Saint Pierre Dumoulin-Borie
French missionary priest named bishop, beheaded in Tonkin in 1838
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Bishop, Martyr, Missionary
- Life
- 1808 – 1838
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 24 November
- Countries
- France, Vietnam
Life story
Pierre Dumoulin-Borie was born on 20 February 1808; his family came from Beynat in Bas-Limousin, France. In 1824 he entered the seminary of Servieres and was ordained a priest at Bayeux on 21 November 1830. He belonged to the Paris Foreign Missions Society.
On 18 July 1831 he arrived in Macao and was sent on to Vietnam. Chinese smugglers brought him to Saigon and he joined the South Tonkin mission. On 30 January 1836 he was named titular bishop of Acanthus; he learned of the appointment, as vicar apostolic of Western Tonkin, only while in prison.
He was denounced and arrested in July 1838 and held for about four months. He was sentenced to death together with two native priests and beheaded at Dong Hoi on 24 November 1838. His remains were brought to France in 1843 and are kept at the seminary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society.
Leo XIII beatified him on 27 May 1900, and John Paul II canonized him on 19 June 1988 with the other Vietnamese Martyrs. His feast is 24 November.
Works and witness
- Ordained a priest at Bayeux on 21 November 1830
- Arrived in Macao on 18 July 1831 and went on to Vietnam
- Named titular bishop of Acanthus on 30 January 1836
- Beheaded on 24 November 1838
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "Pierre-Rose-Ursule-Dumoulin Borie" (newadvent.org/cathen/02686c.htm)
- IRFA, "24 novembre 2022 : Fête des saints martyrs du Vietnam" (irfa.paris)
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.