File 279 - Fr Nicolas Tuite de MacCarthy SJ

Born: 21 May 1769, Dublin City, County Dublin
Entered: 07 February 1818, Paris France - Galliae Province (GALL)
Ordained: 1814 - pre Entry
Final Vows: 15 August 1828, Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France
Died: 03 May 1833, Annecy, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France - Galliae Province (GALL)

◆ Fr Edmund Hogan SJ “Catalogica Chronologica” :
From an illustrious Irish family. Aged four they moved to Toulouse, seeking liberty of conscience he couldn’t find in his own country.

After Ordination in 1814, he began that brilliant career which placed him in the foremost ranks of the most distinguished modern Preachers.
1817 or 1826 He was offered a Bishopric of Montaubon, but declined it to enter the Society , which he did the same year.

As a Religious, and until his death, he appeared in the principal pulpits in France, ad after 1830 preached in Rome, Turin and Annecy (cf de Backer “Biblioth. des Écrivains SJ”, where he has a list of his numerous published sermons and other works)
He was regarded in France as the ablest of her Preachers,
(cf Foley’s Collectanea)

◆ George Oliver Towards Illustrating the Biography of the Scotch, English and Irish Members SJ
MAC-CARTHY, NICHOLAS, was born in Dublin; and in early infancy was taken to France. At the age of 46, he was ordained Priest, and made his debut as a Preacher in 1820, in the Church of the Visitation Nuns at Paris. Amongst his auditors was the late Cardinal Weld. In 1822, he was offered a Mitre, but declined it, to enter amongst the Jesuits. France regarded him as the ablest of her preachers. Few Christian orators have ever announced the word of God, with more dignity, or defended Religion with more effect, or advocated the cause of charity with greater force and eloquence. He preached the Lent of 1833, in the Cathedral of Annecy. Exhausted with fatigue in the laborious work of his ministry, he became unwell on Easter Tuesday, on his return from Chamberri. Fever rapidly increased upon him. After receiving all the rites of the Church, and joining in the prayers for a departing soul with surprising firmness, he raised his eyes towards heaven; then fixing them on his crucifix, with a countenance beaming with hope and joy, he meekly died at Annecy, on the 3rd of May, 1833, aet. 64, if “L’Ami dc la Religion” states it correctly.