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. 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 Breton people.