On October 18, 1646, in a Mohawk village called Ossernenon in what is now upstate New York, a Jesuit priest named Isaac Jogues was tomahawked and beheaded. He had been captured four years earlier, tortured for months, escaped to France, and voluntarily returned to the land where he knew he would likely die. His fingers had been chewed off by his captors; he celebrated Mass with mutilated hands. Pope Pius XI would canonize him in 1930 as one of the eight North American Martyrs—and the site of his death would become one of America's most sacred Catholic shrines.
But Ossernenon holds another distinction. Ten years after Jogues' martyrdom, in 1656, a baby girl was born here to an Algonquin Christian mother and a Mohawk chief. Named Tekakwitha, she would survive smallpox that killed her family and left her half-blind, convert to Christianity against her community's violent opposition, flee 200 miles to a Catholic mission in Canada, and die at age 24 with the words "Jesus, I love you" on her lips. The Lily of the Mohawks was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012—the first Native American saint.
Today, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs at Auriesville draws pilgrims to walk the same hillside where Jogues was killed and Tekakwitha was born. The 600-acre grounds include the Coliseum—a massive open-air church seating 6,500—the Martyrs' Museum, and miles of forested trails. This is holy ground twice over: sanctified by the blood of martyrs and blessed as the birthplace of a saint.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Mohawk village of Ossernenon sat on a bluff above the Mohawk River, part of the Iroquois Confederacy that dominated the region. French Jesuit missionaries, seeking to bring Christianity to the native peoples, ventured into this dangerous territory knowing the fate that likely awaited them.
Father Isaac Jogues first arrived in New France in 1636 and spent years working among the Hurons. In 1642, while traveling with a party of Christian Hurons, he was captured by a Mohawk war party. For thirteen months he endured torture: his fingers were burned off, bitten off, or torn out; he was beaten repeatedly; he witnessed the deaths of his companions. Through it all, he continued to baptize and minister to his fellow captives and to any Mohawk who would listen.
Dutch traders at Fort Orange (modern Albany) eventually ransomed Jogues, and he returned to France, where he was received as a living martyr. Pope Urban VIII granted him special permission to celebrate Mass despite his mutilated hands. But Jogues requested permission to return to the Mohawk mission. In 1646, he traveled back to Ossernenon on a peace mission, was accused of sorcery when crops failed after his visit, and was killed by tomahawk on October 18.
Two other Jesuits—John de Lalande (a lay missionary) and René Goupil—were also martyred at Ossernenon. Along with five other missionaries killed elsewhere in Iroquois territory, they were canonized together in 1930 as the North American Martyrs, the first martyrs of North America to be declared saints.
Tekakwitha was born at Ossernenon around 1656. Smallpox killed her parents and brother and left her face scarred and her eyes damaged. Raised by an uncle who opposed Christianity, she nonetheless was drawn to the faith. In 1676, she was baptized by Jesuit Father Jacques de Lamberville, taking the name Kateri (Catherine). When her conversion made her an outcast, she fled to the Catholic mission at Kahnawake near Montreal, where she lived a life of intense prayer, penance, and care for the sick. She died on April 17, 1680, at age 24. Witnesses reported that her scarred face became radiant and beautiful moments after death.
The shrine at Auriesville was established in 1885, when the Society of Jesus purchased the site. The Coliseum, a vast circular church open to the sky, was completed in 1931 to accommodate the crowds that had begun gathering for the feast of the North American Martyrs.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Auriesville
National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs
Sacred ground of the North American Martyrs and birthplace of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
The 600-acre shrine occupies the hillside where the Mohawk village of Ossernenon stood. At the center rises the Coliseum, a circular open-air church seating 6,500 designed to accommodate the great pilgrimage Masses. The altar sits at the center, with concentric rings of pews rising outward. The design recalls the circular longhouses of the Mohawk and symbolizes the gathering of the faithful from all directions.
The Martyrs' Chapel contains relics of St. Isaac Jogues and his companions. The Tekakwitha-Jogues Prayer Hall offers space for quiet reflection, with displays on both the martyrs and the Lily of the Mohawks. Walking trails lead through forests to sites associated with the martyrdom and to overlooks above the Mohawk Valley.
The Ravine of the Martyrs
A wooded ravine on the shrine grounds marks the traditional site where St. Isaac Jogues and his companions were killed. Pilgrims descend into this quiet hollow to pray at stations marking the martyrdoms. The sense of sacred presence in this secluded spot is profound.
St. Kateri's Birthplace
A chapel and monument mark the approximate location where Tekakwitha was born and spent her childhood. The site overlooks the Mohawk Valley, offering views similar to what the young Kateri would have seen. A Native American-style arbor provides space for outdoor prayer.
Stations of the Cross
A path through the shrine's forests winds past traditional Stations of the Cross, allowing pilgrims to meditate on Christ's passion while walking the same ground the martyrs walked. The natural setting intensifies the contemplative experience.
Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto
A replica of the Lourdes grotto offers another space for Marian devotion on the grounds.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the North American Martyrs — October 19
The principal feast of the shrine, commemorating the martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues and his seven companions. Solemn outdoor Mass in the Coliseum, veneration of relics, and procession to the Ravine of the Martyrs.
Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha — July 14
Celebration honoring the Lily of the Mohawks at her birthplace. Special recognition of Native American Catholics, with elements of indigenous culture incorporated into the liturgy.
Pilgrimage Season Opening — Mid-May
The shrine opens for the season with a special Mass marking the beginning of summer pilgrimages. The grounds are open May through October.
Native American Pilgrimage — August
Annual gathering of Native American Catholics from across the Northeast for Mass, sharing, and cultural celebration. One of the most significant events on the shrine calendar.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Hampton Inn Amsterdam ⭐⭐⭐ — Modern hotel 10 minutes from the shrine with indoor pool and complimentary breakfast. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Fairfield Inn & Suites Albany ⭐⭐⭐ — Chain hotel 30 minutes east, convenient for those also visiting Albany. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Shrine Pilgrimage House (pilgrim accommodation) — Simple overnight accommodations on the shrine grounds for pilgrims. Contact the shrine office for availability and rates.
Super 8 by Wyndham Amsterdam ⭐⭐ — Budget option 10 minutes from shrine. Basic but clean. Reserve this hotel
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Albany International Airport (ALB) is 35 miles east, approximately 45 minutes by car. Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) is 80 miles west.
By Car: From Albany, take I-90 (New York State Thruway) west to Exit 27 (Amsterdam). Follow Route 5S west to Shrine Road. From Syracuse, take I-90 east to Exit 27. The shrine is well-signed from the highway.
By Train: Amtrak serves Amsterdam station on the Empire Corridor (New York City to Niagara Falls). Taxi or rideshare required for the final 5 miles to the shrine.
By Bus: Greyhound serves Amsterdam. Taxi required to the shrine.
Note: The shrine is only open mid-May through late October. Check the website for current hours.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Francis Talbot, S.J., Saint Among Savages: The Life of Isaac Jogues — Classic biography of the principal martyr of Auriesville.
Allan Greer, Mohawk Saint: Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits — Scholarly yet accessible biography placing Kateri in historical context.
John A. O'Brien, The American Martyrs — Account of all eight North American Martyrs.
Online Resources:
Jesuit Archives — Primary documents and historical context on the North American Martyrs.
🎥 Recommended Videos
Black Robe: The Life of Isaac Jogues — Documentary on the martyr priest.
Lily of the Mohawks: St. Kateri Tekakwitha — EWTN documentary on the first Native American saint.
Canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha — Historic footage from the 2012 ceremony.
🔗 Useful Links
National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs — Mass schedule, events, pilgrimage planning.
Diocese of Albany — Diocesan information and resources.
Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine (Kahnawake) — Sister shrine in Canada where St. Kateri lived and died.
Society of Jesus (Jesuits) — Information on the order that operates the shrine.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
New York City (250 km south) — St. Patrick's Cathedral, Old St. Patrick's, and numerous historic Catholic churches.
Kahnawake, Quebec (350 km north) — The Jesuit mission where St. Kateri lived, died, and is now enshrined. Her tomb remains there.
Saratoga Springs (45 km east) — Historic spa town with beautiful St. Clement's Church.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"To die for God is to live." — St. Isaac Jogues, S.J., before his return to Ossernenon, 1646
