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Born
Jean de Brebeuf was born in a town near Normandy, France. His family was very rich and aristocratic, but this did not affect him. -
Joined the Jesuits
He became a Jesuit in 1617, joining the Order. He was almost expelled from the Society because he contracted tuberculosi. (Which is an illness which prevented both studying and teaching for the traditional periods.) -
Ordained
Brebeuf was ordained a priest in 1622. He started getting experience in the field by working in France. -
Mission to Canada
After shortly arriving, Brebeuf lived with the Huron natives near Lake Huron, learning their customs and language, of which he became an expert becuase he was a very fast learner. -
Failed at converting
He unsuccessfully attempted to convert the Neutral Nation on Lake Erie in 1640. -
Returned to Quebec
After this failed mission, he returned to Quebec in 1641 and stayed there for three years. During this time, Brebeuf constantly reflected on his works, and thought of how he could improve. -
Returned to Huron
Brebeuf returned to Huron after being banned, and showed the tribe that he did not mean any harm. -
Conversion
He returned to the Huron in 1644 and finally experienced some success. By 1647 there were thousands of converted Huron. Brebeuf used this to help spread the word of God. -
Death
There they were fastened to stakes and tortured to death by scalping, mock baptism using boiling water, fire, necklaces of red hot hatchets and mutilation. Brébeuf did not make a single outcry while he was being tortured and he astounded the Iroquois, who later cut out his heart and ate it in hopes of gaining his courage. -
Iroquois
The Iroquois began to win their war with the Hurons. They destroyed a large Huron village in 1648 and on March 16, 1649, 1200 Iroquois captured the mission of St. Ignace and then a few hours later captured another Huron village where they seized Brébeuf -
Canonized
Brebeuf was canonized a saint by Pope Puis XI. His feast day is October 19 in the United States, but in Canada his feast day is September 26. -
QUIZ
Where was Jean de Brebeuf Born? Is Brebeuf Catholic, Jesuit, Muslim, or Calvanist? Where did Brebeuf want to leave France for? Who captured and killed Brebeuf and his crew?
