Philibert de Bruillard was born in Dijon on September 11 or 12, 1765. After his studies at the seminary of Saint Sulpice in Paris, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1789 and taught philosophy and theology until 1791. During the French Revolution, he exercised his priestly ministry clandestinely. After 1802, he served as parish priest of a few parishes in Paris and was appointed bishop of Grenoble in 1825. Bishop Frayssinous consecrated him bishop on August 6, 1826. He was a zealous bishop, watched assiduously over the formation of his clergy, established 107 new parishes and 34 vicariates, welcomed several religious congregations into his diocese, among which were the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, brought to Notre-Dame de l’Osier in 1834. See article: Notre-Dame de l’Osier.
Bishop de Mazenod often mentions him in his writings. He met him personally a few times(1828, 1836, 1837, 1849, 1856) and held him in high regard (letter to Father Guigues, April 7, 1835). For a few years, Bishop de Bruillard did not look kindly upon Oblate vocation recruitment in his diocese, but he appreciated their ministry (letter from Bishop de Mazenod to Father Honorat, October 9, 1841). He resigned in 1852 and died on December 15, 1860 at 95 years of age. His heart is preserved at the shrine of Notre-Dame de la Salette.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
Sources and Bibliography
Oblate General Archives in Rome. One handwritten letter from Bishop de Bruillard to the Founder in 1851. Bishop de Mazenod wrote him fifteen letter; four are published in OblateWritings I, vol. 13, nos. 70, 82, 125 and 126.
GINOULHIAC, Bishop, Allocution aux obsèques de Mgr. P. de Bruillard, le 20 décembre 1860, Grenoble, 16 p.
