Background
Decorsant was born in Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France, in 1866.
Decorsant was born in Saint-Quentin, Aisne, France, in 1866.
Petit then prayed to the Blessed Virgin that someone be called to the priesthood in lieu of her aspirations to enter religious life. An officer in the reserves, he thereupon broke his engagement to be married and decided to study for the priesthood in Rome. After serving fifteen years as a curate in Vincennes, France, Decorsant resigned due to overwork and failing health.
In 1908, he made a pilgrimage to Lourdes where he first encountered Berthe Petit.
He then left for Brussels, where he took up residence in a convent guest-house. He devoted his time to preaching and giving retreats.
When Petit was granted the privilege of a private oratory, he became her chaplain. Petit reported revelations regarding the establishment of a devotion to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Through Father Masselis, Decorsant and Petit met Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier, Archbishop of Mechelen, who in 1911 approved the prayer, Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to thee."
Later, he was instrumental in communicating some of her revelations to Pope Benedict XV via Cardinal Mercier, resulting in the Pope"s explicit recommendation to seek the intercession of the "Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary" ("Cuore addolorato ed immacolato di Maria") in his May 1915 letter to the bishops of the world.
Decorsant was also a correspondent with Cardinal Bourne of Westminster in preparing a national act of consecration to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lent 1917.
Decorsant wrote a number of books on sociology and apologetics, including Les Socialisme Voila L"Ennemi ("Socialism that"s the Enemy").
