St. René Goupil and the North American Martyrs

Saturday, October 19th Readings Reflection: Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs

“I tell you, everyone who acknowledges [M]e before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.”

Today is the Feast of the North American Martyrs: Ss. René Goupil, Isaac Jogues, Jean de la Lande, Antoine Daniel, Gabriel Lalemant, Jean de Brébeuf, Charles Garnier, and Noël Chabanel. These eight holy men were among the one hundred French Jesuits who came to North America to bring the Faith to the natives living there. Enduring great hardships and unimaginable persecution, these eight saints—some priests, and some lay men—persevered in their missionary endeavors and ultimately earned the crown of martyrdom.

One of these eight martyrs, St. René Goupil, particularly exemplified the above quote from today’s Gospel. St. René came to America as a lay man accompanying St. Isaac Jogues, a Jesuit priest. St. René had previously joined the novitiate in discernment of joining the Jesuit order but left due to poor health. St. René possessed medical knowledge, which proved useful when the two men were captured by a band of Iroquois, who tortured them ruthlessly. The two saints were beaten and tied down while burning coals were placed on top of them. They also had their nails torn out and their finger joints severed. Their open wounds were not permitted to properly heal and became infected and worm-infested.

Statue of St. Isaac Jogues at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. Photo by author.

Despite their great sufferings, both St. René and St. Isaac persevered in their attempts to convert the natives. Unable to convert the adults at the Mohawk village in upstate New York where they were brought, St. René taught the native children how to make the Sign of the Cross. St. Isaac Jogues wrote that this simple act of devotion from St. René led to the latter’s death. An old man witnessed St. René teaching a child how to make the Sign of the Cross and commanded that the saint be executed. Not long after this, St. René Goupil was tomahawked to death. He died uttering the Holy Name of Jesus.

May St. René Goupil, a martyr for the Faith and for the Sign of the Cross, pray for us in our present day, as we face growing hostility toward the Faith and toward the Cross. May we face this hostility with the same courage as the North American Martyrs, being willing to die for the Faith rather than desert Christ.

St. René Goupil and the North American Martyrs, ora pro nobis!

Statue of St. René Goupil at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. Photo by author.