2 February - Saint Theophane Venard - Independent Catholic News

2 February - Saint Theophane Venard - Independent Catholic News: Priest and martyr. The son of a French schoolmaster, St Theophane was born in 1829 in Saint-Loup sur-Thouet. He joined the Society of Foreign Missionaries of Paris and after his ordination was sent to Tonkin (Vietnam). This was a time when Christians were being violently persecuted in the country. He was forced to live in hiding, moving from place to place sleeping in caves and sampans.