Bonnard, Jean Louis

Bonnard, Jean Louis, a French priest, missionary, and martyr, was born at St. Christopher, in Jarret, March 1, 1824. At the age of ten years his calling to the priestly office was decided on, and he was sent to a large seminary at Lyons, from there to that of foreign missions at Paris, where he accomplished his course in theology. Having been ordained priest he embarked for the Western missions of Ton-King, and, arrived at Paques in 1850, at the time when cholera was committing such fearful ravages. He devoted himself diligently to the study of the Annamite language, and in 1851 was charged with the two parishes of Ki-Bong and Ki-Tring. He went to Boixayen, was arrested, thrown into prison, and sentenced to death, which sentence was executed, April 30, 1852, in China. It was ordered that. his body should be thrown into the sea, at a spot unknown to Christians; but one followed and saw where it was deposited, and it was recovered and conveyed to the Foreign Mission College, where it was disposed of with due honor. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.