaudary (Aude). | |
| December 5 | Baptism at the Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. | ||
| 1832-1834 | Studies rhetoric and philosophy at the minor seminary of Carcassonne. | ||
| 1834-1838 | Teaching of natural sciences at the minor seminary and theology studies at the major seminary. | ||
| 1838 | June 9 | Ordained as a deacon. | |
| December 22 | Ordained as a priest in the chapel of the episcopal residence. | ||
| 1838-1841 | Pastoral ministry as a vicar in Saint-Michel, Castelnaudary. | ||
| 1841 | May 3 | Preaches in support of the Propagation of the Faith at the Cathedral of Carcassonne. | |
| June 2 | Departs from Castelnaudary to Paris. | ||
| June 9 | Arrives at the Seminary of the Foreign Missions. | ||
| 1842 | March 28 | Departs from Paris. | |
| April 12 | Embarks for India. | ||
| July 24 | Lands in Pondicherry. Takes time to learn the Tamil language. | ||
| 1843 | February 28 | Departs for the Salem mission. | |
| 1844 | January 8 | Departs from Salem to participate in the first synod of Pondicherry. | |
| February 3 | Appointed as the superior of the seminary-college of Pondicherry. | ||
| 1845 | May 6 | Appointed as the titular bishop of Pruse and pro-vicar of the future apostolic vicariate of Coimbatore. | |
| June 30 | De Marion Brésillac learns of this appointment. | ||
| September 26 | He renounces the episcopate but remains the superior of the seminary-college. | ||
| 1846 | March to June | The Holy See maintains its decision, and de Brésillac accepts the episcopate. | |
| September 19 | Departs from Pondicherry to Coimbatore. | ||
| October 4 | Episcopal ordination in Carumattampatty. | ||
| December 17 | Travels for a pastoral visit in the Ootacamund region. | ||
| 1847 | May | Travels to Verapoly, Kerala, for the episcopal ordination of Mgr. Baccinelli, O.C.D., pro-vicar apostolic of Quilon. | |
| June | Travels to Trichinopoly for the episcopal ordination of Mgr. Canoz, S.J., apostolic vicar of Madurai. | ||
| 1848 | January 2-8 | Pastoral visit to the Palghat district. | |
| October 8 | Departs for Pondicherry to prepare for the second synod. | ||
| 1849 | January 15-22 | Preaches the preparatory retreat for the synod. | |
| 1850 | April 3 | Erection of the apostolic vicariate of Coimbatore, with Mgr. de Marion Brésillac as its head. | |
| 1851 | June 12 | Sends an important document to Rome regarding Malabar rites. | |
| Late July to Mid-September | Travels to Ceylon with Mgr. Bettachini, apostolic vicar of Jaffna. | ||
| 1853 | January 30 | The Propaganda authorizes Mgr. de Brésillac to come to Rome to explain the reasons for his repeatedly requested resignation. | |
| October 26-30 | Preaches a retreat to seminarians in Carumattampatty. | ||
| November 12 | Departs from Coimbatore for Rome. | ||
| 1854 | January 14 | Departs from Bombay. | |
| January 23 | Arrives in Aden. | ||
| February 13 | Passes through Cairo. | ||
| February 17-24 | Stays in Alexandria. | ||
| March 6 | Arrives in Malta. | ||
| March 14 | Arrives in Naples and stays for a month. | ||
| April 19 | Arrives in Rome. | ||
| June 24 | Submits a report as requested by the Propaganda. | ||
| August 20 | Departs from Rome for France. | ||
| August 26 | Arrives with his family in Castelnaudary. | ||
| October 19 | Arrives in Paris at the MEP (Paris Foreign Missions Society). | ||
| December 14 | Writes a letter to Mgr. Barnabò reiterating his resignation request. | ||
| 1855 | March 18 | Pope Pius IX accepts his resignation as the apostolic vicar of Coimbatore. | |
| Late April | Retreat in Versailles with the Capuchins. | ||
| May 26 | Writes a letter to Mgr. Barnabò expressing readiness for new missionary engagement. | ||
| June 1-8 | Preaches an ordination retreat at the grand seminary of Soissons. | ||
| Late December | Travels to Rome. | ||
| 1856 | January 4 | Submits a report to the Propaganda regarding the creation of a mission in Dahomey. During a meeting, Mgr. Barnabò encourages him to establish “a Society of Missionaries.” | |
| January 15 | The term “Society of African Missions” is mentioned for the first time in a letter. | ||
| April 10 | Departs from Rome. Begins tours in France to recruit personnel and raise funds for the SMA (Society of African Missions). | ||
| October 29 | Enters the first house of the SMA in Lyon. | ||
| November 7 | Arrival of Father Augustin Planque at the Lyon house. | ||
| December 8 | Official date of the foundation of the SMA. | ||
| 1857 | Conducts preaching tours and fundraising for the SMA. | ||
| 1858 | April 13 | Erection of the apostolic vicariate of Sierra Leone, entrusted to Mgr. de Brésillac. | |
| November 3 | Departs with three SMA missionaries to Sierra Leone. | ||
| 1859 | February 19 | Mgr. de Brésillac leaves Lyon for Brest. | |
| March 11 | Departs for Sierra Leone with two other missionaries. | ||
| April 7 | Arrives in Gorée and Dakar. Stays with the Spiritans. | ||
| May 14 | Arrives in Freetown. A severe epidemic strikes the region, and the missionaries assist the sick. | ||
| June 2 | Death of Father Louis Riocreux. | ||
| June 5 | Death of Father Jean-Baptiste Bresson. | ||
| June 13 | Death of Brother Gratien Monnoyeur. | ||
| June 25 | Death of Mgr. de Brésillac at 1:20 PM. | ||
| June 26 | Mgr. de Brésillac is interred. | ||
| June 28 | Death of Father Louis Reymond. | ||