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Also known as:
Jean-Gabriel Perboyre
Profile
One of eight children born to Pierre Perboyre and Marie Rigal. 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.
Ordained in Paris on 23 September 1825. Professor of theology. Seminary
rector. Assistant director of novices.
His brother died on a mission to China, and John Gabriel asked to replace
him. In March 1835 he sailed for China, and began his mission in Macao in
June, 1836. A widespread persecution of Christians began in 1839, the same
year England had attacked China. Father John Gabriel was denounced to the
authorities by one of his catechumens, arrested, tried on 16 September
1839, tortured by hanging by his thumbs and flogging with bamboo rods, and
condemned to death on 11 September 1840. Martyr. China's first saint.
Born
6 January 1802 at Le Puech, near Mongesty, Cahors diocese, southern France
Died
11 September 1840 at China; murdered by being lashed to a cross on a hill
named the "red mountain", then strangled with a rope
Beatified
10 November 1889 by Pope Leo XIII
Canonized
2 June 1996 by Pope John Paul II
Readings
O my Divine Savior,
Transform me into Yourself.
May my hands be the hands of Jesus.
Grant that every faculty of my body
May serve only to glorify You.
Above all,
Transform my soul and all its powers
So that my memory, will and affection
May be the memory, will and affections
Of Jesus.
I pray You
To destroy in me all that is not of You.
Grant that I may live but in You, by You and for You,
So that I may truly say, with Saint Paul,
"I live - now not I - But Christ lives in me.
- Saint John Gabriel
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