The North American Martyrs

The North American Martyrs Eight Heroes of the Faith  St. René Goupil (†1642)  St. Isaac Jogues (†1646)  St. Jean de Lalande (†1646)  St. Antoine Daniel (†1648)  St. Jean de Brébeuf (†1649)  St. Gabriel Lalemant (†1649 )  St. Noël Chabanel (†1649)  St. Charles Garnier (†1649)

The North American Martyrs Who were they?  Six Jesuit priests, two laymen (Goupil and de Lalande)  Missionaries from France to North America  Primarily Canada and upstate New York  First half of the 17th century  Preached to the Iroquois and Huron Indians  Lived mostly with Hurons, who were generally peaceful  Iroquois much more violent and cause of their martyrdom  Martyred between

The North American Martyrs Conditions  Travel conditions  Language barrier  Living conditions in the New World  Superstition, promiscuity, war, cannibalism  Disease  Being blamed for bringing disease

The North American Martyrs  First to be martyred (1642)  Layman – not a priest; companion of Jogues  Killed for teaching young boy the Sign of the Cross near Auriesville, NY  Buried by St. Isaac Jogues  Only canonized saint-martyr buried in United States St. René Goupil

The North American Martyrs  Lived with Hurons; first apostle to the Iroquois  Tortured – fingers bitten off  “It is unbefitting that a martyr of Christ should not drink the blood of Christ”  Reverently buried Goupil’s body  Returned to North America even after torture.  Martyred by Mohawks in October 1646 near Auriesville, NY  Beheaded and body thrown into river St. Isaac Jogues

The North American Martyrs  Layman – not a priest  Accompanied Jogues after the death of Goupil  Martyred along with Jogues in October 1646  Beheaded and body thrown into river St. Jean de Lalande

The North American Martyrs  Close friends with de Br é beuf  Village was attacked by Iroquois  Confronted attackers with crucifix, to give time for others to escape (July 1648)  Shot by musket ball and arrow  Beheaded and flesh consumed St. Antoine Daniel

The North American Martyrs  The first of the martyrs to travel to North America (1625)  Lived and worked with the Hurons  Became accepted member of tribe  Attacked by Iroquois and viciously tortured  Martyred in 1649 while crying out “Jesus, taiteur!” (“Jesus, have mercy on us!”) St. Jean de Brébeuf

The North American Martyrs  Nephew of the former Superior of the Huron mission  Assistant to de Brébeuf  Small and frail, but very enthusiastic  Tortured and martyred shortly after de Brébeuf St. Gabriel Lalemant

The North American Martyrs  Arrived with Jogues in 1636  Spent almost 14 years in the missions  Village attacked by Iroquois; urged others to escape; gave absolution to his new converts  Downed by musket fire, then killed by tomahawk (1649) St. Charles Garnier

The North American Martyrs  Worked closely with Garnier  Struggled in the mission field: couldn’t learn language, hated food, despised living conditions  Made vow before Blessed Sacrament to spend rest of life at the missions  Escaping village attack when caught by Mohawks  Apostate Huron attacked Chabanel, killing him and throwing his body into a river St. Noël Chabanel

The North American Martyrs Fruit of Martyrdom  “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”  First Fruits: St. Kateri Tekakwitha  Lily of the Mohawks  Born 10 years after the martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues in the same village

The North American Martyrs Shrine  National Shrine of the North American Martyrs  Auriesville, NY  Only place in United States where canonized saints were martyred  Sacred Ground