24 Facts About Peter Chanel

Peter Chanel, SM, born Pierre Louis Marie Chanel, was a Catholic priest, missionary, and martyr.

Peter Chanel arrived on the island of Futuna in November 1837.

Peter Chanel was clubbed to death in April 1841 at the instigation of a chief upset because his son converted.

Peter Chanel was born in the hamlet of La Potiere near Montrevel-en-Bresse, Ain departement, France.

The local parish priest persuaded his parents to allow Peter Chanel to attend a small school the priest had started.

Peter Chanel made his first communion on 23 March 1817.

Peter Chanel's interest began when he read letters from missionaries to America sent back by Bishop Louis William Valentine Dubourg.

Peter Chanel attended the Belley diocesan college in 1823, and the major seminary at Brou in 1824.

Peter Chanel was ordained on 15 July 1827 and spent a brief time as an assistant priest at Amberieu-en-Bugey.

Peter Chanel's application was not accepted and instead, he was appointed for the next three years as parish priest of Crozet.

Peter Chanel's zeal was respected, and his care, particularly of the sick in the parish, won the hearts of the locals.

In 1831, at the age of 28, Peter Chanel joined the nascent Society of Mary, who would concentrate on local missions and foreign missionary work.

Peter Chanel, professed with the other aspirants as Marist on 24 September 1836, was made the superior of the band of seven Marist missionaries that set out on 24 December from Le Havre on the Delphine accompanied by the new Bishop of Maronea, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier.

Peter Chanel was not deterred by the dangers of such a long sea voyage.

Peter Chanel traveled first to the Canary Islands, where his friend, Claude Bret, caught a flu-like virus which led to his death at sea.

Peter Chanel went to neighboring Futuna, accompanied by a French lay brother Marie-Nizier Delorme.

Peter Chanel struggled to learn the language but eventually mastered it.

Peter Chanel laboured faithfully amid the greatest hardships, attending the sick, baptizing the dying, and winning from all the name of "the man with the kind heart".

Musumusu, injured in the fracas, went to Peter Chanel feigning need of medical attention.

Peter Chanel looked for a trustworthy captain, and a reliable person in London to receive the consignment, attend to the customs, and have it sent on to Lyon.

Peter Chanel left Sydney for London on the Waterloo on 1 February 1850, taking Chanel's remains with him.

Musumusu himself converted and, as he lay dying, expressed the desire that he be buried outside the church at Poi so that those who came to revere Peter Chanel would walk over his grave to reach it.

Peter Chanel was canonized on 12 June 1954 by Pope Pius XII.

Peter Chanel is recognized as the protomartyr and patron saint of Oceania.