Life in a Bubble: North American Martyrs

Today is the feast of the great Martyrs who gave their lives for the Natives of North America. These eight martyrs, six priests and two lay men, where all martyred in what is now modern day Ontario and Upper New York state. The names and dates of martyrdom of the Saints are as follows:

St. Rene Goupil (September 29, 1642)
St. Isaac Jogues (October 18, 1646)
St. Jean de la Lande (October 19, 1646)
St. Antoine Daniel (July 4, 1648)
St. Charles Garnier (December 7, 1949)
St. Neol Chabanel (December 8, 1649)
St. Jean de Brebeuf (March 16, 1649)
St. Gabriel Lalemant (March 16, 1649)

They ministered to the natives of North America (chiefly the Huron Tribes) and are responsible for the conversion of many of the peoples of New France (St. Jean de Brebeuf alone is responsible for around 7,000). They established many missions in the territories of New France in a reletively short period of time, showing their great zeal for their mission to the Indians

The base of operations for the Jesuit Missionaries to New France was built on the banks of the Little Wye River within sight of the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. This sight lies at the foot of a large bluff on which now stands the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Midland, Ontario. The mission itself, Sainte Marie au pays des Hurons, has been reconstructed on the original foundations at the bottom of the bluff. While only lasting a short ten years (1639-1649), this mission was the home to the heroic saints who brought the gospel and salvation to hundreds of Indians in the region and are the spiritual foundation of Catholicism in many parts of Canada and the United States.

Of particular interest is their impact on the church in Michigan. Although most of the missions founded by martyrs themselves were detroyed, the successors of these early missionaries continued their task and established many other missions in the Great Lakes region. Some of these missions were the foundation of some of the modern day dioceses in the area, namely Chicago, Marquette (Sault Ste. Marie), and Grand Rapids.

Through the blood of the martyrs comes the life of the Church, and so it is too these men that we North Americans owe a great dept for the great treasure of the faith that they worked so hard to preserve and pass on so that we could reap the benefits of their labors today.