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Peter-ChanelPeter Chanel was born in Cuet near Belley France in 1803. After ordination to the priesthood, he was engaged in pastoral work for a few years.  He then joined the Society of Mary (Marists) and journeyed to Oceania to preach the Gospel.  He stationed himself on the island of Futuna, near Tonga.  He initially won the confidence of the island’s king, Niuliki, but relations deteriorated, especially after the king’s son requested baptism.  He was clubbed to death on 28 Apr 1841.  He was canonised in 1954 and is the protomartyr of Oceania. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 2655; Christian Prayer 1990, p 1122.

louis de montfortBorn in 1673, Louis Grignion de Montfort was a French diocesan priest with a great devotion to the Virgin Mary.  He was noted for his fervent and enthusiastic preaching and apostolate.  He founded an order of missionary priests and brothers, the Company of Mary, and a sister order, the Daughters of Wisdom.  He died in 1716.  He is best known for his book, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which like most of his writings, was not properly published until the nineteenth century.  It proposes that the Christian make a “total consecration” of oneself to Jesus through Mary.  It has an immense influence, not least on St John Paul II. He was canonised in 1947. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 2657

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