St. Theophane Venard

Theophane was born on November 21, 1829, in the diocese of Poitiers, France. He entered into the Foreign Missions of Paris and was ordained in 1852. Sent to Vietnam two years later, he devoted his time to teaching in a seminary until his arrest and brutal martyrdom. Theophane was chained in a cage for for several weeks prior to his execution, and during that time he wrote a series of joyful, consoling letters to his family.

He was beheaded on Febrary 2, 1861, and was canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. His Feast Day is December 4.