St. Jacques Berthieu

June 8

Fr. Jacques Berthieu, a French Jesuit (1838-1896), priest and missionary in Madagascar, was declared a blessed martyr of faith and chastity by Pope Paul VI in 1965 during the Second Vatican Council. He was canonized in Rome on October 21st with six other Blesseds. This day coincided with the World Mission Sunday and was part of the celebration of the Year of Faith and the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization. The apostolic vitality of the provinces of Africa and Madagascar (that are part of JESAM) and our renewed awareness of “sentire cum Ecclesia” invite us to receive with fervor the witness of Jacques Berthieu. He is remembered on June 8.