James 1:2-3: Keep Paddling!

Never Give up: Father Brebeuf, with Fathers Daniel and Davost, in 1634, "took up again the challenge of the Cross and re-established the Huron mission near the shores of the Georgian Bay." The salvation of Souls, and the Great commission was the motivating factor for the noted perseverance of this Jesuit Priest: "Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle" was his motto. There were people out there who did not know Jesus and he would sacrifice everything to win the continent for Christ starting with Heronia! By 1648, eleven mission posts had been set up among the Heron AND their neighbours! No less than 18 priests and four lay ministers were involved in this ministry.

Then the Iroquois attacked: "When the assault began, the two Jesuits raced among the men, shouting encouragement, urging them to pray, tending the wounded, baptizing the dying. The Iroquois prevailed. Brebeuf, Lalemant and sixty Huron warriors were captured, beaten and herded to St. Ignace. Brebeuf called on the Huron warriors to stay true to Christ to death. Stripped naked, the Jesuits were tied to stakes and tortured with fire. Brebeuf suffered from noon until four p.m. on this day, March 16, 1649. When he would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of his tormentors, the Iroquois heated cauldrons of boiling water and poured it over him in mockery of baptism. They cut and hacked his body, and gouged out his eyes. Before he died, they scalped him and cut out his heart, which they ate. Lalemant died of similar tortures early the next morning."*

"Don't paddle unless you intend to always paddle." They would not scream out, but continued to pray for the salvation of their tormentors. Their faithfulness and perseverance led to the salvation of not only many in Heronia but also among the Iroquois, Algonquin, French, and English. May we be as faithful, even unto death.

Presented to River Street Cafe, 14 August 2017

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