Martyr of China, Missionary of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians)
Early Life and Vocation
Jean-François Régis Clet was born on August 19, 1748, in Grenoble, France, into a devout Catholic family. From his youth, he displayed a gentle temperament, deep piety, and intellectual aptitude. He entered the Congregation of the Mission (founded by St. Vincent de Paul) in 1769 and was ordained a priest in 1773.
For many years he served quietly and faithfully as a seminary professor and spiritual director in France. He was known for humility, obedience, and an unassuming manner—virtues that would later sustain him in far harsher trials.
Mission to China
In 1791, at the age of forty-three, he volunteered for the foreign missions and was sent to China. The mission field there was perilous: Christianity was officially proscribed, and missionaries often worked in secrecy under constant threat.
Father Clet labored primarily in the provinces of Jiangxi and Hubei. He endured:
- Poverty and hunger
- Long journeys on foot
- Cultural isolation
- Frequent betrayals
- The ever-present danger of arrest
Despite these hardships, he persevered for nearly thirty years, quietly administering the sacraments, catechizing converts, and strengthening persecuted Christians.
He adopted Chinese dress and customs where appropriate, learned the language, and ministered discreetly to scattered faithful. His apostolate was marked less by dramatic success than by steady, hidden fidelity—an image of Christ the Good Shepherd seeking lost sheep.
Arrest and Imprisonment
In 1819, during a severe persecution of Christians under the Jiaqing Emperor, Father Clet was betrayed for money by a catechist who revealed his hiding place.
He was arrested and subjected to brutal interrogations. Bound, beaten, and humiliated, he was urged to renounce his faith and reveal the names of other Christians. He steadfastly refused.
During months of imprisonment, he endured:
- Heavy chains
- Physical torture
- Severe deprivation
Yet witnesses reported his calmness and interior peace. He encouraged fellow prisoners and remained firm in the Faith.
Martyrdom
On February 17, 1820, after prolonged suffering, he was sentenced to death by strangulation—a method used for criminals and rebels. He was tied to a cross-like structure and slowly strangled with a cord tightened by twisting a stick.
He died at the age of seventy-one, offering his life in union with Christ.
His body was later recovered by Christians and eventually transferred to France, where it became an object of veneration.
Canonization and Feast
- Beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1900
- Canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954
- Feast Day: February 18
He is honored among the Martyrs of China and as a model missionary.
Spiritual Characteristics
Saint Jean-François Régis Clet exemplifies:
- Perseverance in obscurity
- Missionary zeal without seeking glory
- Gentleness amid persecution
- Fidelity in long suffering
- Heroic patience
His sanctity was not spectacular in outward achievements but profound in endurance. He teaches us that sanctity often consists in quiet constancy under hardship.
Spiritual Reflection
Consider meditating on:
“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”
— Apocalypse 2:10
Ask yourself:
- Do I persevere in my duties when they are dry or difficult?
- Am I faithful in hidden sacrifices?
- Would I remain firm if my faith cost me dearly?
Prayer
O God, Who didst crown Thy servant Saint Jean-François Régis Clet with the palm of martyrdom for the propagation of the Faith, grant that through his intercession we may remain steadfast in confession of Thy holy Name, even unto death. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.