Saint of the Day: Bl. Vincent l’Hénoret

Priest and Martyr (1921-1961)

His life

+ Vincent was born in Pont l’Abbe, France. After entering the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, he was sent to study philosophy and theology in La Brosse-Montceaux in Ile-de-France.

+ In July 1944, he witnessed the execution of four of his confreres by the Nazis and he and other members of community were later sent to a prison camp in Compiègne.

+ Ordained a priest in 1947, Vincent was sent as a missionary to Laos.

+ After years of serving in various parishes amid growing tensions within the country (including increasing animosity towards foreigners), he was ambushed and shot to death on May 11, 1961, on the road between the villages of Ban Na Thoum and Ban Faï.

+ Blessed Vincent l’Hénoret was beatified with other Martyrs of Laos (including several members of his religious community) in 2016.

For prayer and reflection

“You live your Gospel and if one asks you why you do this, you can explain why you do it. And let the Holy Spirit activate him. This is the strength and the meekness of the Holy Spirit in the conversion. It is not a mental convincing, with apologetics, with reasons, it is the Spirit that makes the vocation. We are witnesses, witnesses of the Gospel. 'Testimony' is a Greek word that means martyr. Every day martyrdom, martyrdom also of blood, when it arrives… When you live with testimony and respect, you make peace.”—Pope Francis

Prayer

O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church by adorning blessed Vincent with the victory of martyrdom, graciously grant that, as he imitated the Lord's Passion, so we may, by following in his footsteps, be worthy to attain eternal joys. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For One Martyr During the Easter Season)

Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.