Blessed Frédéric Janssoone
French Franciscan who served in the Holy Land and then in Canada
- Rank
- Blessed
- Kind
- Priest, Religious, Missionary
- Life
- 1838 – 1916
- Era
- 20th century
- Feast
- 5 August
- Countries
- France, Israel, Canada
Life story
Frederic-Cornil Janssoone was born on 19 November 1838 at Ghyvelde in the Nord, France. He entered the Friars Minor novitiate on 24 June 1864, professed the following year, and was ordained at Bourges on 17 August 1870.
In 1876 he joined the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, first as chaplain to the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Cairo and then, from 1878 until 1888, as assistant to the Custos in Jerusalem (some sources call this post Vicar of the Custody).
He first came to Canada in 1881 and returned to stay in 1888. In 1888 he founded the Commissariat of the Holy Land in Canada, based at Trois-Rivieres, which he directed for 28 years. He also promoted the shrine of Notre-Dame-du-Cap, whose work passed to the Oblates in 1902.
He died in Montreal on 4 August 1916 of stomach cancer and was buried in the chapel of the Trois-Rivieres friary. Pope John Paul II beatified him on 25 September 1988 in St Peter's Square. His feast is 5 August.
Works and witness
- Entered the Franciscans in 1864 and was ordained in 1870
- Served in the Holy Land from 1876, from 1878 as assistant to the Custos in Jerusalem
- Founded the Commissariat of the Holy Land in Canada at Trois-Rivieres in 1888
- Promoted the shrine of Notre-Dame-du-Cap
Saints from the same country
References
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography, "Janssoone, Frédéric" (biographi.ca)
- Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, "Blessed Frédéric Janssoone (1838-1916)" (cccb.ca)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.