It has often been said that "The blood of martyrs in the seed of Christians." This is very true of the life of Father Peter Chanel s.m.

One of the original Marist missionaries to the South Pacific, Peter Chanel was to be its first martyr in 1841. Despite the very real possibility of death, Peter Chanel continued to work faithfully on the island of Futuna till his last day.

Angry at the faith he preached, and at the conversion of the king's son, a gang of tribesman lead by Musumusu set upon Peter, beating him to death. Beatified in 1889 and canonised in 1954, the life of Peter Chanel is an exemplar of faithful service under the hardest circumstances.

Despite very few conversions during his four years on the island of Futuna, the seeds of faith had been sown during his short time. After his death, the entire island converted to Christianity - a powerful testament to the life and witness of Peter Chanel.

Pierre Bataillion, a fellow Marist missionary, writes of Peter:

"It was his ardent faith and firm reliance on God which were for him the principle of unchanging calmness, patience in every trial, and admirable resignation which he always showed in his suffering and privations of every kind. No mishap, no trouble, and no difficulty ever worried his soul. His isolation for three years could have been for him a most distressing trial, but he was never know to complain. Poor housing, poor clothing, and poor food, left his always satisfied, always resigned and always happy"

This ardent faith and unabashed joy under extraordinary hardships were Peter's trademarks. These traits would leave a lasting impression on all who knew him. Born in France in 1803, Peter was ordained a priest in 1827. Working initially in schools, Peter was known more for his openness and generosity than discipline. He accompanied the founder of the Marist Fathers, Jean-Claude Colin, to Rome to seek approval of the Society of Mary. Although no among the first men to found the Society of Mary, he was one of the first twenty to take religious vows within the Society in 1836.

The place of Mary played a major part in Peter Chanel's life, and is explicit in his love for all people. The natives of Futuna would be quoted as saying of him:

"He was extremely kind to them: that they frequently invaded his house and caused complete disorder, and that, far from being impatient with them, he always talked kindly and charitably; and that he was always ready to do for them whatever he could."