The story of Theodore Wibaux is one of devotion, heroism, and unwavering faith.
In 1866, at just seventeen, Theodore left his home in Roubaix, France, to enlist in the Papal Zouaves, an elite, multi-national infantry unit that defended the Papal States and Bl. Pope Pius IX from 1860 to 1870. Thousands of young Catholic men from across Christendom joined this cause, which they considered the 9th Crusade—a battle to preserve the temporal power of the Church against revolutionary forces striving to unite Italy under a secular banner.
Through Theodore’s journal entries and letters to his family, readers journey with him from his devout Catholic upbringing in France to the rigorous life of a Papal Zouave. Readers will follow Theodore through his daily training, spiritual devotions, and battles fought for the faith. After Rome fell on September 20, 1870, Theodore’s fight for the Kingship of Christ continued. Alongside Colonel de Charette and 600 other French Papal Zouaves, the unit was reconstituted as the Volunteers of the West, defending France under the banner of the Sacred Heart during the Franco-Prussian War.
After the war, Theodore began his formation with the Society of Jesus, dedicating himself to the spiritual life until his early death at thirty-three in 1882. His life stands as an inspiring model for young Catholic men, exemplifying how to live with courage, faith, and dedication.
Originally published in French by Charles Marie Emmanuel Du Coëtlosquet, S.J. in 1885 and translated into English in 1887, this edition brings together—for the first time—the original French illustrations with the English text. Discover the remarkable life of Theodore Wibaux: Pontifical Zouave and Jesuit re-released for the first time in over 100 years!
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Also available at Amazon
Size: 6 x 9
395 pages
ISBN: 979-8989323036 (pbk) | $24.99 USD