After ordination, Father Bruté became a seminary professor in Rennes and dreamt of a missionary call. He found his call eventually, to go to the New World and serve the Church there. He was sent to Baltimore to teach, then he was moved to Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg where he continued to teach and form seminarians. At “the Mount” he became friends with and spiritual director of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Father Bruté was then appointed Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Vincennes in 1834. Bishop Bruté passed away in 1839, having built a diocese of 27 parishes, 25 priests, and 20 seminarians.

Bishop Simon Bruté was born in Rennes, France in 1779. His father passed away when he was only 6 years old. He lived through the French Revolution and during it his mother remained steadfast to the faith, having an profound impact on Simon. He was employed to carry the Eucharist to the imprisoned priests during this time disguised as an assistant to a baker (who was a priest uncover). At the end of the Reign of Terror, and at the age of 20, Simon moved to Paris to attend medical school. It was at the end of his medical schooling that Simon decided to enter the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Information taken from “Reflections on the life and times of Simon Guillaume Gabriel Bruté de Rémur: Pioneer Scholar – Bishop of Vincennes” by Most Rev. Daniel Buechlein, OSB