Saint Théophane Vénard
Young French missionary who wrote letters from a cage before his beheading in 1861
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Martyr, Priest, Missionary
- Life
- 1829 – 1861
- Era
- 19th century
- Feast
- 24 November
- Countries
- France, Vietnam
Life story
Theophane Venard was born on 21 November 1829 at Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet in the diocese of Poitiers, France. He entered the seminary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP) as a subdeacon and was ordained a priest on 5 June 1852.
He left Paris on 19 September and sailed from Antwerp. He reached Singapore on New Year's Day 1853, then spent about fifteen months in Hong Kong learning Chinese before being sent to assist Bishop Pierre-Andre Retord in West Tonkin. He reached Tonkin in 1854.
On 30 November 1860 he was arrested. He was held in a cage until his execution. From prison he wrote letters to his family, which are described as consoling.
He was beheaded on 2 February 1861 in Tonkin. Pius X beatified him on 2 May 1909 and John Paul II canonized him on 19 June 1988 with the Vietnamese Martyrs. His feast is 24 November. He was 31 when he died, after about seven years in the mission.
Works and witness
- Ordained a priest on 5 June 1852
- Studied Chinese in Hong Kong, then went to West Tonkin
- Arrested on 30 November 1860 and held in a cage
- Beheaded on 2 February 1861
Saints from the same country
References
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), "Bl. Theophane Venard" (newadvent.org/cathen/14623c.htm)
- Vietnamese Martyrs Website, "Theophane Venard"
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.