Born March 14, 1851 in Ghent, Belgium, he lost his mother at an early age and was cared for by his step-mother. At eighteen he entered the Josephite Congregation and professed his vows with them on April 11, 1871. He was ordained on September 9, 1883. For eighteen years he was a valuable member of the Josephites in their various ministries. He was a professor and a superior of one of their colleges. Still he was attracted to the Passionist life of prayer. Father Hage entered the Passionist novitiate at Broadway, England. He professed his Passionist vows on June 9, 1888. He was thirty-seven years old. Six months after his profession he was transferred to the United States. In addition to his desire to strengthen his contemplative side and love of the Passion of Jesus, he arrived with a knowledge of English, French, and Flemish. This allowed him to be a talented preacher. He was a man of studies who loved Scripture, Thomistic philosophy, and the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.. One of his other contributions was the completion of a manuscript on the life of then esteemed Passionist Venerable Gabriel Posienti. For a number of years his health was fragile. On February 18, 1900 he suffered from a strangulated hernia. He was hospitalized at St. Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. While the surgery was successful, his health remained weak and he had difficulty from the anesthetic which led to pneumonia and eventually his death.
Birth Date:
March 14, 1851
Profession Date:
April 11, 1871
Ordination Date:
September 9, 1883
Death Date:
March 2, 1900
Religious Name:
Hyacinth Mary of the Heart of Jesus Hage