The North American Martyrs: St. Isaac Jogues, St. Jean de Brébeuf & the Canadian Martyrs (26 Sept)

About this sermon

The North American Martyrs were eight Jesuit missionaries who left France to evangelize the Indigenous peoples of seventeenth-century North America. Among them, St. John de Brébeuf and St. Isaac Jogues remain heroic examples of love for souls. Brébeuf arrived in Quebec in 1625 and spent ten years mastering the Huron language. He studied the people’s customs, wrote a catechism in their language, and sought points of contact to lead them to Catholic truth. After ten difficult years, he had made only fourteen converts—but he persevered, and the following year saw eighty-six more. The mission unfolded amid disease, distrust, warfare, and conflict between the Huron and Iroquois. Brébeuf was captured by the Mohawk and tortured. Even in suffering, he encouraged other captives and reportedly heard their confessions. St. Isaac Jogues was also captured and tortured. His fingers were mutilated, his wounds left untreated, and he survived nearly a year of captivity through a northern winter. After escaping with help from Dutch traders, he returned to France and received permission to celebrate Mass despite his injured hands. He then willingly returned to the mission, knowing martyrdom might await him. This sermon examines their supernatural courage, the reality of Hell, the necessity of conversion, the danger of religious indifferentism, and Our Lady of Fatima’s warning that many souls are lost because no one prays for them. Their sacrifice bore abundant fruit. The mission helped prepare the way for St. Kateri Tekakwitha, while one of Jogues’ killers eventually converted, received baptism, and took the missionary’s name. May the North American Martyrs obtain for us courage, perseverance, and zeal for the conversion of sinners. Saints John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions, pray for us! 00:00 Introduction to the North American Martyrs 00:22 The eight Jesuit missionaries 00:40 St. Isaac Jogues and St. John de Brébeuf 00:49 Leaving France to evangelize North America 01:05 Bringing Christ to those who had not heard 01:38 Missionary zeal in the face of danger 01:46 St. John de Brébeuf arrives in Quebec 02:00 Ten years learning the Huron language 02:17 Studying native culture and religion 02:33 Humanity’s natural desire to worship God 03:22 Finding points of contact for evangelization 03:53 St. Isaac Jogues joins the mission 04:18 Warfare and the danger of capture 04:34 The love of Christ conquers fear 04:52 Authentic Catholic ecumenism 05:25 Fourteen converts after ten years 05:42 Perseverance produces spiritual fruit 06:14 Warfare, European traders, and disease 06:53 Brébeuf is captured by the Mohawk 07:10 Torture and the mockery of baptism 07:18 Brébeuf’s supernatural courage 07:34 Encouraging and hearing fellow captives 07:43 His captors are astonished by his courage 08:06 The martyrdom of St. John de Brébeuf 08:14 The capture of St. Isaac Jogues 08:31 His fingers are brutally mutilated 08:46 Nearly a year of captivity 09:03 Surviving the bitter northern winter 09:10 Escape with help from Dutch traders 09:19 Permission to celebrate Mass again 09:27 Isaac Jogues willingly returns 09:43 A diplomatic mission to the Mohawk 09:58 The martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues 10:22 Why the martyrs endured everything 11:03 Ancient and modern forms of savagery 11:34 Were their sufferings meaningless? 12:08 Courage made possible by divine grace 12:24 God’s approval of their missionary work 12:48 Fatima and the souls with no one to pray for them 13:04 The danger of believing Hell is empty 13:22 Martyrdom produces new saints 13:31 The mission’s connection to St. Kateri Tekakwitha 13:46 How St. Isaac Jogues “died twice” 14:02 The conversion of his murderer 14:18 Taking Isaac Jogues’ name at baptism 14:34 God desires souls—not worldly conquest 14:59 Everyone can pray for the conversion of sinners 15:24 Prayer through the North American Martyrs 15:33 Final blessing Please remember to say 3 Hail Marys for the priest #NorthAmericanMartyrs #CatholicSaints #JesuitMartyrs #IsaacJogues #JeanDeBrebeuf #CatholicFaith #CatholicHomily #CatholicChurch #CanadianMartyrs #TraditionalCatholic 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ �

Topics

• Suffering & Trials
• Christian Living