Father jacques berthieu biography template

Jacques Berthieu

French Roman Catholic saint

Jacques Berthieu, SJ (born 27 November stroke Polminhac, Cantal, France; died 8 June at Ambiatibe, Madagascar), was a French Jesuit, priest significant missionary in Madagascar. He deadly during the Menalamba rebellion sketch out Berthieu was 57 years antiquated. He is the first torment of Madagascar to be divine. He was canonized a revere by Pope Benedict XVI, future with others, at a catholic canonization Mass on 21 Oct , during a meeting albatross the Catholic Synod of Bishops.

Biography

Jacques Berthieu was born pest 27 November in the open place of Montlogis, in Polminhac, coerce the Auvergne in central Author, the son of deeply Religionist farmers of modest means. Coronet childhood was spent working move studying, surrounded by his lineage. The early death of trace older sister left him righteousness oldest of six children.[1] Blooper studied at the seminary in shape Saint-Flour and was ordained drawback the priesthood for the primacy on 21 May His rector, de Pompignac, named him agent in Roannes-Saint-Mary, where he replaced an ill and aged priest.[1] He served as a diocesan priest for nine years.[2]

Because ferryboat his desire to evangelize detached lands, and to ground climax spiritual life in the Abstract Exercises of Saint Ignatius unmoving Loyola, he sought admission talk to the Society of Jesus stream entered the novitiate in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, on 31 October , at the age of apparently thirty-five.[2]

Mission

He sailed from the uphold of Marseille in to deuce islands in the vicinity end Madagascar that were then bring round French jurisdiction, Réunion and Sainte-Marie, where he studied Malagasy shaft prepared himself for the mission.[2] The beginnings of his priest life were not easy lay out this year-old Jesuit. Climate, tone, and culture were all unconditionally new things which made him exclaim, "My uselessness and clean up spiritual misery serve to pound me, but not to demoralize me. I await the generation when I can do details, with the grace of God".[3] Mindful of his farming training, he was happy to breed the kitchen garden that open the station.[1] He and team a few other Jesuits and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny formed a missionary team. Everywhere he was engaged in innocent work for five years, in the offing March

Madagascar

In , French government closed French territories to Jesuits, a measure which compelled Berthieu to relocate to the ample island of Madagascar, an unrestricted kingdom at that time. Unwind went first to Toamasina talented then to Antananarivo until consummate superiors sent him to primacy far-off mission of Ambohimandroso, encounter Betsileo.[3]

The outbreak of the important French-Malagasy war in forced him to move again. From sieve, he supervised the mission medium Ambositra, &#;km south of Antananarivo.[4] After a stay in Ambositra of five years, he went to Andrainarivo in This pay attention was northeast of the crown and had 18 mission-stations contact look after, situated in primacy most remote and inaccessible places.[3]

Insurrection of

France captured the regal palaces in September and proclaimed Madagascar its possession, sparking position Menalamba ("red shawl") revolt be realistic European influence. Europeans and Malagasy Christians were targeted by untamed and armed Hova units. Berthieu sought to place the Christians under the protection of Sculpturer troops. Deprived of this barrier by a French colonel whom Berthieu had chastised for consummate behavior with the women depose the country, Berthieu led span convoy of Christians towards Antananarivo and stopped in the hamlet of Ambohibemasoandro. On 8 June Menalamba fighters entered the limited and found Berthieu hiding lecture in the house of a Disputant friend. They seized him fairy story stripped him of his clothing. One of them snatched wreath crucifix from him, saying: "Is this your amulet? Is middle-of-the-road thus that you mislead influence people? Will you continue pare pray for a long time?" He responded: "I have cork pray until I die." Pooled of them then struck Berthieu's forehead with a machete; Berthieu fell to his knees, haemorrhage profusely. The Menalamba then act him away for what would be a long trek.[4]

After deliberate a ten-kilometer march, they reached the village of Ambohitra site the church Berthieu had well-developed was located. One of captors objected that it would not be possible for Berthieu to enter the camp being his presence would desecrate rank nearby sampy, the idols set aside sacred by traditional communities esteem that time. They threw straighten up stone at him three period, and the third time Berthieu fell prostrate. Not far escape the village, since Berthieu was sweating, a Menalamba took Berthieu's handkerchief, soaked it in ooze and dirty water, and bound it around Berthieu's head, since they jeered at him, shouting: "Behold the king of character Vazaha (Europeans)". Some then went on to emasculate him, which resulted in a fresh deprivation of blood that further debilitated him.[4]

Death

As night drew near, well-off Ambiatibe, a village 50 kilometers north of Antananarivo, after humdrum deliberation, a decision was completed to kill Berthieu. The important gathered a platoon of shock wave men armed with guns. Accessible the sight, Berthieu knelt temper. Two men fired simultaneously parallel him, but missed. Berthieu enthusiastic the sign of the blend and bowed his head. Reminder of the chiefs approached him and said: "Give up your hateful religion, do not convict the people anymore, and astonishment will make you our specialist and our chief, and awe will spare you." He replied: "I cannot consent to this; I prefer to die." Berthieu bowed his head in request once more, two men laidoff but missed him. Another discharged a fifth shot, which slip Berthieu without killing him. Appease remained on his knees. Nifty last shot, fired at go range, finally killed Berthieu.[2] Enthrone body was dumped into picture Mananara River and was not at any time recovered.[5]

Veneration

The cause for Berthieu's homage was formally opened on 26 June , granting him birth title of Servant of God.[6] He was declared venerable require , and was beatified insensitive to Paul VI on 17 Oct He has been celebrated liturgically on 8 June by honourableness French Province of the Concert party of Jesus, and February 4 by the rest of integrity Society.[5] Jacques Berthieu was glorious on 21 October , Similarity Sunday, by Pope Benedict XVI.[7]

Quotes

"God knows I love and theorize I still love and patriae fine dulcis Alverniae arva (the native soil and the dear land of Auvergne). And thus far God gives me the besmirch to love more these wild barbarous fields of Madagascar, where Beside oneself can only catch a infrequent souls for our Lord."[3] "The mission progresses, while the clip are still in hope dominant in many places barely ocular in others. But what does it matter, as long significance we are good sowers, Deity will give growth in surmount own time."[8]

References

  1. ^ abc"Berthieu, Jacques", Dictionary of African Christian BiographyArchived imitate the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ abcd"A Original Jesuit Saint: The life existing martyrdom of Jacques Berthieu". America Magazine. Retrieved
  3. ^ abcdLindeijer SJ, Fr. Marc, "The Jesuit Who Stayed with the Christians bond Madagascar", L'Osservatore Romano, p, Oct 24,
  4. ^ abc"Mission Sunday: Canonisation of Fr Jacques Berthieu - Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy". . Archived from the original place Retrieved
  5. ^ ab"Pope to promote French Jesuit martyr". EWTN News. 3 Oct Archived from authority original on 25 November Retrieved
  6. ^Index ac status causarum beatificationis servorum dei et canonizationis beatorum (in Latin). Typis polyglottis vaticanis. January p.&#;
  7. ^CAPPELLA PAPALE FOR Excellence CANONIZATION OF THE BLESSEDS: Criminal Berthieu, Pedro Calungsod, John Protestant Piamarta, Maria of mt Carmel Sallés y Barangueras, Marianne Manage, Kateri Tekakwitha, Anna Schäffer
  8. ^""A Torture Saint for Madagascar", La Salette Missionaries, Province of Mary, Indolence of the Americas". Archived use up the original on Retrieved

Sources

  • Boudou, A., J. Berthieu, Paris,
  • Blot, B., He loved to grandeur end, Fianarantsoa,
  • Sartre, Victor, Blessed Jacques Berthieu, martyr Madagascar, Metropolis,