Saints: Role Models for Men- St. John de Brebeuf

I was first introduced to the legacy of this man by my friend Lee Brokaw, who was one of the FOCUS missionaries at Missouri State University during my first two years there.

St. John de Brebeuf was a missionary himself. He traveled with fellow French priests to the Canadian territory. He became one of the first Europeans to explore and chronicle the journey from Quebec to 800 miles west into mostly unfamiliar territory. There he became acquainted with the Huron people. He spent many years evangelizing to them, informing them of and showing them God and the Catholic faith, which they had never known before.

Just imagine the scene. Being far, far away from home or familiar civilization. Becoming part of a community that primarily speaks a foreign language and lives a lifestyle that is totally different than anything you experienced or grew up in, and trying to convert those people. Yet, St. John and his companions did just that in order to reach out to the Huron nation and help them develop their relationships with God. He lived among the people, got to know their customs, became fluent in their language, and wrote out a catechism for them.

St. John overcame obstacles in establishing his relationship with the people. They were, at first, very nervous about him because of his race and whenever something horrible like disease rampaged through, he would get the first blame. Yet, because of his perseverance, St. John managed to evangelize to the people effectively.

Eventually, members of the Iroquois tribe attacked the Huron and captured St. John de Brebeuf and his company. They were martyred in a very brutal, gory, horrific torture. Yet St. John persevered happily. He did not harbor harm or anger against his torturers and killers. He is said to have kissed the stake he was tied to while they slowly killed him and prayed during his torturous death.

St. John de Brebeuf, along with his company and other French missionaries, are great examples for those of us nervous of traveling to new places and unfamiliar territory. They show how to persevere whenever a situation proves difficult. St. John especially shows us how to treat all people with kindness and how to face death happily, rather than with anger in our hearts.