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Fr. Francis Regis Clet, C.M.
Pope Canonizes Vincentian Martyr

	"Rightly or wrongly, I have done the job you gave me. Have confidence, the storms which will toss you about will drive you toward the harbor." St. Francis Regis Clet, C.M

On October 1, 2000 the confreres joined with the larger Vincentian Family for the canonization of Vincentian martyr Fr. Francis Regis Clet, C.M., along with the 119 other martyrs in China. Clet was the inspiration for the mission and martyrdom of St. John Gabriel Perboyre, who was canonized just four years ago.

Vincent DePaul heralded the courage of martyrs, but he frequently told his sons and daughters that to live the Gospel faithfully and to cultivate the virtues of humility, simplicity, zeal, and charity each day of one’s life is a virtual martyrdom, "a dying to self that Christ might live in you." Francis Regis Clet, by conscientious living his daily responsibilities, grew in that holiness which strengthened him to accept martyrdom for his Christian faith.

Francis Regis Clet, the tenth of fifteen children, was born into a farm family in Grenoble in the southwest corner of France in 1748 and was named for the recently canonized fellow Grenoblian, Jesuit Jean Francois Regis. After completing studies at the Royal College, he followed his elder brother and sister into vowed religious life. In Lyons in 1769, he entered the Congregation of the Mission.

After ordination, Francis served as professor of moral theology at the Vincentian seminary in Annecy where he was affectionately called "the walking library" because of his encyclopedic knowledge and academic discipline. In 1786, he became Rector of Annecy and two years later, Director of Novices in Paris.

His appointment in Paris coincided with the ravages and anti-religious fervor of the French Revolution. The Mother House was repeatedly attacked and plundered. Then, in 1791, a vicious mob came upon Saint-Lazare. The Vincentians, including Clet, fled to other Vincentian houses in France. In this too, though, was God for Francis was now free to fill a vacated appointment to the Vincentian missions in China.

After a six month sea journey from France and some transition time in Macao, which included assuming the dress and customs of the Chinese people, the new missionary arrived in Kiang-si in October of 1792 as the only European in the area. Clet’s acculturation was hampered by his life-long difficulty with the language. In 1793 Clet joined two Chinese confreres in Hou-Kouang in the Hopei Province. Both of his companions died within his first year, one in prison and one from exhaustion.

In that year, Clet became superior of an international group of Vincentian missonaries scattered over a large territory, and he himself pastored an area of 270,000 square miles. In that leadership capacity, he developed standards so that there would be a uniform approach to sacramental and catechetical ministry.

Despite the political tensions in China, Francis was able to build up the Catholic community, and after 20 years he built a brick church, school, and residence. Shortly after its completion, however, anti-Catholic persecution broke out in two nearby villages.

In July of 1812, the ravages of revolution once again reached Francis. He escaped from the building, only to see the church, the school, and residence burned to the ground. Despite this, for the next seven years, Francis’ reputation grew among pagans and Christians alike for his ability to "predict the future and read people’s hearts."

In 1819, new persecution began and this time it was focused on the capture of Clet. The government put a large bounty on Francis and sent over 300 soldiers to capture him. Francis began three months of running and hiding in caves, fields, and mountains until he reached Honan and stayed in hiding with a Christian family. He was soon betrayed by a fellow Catholic and was taken prisoner, along with the family that hid him.

For the next six months, Francis was whipped daily, shackled with chains, and brought before countless courts to testify against fellow priests. By his testimony several priests, including some fellow Vincentians, were released from prison. During these trials, however, Francis never tried to save himself.

On January 1, 1820 he was found guilty of preaching the Gospel and was sentenced to death by strangulation. While his prosecutors waited for the execution decree from the Emperor, Francis was allowed to hear confessions and receive Communion.

On February 18, 1820 Francis was prepared for execution. He was allowed to receive the sacraments before he was tied to a cross in a semi-kneeling position. A rope was put around his neck and tightened and loosened three times before this generous saint gave up his soul to God. Francis Regis Clet was 72 years old and spent 28 years in China preaching the Gospel.

After his death, the Christians came and removed his body from the mass grave of criminals and buried him on Red Mountain outside his beloved Wu Gang.

The feast day of St. Francis Regis Clet is observed on February 18.

Francis Regis Clet, et al.: For a brief biography, a list of significant dates, and essential quotes of Vincent DePaul, Louise de Marillac, Frederic Ozanam, John Gabriel Perboyre, and Francis Regis Clet, go to: www.cptryon.org/vdp/res/word/index.html