From Huronia to the World Wide Web.

The past few days we've been saying special prayers to the North American Martyrs at daily Mass to prepare for our upcoming trip to the Martyrs' Shrine in Midland, Ontario. Over the next three days, I'll be making my own unique contribution to the preparations by sharing assorted weblinks concerning the Martyrs. The focus for today is on St. Jean de Brebeuf, the first Jesuit to serve among the Hurons and author of the Huron Relations, a portion of which may be read here. Sensitive to and respectful of the ancient culture and customs of the Huron people, Brebeuf enjoined his fellow Jesuits to "love these Hurons, ransomed by the blood of the Son of God, as brothers." He can also be regarded as a pioneer in the field of inculturation, to which his authorship of the Huron carol Jesus Ahattonia attests. Brebeuf has given his name to numerous institutions in Canada and the United States, including churches too numerous to list; his also seems to be a popular name for Catholic secondary schools, including a Chicago Province high school in Indianapolis and Jesuit-founded institutions in Montreal and Toronto. I was also surprised to discover a municipality named for Brebeuf high up in the Laurentians; this cozy B&B is ready to welcome any readers who may want to see the town - if you go, be sure to send me a postcard. AMDG.