Saint Isaac Jogues
- 18 October
- formerly 26 September
- 19 October as one of the Martyrs of North America
- 16 March (Jesuits)
Profile
Joined the Jesuits at Rouen, France in 1624. Priest. 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.
Born
- 10 January 1607 at Orleans, France
- tomahawked in the head by an Iroquois chief on 18 October 1646 at Ossernenon in what would become upstate New York, USA
- his head was displayed on a pole and his body thrown in to the Mohawk River
Readings
My confidence is placed in God who does not need our help for accomplishing his designs. Our single endeavor should be to give ourselves to the work and to be faithful to him, and not to spoil his work by our shortcomings. – Saint Isaac Jogues
MLA Citation
- “Saint Isaac Jogues“. CatholicSaints.Info. 18 May 2023. Web. 24 April 2024. <>