Day 7 -- Saint Jean-Gabriel Perboyre

Today's saint that I chose is Saint Jean-Gabriel Perboyre, who was one of eight children, and born in France on January 6, 1802. At at 16 he followed his brother Louis to the seminary and joined the Congregation of the Mission of Saint Vincent on Christmas Day 1818. He was ordained in Paris on September 23, 1825. He was a professor of theology, seminary rector, and assistant director of novices. His brother Louis died on his way to China for a mission and John Gabriel was asked to replace him. In March 1835 is sailed to China and began his mission in June 1836. Three years later widespread persecution of Christians began. John Gabriel was denounced and tried on September 16, 1839. He was tortured by hanging by his thumbs and he was flogged with bamboo rods and was martyred by being strangled on September 11, 1840. He is the first saint associated with China. He was beatified in 1889 and canonized in 1996.

Today as we remember the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on our country, I think of all the men and women who died for our country....all 2,996 of them. The many firefighters and police officers who gave their lives for our country; I see the similarities between them--our country's heroes and the Church martyrs.

God Bless America!