Leo Palustre - more

Leo Palustre (1838-1894)

Dehon got to know his future friend Leo Palustre on his second journey to England. Palustre spoke to him in such an enthusiastic manner about his desire to make a tour of all of England, that Dehon promptly join him. Thus begins a deep friendship, which will carry on for many years.

About the temperament of Palustre Dehon himself says: "He had a difficult personality -- he was iron-willed and arrogant.." and "had the tastes and manners of a great lord." (NHV I/64v and NHV II/2r) This temperament leads the two friends into more than one difficult situation, the most famous is the anecdote during their journey in the Middle East, when on their road to Jerusalem they arrive at the border between Egypt and the Ottoman Empire. In previous days Leo Palustre often had used his riding-whip against the many beggars.

Arriving at the border a soldier asks to see their health certificate. Palustre, who didn't understand, thinks the soldier was one of the usual beggars and uses once again his riding-whip... "The situation was serious: striking one of the Sultan's soldiers. The customs officer decided to put us into prison in order to ship us off to Constantinople... For a moment I thought we were going to spend Easter in Istanbul instead of the Holy Places." (NHV III/143) But finally Dehon succeeds in explaining the misunderstanding and the two friends are allowed to continue on their way to Jerusalem.

Often Fr. Dehon visits his friend during his seminary holidays. Almost at the same time the two friends celebrate a life-crucial event: Leo Dehon is ordained a priest on December 19, 1868, and only a few days later Leo Palustre gets married. The letter of Leo Dehon, wrote to his friend on that occasion again is a proof of their deep and -- for Dehon -- exceptional friendship

"My dear friend, Your desires are fulfilled and you're now the head of a family. I congratulate you on this event and I'm convinced that you will be happy. My best wishes and my prayers are with you at this time, which is of such importance in your life. On Tuesday I celebrated Mass for you. I hope that God will bless your marriage... On December 19, I missed you a lot. One is so glad to gather all the friends in these great days, friends who help to ask God for his grace, and friends who share the joys of these days. I had at least -- what I never expected -- my mother and my father with me... I won't describe the divine consolation I received. You experienced it yourself several times." (LD 107, letter from 15.1.1869)