North American Martyrs (+1642-1649 AD)

Feast Day: October 19
Canonized: June 29, 1930

North American Martyrs

The North American Martyrs (Canadian Martyrs) were eight Jesuit missionaries who were tortured and martyred during the warfare between the Iroquois, Mohawk and Huron tribes in territories that are now Southern Ontario and Upstate New York.

The martyrs are Saints Rene Goupil, Isaac Jogues, John de Lalande, Anthony Daniel, John de Brébeuf, Charles Garnier, Noel Chabanel and Gabriel Lalemant.

The first and youngest martyr was Goupil, 35, a Jesuit lay brother, killed on Sept. 29, 1642, after the Iroquois captured him. Before being beheaded, he professed religious vows before Jogues, a priest who was imprisoned for 13 months. Jogues was later released from captivity and returned to Europe, where he was celebrated as a living martyr.

A few months later, Jogues returned to North America. In 1646, he and de Lalande were captured by a Mohawk war party. On Oct. 18, Jogues was tortured and beheaded; de Lalande was killed the next day and Lalemant on May 17, 1649.

Collectively, they are the secondary patron saints of Canada. Their feast day is marked on Sept. 26 in Canada and Oct. 19 elsewhere.

BRIAN FRAGA is a Legatus Magazine staff writer.