Born 1607, St. Isaac Jogues was martyred for the Holy Catholic Faith on October 18, 1646 at Auriesville, NY.  He was canonized in 1930 and his feast day is celebrated today on October 19.  

Ordained in 1636, St. Isaac Jogues initially spent six years spreading the faith among the Huron Indians before, along with his companion René Goupil, being captured by the Iroquois.  René was martyred at that time and, over the course of 13 months, Isaac Jogues suffered frequent tortures, including having his hands maimed in an Iroquois attempt to prevent him from saying the mass. 

He escaped from the Iroquois before he insisted on returning to his mission work among the Indians before at last being martyred by the Iroquois. 

Isaac Jogues is our patron because of his heroic determination to spread the faith at whatever the cost to himself and his dedication to the truths of the Catholic faith.  He persevered through every difficulty to spread the Catholic faith and in all these things remains a model and intercessor for us today. 

St. Isaac Jogues, Pray for Us.