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One of eight children born to
Pierre Perboyre and Marie Rigal. At age 16 he followed his brother Louis
to the seminary, and entered the Congregation of the Mission of Saint
Vincent on Christmas Day 1818. Ordained in Paris on 23 September 1825.
Professor of theology. Seminary rector. Assistant director of novices.
His brother died on a mission to China, and John Gabriel asked to replace
him. In March 1835 he sailed for China, and began his mission in Macao in
June, 1836. A widespread persecution of Christians began in 1839, the same
year England had attacked China. Father John Gabriel was denounced to the
authorities by one of his catechumens, arrested, tried on 16 September
1839, tortured by hanging by his thumbs and flogging with bamboo rods, and
condemned to death on 11 September 1840. Martyr. China's first saint.
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