October 19
St John de Brébeuf, St Isaac Jogues and Companions
Monday, week 29 in Ordinary Time — Year II
Canada : St Paul of the Cross, priest
St John de Brébeuf, St Isaac Jogues, and their companions, often called the North American Martyrs, were a group of Jesuit priests and lay collaborators who were martyred in the 17th century while evangelizing among the Indigenous peoples of present-day Canada and the northern United States. Sent by their superiors from France, they ministered among the Huron, Iroquois, and other First Nations peoples under harsh and dangerous conditions, learning their languages and sharing the Gospel through both word and example. Their lives were marked by deep courage, faith, and trust in God's providence, even amid violence, epidemics, and misunderstandings.
The historical accounts, particularly the detailed 'Jesuit Relations,' describe both the successes and the profound sufferings endured by these missionaries. St John de Brébeuf is especially remembered for his cultural sensitivity and mastery of the Huron language, while St Isaac Jogues returned to mission work despite having suffered torture and even maiming. The Church commemorates these martyrs as exemplary witnesses of missionary zeal, sacrificial love, and solidarity with those to whom they were sent, recognizing in their witness the fruit of Christian charity and the radical call to follow Christ even unto death. Their feast invites the faithful to pray for missionaries and to grow in courage and generosity in sharing the faith.
Permanent link
Ask a question about today’s feast
Questions about St John de Brébeuf, St Isaac Jogues and Companions (Novus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Canada — St Paul of the Cross, priest
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingEp 2, 1-10
Brothers,
you were dead,
because of the trespasses and sins
that used to shape your conduct in the past,
subject to the evil powers of this world,
to the prince of evil who stands between heaven and us,
and whose spirit is still at work
in those who disobey God.
And we too, we were all among them,
living according to the desires of our flesh,
giving in to the whims of the flesh and our thoughts,
we who were, by our own nature, destined for wrath
like all the others.
But God is rich in mercy;
because of the great love with which he loved us,
we who were dead because of our faults,
he gave us life with Christ:
it is truly by grace that you have been saved.
With him, he raised us up
and made us sit in the heavens,
in Christ Jesus.
In this way, he wanted to show, throughout future ages,
the surpassing riches of his grace,
through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
It is truly by grace that you are saved,
and through faith.
This does not come from you, it is the gift of God.
It does not come from works: no one can boast about it.
It is God who made us,
he created us in Christ Jesus,
for the purpose of accomplishing good works
which he prepared beforehand
for us to do.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 99 (100), 1-2, 3, 4, 5
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth,
serve the Lord with gladness,
come before him with cries of joy!
Know that the Lord is God:
he made us, and we are his,
we, his people, his flock.
Come into his house to give him thanks,
into his dwelling to sing his praises;
give him thanks and bless his name!
Yes, the Lord is good,
his love is eternal,
his faithfulness endures from age to age.
GospelLc 12, 13-21
At that time,
from the crowd, someone said to Jesus:
"Master, tell my brother
to share our inheritance with me."
Jesus replied:
"Man, who appointed me
to be your judge or the arbitrator of your shares?"
Then, addressing everyone:
"Be on your guard against all greed,
for a person's life,
even in abundance,
does not depend on what they possess."
Then he told them this parable:
"There was a rich man,
whose land produced a good harvest.
He thought to himself:
'What shall I do?
For I have no place to store my harvest.'
Then he said to himself:
'This is what I will do:
I will pull down my barns,
build bigger ones,
and I will store all my grain and my goods there.
Then I will say to myself:
You have many goods laid up for years to come;
rest, eat, drink, enjoy life.'
But God said to him:
'You fool!
Tonight your life will be demanded of you.
And the things you have prepared,
who will get them?'
This is how it is for those who amass things for themselves,
instead of being rich toward God."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org