Sept 14th - St. Gabriel Taurin Dufresse By: Venassa Jijo

Saint Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, of France, was ordained a priest of the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris at the age of 24. The renewed persecution of Chinese Christians in 1784 led to Dufresse’s arrest. He soon escaped from prison and was taken in by a Chinese Catholic family. But, after an auxiliary bishop instructed all the priests to surrender themselves to keep their families safe, Saint Gabriel did so. Dufresse was imprisoned and then exiled to Macau. A few years later, he managed to return to the Szechwan Province. In the years that followed, his missionary labors were very successful. But once the anti-Christian persecution continued again in 1805, Dufresse had to change his place of residence almost daily to keep himself safe. In May of 1815, he was recaptured and suffered beheading about 4 months afterwards.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

Saint Gabriel Taurin Dufresse, you suffered imprisonment and other difficulties countless times. Even through all of it, you remained true to your faith and died for what you believed. Pray for us that we may also be strong in the face of danger, amen.