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St. Peter Chanel was born in 1803 A.D. He was a shepherd by birth, but was noticed by a bishop for his intellect and piety. After being ordained a priest he eventually was selected to be a missionary for the Marists in 1836 by Pope Gregory XVI. In 1841, he became the first martyr of Oceania and of the Society of Mary when he was killed by the chieftain because the chieftain's son wanted to convert to Christianity. St. Peter Chanel was canonized in 1954.