Memorial of Saints John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Priests, and Companions, Martyrs
The first Christians knew very clearly the challenges which faced them when they chose to believe in and follow Christ: they could be ostracized by family and friends; they could be jailed or have their property confiscated; they watched the apostles get beaten in public, and even killed. And yet, they choose to bear witness to Christ anyway. They choose to acknowledge Our Lord before men. Why? They knew in their bones that Christ’s death for them offered forgiveness of sins, that His Resurrection for them offered the promise of life eternal. They hoped to be acknowledged by Christ before the angels of heaven, even if all on earth scorned and rejected them. The eyes of their hearts were enlightened, as Saint Paul prayed for the Ephesians, to “know what is the hope that belongs to his call…” (Ephesians 1:18)
In his journal entries in the last years and months of his life, the French Jesuit missionary and martyr, Saint Jean de Brebeuf, frequently desired to bear witness to Jesus, even if he had to face terrible physical sufferings and death. He knew that Jesus had died for love of him. He wanted to bear witness to that love with his own life. The last entries of his journal contain two visions: "Many crosses appeared to me, all of which I very gladly embraced. On the following night, while in prayer,—conforming myself to the will of God concerning me, and saying to him, ‘Thy will be done, o Lord; what do you want me to do?’—I heard a voice which said to me, ‘Take, Read.’ The day having come on, I took in hand the little book of the Imitation of Jesus Christ, and, without design, I fell upon the chapter, On the Royal Way of the Holy Cross (Book II, chapter 12). From that time I felt in my soul a great peace, and repose in occasions of suffering. Toward evening, being in prayer before the most blessed Sacrament, I saw in spirit, upon my clothes and upon the clothes of all our Fathers, without any exception, spots all of blood,—which left me in a sentiment of admiration." (Jesuit Relations, vol. XXXIV, pp 162-163) Shortly after this, Saint Jean suffered torture and death with his small congregation because of his faith in Jesus.
May the holy martyrs pray for us that we may look upon the world with the eyes of our hearts enlightened by the light of Christ, Risen from the dead. That we may see the immensity of His love for us, and the joy of telling others of Jesus and His love, of acknowledging him before men.