Image via brebeuftour24.org
CV NEWS FEED // The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States is sponsoring a tour of the relics of missionary priest and martyr St. Jean de Brébeuf this Lent.
Beginning in Ontario, Canada and moving through Colorado, the tour has stops in some states in the Midwestern and Southern regions before looping up to the Northeast and ending again in Ontario.
>>> FIND THE TOUR SCHEDULE HERE <<<
At each stop, the Jesuits plan to speak about the life of the saint before inviting the faithful to venerate his relics and ask for his intercession.
According to the tour website, Jean de Brébeuf was a Frenchman who became the first Jesuit missionary in Huronia (present-day Canada) in 1626. He encountered substantial hardships and trials evangelizing the native Hurons but demonstrated incredible dedication and perseverance out of his love for God and zeal for souls.
He was ultimately captured by the Iroquois, brutally tortured, and martyred at the age of 46.
“Throughout his life, Brébeuf’s dedication to his mission, resilience in the face of adversity, and commitment to the Christian faith left a lasting legacy in the history of Jesuit missions in North America,” the site says.
A saint of remarkable courage, Brébeuf once wrote in his spiritual journal: “May you be loved! Yes, my God, if all the torments that the captives endure in these regions, if all their cruel afflictions shall fall upon me, I offer myself with all my heart to suffer them alone!”
Brébeuf’s remains were later exhumed by his brother Jesuits and eventually relocated to a shrine in Midland, Ontario which was established to honor the early missionaries. His skull is held in particular reverence there as the central attraction of the shrine.
“Throughout its history, the relic of Brébeuf’s skull has stood as a tangible link to the courageous and selfless efforts of the early Jesuit missionaries in Canada,” states the tour website:
It embodies the enduring spirit of devotion and sacrifice that continues to inspire reverence and contemplation among those who visit the shrine, offering a profound connection to the legacy of St. Jean de Brébeuf and the rich history of Catholicism in North America.
>>> An explanation of the Catholic practice of venerating relics can be found HERE. <<<
