His country of origin (1838-1876)
- Birth: November 19, 1838 in Ghyvelde, France;
- Son of Marie-Isabelle Bollengier and Pierre Janssoone, fervent Christians;
- He is baptized under the names Frederic Cornil;
- To help his family, he interrupted his studies in 1855. He became a traveling salesman until the death of his mother.
- In 1864, he took the habit of the Order of Friars Minors (the Franciscans).
- He is ordained a priest at Bourges on August 17th, 1870.
- He exercises his ministry as a military chaplain while taking part in the foundation of the convent of Bordeaux.
His time in the Holy Land (1876 – 1888)
- He is sent to the Holy Land where he works under the title of custodial vicar.
- Father Frederic proves himself to be a fine diplomat, a capable builder and an exceptional preacher.
- He reestablishes the practice of the Way of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which had been interrupted in 1621. This tradition continues to this day.
- In Bethlehem, he had the parish church of Saint Catherine constructed adjacent the basilica of the Nativity.
Canada, his adopted country (1888-1916)
- He takes his first trip to Canada in 1881 to beg the help of Canadians for the Holy Land.
- He settles at Trois-Rivieres in 1888.
- He is founder of the Commissariat for the Holy Land in Canada and directs it for 28 years.
- Excellent preacher, he animates the pilgrimages to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre, to the sanctuary of the Reparation at Pointe-aux-Trembles and the Oratory of Saint Joseph where he became friends with Saint Brother Andre.
- Untiring hiker, he travelled around the parishes to preach the word of God.
- When the British conquest suppressed the Franciscan Order (the Recollets) in Canada, that order was revitalized with the arrival of Father Frederic.
His work at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Cape
Father Frederic participated in the inauguration of the Sanctuary of the Cap on June 22, 1888. He was one of the three witnesses to the “Miracle of the eyes”. He is the director of pilgrimages to the Sanctuary of the Cap during 14 years where he attracted a large number of pilgrims. He recommends that the Oblates of Mary Immaculate become the guardians of the Shrine.
Stations of the cross
Father Frederic had three Stations of the Cross constructed whose stations are distanced like those in Jerusalem.
- At the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Cape at Trois-Rivieres – 1896
- At the Sanctuary of the Reparation at Pointe-aux-Trembles, near Montreal
- The calvary of Saint-Elie-de-Caxton in Mauricie – 1895
The man
- The man is joyful and full of humor.
- He has numerous areas of interest, going from theology to the pastoral, by way of history, geography, astronomy, botany, painting, architecture and archeology.
- Tireless apostle, his love of people and preaching, his goodness, austerity, his extreme poverty, his patience and his serenity during adversity made others compare him to Francis of Assisi.
- He died August 4, 1916 at the age of 77 years.
- His body rests in the chapel of Saint Anthony in Trois-Rivieres.