Saint Jean-François-Régis Clet was born in Grenoble, France in 1748. He was the tenth child in a family of fifteen children, and his father was a farmer and merchant. Jean-François-Régis was named after Saint John Francis Regis, a renowned seventeenth-century Jesuit missionary. Raised in a pious family, Jean-François-Régis grew up with a strong faith. His brother became a priest, while one of his sisters became a nun. Inspired by their example, he decided to embrace religious life himself. Coming from a humble background, Jean-François-Régis studied at the Jesuit Royal College in Grenoble. In 1769, Jean-François-Régis joined the Congregation of the Mission, also known as the Vincentians, in Lyons, France. He made his final vows in 1771 and was ordained a priest in 1773. His intellectual abilities and encyclopedic knowledge earned him the nickname "the walking library." Father Jean-François-Régis Clet became a professor of moral theology at the Vincentian seminary in Annecy, France. His expertise and commitment to education were evident, and he had a profound impact on the formation of future priests. Later on, Father Clet served as the rector of Annecy in 1786 and the director of novices in Paris in 1788. In this role, he mentored and guided young men aspiring to join the Vincentian community. However, the French Revolution brought great turmoil to religious orders, including the Vincentians. Their community was disbanded, and their mother-house in Paris was destroyed. Despite these challenges, Father Clet remained steadfast in his dedication to his faith. In 1791, Father Clet, driven by his missionary zeal, was sent to China. He arrived as the only European in his assigned area of Kiang-si, where he would spend the next 28 years. Although he never mastered the Chinese language, he tirelessly served the people, spreading the teachings of Christianity. In 1793, Father Clet moved to Hou-Kouang, in the Hopei Province of China, where he became the superior of an international group of Vincentian missionaries spread across a vast territory. His pastoral responsibilities covered an area of 270,000 square miles, taking him to remote and challenging locations. Persecution of Christians in China intensified in 1811, with the government accusing missionaries of inciting rebellion. Father Jean-François-Régis Clet and his fellow missionaries had to continue their work while constantly on the run, often hiding in the mountains. On June 16, 1819, Father Clet was betrayed by a Christian schoolmaster whom he had tried to correct. He was then force-marched for hundreds of miles in chains to stand trial. On January 1, 1820, he was found guilty of deceiving the Chinese people by preaching Christianity. Saint Jean-François-Régis Clet met his martyrdom on February 18, 1820, slowly strangled to death with a rope while tied to a cross. He was buried on Red Mountain by local Christians. Later, his remains were re-interred in the Vincentian motherhouse in Paris, France, and his relics were subsequently venerated at the Saint Lazare church in Paris. Recognizing his unwavering dedication to the faith and his ultimate sacrifice, Pope Leo XIII declared Father Jean-François-Régis Clet a martyr on February 25, 1900. He was then beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900. Finally, on October 1, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Jean-François-Régis Clet, officially recognizing him as a saint of the Catholic Church. Though Saint Jean-François-Régis Clet does not have a specific patronage associated with his name, his example of missionary zeal, his commitment to education, and his willingness to sacrifice his life for his faith continue to inspire and guide Catholics around the world.
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