Saint of the Week

Saint Rene Goupil, Feast Day September 29th

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Saint Rene Goupil was born in 1606 in Anjou, France. When he reached adulthood, he attempted to enter the Jesuit novitiate in Paris, France, but his deafness prevented him from joining the order. Instead, he studied medicine, and in 1639 offered to work as a medic for the Jesuit missionaries in America. He was a missionary to the Hurons, working as a layman without pay. Saint Rene Goupil was captured and tortured by Iroquois, enemies of the Huron, for making the sign of the cross over a child's head, which was mistaken for some type of curse. While they were in captivity, Father Isaac received Rene into the Jesuits as a religious brother. Following two months of torture, Saint Rene Goupil was tomahawked in the head, causing him to become the first martyr in North America. The nature of his death led to his patronage of people who work with or receive anesthesia.

Saint Rene Goupil, pray for us!