Maurice Tornay
C.R.S.A. | |
|---|---|
 Maurice Tornay image | |
| Priest | |
| Born | 31 August 1910 Rosière, Valais, Switzerland |
| Died | 11 August 1949 (aged 38) Cho La, Sichuan, China |
| Resting place | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church, Yerkalo[1] |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 16 May 1993, St. Peter's Square, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 11 August |
| Attributes | Augustinian habit |
| Patronage | |
Maurice Tornay (31 August 1910 – 11 August 1949) was a
He was beatified – on 16 May 1993 – after Pope John Paul II confirmed that the late priest had been killed "in odium fidei" ('out of hatred of the faith').[4][5]
Life
Maurice Tornay was born in Valais in Switzerland on 31 August 1910 as the seventh of eight children to Jean-Joseph Tornay and Faustina Dossier.[3] Two sisters were Josephine and Anna while a brother of his was Louis.[2] He was baptized on 13 September 1910 and made his First Communion in 1917.[3]
His childhood saw signs of disposition to a pious life and one based on doing the work of
After a team of missionaries left for China in January 1933 he was disappointed that he did not have his chance to go with them. He was diagnosed with a stomach ulcer in January 1934 and had to follow a special diet – he would skip this diet while in the missions; this also prompted an operation and a subsequent period of rest. He had recovered enough to make his vows on 8 September 1935.[2] In 1936 he requested once more to be assigned to the missions in China – and left alongside Cyrille Lattion (1909–1997) and Nestor Rouiller – and spent a month and a half before arriving in China. In Weixi of Yunnan Province, he completed his theological studies and his studies in local languages.[4] To his brother Louis he sent a letter stating: "I will never return". He and his three companions also underwent courses with a doctor and a dentist.[5]
The path to the priesthood was now open for him and he travelled for over two weeks to
The local lamas broke into his residence on the morning of 26 January 1946 and confiscated the church while forcing him into exile. He took up brief residence in Pame, China, (with an old drunkard) and learned of the anti-religious situation back in his parish from parishioners who came in through Pame on business.[4] The lamas threatened him with death if he did not break off contact with his old parish while in May 1946 he received a letter from the Governor of Chamado who promised protection and inviting the priest to return to his parish. But on 6 May 1946 he set off though Gun-Akhio stopped him: "Stop! You are forbidden to go further". He asked the Apostolic Nuncio to China Antonio Riberi for his assistance and the latter advised him to meet with the 14th Dalai Lama.[5]
He decided that he would travel to Lhasa to seek an audience with the latter to ask him for an edict of tolerance that would protect the regional Christians.[5] On 10 July 1949 he joined a caravan of merchants and undertook the trip that would last two months and he shaved his beard and put on a Tibetan dress to avoid detection though was recognized during a brief stop.[2] He was forced to leave the caravan though managed to rejoin it and said to his companion Doci: "We must not be afraid ... We will die for the Christians".[5]
Four armed lamas burst from the bush in the Tothong forest which prompted the priest to speak with them: "Don't shoot! Let's talk!" but two shots rang out and Doci was shot dead. More shots killed the priest on 11 August 1949.[2] His remains were buried though transferred in 1985.[3]
Beatification
The beatification process opened in the two cities of Kangding and Sion in an informative process that opened in 1953 and concluded its business on 31 March 1963 while being titled as a Servant of God at the onset of the process. His spiritual writings received the approval of theologians on 5 January 1965 while an apostolic process was later held; the Congregation for the Causes of Saints validated these processes on 27 April 1990.
The dossier – known as the Positio – was submitted to Rome in 1990 for assessment which allowed for theologians to meet on 28 February 1992 to approve the cause while the cardinal and bishop members followed suit on 16 June 1992. Pope John Paul II approved the fact that the slain priest was killed in hatred of his Christian faith which allowed for the pope to preside over his 16 May 1993 beatification.
The current postulator of the cause is the Rev. Emilio Dunoyer.
Celebration
The official date for the celebration of this Blessed is 12 August. Also, every year on this date, many friends of the Blessed come to La Rosière,[6] the Blessed's birthplace, to celebrate a local mass in his memory.
In 2021, a new chapel and a space recalling his life were dedicated to him inside the church of Orsières.[7]
See also
- Batang uprising
- Catholic Church in Tibet
- Catholic Church in Sichuan
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Kangding
References
- ^ Berset, Jacques (11 August 2017). "Orsières fête le 12 août le bienheureux Maurice Tornay, martyrisé au Tibet". cath.ch (in French). Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Spiritual Newsletter". Abbey of Saint-Joseph de Clairval. 31 July 2005. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Blessed Mauritius Tornay, August 11". The Black Cordelias. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Bl. Maurice Tornay". Catholic Online. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Blessed Mauritius (Maurice) Tornay". Santi e Beati. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
- ^ "Blessed Maurice Tornay, Swiss martyr in Tibet, beatified by Saint John Paul II".
- ^ "Chapel of Orsières and Dedicated Space".
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
