Saint Peter Chanel
Saint Peter Chanel (born July 12, 1803 AD in Cuet, Ain, France; died April 28, 1841 AD in Futuna, Wallis and Futuna) was a French Marist priest and the first martyr of Oceania — killed on the island of Futuna (in the South Pacific) where he had served as a missionary for four years. He was murdered by followers of the island's king, whose son had asked to be baptized. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954 and is the patron saint of Oceania. His feast day is April 28.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Peter Chanel
| Saint Peter Chanel | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | April 28 |
| Profession | Marist priest; missionary to Oceania; first martyr of the Pacific; patron of Oceania |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Society of Mary (Marists); Futuna; Pacific Islands; first martyr of Oceania; French missionary tradition |
| Patronage | Oceania; Wallis and Futuna; the Society of Mary (Marists); missionaries; the Pacific Islands; those who work in hostile missionary environments |
| Attributes | Marist habit; machete or club (instruments of his martyrdom); Pacific Ocean setting; Futuna Island; the words "C'est bon pour moi" (It is well with me) |
| Birthplace | Cuet, Ain, France |
| Death Place | Poi, Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna |
| Cause of Death | Martyrdom; beaten, hacked, and strangled to death on April 28, 1841, on Futuna Island, by followers of the chief Niuliki, whose son Meitala had asked to be baptized; Niuliki feared the spread of Christianity would undermine his authority; he sent a war party led by his nephew Musumusu; Chanel was beaten and killed in his hut |
| Primary Shrine | Shrine of Saint Peter Chanel, Poi, Futuna — the site of his martyrdom; basilica built on the site; one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Pacific; bones of the saint (his skull and bones) are venerated there; visited by pilgrims from across the Pacific |
| Liturgical Class | Memorial (Roman Rite); April 28; Feast in Oceania; patron of Wallis and Futuna |
| Historic Class | Not in 1962 calendar (canonized 1954) |
Biography
Peter Chanel was born on July 12, 1803, in Cuet, Ain, France, into a rural farming family. He was ordained a priest in 1827 and served briefly as parish priest before joining the newly founded Society of Mary (Marists). He was among the first Marists sent to the Pacific.
He arrived on Futuna Island in 1837. For four years he lived among the Futunans, learned their language, and preached Christianity. The chief Niuliki remained hostile, fearing Christian conversion would undermine his authority. However, Niuliki's son Meitala asked to be baptized.
When Peter Chanel agreed to baptize him, Niuliki sent a war party. Peter Chanel was beaten and killed in his hut on April 28, 1841. His last words were "It is well with me."
Within one year of his death, the entire population of Futuna had converted to Christianity.
Pope Leo XIII beatified him in 1889. Pope Pius XII canonized him on June 12, 1954, naming him patron of Oceania.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Cuet, Ain, France
Death location: Poi, Futuna Island, Wallis and Futuna
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Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
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| Parish | Diocese | City | AdministrativeSubdivision | Country | ParishWebsite |
| St. Peter Chanel (Archdiocese of Atlanta) | Diocese of Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta | Roswell, GA | Georgia | United States |
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| April 27L Saint Peter Chanel | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| April 28 Saint Peter Chanel | Under 5 minutes | Breski1 |
| Prayer to St. Peter Chanel | Under 5 minutes | Joy of Heaven |
| Saint Peter Chanel: The Protomartyr of Oceania You’ve Never Heard Of | 15–30 minutes | The Hidden Saints |
| They Killed Him — Then the Island Converted | Saint Peter Chanel | Under 5 minutes | The One Minute Catholic |
Shrines
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No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Shrine of Saint Peter Chanel, Poi, Futuna — the site of his martyrdom; basilica with his relics; principal Pacific pilgrimage site.
Feast day
April 28
Veneration
Saint Peter Chanel is the first martyr of Oceania and the patron of the Pacific Islands. He was killed on Futuna in 1841; within a year the entire island converted to Christianity. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. His feast is April 28.
Prayers
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