In the late 1760s, Jean entered the Capuchin friary at Bayeux, Normandy, where he made his religious profession on November 27, 1768, taking the name Protasius. Ordained a priest in 1775, he embraced the Capuchin charism of simplicity, humility, and devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary. Protasius served in several friaries, including a brief stint at Honfleur, near the sanctuary of Notre-Dame des Grâces, which he directed. By November 29, 1783, he was at the friary in Caen, and in 1789, he was appointed secretary to the Provincial Minister of Normandy, a role that highlighted his organizational skills and trustworthiness. His final assignment was as guardian (superior) of the Capuchin convent at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, where he led his community with steadfast faith.
Protasius’s life as a Capuchin was marked by a deep commitment to prayer, poverty, and service. He adhered to the principles of St. Francis of Assisi, living simply and dedicating himself to the spiritual and material needs of others. His tenure as provincial secretary and guardian demonstrated his leadership, yet he remained humble, focused on his religious duties rather than personal ambition.
The French Revolution, beginning in 1789, brought severe challenges to the Catholic Church in France. In 1790, the Revolutionary government introduced the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, requiring priests and religious to swear an oath of allegiance to the state, effectively severing ties with the Pope. Protasius, like many faithful Catholics, viewed this oath as an act of apostasy and refused to comply. In 1791, municipal police conducted an inventory of the Sotteville friary, demanding that the friars take the oath. Protasius, alongside his confreres, steadfastly refused, reaffirming his commitment to his religious vows on two occasions, notably on August 26, 1791, during the final inventory of the friary.
The following year, in 1792, the Capuchins were expelled from their convent, leaving Protasius and his brothers homeless. Refusing to flee or go into hiding, Protasius chose to remain in Rouen, finding shelter with a gentleman who offered hospitality in exchange for a modest pension and alms Protasius received for celebrating secret Masses. His resolve to continue his priestly ministry, despite the risks, reflected his unwavering faith and dedication to the Eucharist.
On April 10, 1793, Protasius was arrested in Rouen by revolutionary authorities. During a search of his host’s home, officials discovered manuscripts and printed books defending non-compliance with the Civil Constitution, providing grounds for his prosecution. The trial was superficial, typical of the period’s politically charged tribunals, but Protasius responded with remarkable candor and courage. He freely admitted his commitment to his religious life, refusing to disclose details that might implicate others, such as the names of those with whom he celebrated Mass. His responses demonstrated a resolute faith, avoiding any political stance and focusing solely on his religious convictions.
Initially detained in the old seminary of Saint-Vivien in Rouen, Protasius awaited his fate. On January 10, 1794, he was sentenced to deportation to Guyana for celebrating Mass illegally and possessing “suspect” documents. Transferred to Rochefort on March 9, he arrived on April 12, where he was stripped of his remaining possessions, including a gold watch (possibly a pyx for carrying the Eucharist) and 1,303 livres. He was then confined to the Deux Associés, one of three prison ships moored off Rochefort, alongside other refractory clergy, including fellow Capuchins Jean-Louis Loir de Besançon and Sébastien de Nancy.
The conditions on the Deux Associés were inhumane, designed to break the spirit of the prisoners. Over 400 clergy were crammed into the ship’s hold, chained in groups, forced to eat spoiled food from a single dirty tin, and subjected to brutal treatment by a crew of hardened inmates. Sanitation was nonexistent, and diseases like typhus spread rapidly. Protasius, despite these horrors, remained a source of strength for his fellow prisoners. A survivor, Claude Masson, described him as “a religious of great merit, praiseworthy as much for his initiatives in favor of his deported confreres as for his physical and moral endurance—but above all for his firm faith, prudence, balance, consistency, and other Christian and religious virtues.”
After four months of suffering, Protasius succumbed to a contagious disease, likely typhus, during the night of August 23–24, 1794. His death marked him as one of the 547 priests and religious who perished on the Rochefort prison ships out of the 829 detained, a testament to the brutal conditions they endured. His body was buried in an unmarked grave on Île Madame or Île-d’Aix, alongside other martyrs.
The sacrifices of Protasius and his companions were not forgotten. On October 1, 1995, Pope John Paul II beatified Jean-Baptiste Souzy, vicar general of La Rochelle, and 63 companions, including Protasius, Jean-Louis Loir, and Sébastien de Nancy, recognizing them as the Martyrs of the Hulks of Rochefort. Their beatification acknowledged their martyrdom for refusing the oath and remaining faithful to the Pope and the Church, despite unimaginable suffering. Protasius’s optional memorial is celebrated on August 18 in the Capuchin tradition, though some sources also note August 23, the date of his death.
Blessed Protasius of Séez is remembered as a model of Capuchin virtue—selfless, steadfast, and devoted to Christ. His courage in continuing his priestly ministry, his care for others even in captivity, and his serene acceptance of martyrdom inspire the faithful to live with integrity and faith in the face of adversity. His life reflects the Franciscan ideals of poverty, humility, and compassion, making him a beacon of hope for those navigating persecution or hardship.
Blessed Protasius’s story challenges us to remain faithful to our convictions, even when the cost is great. His life of service, his refusal to compromise his vows, and his care for his fellow prisoners amidst suffering remind us that holiness shines brightest in trials. Let us pray to Blessed Protasius of Séez for the grace to live with courage, to serve others selflessly, and to remain steadfast in faith, aspiring to the eternal glory he now shares with the martyrs in heaven.
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