SS. JEAN DE BREBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS - 19 OCTOBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER

Saints celebrated on the 19th of October

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SAINTS JEAN DE BREBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES AND THEIR COMPANIONS, MARTYRS 

The 32-year-old French Jesuit Jean [John] de Brebeuf travelled to New France in North America in 1625. He worked with the Huron, an Iroquoian tribe famous for their ferocity, with whom the French settlers traded.

Brebeuf was raised in Normandy and joined the Jesuits at the age of 24, becoming a teacher in Rouen and surviving tuberculosis. Although not the best student, he was a talented linguist. Along with Fr Charles Lalemant and Fr Enemond Masse, and the lay brothers Francois Charton and Gilbert Bure, Brebeuf arrived in North America. They first stayed with the Montagnais and then the Huron and the Bear Tribe.

HE LEARNED THE HURON LANGUAGE AND CARED FOR THEIR SICK

Recalled to France in 1629, he remained there for four years before leaving for good. Along with other Jesuits he returned to the Huron, who were now suffering from European epidemics from which they had no immunity… he taught and cared for them, and learned their language, which he taught to other missionaries and colonists.

THEY BELIEVED BREBEUF WAS A SHAMAN WITH THE ABILITY TO MAKE IT RAIN

He compiled a dictionary of Huron words, focussing on phrases that appeared in prayers and the Bible. He was also an astute student of Huron culture, as his detailed account of the Huron feast of the dead, a mass reburial that took place when the nomadic tribe moved, shows. His observations were confirmed by 20th century archeological expeditions. The Huron believed Brebeuf was a shaman, with the ability to make it rain… It took him more than a decade to convert his first Huron, but within a couple of years they were over 100.

Moving around the territory from 1638 to 1644, he returned to Huron Country until his death. In 1649 the Iroquois raided the village in which he was based. Along with fellow Jesuits Antoine Daniel, Charles Lalement, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel and eight Huron captives, he was ritually tortured and killed.

Fr Isaac Jogues, a 39-year-old missionary, was killed by Mohawks in what is now New York state in 1646. His body was thrown into the St Lawrence river. The North American martyrs were beatified in 1925 and canonised in 1930.”

(This article entitled “Saint of the Week” was published in “The Catholic Herald”, paper edition, issue October 11 2013.)

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PRAYER TO ST JOHN DE BREBEUF AND COMPANIONS

These eight men were Jesuit missionaries in North America in the 17th century, put to death by natives. John de Brebeuf was a man of deep spirituality, noted for his life of prayer and penance.

PRAYER:

Father,

you consecrated the first beginnings

of the faith in North America

by the preaching and martyrdom

of Saints John and Isaac and their companions.

By the help of their prayers

may the Christian faith continue to grow

throughout the world.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Amen