Philibert Vrau
French businessman and activist (1829–1905)
Who they were
Philibert Vrau, 'the holy man of Lille', son of a thread manufacturer, gave up practising his faith for four years under the influence of a false philosophy, yet worked for the aged poor.
After his conversion in 1854 he wished to be a religious, but stayed to rescue the family firm and gave himself to the lay apostolate, working with his brother-in-law to make Lille a truly Catholic city. He died on 16 May 1905.
The miracles
The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe his cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A businessman who gave his life to the apostolate of the laity.
The cause
Philibert Vrau is named a Servant of God; the cause continues. Favours received, and offers of help, go to the postulation, the office that carries the cause forward: The cause of Philibert Vrau.
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), via New Advent - Philibert Vrau
- Wikidata Q2085985 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Philibert Vrau (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.