July 5 – Blessed Joseph Boissel
Blessed Joseph Boissel, was 29 when he arrived in Laos. In March 1945, he was taken prisoner by the Japanese and moved to Vinh. He returned to Laos in 1946 and 5 July 1969 he was ambushed and killed. A colleague wrote this a few days later:
“Father Boissel, you are with us […]. This violent death impresses us, a death in the breach, in full apostolic mission, a death that had touched you many times, a beautiful missionary’s death. But we must recognize that your whole life has surprised us: the life of an apostle with a burning heart, a life of sacrifice, consumed, a man of God, to whom nothing mattered except proclaiming Jesus Christ to the poor. A life well lived, so rich in adventures, truly fruitful, with a heart so young that we did not notice the white hair and we hoped to always have you with us…”
