Natalis Pinot was a French Catholic priest born in Angers in 1747. After his ordination in 1770, he served in various roles, including as a chaplain and a pastor in Le Louroux-Béconnais. During the French Revolution, he refused to swear the oath required by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. This refusal led to his arrest and eventual execution by guillotine in 1794 during the War in the Vendée. He is recognized by the Catholic Church as a martyr.
Life and death
Born to a weaver in Angers, Pinot entered the seminary there and was ordained in 1770. He later served as a pastor in the commune of Le Louroux-Béconnais. Because he opposed the revolutionary laws regarding the clergy, he was accused of illegal ecclesiastical activities. While hiding during the War of Vendée, he was captured while celebrating a clandestine Mass and was executed in Angers in February 1794.
Veneration
The Catholic Church beatified Pinot in 1926 under Pope Pius XI. He was later included among the ninety-nine Martyrs of Angers beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1984. His feast day is observed on 21 February. In the Cathedral of Angers, a statue commemorates him, depicting him as he ascends the first step toward the altar.