Prosper Bernard
Encyclopedia
Prosper Bernard, S.J. (May 25, 1902 – March 18, 1943) was a Canadian Jesuit
priest who was executed in China
in 1943.
In 1935, he became a Jesuit priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He left for China in January 1938, a week after Dr. Norman Bethune
, the famous Canadian medical doctor
. In China, he took the Chinese name of Nà Shì Róng. At that time, Japan
was occupying part of China. On December 8, 1941, he was both director of the school of Taolou and that village's pastor when Canada, the United States
, and England
declared war
on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor
. He was immediately arrested and brought to Fengxian
, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away, and put in house arrest
in the church compound with two other Canadian priests. These three Canadian priests continued to operate a school from inside that same church compound in Fengxian. On March 18, 1943, they were executed by a Japanese officer for trying to preserve this school. In 1990, the people of Fengxian erected a monument to their memory.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest who was executed in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1943.
In 1935, he became a Jesuit priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He left for China in January 1938, a week after Dr. Norman Bethune
Norman Bethune
Henry Norman Bethune was a Canadian physician and medical innovator. Bethune is best known for his service in war time medical units during the Spanish Civil War and with the Communist Eighth Route Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, the famous Canadian medical doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. In China, he took the Chinese name of Nà Shì Róng. At that time, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
was occupying part of China. On December 8, 1941, he was both director of the school of Taolou and that village's pastor when Canada, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
declared war
Infamy Speech
The Presidential Address to Congress of December 8, 1941 was delivered at 12:30 p.m. that day to a Joint Session of Congress by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, one day after the Empire of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hawaii...
on Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
. He was immediately arrested and brought to Fengxian
Fengxian District
Fengxian District of Shanghai has a land area of and a population of 1,083,400 as of 2010. It is famous for its beaches and ocean resorts. "碧海金沙"（which means "blue sea and golden beach"） is a famous place for Shanghainese to spend their weekend....
, 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) away, and put in house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
in the church compound with two other Canadian priests. These three Canadian priests continued to operate a school from inside that same church compound in Fengxian. On March 18, 1943, they were executed by a Japanese officer for trying to preserve this school. In 1990, the people of Fengxian erected a monument to their memory.