Feast of the North American Martyrs

Today in the U.S. we celebrate the feast of the North American Martyrs. (It's celebrated in Canada in September.) They were 8 brave priests and laymen who endured incredible hardships during their lives and suffered incredible martyrdoms in their efforts to bring the Catholic faith to Canada and the upper U.S., particularly among the Huron Indians. May we live our faith by their example in the face of the trials and adversity we face from a secular society which regards faith and religion as weakness, something that can be done in private but which has no place in our public lives. If you are unfamiliar with these saints there are a number of resources that give good biographies. Here are a few of them.

http://www.catholicism.org/eight-na-martyrs.html

http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/JOGUES.htm

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08420b.htm