Feast of St. Issac Jogues
St. John de Brebuf, and Companions
NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS
Six Jesuit priests and two holy laymen, all from France, died as martyrs in North America between 1642 and 1649. They were valiant and daring missionaries who gave their lives to convert the Huron tribe.
St. Isaac Jogues was born in Orleans, France on January 10, 1607. In 1624, he was ordained a priest of the Society of Jesus. In 1636, he served as a missionary to the Huron Indians in Quebec, Canada.
He was later sent to the regions around the Great Lakes and lived in constant danger for six years. In 1642, he was tortured and imprisoned by the Iroquois. The Dutch at Fort Orange (Albany, New York) rescued him, and he returned to France in 1643. The following spring, St. Isaac Jogues was entrusted with a peace mission to his torturers, and left France for Quebec.
On September 24, 1646, en route to the Indian village of Ossernenon (Auriesville, New York) Isaac was captured by a Mohawk war party. On October 18, 1646 he was stripped naked, beaten, and killed with a tomahawk by the Bear Clan of the Mohawks.
St. John de Brebeuf was born in 1593 at Normandy, France. He desired to enter the priesthood from an early age, but his health was so poor there were doubts he could make it. He, too, entered the Society of Jesus. His posting as a missionary to Canada at age 32, however, was a literal godsend. He spent the rest of his life there, and the harsh climate so agreed with him that the Natives, surprised at his endurance, called him Echon, which meant "load bearer", and his massive size made them think twice about sharing a canoe with him for fear it would sink. In 1649, suffering from tuberculosis, John was tortured to death by the Iroquois.
St. Anthony Daniel had just finished celebrating Mass for his Huron converts when the Iroquois attacked the village. The Christian Indians begged him to try to escape. But Father Daniel remained behind, determined to baptize all those who were pleading for the sacrament. The Iroquois burned him to death in his little chapel. St. Gabriel Lallemont was tortured to death along with St. John de Brebeuf. St. Charles Garnier and St. Noel Chabenel were both killed with tomahawks. St. Charles was first shot by an Iroquois musket during a surprise attack, but when he attempted to save a dying man, was killed by a hatchet blow. Father Chabenel struggled in his new homeland, but remained faithful to the vow he made a vow to stay in North America. A Huron traitor killed him. Two lay workers, Rene Goupil and John Lalande, were both killed with tomahawks.
On June 29, 1930, Pope Pius XI canonized St. Isaac Jogues and his seven other companions -- the North American Martyrs.
For two days now I have experienced a great desire to be a martyr and to endure all the torments the martyrs suffered.... I vow to you, Jesus my Savior, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant.... On receiving the blow of death, I shall accept it from your hands with the fullest delight and joy of, spirit . . .. My God, it grieves me greatly that you are not known, that in this savage wilderness all have not been converted to you, that sin has not been driven from it.
— From the mission journal of St. John de Brebeuf, Saints of the Roman Calendar by Enzo Lodi
~ Posted by Jean M. Heimann
St. John de Brebuf, and Companions
NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS
Six Jesuit priests and two holy laymen, all from France, died as martyrs in North America between 1642 and 1649. They were valiant and daring missionaries who gave their lives to convert the Huron tribe.
St. Isaac Jogues was born in Orleans, France on January 10, 1607. In 1624, he was ordained a priest of the Society of Jesus. In 1636, he served as a missionary to the Huron Indians in Quebec, Canada.
He was later sent to the regions around the Great Lakes and lived in constant danger for six years. In 1642, he was tortured and imprisoned by the Iroquois. The Dutch at Fort Orange (Albany, New York) rescued him, and he returned to France in 1643. The following spring, St. Isaac Jogues was entrusted with a peace mission to his torturers, and left France for Quebec.
On September 24, 1646, en route to the Indian village of Ossernenon (Auriesville, New York) Isaac was captured by a Mohawk war party. On October 18, 1646 he was stripped naked, beaten, and killed with a tomahawk by the Bear Clan of the Mohawks.
St. John de Brebeuf was born in 1593 at Normandy, France. He desired to enter the priesthood from an early age, but his health was so poor there were doubts he could make it. He, too, entered the Society of Jesus. His posting as a missionary to Canada at age 32, however, was a literal godsend. He spent the rest of his life there, and the harsh climate so agreed with him that the Natives, surprised at his endurance, called him Echon, which meant "load bearer", and his massive size made them think twice about sharing a canoe with him for fear it would sink. In 1649, suffering from tuberculosis, John was tortured to death by the Iroquois.
St. Anthony Daniel had just finished celebrating Mass for his Huron converts when the Iroquois attacked the village. The Christian Indians begged him to try to escape. But Father Daniel remained behind, determined to baptize all those who were pleading for the sacrament. The Iroquois burned him to death in his little chapel. St. Gabriel Lallemont was tortured to death along with St. John de Brebeuf. St. Charles Garnier and St. Noel Chabenel were both killed with tomahawks. St. Charles was first shot by an Iroquois musket during a surprise attack, but when he attempted to save a dying man, was killed by a hatchet blow. Father Chabenel struggled in his new homeland, but remained faithful to the vow he made a vow to stay in North America. A Huron traitor killed him. Two lay workers, Rene Goupil and John Lalande, were both killed with tomahawks.
On June 29, 1930, Pope Pius XI canonized St. Isaac Jogues and his seven other companions -- the North American Martyrs.
For two days now I have experienced a great desire to be a martyr and to endure all the torments the martyrs suffered.... I vow to you, Jesus my Savior, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant.... On receiving the blow of death, I shall accept it from your hands with the fullest delight and joy of, spirit . . .. My God, it grieves me greatly that you are not known, that in this savage wilderness all have not been converted to you, that sin has not been driven from it.
— From the mission journal of St. John de Brebeuf, Saints of the Roman Calendar by Enzo Lodi
~ Posted by Jean M. Heimann
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