Saint Jean-Gabriel-Taurin Dufresse

Profile

Entered the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris seminary in 1774, and ordained on 17 September. Missionary to Szechuan, China in 1775. Imprisoned for six months in 1784 during a government persecution of Christians. He was re-assigned to Macao, but return to the Chinese missions in 1788. Titular bishop of Thabraca and co-adjutor Vicar Apostolic of Se-Ciuen, China on 24 July 1798; he succeeded to the Vicar Apostolic on 15 November 1801. Spent the next 15 years in constant danger during the persecution of Christians and foreigners. Betrayed to the Chinese authorities by a scared native Christian. Martyr.

Born

8 December 1750 at Ville-de-Lezoux, diocese of Clermont, Puy-de-Dôme, France

Died

beheaded in 14 September 1815 at Chengdu, Sichuan, China
head attached to a pole and his body left exposed for three days as a warning to others, then buried by local Christians

Venerated