Blessed Maurice Tornay

Biography

Blessed Maurice Tornay, also known as Mauritius or Mauricio, was born on 31 August 1910 in Rosière, Valais, Switzerland. He was the seventh of eight children born to Jean-Joseph Tornay and Faustina Dossier. It is believed that he was named after Saint Maurice of the Theban Legion, who had been martyred in the area.

From a young age, Maurice displayed a strong faith and devotion to God. At just 13 days old, he was baptized, and at the age of 7, he received his First Communion. Despite the challenging mountainous terrain, Maurice would walk for an hour each way every week to attend Mass at the local church.

Raised on a farm, Maurice worked alongside his family after school, helping with the farm duties. As he grew older, he developed a passion for learning and was an exceptional student. In his teenage years, Maurice embarked on a six-year study program at the school located at the Abbey of Saint Maurice. His love for French literature flourished during this time, and he was elected president of his class.

Maurice embarked on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, where he experienced a deep spiritual connection and developed a special devotion to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. He would often read works by Saint Thérèse and Saint Francis de Sales to his classmates, sharing his love for their writings.

Inspired by his religious calling, Maurice joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, Hospitallers of Saint Nicholas and Grand-St-Bernard of Mont Joux. He began his novitiate on 25 August 1931 and made his first vows on 8 September 1932. Despite his dedication, Maurice's path to becoming a missionary was briefly interrupted when he underwent surgery and recovery in 1934 due to a stomach ulcer. However, he persevered and made his solemn vows in 1935.

In 1936, Maurice was sent to the mission in Weixi, Yunnan, located in southwest China near the border of Tibet. He spent his initial time there studying theology, medicine, dentistry, and the local language. In addition, he focused on discerning God's plan for his life through prayer.

On 24 April 1938, Maurice was ordained a priest in Hanoi, Vietnam. The following summer, he established and supervised the Houa-Lo-Pa seminary for local students. He dedicated himself to teaching and spiritual formation, while also providing medical assistance to those in need. Despite facing personal challenges with laziness, Maurice approached his work with unwavering dedication.

When the Japanese invasion occurred in 1939, Maurice faced setbacks, forcing him to reduce his activities and even beg for food for his seminarians. His resilience and commitment to his mission were truly inspiring.

In 1945, Father Maurice was appointed pastor of the Yerkalo mission in Tibet, where the ruling Dalai Lama Gun-Akhio held a strong disdain for Christian missionaries. The Lama actively promoted anti-Christian persecutions, posing a threat to the local Christian community. In an effort to alleviate the pressure on Tibetan Christians, Maurice sought refuge in China and implored the Apostolic Nuncio and the Chinese government to intervene. Unfortunately, diplomatic efforts failed to yield results.

Determined to advocate for religious freedom for Christians, Maurice planned to travel to Lhasa in July 1949 to plead with the Dalai Lama. Tragically, before he could reach his destination, Maurice was ambushed and shot by Tibetan guards. These guards were later rewarded for their cruel act. Maurice's death on 11 August 1949 marked his martyrdom, as he had bravely sacrificed his life while fighting for the rights and welfare of his fellow Christians in Tibet.

Following his death, Maurice was buried in the garden of the Atuntze mission. In 1985, his remains were re-interred at the graveyard of the Yerkalo mission in Tibet. For his unwavering faith, dedication, and sacrifice, Maurice was venerated on 11 July 1992 by Pope John Paul II, who declared him a martyr. Then, on 16 May 1993, Pope John Paul II beatified Blessed Maurice Tornay at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy. His life serves as a shining example of courage, devotion, and selflessness in the face of adversity.