School of Education, Arts and Sciences

Christian Faith Education Department

LEARNING MODULE
CFED 1043 (CICM Missionary Identity)
Chapter 1: CICM Spirituality
Lesson 9. The CICM Founder

Topics: The CICM Founder

Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. Identify the chief founders who establish the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary;
2. Identify the notable qualities of the CICM founder based on the personality sketch prepared
by Fr. Albert Raskin; and
3. Create a timeline of the significant events in the missionary life of Fr. Theophile Verbist.

LEARNING CONTENT

Introduction:

While it is both reflective and noteworthy to trace back the aspirations of

something profound and beautiful, it is with equal significance to honor the ones who
inspired many others to make greater efforts to help millions of suffering people. It is
thus important to acknowledge not only the fruition but also the hardship of the
congregation. Now, let us get to know the men who ignited the flame of CICM’s burning
passion.

Lesson Proper:

Father Theophiel (Théophile) Verbist, C.I.C.M. †

Born: 12 June 1823, Antwerp, Belgium

Died: 23 February 1868, Mongolia

Nationality: Belgian
 Organization founded: CICM Missionaries

The life story of our Founder, Fr. Theophile Verbist, is not long. He was born
in Antwerp in 1823. He had a twin brother, Edmond, who became a lawyer. Theophile
studied in the Seminary of the Archdiocese of Malines and was ordained a priest in
1847. During the first years of his priestly ministry, he was on the staff of the minor
seminary. Later, he became the chaplain of the military school in Brussels and
concurrently served as chaplain of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. In 1860 he was
appointed National Director of the Holy Childhood, a pious association that animates its
members to support the missions, especially children in need, and more specifically in
China.

His work with this association, combined with his two other appointments,
represented the first visible mark of his orientation to the mission. It was not, however,
the beginning of his missionary vocation. According to oral tradition, it is in the chapel of
the Sisters that, whilst praying, Theophile Verbist set up his plan to become a
missionary. The flame was lit in his heart, nourished in gratitude for the faith so easily
received in Catholic Belgium, and in compassion for the many who had not yet heard
the Good News. It took more concrete shape by his involvement in the work of the Holy
Childhood and by his contacts with the missions in this context.

In 1865, undeterred by many obstacles, he went to China with only four

companions, arriving in Xiwanzi (Chongli Xian, North of Zhangjiakou) in December
1865. CICM was invited by the Holy See to take over the care for the mission of Inner
Mongolia from the Vincentian Fathers. That included the whole of Inner Mongolia. Fr.
Verbist was the superior of the Mission. Xiwanzi, a small village with about 1000
Catholics was then the center of Church activities in Inner Mongolia. Already since the
18th century Christians who escaped from persecutions in Beijing had found refuge
there. By the 19th century, Xiwanzi had grown into the most important and flourishing
Catholic mission in North China.

Upon their arrival in Xiwanzi, even though they were not yet acquainted with
the Chinese language Fr. Verbist and his companions started to work immediately for
the poor and needy, attending an orphanage and school, as well as a seminary. But
they received the help of Fr. Matthew Xue (Xue Madou), Fr. Jacobus Zhang (Zhang
Yage), and other Chinese priests. Still, they faced many difficulties. Already two years
after their arrival one of the four CICM pioneers died of Typhus. He had become sick
while caring for sick Christians in Xiamiaogou（下庙沟）in East Mongolia (Jehol).

In Feb 1868, Fr. Verbist undertook his first long Mission visit to the Tiger
Valley ( 老 虎 沟 ) near Chengde in East Mongolia 300 km away. Just like Xiwanzi in Mid-
Mongolia, also Tiger Valley became since the 18th century a refuge for Christians
fleeing persecution. In 1844 the Lazarist superior Msgr Mouly bought a terrain there
and since then there has been a little church community with a church building in Tiger
Valley.

The founding period of CICM is very short, a mere eight years. However,
looking at this period in hindsight, we cannot but call it a kairos, a time full of God's
grace and guidance, and also a time densely filled with the ideals of the Founder.

The correspondence of the Founder and his first companions covering this
period has been published in several volumes, compiled by Verhelst and Daniels.
These letters not only tell the history of these founding years but also give us some
insights about Theophile Verbist. Knowing that it is not possible to do justice to all that
happened and to all that the Founder had to go through in these founding years, we
also make use of a short personality sketch of the Founder prepared by Fr. Albert
Raskin in 1982, at that time archivist of the Congregation.

Fr. Raskin first sees Theophile Verbist as a wise superior.

"He went about his work with a level head," Fr. Raskin wrote. This was
manifested in the consultations that preceded the founding of the Congregation. "He
could take advice and follow it as well."

Verbist wanted to found a missionary congregation, but he knew he could not

do it without having experienced the mission himself. In a letter of April 1866, Verbist
writes, “Every day I thank the Lord that He allowed me to go personally to the mission of
the Congregation so that I would learn and experience what the demands of the
missionary life are in reality.” At the same time, he also observed the mission critically.
To his sister Elisa, he wrote: “The missionary would jeopardize the success of his efforts
if, before attempting to reform the world around him, he would not first study matters in
silence, observe with care, and, above all, exercise an enduring patience.” It is from this
experience that he would challenge the novices in Belgium to test their vocation well.
They have to make sure their vocation is rooted in a pure love of God.
 As a Founder, Verbist was appointed pro-vicar of the mission of Mongolia.
No matter how seriously others worried about the difficulty and extension of this
mission, Verbist remained full of enthusiasm and dynamism. Even though he was
confronted with the difficult and sensitive take-over of the mission when he arrived in
China, Verbist was optimistic that something good would come out of it in the end.
Because of his many responsibilities, Verbist had almost no time to focus on the study
of the Chinese language. Still, as soon as he could express himself somewhat in
Chinese, he got involved in direct apostolate in Hsi-wan-tzu.

Raskin singles out Verbist's tactfulness and sensitivity to the needs of others.
"Authoritarianism was not in his character. He knew that in the long run, you could gain
more through quiet dialogue than with force." For instance, writing from China, Verbist
advised the novice master of a young confrere who had just finished his novitiate and
had been ordained a priest to keep him in Belgium if possible, for another year, "so he
could recuperate from his studies and his parents could enjoy having him nearby as a
priest for some time." For the confreres in China, he proved himself a leader of much
understanding. "When two new confreres arrived and were assigned to West Mongolia,
he insisted on taking them there himself. In this way, he could see with his own eyes
how they were housed and judge if their appointment was good, according to Raskin,
quoting from a letter from Verbist.

“Cor unum et anima una” (one heart - one soul) is the motto of the
Congregation. It was officially introduced in the coat of arms of the Congregation on
October 5, 1933, but right from the beginning it was a reality lived among CICM
missionaries. The Founder had no equal in showing appreciation for the confreres and
concern for their well-being. When Father Van Segvelt (1826-1867), the close friend
and first companion of Verbist, prepared to leave for Eastern Mongolia, the Superior
spent heavily and bought no less than seven horses, two mules, and two wagons so
that his confrere would not suffer want. The grateful reactions of the confreres and
many others are proof of his kind attention and charity. For instance, when the stolid
Dutchman Ferdinand Hamer receives a heavy and precious load from Hsi-wan-tzu, that
is from Superior Verbist, he turns lyric and writes in his emotion, "Ah, I should write you
in verses. Oh Superior! Oh Superior! Nimis amasti me!" (You spoiled me!) Hamer, who
later became the bishop of South West Mongolia, died a martyr's death in 1900 during
the Boxers revolution.

The Final Legacy

Theophile Verbist died on February 23, 1868, in a small place in China. He

had left Hsi-wan-tzu, the main mission station, for a trip of five months to visit the whole
Vicariate before he would go back to Belgium. The travel was done by ox-cart which
moved slowly, and shall we say “painfully” because it had no suspension, over the rocky
roads and through the mountain passes. He did not want one of the confreres to travel
with him so as not to deprive one of the Christian communities of their priest. After 10
days, on February 13, he arrived sick and feverish in Lao Hu-kou, a small village with a
few poor Christians. He was far away from confreres and Chinese priests. The villagers
took care of him as well as they could and a messenger was sent to look for assistance.
The first priest who reached the place was a Chinese priest, Fr. Mathias Chang Ching
Hsiu. When he learned the news, he was at a distance of three days’ travel from Lao-
hu-kou. He found Verbist on a Chinese heated bed oven, already unable to speak. He
showed Verbist the small violet stole priests usually have with them to administer the
last sacraments to the sick. Verbist nodded and the priest administered the sacrament
of the sick. Two hours later, Verbist passed away.

The Founder’s task was finished. He left behind a legacy, not of words –
these we find in his many carefully written letters –but of a life given to the end in the
service of the mission. The little flame that had been lighted in the chapel of the Sisters
of Notre Dame de Namur had continued to burn the candle till the end.

EVALUATION

Design an infographic explaining the life of the founder of the CICM--- Fr. Theophile
Verbist. Base your work on the timeline of the significant events in the life of Fr.
Theophile Verbist which formed part of the CICM Identity and Spirituality. Collaborate
with a partner and one of you should submit it in a jpeg format.

Criteria:
Content and Accuracy: 10 pts
Design and Style: 7pts
Visual Appeal: 3 pts.
Total: 20 pts.
REFERENCES

Books:

Sadullo, J. R., Bleeker, A. D., & L., T. M. (2012). CICM: Christ is calling me: 150 years of
service in God's mission, 1862-2012. Makati City, Philippines: St. Pauls.

CICM-membership. (1999). Rome: Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM).

Arquiza, Y. D. (2007). Carrying on the mission: 100 years of CICM in the Philippines.
Philippines: Congregatio Immaculati Cordis Mariae.