St. Isaac Jogues

St. Isaac Jogues

Isaac Jogues was born in Orleans, France on January 10, 1607. His father died soon after his birth, leaving him to care for his mother alone. Under her guidance, Isaac grew up a devout, and proper child. He accomplished every religious goal that he was obliged to do, but wanted to give more to God. Jogues was a Jesuit novice who was fascinated with their many missionaries. At the age of seventeen he entered the Jesuit novitiate school at Rouen. Later he studied at the royal college of La Fleche. His modesty led him to request that he have his studies in theology discontinued and be sent to America as a lay-brother. In 1636, after being ordained and after giving his mother his first priestly blessing and Holy Communion, his wish was granted; he was assigned as a missionary to the Indians in New France, which is now Canada.

Soon after his arrival in what is now upper state New York, he became ill and was blamed for starting an epidemic. In time, relations between the Frenchman and Indians improved, and for several years he successfully ministered to the Native Americans. In 1642 while traveling to Quebec, he was captured by Mohawk Indians, enslaved at their village, tortured, and mutilated. During his captivity he was allowed to mingle with the villagers. It is claimed that he baptized a number of dying children, constituting