We honor the eight North American Martyrs who gave their lives during their missionary efforts in the 17th century
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of Ss. John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions (October 19, 2022): 2COR 4:7-15; PS 126:1-2,2-3,4-5,6; MT 28:16-20
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
St. Paul reminds us what is means not only to express our belief in Christ, but also to share it with others -- even at the risk of our lives.
The Jesuit priests and lay Oblates left behind their native France to work among the Huron people of Ontario, Canada, and northern New York. They endured geographical and weather conditions that made their travels on land or by boat extremely difficult. The differences in language and culture also created serious problems. And while they had some success in teaching the message of Jesus, they met with many setbacks, such as being suspected of causing epidemics. Moreover, the Iroquois people were enemies of the Huron as well as the French. They considered the Jesuits enemies as well. In 1642, Oblate Rene Goupil and Father Isaac Jogues were captured and St. Rene was killed by Iroquois. St. Isaac was tortured but, with the help of Dutch traders, escaped and made his way to France. Yet he was determined to continue his efforts in North America. He wrote to a fellow priest: “I would be glad if our Lord wished to complete the sacrifice where He began it. Pray that God unite me to Himself inseparably.” He received special permission from the pope to say Holy Mass using his severely mangled hands and headed back to North America. In 1646, he and St. John Lalande who was an Oblate, were captured and killed. St. Anthony Daniel who spent much of his time teaching Huron converts was shot. Ss. John de Brebeuf, Noel Chabanel, Charles Garnier, and Gabriel Lalemant, all Jesuit priests, were all martyred in 1649.
In the first reading today, St. Paul reminds us what is means not only to express our belief in Christ, but also to share it with others -- even at the risk of our lives. “We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:8-11). The North American Martyrs were canonized in 1930. They are patrons of Canada and commemorated and revered in the United States as well.
