Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions
Feast day: October 19
Born in Normandy in 1593, John entered the Jesuits and was ordained in 1622. Three years later, he volunteered for the missions in Quebec, Canada. For the next quarter of a century, with a brief interruption, he labored among the Huron Indians. His labors were placed in jeopardy because of Huguenot renegades and a smallpox epidemic that decimated entire villages. John left for a brief time when the English captured Quebec but returned to the Hurons again. In 1649, he was captured by the Iroquois, who were enemies of the Huron. John was cruelly slain on March 16 at Sault Ste. Marie near Georgian Bay. His companions were also martyred. His companions were: Isaac Jogues, Anthony Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Noël Chabanel, John de Lalande, and René Goupil — all Jesuits. These North American Martyrs were canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI.
Collect
O God, who chose to manifest
the blessed hope of your eternal Kingdom
by the toil of Saints John de Brébeuf,
Isaac Jogues and their companions
and by the shedding of their blood,
graciously grant that through their intercession
the faith of Christians may be strengthened day by day.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
