Saint Peter Chanel

Life story

Peter Chanel was born on 12 July 1803 at Cuet, near Belley in eastern France, into a farming family. As a boy he tended sheep, and the parish priest helped him to go to school. He entered the seminary, was ordained in 1827 and served as parish priest of Crozet.

After a few years he joined the group of priests who became the Society of Mary, the Marists, approved by the Holy See in 1836. In the same year the group was entrusted with a mission in the western Pacific, and Peter set out with Bishop Pompallier. In late 1837 he reached the island of Futuna with a lay brother and worked among the islanders and their king, Niuliki.

He learned the local language, cared for the sick, and a few people began to ask for instruction, among them a son of the king. This displeased Niuliki, who feared a loss of his influence. On 28 April 1841 some men of the island attacked and killed him.

He was beatified in 1889 and canonised by Pius XII in 1954. After his death, according to the records, the people of Futuna gradually accepted the faith, and in the end the whole island became Catholic. He is honoured as the first martyr of Oceania. His feast is kept on 28 April, the day of his death. His relics are venerated on Futuna, and the Marists have always remembered him as one of their first missionaries.

Works and witness

• Ordained a priest in 1827
• Joined the Marists, approved in 1836
• Reached Futuna in late 1837
• Killed on 28 April 1841
• Canonised in 1954

Saints from the same country

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Francis de Sales

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Acta Apostolicae Sedis

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.