June 8 Saint of the Day: Saint Jacques Berthieu

WINCHESTER, VA – Jacques Berthieu was born in 1838 to a humble French family, the second of seven children. He was a diocesan priest for 9 years before entering the Society of Jesus to become a missionary. Father Berthieu served around and in Madagascar and accepted his trials with saintly resignation. There was much seed to sow and little harvest to reap. When relations between Madagascar and France turned bitter, the missionaries had no protection. During the Insurrection of 1896, Father was discovered in hiding, and after many cruel tortures, was given the choice of renouncing his faith and becoming an advisor, or dying. “I cannot consent to this; I prefer to die,” was his answer. After multiple attempts to kill him, he finally succumbed on June 8, 1896. Father Jacques Berthieu, pray for us!