JOHN GABRIEL PERBOYRE

Missionary and martyr, born at Puech, Diocese of Cahors, France, on January 6, 1802; martyred at Ou-Tchang-Fou, China, on September 11, 1840.  He is China's first saint.  

John Gabriel was one of eight children born to Pierre Perboyre and Marie Rigal. By reason of his piety, he was the model of his companions during his childhood. At age 16 he followed his brother Louis to the seminary, and entered the Congregation of the Mission of Saint Vincent on Christmas Day 1818.  He was ordained in Paris on September 23, 1825, in the chapel of the Sisters of Charity, by Bishop Dubourg, of New Orleans, and on the following day he said his first Mass. Shortly after, he was sent to the seminary of Saint-Flour to teach dogmatic theology, and two years later, he was appointed superior of the preparatory seminary of Saint-Flour. His great sanctity and marvellous success induced his superiors, in 1832, to appoint him subdirector of the novitiate in Paris. Perboyre's two maxims were: “One does good for souls only by prayer. In all that you do, work only to please God, otherwise you would waste your time and effort.”

John Gabriel was declared Venerable by Gregory XVI in July, 1843, beatified by Leo XIII on November 9, 1889, and canonized by John Paul II on June 2, 1996. His memorial is celebrated on September 11.

Prayer:

Reflection: Let us not forget to pray for missionaries, who are often isolated and seemingly abandoned amid the crosses of their difficult lives.