Novena to the Canadian Martyrs
The Canadian Martyrs (also known as the North American Martyrs) are a group of 17th century Jesuit priests and volunteer missionaries martyred for proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in modern-day Canada and New York State.
These six priests and two laymen are responsible for bringing the faith into Canada where Christ was yet unknown. Colonization of “New France,” now known as Canada, to hold of the hearts and imaginations of many in the 17th century. Thoughts of evangelizing the New World enticed many young religious. Many desired to brave the trials of the new territory in order to bring the gospel to its inhabitants. These Jesuit Martyrs were some of those from France who answered this call to evangelize. As stated in the Canadian Bishops’ Permanent Council Pastoral Letter, commemorating the 350th anniversary of the deaths of these martyrs:
“These eight missionaries became exiles in order to bring the Gospel to the family of Georgian Bay Amerindians and lead them to holiness. In 15 years (1634-1649), they transformed the Huron villages there, and then what were to become the Quebec villages of Notre-Dame-de-Foy and Notre-Dame-de Lorette, making them centers of religious fervor comparable to those in the early Church.”
Fr. Jean de Brebeuf, with his companions Fr. Gabriel Lalemant, Fr. Antoine Daniel, Fr. Charles Ganier, Fr. Noel Chabanel, Fr. Isaac Jogues, Rene Goupil and Jean de Lalande were tasked with having to contend with the unknown language of the Huron people when they arrived and to deal with a culture that was vastly different from their own. Other challenges they encountered included potential starvation, a completely different diet, severe weather, the need for good shelter, dealing with mosquitos, extensive travel in a vast land, and intense fatigue.
To be accepted by the Huron, the missionaries were determined to assimilate themselves into the native culture. They strived to learn the local language, which proved difficult. They would go on to create a written language for the Huron, which they had never had.
What began as friendship with those they came to evangelize turned into animosity as the missionaries were blamed for spreading diseases amongst the tribes. There was mistrust and even persecution. All the missionaries would eventually be martyred with a span of seven years, from 1642-1649.
Just before his death from torture, St. Jean de Brebeuf, looked at the Huron and said: “God is the witness of our sufferings and will soon be our exceeding great reward. Let us die in this faith… Sustain with courage the few remaining torments. They will end our lives. The glory which follows them will never have an end.”
Though the Jesuit’s mission to “New France ended after the death of its martyrs, the Hurons who had been evangelized by them migrated to other regions. This resulted in the spread of the Gospel throughout the Great Lakes and Hudson River regions. The Canadian Martyrs were canonized on June 29, 1930.
A Special Announcement:
This November the relics of the Canadian Martyrs will visit Divine Mercy Parish. Watch for details on days, times and planned events. You won’t want to miss this opportunity.
The Novena
Novena Prayers
Prayer to the Martyrs
Holy Martyrs and patrons, watch over this land consecrated by the shedding of your blood. By your prayer, renew the Catholic faith that you helped to establish here, foster a deeper unity among Christians, and bring all our fellow citizens to a deeper knowledge and love of the truth. May we be zealous in bearing witness to Christ, so that we may continue and perfect your labours. Pray with us for our homes, our schools, our missions, for vocations, for the conversion of sinners, for a warm welcome in our communities to those who are rediscovering their faith, and for the perseverance of all the faithful. Amen.
Prayer to our Lady
Glorious Queen of Martyrs, the early missionaries of this country were devoted to you, and through your help they received many graces. I know that your Divine Son lovingly remembers all they did for His greater service and praise: that they preached the gospel and made His holy name known to thousands who had never heard of Him, and then for love of Him, had their apostolic labours crowned by shedding their blood. Exercise your motherly influence as you did at Cana, and pray with me now, asking Him to grant me what I ask in this Novena, if it be according to His holy will. Amen.
Prayer to St. Joseph
Dear St. Joseph, chosen by God to be the husband of Mary and protector of Jesus, the martyrs saw in you a model of quiet courage and charity, and chose you as their patron. Pray with me now, and ask Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, to grant me what I ask in this Novena, if it be according to His holy will. Amen
Novena Prayer
O God, who inflamed the hearts of your blessed Martyrs with great zeal for the salvation of all people, I pray that, through their intercession, you answer my petition (mention it here), so that the favours obtained through their intercession may witness to the whole world the power and glory of your name. Amen.
St. Jean de Brébeuf, pray for us
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us
St. Gabriel Lalemant, pray for us
St. Antoine Daniel, pray for us
St. Charles Garnier, pray for us
St. Noël Chabanel, pray for us
St. René Goupil, pray for us
St. Jean de Lalande, pray for us
Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us
- Day 1:
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” – Galatians 2:20
“Light my lantern, Lord, and illuminate my shadows that I may place within you my hidden places, my retreat. While, also, I am acting in public, may you place your tabernacle and mine in the center and very depths of my heart, for you live most freely in our depths.” (From “The Love of Christ” by Pierre Chastelain, S.J., Spiritual father of the Huron Mission from 1636-1650)
- Day 2:
“As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” – 2 Timothy 4:5-7
“What consolation it is to see yourself abandoned on the road languishing with sickness and untended by anyone, even dying from hunger in the woods, and so being able to say to God: “My God it is to do your holy will that I am reduced to the state in which you see me.” (From a letter by St. Jean de Brébeuf to the Jesuits in France)
- Day 3
“My Soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His name.” – Luke 1:46-49
“My hope is in God, who really has no need of us for the accomplishment of His designs. All we need to do is try to be faithful to him and not spoil his work by our own weaknesses.” (From a letter of St. Isaac Jogues to a fellow Jesuit)
- Day 4
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” – Ephesians 3:16-19
“The next day, the opening day of the Spiritual Exercises, while I was forcing myself to live in God with no other thought but love and was trying to drive from my mind all earthly things, the result was that I was troubled by various distractions and filled with unrest. I seemed to hear a voice within me say: ‘Turn to Jesus Crucified and let him be both the basis and source of your contemplation.’ Thereupon I felt myself drawn to Christ as to a magnet.” (From the spiritual journal of St. John de Brébeuf)
- Day 5
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Indeed, even if I were not moved by a spirit of gratitude to make to you this holocaust of myself, I would do so with all my heart in consideration of the grandeur of your adorable Majesty and of your infinite goodness, which deserves that we sacrifice ourselves in your service and generously lose ourselves in the faithful accomplishment of what he judges to be your will concerning us, through the special inspirations that it pleases you to give us for your greater glory.” (Reading from the journal of St. Gabriel Lalement)
- Day 6
“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. – Psalm 116:12-13
“My God and my savior Jesus, what return can I make to you for all the benefits you have conferred on me? I make a vow to you never to fail, on my side, in the grace of martyrdom, if by your infinite mercy you offer it to me some day.” (St. Jean de Brébeuf)
- Day 7
“Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” – 1Peter 4:11
“Always keep in mind, that everything we do must be done for God for his glory; that all earthly things are capable of absorbing our souls completely but can never satisfy them. Only God is important; therefore, all our love, our confidence, our affections, our thoughts, our desires, our ambitions all, I repeat must be completely consecrated to Him.” (From a letter by St. Isaac Jogues to his mother)
- Day 8
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5
“He was all bruised from the blows, and in his face nothing but the whites of his eyes could be distinguished. But the more disfigured he was, that much more beautiful was he in the sight of angels and men and that much more like to Him of whom it was said: “We saw him, as it were a leper, in whom there was not beauty or comeliness.” (From a letter of St. Isaac Jogues to his superior, on the death of St. René Goupil)
- Day 9
“Listen to me, you who know righteousness, you people who have my teaching in your hearts; do not fear the reproach of others, and do not be dismayed when they revile you. For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my deliverance will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.” – Sirach 51:7-8
“Very distinctly, I heard a voice that proved to me how false this distress of my heart really was and advised me to think of God only in his goodness and to cast all my anxiety on him (cf. 1Peter 5:7) This advice indeed reanimated my sorrowing soul and stirred up within me a burning love for God.” (From the writings of St. Isaac Jogues visions, 1642-43, while a prisoner of the Iroquois)