Julian Maunoir
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Blessed Julien (Julian) Maunoir, SJ, ("Juluan Maner", in Breton), known as the "Apostle of Brittany" was born in France in 1606. A classmate of Saints Isaac Jogues and Gabriel Lalemant he aspired to become a Jesuit missionary to the peoples of Canada.[1]
During his period of priestly formation with the Society of Jesus he was required to learn to preach in the Breton language of the Celtic people of Brittany who reside in the northwestern region of France. Through his acquisition of the Breton tongue he realised a call from God to serve the the Breton people.[2]
Fr. Maunoir worked as a missionary to the Breton people for 43 years, and by 1683 had formed 1000 Breton missionaries who carried on the pastoral works that he had begun.
Blessed Julien Maunoir died in Plévin, Brittany in 1683 and was buried on the parish church grounds at the insistence of his people. Brittany to this day remains one of the strongest regions of Catholic faith in France.
Julien Maunoir is also considered a noted orthographer of the Breton language.[3]
Blessed Julien Maunoir is commemorated by the Roman Catholic Church on 28 January.[4]
