Saint Jacques Berthieu

Also known as

• Jacob Berthieu
• Martyr of Madagascar
• Martyr of the Red Island

Memorial

• 8 June

Profile

One of seven children in a pious farm family. Ordained on 21 May 1864. Parish priest in Roannes-Saint Mary, France. Feeling a call to religious life, he joined the Jesuits on 31 October 1873. Missionary to Madagascar in 1875. Superior of the mission in Ambositra in 1885, he expanded the stations and brought many converts to the faith. Forced to move several times due to political reasons as his connection to France brought him into conflict with assorted local officials. Martyr.

Born

• 28 November 1838 in Monlogis, Polminhac, Cantal, France

Died

• shot on 8 June 1896 in Ambiatibe, Antananarivo, Madagascar by Menalamba rebels for his work in replacing ancestor worship with Christianity
• body dumped in the Mananara River

Venerated

• 8 April 1964 (decree of martyrdom)

Beatified

• 17 October 1965 by Pope Paul VI

Canonized

• 21 October 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• Dictionary of African Christian Biography
• Hagiography Circle
• National Jesuit News
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
• Wikipedia

MLA Citation

• “Saint Jacques Berthieu“. Saints.SQPN.com. 8 April 2013. Web. 24 May 2013. <>