Born on February 2, 1613, in the village of Saguier in the Haute Auvergne region of France, Noel Chabanel entered the Society of Jesus in Toulouse on February 9, 1630.
After his ordination to the priesthood, Father Chabanel taught in the Jesuit college in Toulouse, where he was considered "a brilliant teacher" of rhetoric. However, he was set on going to the Canadian missions, and arrived in Quebec on August 15, 1643.
After spending a year learning the Huron language, he was sent to the Huron mission of Sainte Marie. Not only did he find the Huron language very difficult, he wrote that he was "revolted" by the life-style and filth of people. He responded to this loathing by vowing to remain with the Hurons, and wrote that this decision meant "a new crucifixion each day." Nevertheless, on June 20, 1647, Chabanel promised God "perpetual stability in the Huron mission" unless ordered otherwise by his superiors.
In fall 1649, Father Chabanel was sent to Etarita to assist Father Charles Garnier. After a three-day mission there, on December 8, 1649, he was killed by a Huron apostate and his body thrown into a river.
Father Chabanel was beatified by Pope Pius XI on June 21, 1925, and canonized on June 29, 1930.