A phrase from the book of Ecclesiastes, chosen by Francis Regis Clet to encourage his missionary confreres to a profound experience of brotherhood and as a support in their mission, can also be the synthesis of his life: “A three-stranded rope is not easily broken” (Eccl 4:12). He was a man with his history, a believer of solid faith, a missionary (in China) to the end.
| 1748, 19 August | Birth |
| 1769, 6 March | Entrance into the Congregation of the Mission |
| 1773, 27 March | Priestly ordination |
| 1791 | Arrival in China |
| 1820, 18 February | Death by strangulation on a cross |
| 1900, 27 May | Beatification |
| 2000, 1 October | Canonized with 119 Chinese martyrs |
| 9 July | Liturgical feast |
Francis Regis Clet was the tenth of fifteen children in the family of Césaire and Claudine Clet. The stages of his life – pupil of the Jesuits in Grenoble, diocesan seminarian, brilliant student, acceptance of a call to the Congregation of the Mission in Lyon – were only stages that Providence aptly opened so that the three-stranded rope could grow and develop. He was professor of theology in Annecy, Superior of his local community and later Director of the Internal Seminary of the Congregation of the Mission at the Mother House in Paris.
The storms of the Revolution only strengthened the roots of the three-stranded rope of Francis Regis’ life. From the moment he embarked for China in April 1791, not arriving in Kiang-Si until October 1791 after six months of sailing, he could see where the Lord wanted to lead him. For almost thirty years, he devoted himself completely to the Chinese mission and adapted to a new way of life, as well as to a difficult language. The situation was dangerous because of the persecutions, and he had to avoid being recognized.
Francis Regis was arrested and imprisoned in Jinjiagang and later in Nan-Yang-Fou. After months of suffering, he was condemned to death. Two false testimonies were the accusation against him: “You have come to China secretly, you have perverted numerous people with the doctrine you preach, and according to the law, you have to be strangled to death.” Francis-Regis died near Ou-Tchang-Fou. In his sufferings up to the cross, he could think of his Master and discover the meaning of his path that gave him the strength to go to the end.
The Mother House of the Congregation of the Mission preserves his body to teach the children of Saint Vincent today the direction to go and with what generosity to live, never forgetting that “whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord” (Rom 14:8).
