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biographies With one exception, all of the Europeans at Ste. Marie were Frenchmen. One man was Italian and there were no European women. The priests were Jesuits, members of a missionary/teaching order founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1534 that emphasised obedience and education. Most Jesuits were well educated sons of good families. Some were scientists who took part in the scientific debates raging in Europe over cosmology and the natural sciences. There were 8 steps to becoming a Jesuit priest and on average it took 13 to 15 years of study to complete. The workers fell into 3 categories. There were
From time to time the flotillas from Quebec also included escorts of soldiers who spent the winter at the mission before returning to Quebec with the next fleet of canoes. The Martyrs St. Isaac Jogues (1607-1646) was the first Jesuit priest murdered in New France. Born in Orleans, and raised by his mother, Jogues became a Jesuit novice, inspired to missionary work. He arrived in New France in 1636 ambitious to preach among the Huron and was selected by Brébeuf to oversee the building of Ste. Marie. In 1642 he was captured by Mohawk along with Réne Goupil, surgeon and lay apostle. Goupil was slowly tortured to death but despite being tortured himself, Jogues wrote that he wished to stay with his captors to aid and comfort the Christians held with him. "I become more and more resolved to dwell here as long as it shall please Our Lord, and not to go away even though an opportunity should present itself. My presence consoles the French, the Hurons and the Algonquins. I have baptized more than sixty persons, several of whom have arrived in Heaven. That is my single consolation, . . . " During his captivity he lost his fingers so that he was unable to hold the host at Communion. Jogues was ransomed by the Dutch and made his way to France. From 1644 to 1646 he ministered among the Huron, waiting for an opportunity to return to the Mohawk. This came with the request that he broker a peace treaty with the Mohawk at Ossernenon. At the end of successful negotiations, Jogues stored his religious things with the Mohawk while he traveled to Quebec with the news. He intended to return to Ossernenon to continue his missionary work but the crops were bad that year and the Mohawk felt that the religious articles had brought bad luck. On his way back to the village, Jogues and his French and Huron companions were invited to dinner by members of the Bear Clan. As he ducked through the door, Jogues was killed by a single axe blow. The other frenchman, Lalande was killed the next day. St. John de Brébeuf, S.J. (Mar 25 1593- Mar 16 1649) was born in Conde-sur-Vivre, Normandy and suffered poor health as a young man, but once in Canada, he seemed inexhaustible. Six foot three at a time when the average Frenchman was 5 foot 4, he was massive, impressive and strong. His first assignment was to spend 5 months among the Algonquins north of Quebec. It became obvious that he had knack for languages and an ability to endure a lifestyle at odds with his own upbringing. In July 1626 he travelled out to Wendake (Huronia) and spent 3 years among the Wendat. He returned to France only because Quebec had fallen to the English. Once it was restored to France, Brébeuf returned to Wendake where he remained until he broke his collar-bone. His Superior insisted he go to Quebec for care, but by 1644 he was back among the villagers. For the next four years he made progress as a missionary despite the growing war with the Iroquois. When the latter attacked St. Louis, Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant were captured, tortured and killed. His courage at the end capped his reputation. The mutilated bodies were taken to Ste. Marie, stretched out on slabs of elm bark while for two hours their compatriots listened to eyewitnesses describe the torture in detail. Their bodies were then wrapped in linen and placed in a single wood coffin. Father Ragueneau said Mass and they were buried with a lead plaque to commemorate their deaths. St. Chales Garneier St. Gabriel Lalemant (Oct. 31, 1610 - Mar 16 1649) was born in Paris, one of 6 children, 5 of whom entered religious life. After his ordination he taught for many years but was given permission to come to Huronia as a missionary. He quickly learned the Wendat language and was assigned to work with Brébeuf. St. Antoine Daniel St. Noel Chabael.
Other Famous People Medard Chouart des Groseilliers, explorer, later knighted by the english court. Charles Le Moyne, once one of the boys at the mission, became reknowned as a defender of Montreal and a wealthy landowner. He had 12 sons, among whom were the first governor of Louisiana. Francois Gendron, physician, practised for 7 years at Ste. Marie. He established Ontario's first hospital and pharmacy there and discovered cures that led to his eventual fame in Europe. Pierre Boucher, Governor of Trois-Rivieres and Canada's first ambassador to the French Court, began his career as one of the adolescents at Ste. Marie. The North American martyrs were beatified June 21, 1925 and canonized June 29, 1930; their feast day is October 19th. They are commemorated at shrines in Auriesville, NY (Ossernenon) and at Midland, Ontario. |
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