Saints celebrated on the 8th of June
SAINT JACQUES BERTHIEU, PRIEST AND MARTYR
St Jacques Berthieu... was born in 1838 in France. His childhood was spent working and studying surrounded by his family.
St Jacques entered the minor and then the major seminary of the Diocese of Saint-Flour, and was ordained a priest on May 21, 1864. His Bishop named him vicar in Roannes-Saint-Marie, where he replaced an ill and aged priest. The years went by and St Jacques began to feel attracted to religious life. He received permission from his Bishop to pursue that calling, entering the Jesuit novitiate in Pau.
THE MISSION FIELD
While under training he asked his superiors to send him to the mission field. In a letter of July 28, 1875 St Jacques confided to one of his friends: ‘I have been designated as a future apostle to the Malagasy (Madagascar); am supposed to leave here at the end of August, and then Marseilles and France on September 26, probably never to return, which is fine with me.’
"... PROBABLY NEVER TO RETURN, WHICH IS FINE WITH ME"
He arrived in Tamatave on December 10, 1875, only to be informed that the Superior of the Mission had appointed him to the island of Sainte-Marie. He began language study and his initiation into missionary life. The decrees of 1880 were applied, forbidding members of unauthorised religious congregations to remain in French territories, and the Jesuits were forced to leave Saint-Marie. St Jacques was sent to Ambohimandroso, being in the far reaches of the Betsileo and Bara regions. However, in June of 1883, the first Franco-Hova war forced him to go to Mananjary. He had to go on foot, which was often a forced march.
"RENOUNCE YOUR NASTY RELIGION"
Various community disorders saw St Jacques moving around often, trying to undertake his missionary work for God and the Church with different groups of people. A rebellious group, who disliked the fact that many locals had abandoned ancestor worship in favour of Christianity, came to the place where St Jacques was ministering. This gang said to St Jacques, ‘Renounce your nasty religion, and stop leading the people astray. We’ll make you our chief and counsellor, and we won’t kill you.’ St Jacques fell to his knees and replied, ‘I absolutely cannot do such a thing; I would rather die.’ A few minutes later St Jacques was shot, the second bullet, fired at point-blank range, proving fatal. St Jacques’ body was then thrown into the river.
"I PREFER TO DIE RATHER THAN RENOUNCING MY FAITH"
In his homily at the Canonisation Mass, Pope Benedict described St Jacques as ‘a tireless pastor on the island of Saint-Marie, then in Madagascar, he struggled against injustice while bringing succour to the poor and sick. The Malagasies thought of him as a priest come down from heaven…he died, saying ‘I prefer to die rather than renouncing my faith’. May his example aid many Christians of today persecuted for their faith! In this Year of Faith, may his intercession bring forth many fruits for Madagascar and the African Continent! May God bless the Malagasy people.’
(From: Spiritual Thought from Father Chris)
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