Jean-François Régis was born 31 January 1597, in
Fontcouverte, Aude, in the
Languedoc region of southern France. His father, Jean Régis, had recently been ennobled as a result of service rendered during the
Wars of the League. His mother, Marguerite de Cugunhan, was of a noble family. He was educated at the Jesuit College of
Béziers. On 8 December 1616, in his nineteenth year, he entered the Jesuit novitiate at
Toulouse and he took his vows two years later. After finishing his course in
rhetoric at
Cahors, Regis was sent to teach
grammar at several colleges:
Billom (1619–22),
Puy-en-Velay (1625–27), and
Auch (1627–28). While he was teaching, he also pursued his studies in
philosophy at the scholasticate at Tournon-sur-Rhône . Noted for an intense love of preaching and
teaching the Faith, as well as the desire to save souls, As a newly ordained priest, he worked with
bubonic plague victims in Toulouse. From May 1632 until September 1634, his headquarters was at the Jesuit College of
Montpellier. Here he labored for the conversion of the
Huguenots, visited hospitals, assisted the needy, withdrew from vice wayward women and girls, and preached Catholic
doctrine with tireless zeal to children and the poor. Regis is best known for his work with at-risk women and orphans. He established safe houses and found jobs for them. he remained in France all his life. Regis walked from town to town, in rough mountainous areas where travel was difficult, especially in the winter. at
Lalouvesc (
Ardèche). ==Veneration==