Jean de la Barriere, who had obtained the Cistercian abbey
of the Fenillans, near Toulouse, at the age of nineteen, by
favour of the strange abuses that had become prevalent in the
church of France, now caused himself to be consecrated regular
abbot (in 1577), and received novices, with whom he
endeavored, not only to renew, but even to exceed, the
austerities practiced by the original institution of Citeaux.
Solitude, silence, and abstemiousness were carried to the
utmost extremity. These monks never left their convent
except for the purpose of preaching in the neighboring districts :
within their walls they wore no shoes, and no covering
for the head; they abstained, not only from meat and wine,
but even from eggs and fish, living on bread and water, the
utmost addition being a few vegetables.* These severities
did not fail to excite reverence and call forth imitation. Don
Jean de la Barriere was in a short time invited to the court at
Vincennes. He traversed a large part of France with sixty-
two companions, never permitting the slightest interruption to
the ascetic practices of the convent. His institute was shortly
afterwards confirmed by the pope, and extended its influence
throughout the kingdom.
The whole body of the secular clergy seemed also to be inspired
by a new zeal, and although holding their appointments
in perfect freedom from all responsibility, the parish priests
once more applied themselves sedulously to the care of souls.
In the year 1570, the bishops not only demanded the adoption
of the decrees promulgated by the council of Trent, but even
required the abrogation of the concordat to which they owed
their own existence. These propositions they renewed from
time to time with increased urgency.
Jean de la Barriere survived an attempted murder by poisoning and was forced into lay communion after Henri III's assassination. However in 1600 he was reinstated by the church and later on that year he died in the arms of his friend cardinal Ossat. After his death he was given the title of Venerable by the Catholic Church.
