Veuthey en

He was born at Dorenaz in Switzerland, on 3rd March 1896, and christened Clovis. As a youth in the years of the First World War, he distinguished himself by his charming disposition but strict teaching. An active broadmindedness led him through intellectual labours, that later drew him to choose the Franciscan life.
He was twenty-seven when, in 1921, he entered the Franciscan family of the Conventual Friars Minor at Fribourg (Switzerland). He was ordained priest on 16th August 1925, and he obtained the degree in philosophy at the same University of Fribourg.
He became a university lecturer of Philosophic criticism, and of Asceticism and Mysticism, prevalently devoting his researches to study in depth the cognitive process of man and his ability to reach the enlightened contemplation of the mystery of God. These are the central themes of some of his major works, such as Métaphysique de la Pensée (1933), Critica - De valore obiectivo cognitionis disquisitio (1941), Il Mistero del reale (1960), La filosofia cristiana di san Bonaventura (1971).
In 1945 he founded in Assisi the "Crusade of Charity", afterwards called "Crusade of Unity", that later will merge with the "Focolari".
He met Father Maximilian Kolbe many times, whose missionary fervour he admired, but above all the courageous intuitions on the mystery of Mary's Immaculate Conception. Just the brotherly meetings of these two elected figures stimulated some mariological studies of Fr.Veuthey.

     "He was an appreciated and sought-after master of spirit for his prudence in advice, for his certainty in the doctrine, for his reliable participation in the decisions, for God's presence and transparency in his person ". His health was delicate; he bore a lot of bodily and moral trials, finding in suffering the scrutinising of purification. He noted in a letter: "Sacrifice is the law of perfection, and to suffer is necessary for loving".
     His calibre of teacher, philosopher, theologian, mystic is testified by a rich and qualified literary production contained in books, that he wrote himself in several languages, and also in hundreds of articles, reports for "symposium" of study, contributions for various encyclopaedias.
     Struck by Parkinson's disease, which caused him hallucinations and terrible sufferings, one day he confided to a brother: "Do you see? I still have an aim to live for, even if I'm so run down…" And he added: "No, I could never understand how and why some people prefer euthanasia as the best and definitive solution for their sufferings. No! Euthanasia doesn't solve anything at a human level ".
     He died in Rome, in the General Hospital Gemelli, on 7th June 1974.
     As his fame of saintliness was growing in the years, the Vicariate of Rome, with an "Editto", signed by Cardinal Camillo Ruini on 12th February 1999, initiated his Cause of Beatification.

     25th October 2002: opening of the diocesan phase of his Cause of Canonization, announced by the General Postulator with an Official Letter.