Martyred Salesians of Rochefort

Biography

The Martyred Salesians of Rochefort, also known as the Rochefort Martyrs, were a group of three De La Salle Brother priests who were among the Christians martyred during the French Revolution. These courageous individuals, namely Blessed Jean Baptiste Guillaume, Blessed Jean Mopinot, and Blessed Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge, lost their lives on different days in 1794 while aboard prison ships off the coast of Rochefort, France. Although they died separately, they are remembered and commemorated together for their shared sacrifice.

Blessed Jean Baptiste Guillaume was born in 1755 in the town of Saint-Brice-Courcelles, France. He joined the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the De La Salle Brothers, and dedicated his life to the education and spiritual formation of young people. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, the De La Salle Brothers faced persecution as a result of their refusal to take an oath of loyalty to the state-controlled Civil Constitution of the Clergy.

Similarly, Blessed Jean Mopinot was born in 1756 in the village of Rennes, France. As a De La Salle Brother, he also committed himself to the education and formation of young students. Despite the challenges posed by the revolution, he remained steadfast in his religious convictions and continued to serve the youth entrusted to his care.

The third member of this holy trio, Blessed Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge, was born in 1749 in Angers, France. Like his companions, he embraced the vocation of a De La Salle Brother and dedicated his life to educating young minds and cultivating their spiritual growth. During the turbulent years of the revolution, he chose to remain faithful to his religious calling, even though it came at great personal risk.

In 1794, amidst the Reign of Terror, these three De La Salle Brother priests were arrested for refusing to renounce their religious vows and were imprisoned on the infamous prison ships that were stationed off the coast of Rochefort. Conditions aboard these ships were squalid and inhumane, with many prisoners succumbing to disease, hunger, and unbearable living conditions. Despite the hardships they faced, these courageous men steadfastly clung to their faith and provided spiritual support to their fellow prisoners.

On varying dates in 1794, Blessed Jean Baptiste Guillaume, Blessed Jean Mopinot, and Blessed Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge, each in their turn, were executed for their unwavering fidelity to their religious calling and their refusal to abandon their faith. Their martyrdom serves as a powerful testament to their commitment to God and the Catholic Church.

Their shared sacrifice and willingness to endure persecution and death rather than renounce their faith have endeared them to Catholics around the world. Their example of faithfulness, even in the face of the most severe trials, continues to inspire and encourage believers to remain steadfast in their own faith.

The Martyred Salesians of Rochefort, Blessed Jean Baptiste Guillaume, Blessed Jean Mopinot, and Blessed Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge, are celebrated and remembered together on September 2nd, the day when their heroic lives were crowned with martyrdom. Their names and memory are honored as an inspiration for all those dedicated to the mission of education and the Christian faith.