The Grace of Martyrdom

     Between the years 1642 and 1649 eight members of the Society of Jesus were killed in the missions of North America.  These deaths took place in what is now upstate New York following the terrible torture of these men of God by members of the Huron and Iroquois tribes.  Two of those men who the Church recognizes as saints are the North American Martyrs Isaac Jogues and John de Brebeuf.  Isaac died on October 18, 1647 and John on March 16, 1648. 

     I remember hearing as a youngster of the torture and suffering of Father Isaac Jogues.  His suffering was excruciating and involved among other things the mutilation of his hands.  He was lucky enough to escape his captors, and was sent home to France to recover.  He needed a special dispensation to offer Mass due to the infirmity of his hands.  After recovery, he insisted on returning to the  New World to continue his ministry, which came to an end on that October day.  And yet his ministry continued through the example of his courage and faith.

     Years ago I made a retreat at a Jesuit Retreat House, where I heard the more detailed description of the death of John de Brebeuf.  He was tortured mercilessly by his captors, and suffered every indignity and every pain with courage and a peaceful resolve.  So impressed were those that observed this persecution that they honored his bravery and courage by partaking of his heart - the heart of a warrior.  It sounds gruesome to us, but to them it spoke of their respect that they wanted to share in his courage.

     From his spiritual diaries before his death, John de Brebeuf said this: "...in truth I vow to you, Jesus my Savior, that as far as I have the strength I will never fail to accept the grace of martyrdom, if some day you in your infinite mercy should offer it to me, your most unworthy servant."  Again he says: "May I die only for you, if you grant me this grace, since you willingly died for me."

     There is a parish in the neighboring Diocese of Pittsburgh named after these North American Martyrs.  The architecture is unique, and the tabernacle is in the form of a teepee, as befits the Native Americans that were ministered to by these first saints of the New World.  The Church's prayer says:
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."