Alexandre Lenfant was a French Jesuit priest and theologian born in Lyon in 1726. After joining the Society of Jesus in Avignon, he held several teaching positions in various French cities. He eventually moved to the imperial court in Vienna to serve as a preacher for Maria Theresa. Later, he returned to Paris, where he occupied prominent positions as a preacher and the personal confessor to King Louis XVI.
Life and service
Following the suppression of his order, Lenfant worked in Lorraine under the protection of Duke Stanisław Leszczyński. He was a celebrated orator, known for his devotion to the Sacred Heart. After serving at the imperial court, he moved to the French royal court, where he advised the king. During the revolutionary period, he refused to swear the oath required by the civil constitution of the clergy.
Death and veneration
Lenfant was arrested in 1792 for his perceived influence over the monarch. Although briefly released, he was recaptured and ultimately killed by a revolutionary mob during the September massacres. He was later beatified by Pope Pius XI as one of the martyrs of Paris. The Catholic Church commemorates him on September 2.