Clet, François-Régis, Martyr, Blessed

CLET, François-Régis, Martyr, Blessed. - Born in Grenoble on 19 Aug. 1748. As a boy he was distinguished for innocence, piety and a great love of study; his fellow pupils would later call him a "living library." On 6 March 1769 he entered the Congregation of the Mission in Paris. Ordained a priest on 27 March 1773, he was sent to the major seminary of Annecy, where he remained 15 years, teaching moral theology. In May 1788 he was placed in charge of the internal seminary (or novitiate) of the mother house. Three years later his old vow to consecrate himself to the foreign missions was accepted and he set out for China (10 Apr. 1791). For thirty years he labored indefatigably and with much fruit in the provinces of Kiang-Si, Hu-Kwang, Hupeh and Honan. He promoted with particular zeal the Baptism of dying children. Twice (in 1805 and in 1811) he escaped persecution by a miracle. When the struggle against the Christians flared up more fiercely again, he was captured, through betrayal, on 16 June 1819. After having courageously confessed the faith, on 17 Febr. 1820 he crowned with martyrdom the labors of his long apostolate. Leo XIII proclaimed him blessed on 27 May 1900. His feast is celebrated on 17 Febr.

Annibale Bugnini