On the morning of March 16, 1649, a Jesuit priest named Jean de Brébeuf was dragged from the burning village of Saint-Louis by an Iroquois war party. What followed was a martyrdom of unspeakable cruelty: mock baptism with boiling water, a collar of red-hot axes, the tearing away of flesh. Through it all, Brébeuf encouraged his fellow captives and refused to cry out. When he finally died, his captors ate his heart, hoping to absorb his courage.
The Martyrs' Shrine in Midland, Ontario, stands near the site of these events, commemorating the eight Jesuit missionaries martyred during the Iroquois-Huron wars of 1642-1649. Canonized in 1930, Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Gabriel Lalemant, Charles Garnier, Antoine Daniel, René Goupil, Jean de Lalande, and Noël Chabanel are the patron saints of Canada. Their witness drew the first Christian blood on North American soil.
The shrine complex includes a twin-spired church, an outdoor Stations of the Cross, and a museum. Across the highway, the reconstructed Sainte-Marie among the Hurons shows how the Jesuits lived and worked among the Wendat (Huron) people before catastrophe struck.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
The Jesuit mission to the Huron Confederacy began in 1634, when Father Jean de Brébeuf arrived in the Georgian Bay region. The missionaries established Sainte-Marie among the Hurons as their headquarters in 1639—the first European settlement in Ontario. At its peak, the mission complex housed 66 French residents and served as a center for evangelization among the Wendat people.
The Iroquois Confederacy, armed with Dutch muskets and seeking control of the fur trade, launched devastating raids against the Hurons beginning in 1648. Father Antoine Daniel was killed at the village of Teanaostayé on July 4, 1648—the first of the martyrs. Saints Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant followed on March 16-17, 1649. By the summer of 1649, the Huron Confederacy had collapsed.
The surviving Jesuits burned Sainte-Marie to prevent its capture and retreated to Christian Island, then to Québec. The missions were abandoned for two centuries. In 1925, construction began on a shrine to honor the martyrs. Pope Pius XI canonized the eight missionaries in 1930, and the shrine church was dedicated in 1926.
Today the Martyrs' Shrine welcomes over 100,000 pilgrims annually. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass here in 1984.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Midland
Martyrs' Shrine
The national shrine honoring Canada's patron saints
The twin-spired church, visible for miles across Huronia, contains relics of the martyrs. The main altar features a large crucifix; side chapels honor individual saints. Outdoor areas include a Stations of the Cross, a Papal Altar used for large celebrations, and a memorial garden.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Reconstructed 17th-century Jesuit mission
Across Highway 12 from the shrine, this historical site recreates the mission as it appeared in the 1640s. Costumed interpreters demonstrate life in the mission and Wendat villages. The site includes the original Jesuit cemetery and a chapel.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of the Canadian Martyrs — September 26
The principal celebration honoring Canada's patron saints, with solemn Mass and veneration of relics.
Pilgrimage Season — May to October
The shrine operates a full pilgrimage program during the warmer months, with daily Masses, confessions, and group retreats.
Feast of Saint Jean de Brébeuf — October 19
Special observance for the most famous of the martyrs.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Best Western Highland Inn ⭐⭐⭐ — In Midland, near the shrine. Reserve this hotel
Comfort Inn Midland ⭐⭐⭐ — Convenient chain hotel. Reserve this hotel
The Midland Inn (B&B) — Small bed and breakfast in town.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) is 130 km south.
By Car: From Toronto, take Highway 400 north to Highway 12 west. The shrine is on Highway 12, 5 km east of Midland. Ample free parking.
By Bus: Ontario Northland operates service to Midland from Toronto.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Jean de Brébeuf, The Jesuit Relations — Primary source documents including Brébeuf's own accounts of mission life.
Emma Anderson, The Death and Afterlife of the North American Martyrs — Scholarly exploration of the martyrs' legacy.
🔗 Useful Links
Martyrs' Shrine — Mass schedules, pilgrimage programs.
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons — Historical site information.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Toronto (130 km south) — St. Michael's Cathedral and multiple parishes.
Montréal (550 km east) — St. Joseph's Oratory.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"For this people to be converted, and be happy with the apostles in heaven, I would endure all the torments of the martyrs." — St. Jean de Brébeuf
