Maximin Giraud

Pierre Maximin Giraud (26 August 1835 Corps, Isère, France - 1 March 1875 Corps, Isère, France), known as Maximin Giraud, was a French member of the Corps of Papal Zouaves and a Marian visionary to Our Lady of La Salette.

Biography

Maximin Giraud was born on August 26, 1835, in Corps en Isère. His mother, Anne-Marie Templier hailed from this same region. His father, Germain Giraud was from the neighboring district of Trièves. The mother died leaving Maximin, then 17 months old, and a daughter, Angélique, who was eight years of age. Shortly after, Germain Giraud, a wheelwright by trade, remarried Marie Court. His new wife was reportedly not interested in Maximin and even neglected the child. Maximin grew up in haphazard fashion, spending much of his time with carefree abandon in the sole company of his dog and goat as they roamed the streets of Corps en Isère. Attendance at school was not compulsory and so he never frequented classes. The same was true with regard to religious instructions.