In the year 197, Tertullian wrote: “The blood [of martyrs] is the seed of Christians”. The eight North American Martyrs sowed the seed of God’s Word in North America through their missionary work and their deaths and exemplified Tertullian’s words.
Who were the North American Martyrs?
They were eight Jesuit missionaries who were martyred in the mid-17th century in Canada (southern Ontario) and upstate New York. These Jesuits died during the warfare between the Iroquois (Mohawk people) and the Huron.
The Martyrs are:
| St. René Goupil (1642) | |
| St. Isaac Jogues (1646) | |
| St. Jean de Lalande (1646) | |
| St. Antoine Daniel (1648) | |
| St. Jean de Brébeuf (1649) | |
| St. Noël Chabanel (1649) | |
| St. Charles Garnier (1649) | |
| St. Gabriel Laleman (1649) |
What led to Jesuits’ deaths?
Jesuit missionaries worked among the Hurons in the Georgian Bay of Central Ontario. The Hurons in this area were primarily farmers, fishermen and traders who lived in villages surrounded by wooden enclosures for protection.
Although the Jesuits believed they were making more progress in their mission to the Huron, many within the Huron communities distrusted the priests. Many Huron looked at the priests as the source of death and disease. Unfortunately, the Jesuits’ arrival coincided with epidemics after 1634 of smallpox and other European infectious diseases.
Because the Jesuits were allies of the Huron, the Iroquois viewed the missionaries as legitimate targets of their raids and warfare. French colonial attacks against the Iroquois was another reason for their raids against the Huron and Jesuits.
How does martyrdom spread the faith?
Professor Antonio Miralles of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross wrote:
The martyrs gain through losing their lives in bearing witness to Jesus – they gain eternal life. But this is also positive for the Church, that receives new believers, encouraged to convert thanks to the example set by the martyrs, and she also sees a renewal in existing believers.
In other words, the people who witness the death of martyrs are encouraged to convert because they sense the presence of something stronger than a desire to live. They see people bravely and peacefully accept torture and death because of their belief in Jesus Christ. The unbelieving become believers because they want to experience the love and peace that is found in a life rooted in Christ.
Yes, the North American Martyrs suffered cruel deaths. But, they willingly accepted and embraced their fate because they wanted to bring Christianity to unknown people in faraway lands. Most of us won’t called to lay our lives down for our faith but we are often called to martyrdom when we stand up for the teachings of Christ and His Holy Church. During these times, we have to embrace the opportunity to give testimony to our Catholic faith, even if we’re ridiculed or maligned. During those moments, let’s remember what St. Ambrose said: “How many today are Christ’s secret martyrs, bearing witness to Jesus Christ!”
Are you willing to be one of Christ’s secret martyrs?
