Saint Isaac Jogues, St. John de Brebeuf and their 6 french
Jesuit companions were the first martyrs of North America to be canonized. In 1636 the Jesuit Priest Isaac Jogues
traveled to Quebec to preach the Gospel to the Huron Indians. The Hurons were a pretty peaceful group, and
many Hurons converted to Christianity through Father Isaac and companions
missionary activity. However, the Hurons
were constantly attacked by the Iroquois, and during one attack, Father Isaac
and his companions were captured by the Iroquois and imprisoned for 13
months. They were led from village to
village, beaten, tortured, and forced to watch as the Huron Christian converts
were mangled and killed by the Iroquois.
Fr. Isaac was able to escape from imprisonment and returned
to France. And, he had to receive special permission from the Pope to continue
to celebrate Mass because several of his fingers had been cut, chewed, or burnt
off.
Fr. Isaac could have stayed in Europe to live safely and die
peacefully. But he burned with zeal for the Gospel. In 1646, the Iroquois
signed a peace treaty with the Hurons, and Fr. Isaac thought it a good
opportunity to begin preaching now to the Iroquois. However, on his way to evangelize the
Iroquois he was captured by a war party of Mohawk Indians, and on October 18,
1646, Father Isaac was tomahawked and beheaded.
His companions were killed the next day.
Many Iroquois saw his courageous faith as proof of the
authenticity and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many Iroquois converted to Christianity and
welcomed missionaries with open arms.
Moreover, the faith began to grow amongst the Mohawks as well. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the
Mohawks, could trace her faith to the preaching of Isaac Jogues.
St. Isaac wrote a letter before his death. He wrote: “Our single endeavor should be to
give ourselves to the work of the spread of the Gospel and faithfulness to God,
and to not let our own desires get in the way of doing God’s work.”
Have we given ourselves to the work of the spread of the
Gospel? For the Saints, spreading the Gospel was not to sit idly by, hoping
that people approached them with questions.
Remember, last month, Pope Francis’ prayer was that parishes
be animated by the missionary spirit. The missionary is sent out, they go out
actively pursuing the salvation of souls, actively striving to bring others to
Christ. May the courage of our own North American Martyrs fill us with zeal in spreading
the Gospel for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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That religious indifference in
our country and around the world may be transformed to radical commitment to
the Gospel of Christ.
For the transformation of all
attitudes which lead to war, violence, racial hatred, and religious
persecution.
For the conversion of Atheists,
hardened sinners, the religiously indifferent, lapsed Catholics, and the
conversion of all hearts.
“That our parishes, animated by
a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is
seen.”
That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring
healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and
parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious,
and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject
to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the
prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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