St. Isaac Jogues

Feastday: October 19

Patron of The Americas can Canada

In 1642 the Huron country was in great distress. Harvests were poor, sickness abounded, and clothing was scarce. Quebec was the only source of supplies, and Isaac Jogues was chosen to lead an expedition. It reached its objective safely and started back well supplied with goods for the mission, but the Iroquois, the bitter enemies of the Hurons, and fiercest of all Indian tribes, were on the war-path and ambushed the returning expedition.

St Isaac joined the Jesuits at Rouen, France in 1624. He was a priest that taught literature. Missionary to New France (Canada) in 1636, starting in Quebec and working among the Hurons and Petuns in the area of the Great Lakes. This was a rough assignment - not only were the living conditions hard, but the locals blamed the “Blackrobes” for any disease, ill luck, or other problems that occurred where they were. Captured on 3 August 1642 by the Mohawks, enslaved, tortured and mutilated for thirteen months, he taught the Faith to any who would listen. With the help of local Dutch settlers he finally escaped and was sent back to France to recover. In 1644 he returned to Canada to continue his work with the natives and negotiate peace with the Iroquois. Martyred with fellow Jesuit priest Saint John de Brebeuf and several lay missionaries when the natives blamed Christian sorcery for an epidemic and crop failure. One of the North American Martyrs.