ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 8th of December
SAINT NOEL CHABANEL, PRIEST AND MARTYR
A Jesuit missionary among the Huron [native Americans]. Saint Noel Chabanel was born in Southern France, February 2, 1613; he was slain by a renegade Huron, December 8, 1649.
HE WAS HIGHLY ESTEEMED FOR VIRTUE AND LEARNING
Chabanel entered the Jesuit novitiate at Toulouse at the age of seventeen, and was professor of rhetoric in several colleges of the society in the province of Toulouse. He was highly esteemed for virtue and learning.
In 1643, he was sent to Canada and, after studying the Algonquin language for a time, was appointed to the mission of the Hurons, among whom he remained till his death.
HE LEARNED THE NATIVE LANGUAGE
In these apostolic labours he was the companion of the intrepid missionary, Father Charles Garnier.
He nobly bound himself by vow never to leave mission, and he kept his vow to the end.
In the "Relation" of 1649-50, Father Ragueneau describes the martyr deaths of Chabanel and Garnier, with biographical sketches of these two fathers.
Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
[Fr Noel Chabanel was beatified on June 21, 1925 by Pope Pius XI and was canonised by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930. He is also commemorated on October 19.]
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Saint Noel may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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