![]() St. Peter Chanel D. 1841 The protomartyr of the South Seas, St. Peter Chanel was born
in 1803 at Clet in the diocese of Belley, France. His intelligence and
simple piety brought him to the attention of the local priest, Father
Trompier, who saw to his elementary education. Entering the diocesan
Seminary, Peter won the affection and the esteem of both students and
professors. After his ordination he found himself in a rundown country
parish and completely revitalized it in the three year span that he
remained there. However, his mind was set on missionary work; so, in
1831, he joined the newly formed Society of Mary (Marists) which
concentrated on missionary work at home and abroad. To his dismay, he
was appointed to teach at the seminary at Belley and remained there for
the next five years, diligently performing his duties. In 1836, the
Society was given the New Hebrides in the Pacific as a field for
evangelization, and the jubilant St. Peter was appointed Superior of a
little band of missionaries sent to proclaim the Faith to its
inhabitants. On reaching their destination after an arduous ten month
journey, the band split up and St. Peter went to the Island of Futuna
accompanied by a laybrother and an English layman, Thomas Boog. They
were at first well received by the pagans and their king Niuliki who
had only recently forbidden canabalism. However, the kings jealousy and
fear were aroused when the missionaries learned the language and gained
the people's confidence; he realized the adoption of the Christian
Faith would lead to the abolition of some of the prerogatives he
enjoyed as both highpriest and sovereign. Finally, when his own son
expressed a desire to be Baptized, the king's hatred erupted and he
dispatched a group of his warriors to set upon the saintly head of the
missionaries. Thus, on April 28, 1841, three after his arrival, St.
Peter was seized and clubbed to death by those he had come to save. And
his death brought his work to completion for within five months the
entire island was converted to Catholicism. Prayer to St. Peter Chanel
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