Jean de Brebeuf

Jean de Brébeuf was born on March 25, 1593 in Condé-sur-Vire, Normandy, France. He came from a noble family and was the uncle of the poet Georges de Brébeuf. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1617 and was ordained as a priest in 1622. He was sent to New France (Canada) in 1625 as a missionary to the Huron people, who lived in present-day Ontario. He learned their language and culture, and wrote extensively about them in his letters and reports, which are valuable sources for historians and ethnologists. He also composed a Huron grammar and a translation of the catechism into Huron. He is credited with writing the Huron Carol, the oldest Canadian Christmas hymn. Brébeuf faced many difficulties and dangers in his mission. He was often blamed by the Huron for epidemics, famines, and defeats in war. He was once condemned to death and another time beaten by them. He also had to deal with the hostility of the Iroquois, who were enemies of the Huron and allied with the British. He was forced to return to France from 1629 to 1633 because of the English occupation of Quebec. He came back to New France in 1634 and resumed his work among the Huron. He established several missions and baptized many converts. He was known as Échon by the Huron, a name that meant "he who bears the heavy load". In 1649, during an Iroquois raid on a Huron village, Brébeuf and another missionary, Gabriel Lalemant, were captured and tortured to death. They endured horrific sufferings, such as being scalped, burned, mutilated, and having boiling water poured on them. Brébeuf remained calm and courageous throughout his ordeal, praying and encouraging his fellow captives. He died on March 16, 1649 at the age of 55. Brébeuf was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1925 and canonized by him in 1930. He is one of the eight Canadian Martyrs who are patron saints of Canada. His feast day is October 19 in the United States and elsewhere, and September 26 in Canada. His relics are kept at the Martyrs' Shrine near Midland, Ontario.