In 1748, Francis Regis Clet was born, the tenth of fifteen children, into a farm family in Grenoble, France. He followed his older brother and sister into religious life and became a priest in the Vincentian Order.
Serving as a professor of moral theology, Francis was affectionately known as the "walking library" because of his photographic memory and academic discipline. At the age of 43, St. Francis finally was allowed to fulfill his desire to go to China as a missionary. It was noted by his superior : " He has everything that you could ask for--holiness, learning, health and charm."
Arriving in China after a six month voyage, Father Francis quickly became superior of an international group of Vincentian missionaries, overseeing himself an area of 270 thousand square miles.
During the anti-Christian persecutions in China, St. Francis was attacked constantly, having to flee into the mountains to escape death. Finally, he was betrayed as his Savior by one of his own, a Catholic schoolmaster who had a vendetta against him for his disapproval of his scandalous behavior. St. Francis Regis Clet was executed by strangulation on a cross by order of the Emperor.
When someone is steeped in sin and unrepentant, instead of turning to Our Lady for forgiveness and help, they turn against those who can do them the most good. St. Francis Regis Clet was executed because of the good that he did for souls. Let us ask Our Lady to give us the grace to detach ourselves from our sinful ways and to always turn to her when we are tempted to think that it is impossible to convert.
If we have been given certain talents, let us put them at the feet of Our Lady to be use as she wishes for the greater honor and glory of God.
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