DEATH OF A MISSIONARY
[RAMEAUX, François-Alexis.]
Notice of the death of Rameaux issued by Bernard-Vincent Laribe.
[China, 1845.]
Manuscript in Chinese on paper, one sheet (c. 247 x 520 mm), written to recto only in black ink, red episcopal ink stamp at end; manuscript note to verso, ‘Circulaire de Mgr Laribe touchant la mort de Mgr Rameaux 1845’; light dampstain to right side, light browning, small tear at fold, creases from folding; overall good.
A circular notifying the Christian community of the death of François-Alexis Rameaux (1802–1845), Vicar Apostolic of Zhejiang and Jiangxi from 1838, issued by his friend and successor Bernard-Vincent Laribe (1802–1850), asking that prayers for his soul be practiced nightly for six months.
Rameaux joined the Congregation of the Mission in 1824, going to China in 1832 to work in the southern provinces of Hubei and Hunan. When the apostolic vicariate of Jiangxi was established in 1838 Rameaux became its first vicar, visiting scattered Christian communities and preaching, with support from Laribe. Rameaux died from an apoplectic stroke while swimming in Macao, where he is buried at St Paul’s.
