Lucien Bunel was born in France on January 29th, 1900 and was ordained a priest  in July, 1925. As a diocesan priest Lucien gained a reputation as a fine preacher and teacher.  Kind, generous, hard working, and self-giving, his students called him "il santo".  

Two and a half years after his ordination, Father Lucien contracted typhoid fever.  During his convalescence, he felt an attraction to monastic life and realized his independent spirit needed a strict Rule of life.  His friendship with a community of Carmelite Nuns, and inspired by the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux, Lucien decided to enter Carmel.

In 1931 entered the Discalced Carmelite Father and became known as Jacques de Jesus. In time he was appointed director of a progressive boys' school at Fortainebleau.  During the Nazi occupation of France, Pere Jacques secretly hid Jewish boys. In 1944 he was arrested and sent in succession to four of the most dreaded concentration camps of that period.  Pere Jacques began his new ministry of love in the prisons.  After long days of forced labor, he continued his priestly ministry preaching of God's love and mercy.   He gave away not only any extra food but the small allotted portions. He was ever mindful  of those more needy than he.

After the liberation of the prisoners of Mathausen in 1945, he gave up his seat in a transport truck and walked three miles to the nearest hospital.  Three days later, worn out from his imprisonment, Pere Jacques died.