St. Peter Chanel was born in France on July 12, 1803. Peter was a shepherd boy whose first encounter with his Parish Priest, Abbé Trompier, led to his education in the latter's Latin school. As a student and a seminarian, Peter won the esteem of teachers and students alike that a certain bishop once commented: "He has a heart of gold with the simple faith of a child and leads the life of an angel." Peter is famed for the religious revival he achieved within three years of his appointment in the ill-reputed parish of Crozet.
In 1831, Peter Chanel became a Marist missionary. Five years later, in 1836, Pope Gregory XVI officially approved "The Society of Mary" and entrusted the island of Futuna in the New Hebrides to its care. Peter Chanel said, "In such a difficult mission(evangelizing), we simply have to be holy men." Well received by the people, Peter's work drew the ire of the chieftain whose son sought to be baptized. On April 28, 1841, Peter was clubbed to death, and his body was chopped to pieces. Nevertheless, the whole island became Christian within two years. St. Peter Chanel was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. Peter Chanel was the first martyr and patron of Oceania.
St. Peter Chanel, intercede for us that we may have the strength and courage to lead lives worthy of the Gospel.
#saint #peterchanel #SaintoftheDay #shalomworldprayer
Prepared and updated by:
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Penampang, Sabah Malaysia.
No comments:
Post a Comment