Very Rev. Jamin S. David, J.C.L., V.G. | Diocese of Baton Rouge

Brad Fossier, a lover of old and out-of-print devotionals, saw the value in preserving these literary gems. Fossier expressed his passion, stating, "There are a lot of gems out there." He noticed that many of these books were falling apart or difficult to read on a computer screen. Determined to save these devotionals from extinction, Brad and his wife, Emily, embarked on a mission to preserve them for their own spiritual reading.

The Fossiers, who have a knack for finding value in vintage things, had previously purchased an antebellum home in St. Francisville and spent their time renovating and restoring it. Inspired by this project, they began reformatting, updating, and binding their favorite rediscovered devotionals. They even designed attractive new cover artwork in the process.

Impressed by the couple's efforts, friends at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church encouraged them to establish a small family-run publishing company. Fossier shared their motivation behind the name of their press, saying, "We picked the name Cor Jesu Press, which means 'Heart of Jesus' in Latin because we hope that the spiritual reading contained in the books we publish will help Catholics be on fire with love for Our Blessed Lord just as his Sacred Heart is on fire with love for us."

Cor Jesu Press quickly found its place in the Catholic market. Within one hour of their open house on Jan. 2, the Fossiers sold out of inventory. Brad Fossier mentioned that people have been giving them a running list of book titles they would like to see. The press aims to produce books that are practical, short, faithful to the Catholic faith, attractive, and "feel good in the hands."

Their booklist includes works on Mary, the lives of the saints, advice for Christian mothers, and the practice of virtues. However, the Fossiers have other responsibilities besides publishing books. Brad works as a family physician in St. Francisville, while Emily homeschools their five children. Emily also manages and creates content about Catholic motherhood and the faith for Apostolate of Holy Motherhood on Instagram and YouTube.

The Fossiers' dedication to reviving vintage devotionals not only preserves these treasures but also provides spiritual nourishment to Catholic readers. Through Cor Jesu Press, they are able to share their passion for these time-honored writings and inspire others to embrace the wisdom and faith contained within.