JESUIT PRIEST

Roman Martyrology: In the town of Guizhou, also in China, the holy martyr Jean Pierre Néel, Jpriest. Missionary to Kuy-tsheu, China in 1858. Arrested, tortured and martyred with three of his converts.

Canonization date: October 1, 2000 by Pope John Paul II

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Born October 18, 1832 in Soleymieux, Sainte-Catherine-sur-Riviere, France. Later a priest from the Foreign Missionary Society of Paris. Accused of preaching the faith, he was tied to the tail of a horse and dragged ferociously around the racecourse, subjected to all manner of ridicule and torture. Finally he died by beheading. With him the holy martyrs Martin Wu Xuesheng, a catechist, John Zhang Tianshen, newly baptized, and John Chen Xianheng suffered the same punishment.

He was dragged by his hair by a horse, then beheaded at Kuy-tsheu (Kai-chou), China on 18 February 1862.