September 26 - Martyrs of North America

Collectively, the Blackrobe priests who worked to convert the Hurons are celebrated on September 26, even though some of them have individual memorial days as well. I was initially going to detail who died in what way (shot with arrows, tomahawked, tortured for X hours, etc) but then I read a brief biography of St. John de Brebeuf, a French Jesuit who went to the Canadian frontier at age 32. He's the guy who named the game Lacrosse, since the stick reminded him of a bishop's crozier.

St. John's humility and strong desire to be useful to the Huron, not only spiritually but in mundane and practical matters, is evident in his instructions to fellow Jesuits.

• You must love these Hurons, ransomed by the blood of the Son of God, as brothers.
• You must never keep the Indians waiting at the time of embarking.
• Carry a tinder-box or a piece of burning-glass, or both, to make fire for them during the day for smoking, and in the evening when it is necessary to camp; these little services win their hearts.
• Try to eat the little food they offer you, and eat all you can, for you may not eat again for hours.
• Eat as soon as day breaks, for Indians when on the road, eat only at the rising and the setting of the sun.
• Be prompt in embarking and disembarking and do not carry any water or sand into the canoe.
• Be the least troublesome to the Indians.
• Do not ask many questions; silence is golden.
• Bear with their imperfections, and you must try always to appear cheerful.
• Carry with you a half-gross of awls, two or three dozen little folding knives, and some plain and fancy beads with which to buy fish or other commodities from the nations you meet, in order to feast your Indian companions, and be sure to tell them from the outset that here is something with which to buy fish.
• Always carry something during the portages.
• Do not be ceremonious with the Indians.
• Do not begin to paddle unless you intend always to paddle.
• The Indians will keep later that opinion of you which they have formed during the trip.
• Always show any other Indians you meet on the way a cheerful face and show that you readily accept the fatigues of the journey.