St Peter Chanel Healing Oil

Description

Martyr St Peter Chanel born in 1803 in eastern France and a shepherd boy. Until the family’s parish priest convinced Peter’s parents to let him attend the small school the priest had just opened. Peter was clearly both smart and faithful and he sent to a larger Church-sponsored school.

St Peter ordained in 1827 and asked his bishop for permission to become a missionary. But the bishop denied his request assigning him to a parish. Peter applied himself diligently to his ministry. He known for his zeal and for his care for the sick and within a few years the parish revitalized.

In 1836, the Marists asked to send missionaries to islands in the south Pacific. Finally, Peter allowed to follow his life’s longing, and he set out that year with seven others. After nearly a year’s voyage, Peter settled in Futuna, a small Polynesian island that is now part of the French-administered territory of Wallis and Futuna.

Peter’s Death

Then, Futuna’s king came to fear Peter and Christianity because he saw that it would threaten his power and status. When the king’s own son sought baptism from Peter, the king decided that was enough. He enlisted his leading warrior, Musumusu, to kill Peter, and the soldier took a group of others to attack the missionary. They surprised Peter and clubbed him to death on this date in 1841.