The eight North American martyrs were six priests and two lay brothers. They were heroic members of the Society of Jesus who were martyred in North America to bring the Faith that is necessary for salvation to the Huron, the Iroquois and the Mohawk Indians. Five of the eight North American martyrs were put to death in what is now Canada, and three of them in New York State. There is a shrine to the United States’ martyrs at Auriesville in New York. There is a shrine to the Canadian martyrs at Fort Saint Mary near Midland, Ontario. The names of the eight North American martyrs are: Saint Rene Goupil, a lay brother martyred in 1642 in New York State; Saint Isaac Jogues, a priest and Saint John de Lalande, a lay brother, martyred in 1646 in New York State, Saint Anthony Daniel, a priest, martyred in Canada in 1648; Saint John de Brebeuf, Saint Charles Garnier, Saint Noel Chabanel and Saint Gabriel Lalemant, all priests, and all martyred in Canada in 1649.
Saint Isaac Jogues, after thirteen months’ imprisonment by the Mohawks, had several fingers cut off his hand. He went back to Europe, but returned again to North America and was killed by tomahawk blows at Ossernenon, now called Auriesville, in New York State. Saint John de Brebeuf declared before he died, “I have a strong desire to suffer for Jesus Christ.” He was tortured terribly, and a burning torch was put into his mouth, which strangled him.
Saint Rene Goupil said, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” as he died. Saint Rene Goupil thirty-five, was the youngest of the martyrs. Saint Noel Chabanel was thirty-six. Saint Isaac Jogues and Saint Gabriel Lalemant were thirty-nine. The oldest of the eight North American martyrs, Saint John de Brebeuf, was fifty-six when the Indians killed him
These martyrs were beatified in 1925 and canonized in 1930 by Pope Pius XI.
See also: The Eight North American Martyrs.
Saint Isaac Jogues, with two companions
