The Canonization of John Gabriel Perboyre and the Missionary Commitment of the Congregation by Corpus Juan Delgado, C.M. Charles T. Plock, C.M., translator

• John Gabriel Perboyre inspires us with the example of his life
• John Gabriel, a missionary
• Identified with Christ
• The witness of his life inspires our missionary commitment
• The words of Saint Vincent will become a reality
• John Gabriel Perboyre helps us with his intercession

In a letter addressed to all the members of the Congregation of the Mission (April 20, 1995), the Superior General spoke about the decree of Pope John Paul II which finalizes the canonization process of Blessed John Gabriel Perboyre. In the same letter, Fr. Robert P. Maloney, together with the General Council, expressed their desire that we truly live this event.

By this process of canonization, the Pope solemnly declares that John Gabriel, "enjoys the vision of God; that his intercession before God is efficacious; and that his life models the characteristics of an authentic Christian." This certainty motivated the church, from the beginning of time, to venerate martyrs (and later, other saints), to invoke their intercession and to celebrate their memory in the Eucharist.

What, then, does the canonization of our missionary John Gabriel Perboyre mean for the Congregation of the Mission and for ourselves as missionaries?

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"The saints make holiness real for us. They enflesh sanctity. I exhort all the members of the Vincentian Family to meditate, during the coming months, on the life of this great man."

"The saints inspire us with the example of their lives."

When John Gabriel was sixteen years old, the Vincentians preached a mission in the town of Montauban, the place where John Gabriel was studying. At this early age he clearly expressed his desire: "I want to be a missionary." Is this simply an expression of youthful enthusiasm?

John Gabriel entered the Novitiate of the Congregation of the Mission at Montauban (December, 1818). Later he continued his theological studies in Paris. At the completion of his studies, he was sent to the school at Montdidier to teach philosopghy and, since he was not of age, to await ordination. On September 23, 1826, he was ordained and sent to the major seminary at Saint Flour. In 1835, he became the assistant director at the Novitiate of Saint Lazare.

Commenting on the martyrdom of Father Clet, John Gabriel exclaimed: "What a beautiful death for Father Clet; I ask God to take my life in the same way." Later, when Fr. Clet's relics arrived in Paris, he told the seminarians: "Here is the robe of a martyr, the robe of Father Clet; here the rope which strangled him. Happy are we if we should share the same lot." He then asked one of the seminarians: "Pray that I may recuperate my health, and be able to go to China and preach the Good News of Jesus Christ and die for Him." To another seminarian he said: "Fourteen years ago I asked to go to China...I came to Saint Lazare for this reason only, to minister in China."

The death of John's brother Louis, who died on his way to China, only strengthened his resolve to be a missionary, "even though I feel unworthy to take his place."

On February 2, 1835, John Gabriel's doctor withdrew his objection and the way was opened for him to go to China.

From 1836-1840, John Gabriel centered his missionary activity in the provinces of Ho-nan and Hu-pe. During these four and a half years, he preached and catechized the christians who were persecuted and poor and separated from one another by great distances.

Like the other missionaries, John Gabriel lived as an outcast, exposed to continual dangers and obliged to travel disguised and hidden. "Heaven is obtained through the sweat of the brow."

Identified with Christ

"The present circumstances do not allow me to write with great detail. From the time of my arrival in Kou-tcheng-sien (where I have been treated well by the assistant warden during all this time), I have undergone two interrogations; during one of these I spent half a day kneeling on chains and hung on han-tse. In Ou-tchang-fou I have undergone more than twenty interrogations and various tortures, because I did not say what the Mandrins wanted to hear. If I had spoken, persecution would have broken out throughout the province. My sufferings in Siang-yang-fou have been due to my religious beliefs. In Ou-tchang-fou I received 110 lashes because I would not trample on the cross...."

The life and death of John Gabriel ought to renew us in our missionary commitment.

1. Love of our missionary vocation

Saint Vincent de Paul, reviewing the missionary activities entrusted to the Congregation, exclaimed:




"to make God known to the poor, to announce Jesus Christ, to tell them that the kingdom is for the poor.....what great reason to praise God, my brothers, and to thank God constantly for this grace."




The witness of John Gabriel's life enables us to proclaim the excellence of the missionary vocation. His canonization is an opportunity for us to grow in the love of our vocation and to live our vocation with joy.

2. A desire to grow in holiness

John Paul II writtes in his Encyclical "Redemptoris Missio":




"A missionary is really such only if he commits himself to the way of holiness..... What is needed is the encouragement of a new 'ardor for holiness' among missionaries and throughout the Christian community..... the true missionary is a saint."







The recognition of the holiness of John Gabriel's life strengthens us as missionaries to advance in the way of holiness.

3. Identified with Christ

The Common Rules of the Congregation of the Mission remind us:

"If the Congregation, with the help of God's grace, is to achieve what it sees as its purpose, a genuine effort to put on the spirit of Christ will be needed."

The General Assembly of 1992 states:

"As we attempt to identify ourselves with Christ, the evangelizer of the poor, we must clothe ourselves anew in His spirit."

The canonization of John Gabriel, alter Cristus, reinforces our decision to live in Christ and to make Christ the rule and the center of our life and ministry.

4. Participation in the cross of Christ

According to Saint Vincent, our identification with Christ ought to be total:

"Remember, my confreres, we live in Jesus because of the death of Jesus; our life has to be hidden in Jesus and full of Jesus. To die like Jesus, it is necessary to live like Jesus."

The ecclesial recognition of the martyrdom of John Gabriel assures us that he was an authentic disciple of the Master. Identification with the cross of Christ gives autenticity to our missionary commitment.

5. Ready to endure all in love

Saint Vincent, aware of the demands of the missionary vocation, invites us to be prepared for everything for the sake of the mission:




"To risk one's life, crossing the oceans for the love of God and the salvation of one's neighbor, is a type of martyrdom, even though there is no actual shedding of blood. It is a martyrdom of the will, for one leaves everything and risks everything."




"Is it possible that we are such cowards, and think so little of ourselves that we would abandon the Lord's vineyard, where we have been called by his dvine majesty, just because four or five or six people have died?...Let us say 'There is nothing that can make us abandon this resolution.'"







The witness of John Gabriel's martyrdom, his participation in the cross of Christ, sustains our commitment in face of the inherent adversaties of the missionary endeavor.

"Missionaries ought to feel happy in becoming poor because of their charity to others. They should not fear being poor in this way....what happiness my brothers, to be able to respond: it has been charity that has made us poor."

The witness of John Gabriel's martyrdom helps us discover that the commitment of the missionary is measured by charity in following the Master who gives life to all.

The identification of the martyr with the death of Christ is also a participation in self abandonment. The death of John Gabriel shares in the sacrificial and redemptive character of Christ's death. His canonization is the ecclesial recognition of the importance of his martyrdom for the communion of saints. For this reason John Gabriel helps us with his intercession.

John Gabriel Perboyre, C. M.: Martyr and First Saint of China by Joseph Chow Chih-yi, C.M.
Biographical Sketch by Robert Stone, C.M.
From the Life of St John Gabriel Perboyre by Thomas Davitt, C. M.
The Case for Canonization: English | en français | en español
Brief Chronology of the Life of St. John Gabriel Perboyre
Similarities between the deaths of Christ and St. John Gabriel Perboyre
Gallery - St. John Gabriel Perboyre - photos of important sites.
Prayer of St. John Gabriel Perboyre
Index to the Website for St. John Gabriel Perboyre