St. Isaac Jogues Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Isaac Jogues was a Jesuit priest who lived in the 1600s. He worked as a missionary among the Iroquois and other Native tribes in America.
Along with other missionaries, St. Isaac Jogues was eventually martyred by a group of Mohawk Native Americans. He is known as one of the canonized North American Martyrs.
You can use this novena to ask for intercession from this courageous missionary priest!
About St. Isaac Jogues
St. Isaac Jogues was born in Orleans, France, in 1607. His parents were of the middle class, and he was the fifth of their nine children. His parents educated him at home until he was ten years old. Then, he began attending Jesuit-run schools.
When he was seventeen years old, Isaac entered the Jesuit novitiate. The Jesuit community he entered was one of active missionaries, establishing missions in the areas of the New World that France had colonized.
Isaac was inspired by the missionary zeal of these Jesuits, including the pioneer missionaries Fr. Jean de Brebeuf and Enemond Masse. Isaac hoped to be able to serve as a missionary himself.
After professing his vows in 1626, Isaac studied philosophy and then taught humanities to school children in Rouen. Then, he studied theology in Paris. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1636.
Shortly after his ordination, Isaac embarked to New France with several other missionaries, knowing that he might face suffering and even tortures.
He was assigned to serve among the Huron and Algonquian peoples. But shortly after he arrived, he came down with an illness. When an epidemic spread through the people of the village, the Hurons blamed the Jesuits and threatened to kill them. But Fr. Jean de Brebeuf, the superior of the Jesuit mission, was able to pacify them.
Isaac lived among the Huron for six years, learning their language and their ways. The native people eventually began to accept Isaac. But this didn’t last long, because some natives soon began circulating the rumor that the missionaries brought disaster with them wherever they went.
When Isaac traveled to Ontario, the natives were so unfriendly that the missionaries thought they would not be able to do any work among them. The missionaries traveled to different villages but had no success.
Finally in 1641, the missionaries were welcomed among the Sauteurs. In 1642, Isaac was traveling with some Christian Hurons when a war party of Mohawks stopped them. Isaac was able to hide, but he courageously chose to leave his hiding place in order to comfort and encourage those who were captured.
The Mohawks treated Isaac cruelly. They beat him, tore out his fingernails, and chewed his fingers to the bone. In their village, they made him and the other prisoners run the gauntlet to be beaten. They also cut off Isaac’s thumb and threw burning coals at him.
Throughout these tortures, Isaac continually comforted his fellow-prisoners, baptizing and administering sacraments to them.
Isaac was held captive for about a year. He was severely malnourished and continually mistreated, but he continued preaching to his captors.
In 1643, Isaac was able to escape. Before sailing back to France, he was the first priest to visit Manhattan Island.
Once he was back in France, Isaac was granted a dispensation to say Mass with his mutilated hands (he was missing his thumb and would not be able to hold the Blessed Sacrament in the usual way).
Isaac longed to return to New France, and in 1646 he returned. The Mohawks were suspicious of the Jesuits. After a bout of disease and a failed crop that they blamed on the Jesuits’ bad luck, they killed St. Isaac Jogues with a tomahawk.
St. Isaac Jogues’ Feast Day: October 19th
Why Pray the St. Isaac Jogues Novena?
St. Isaac Jogues is one of the patron saints of North America (together with the other North American Martyrs). You can seek his intercession for one of the countries in North America, or if you live in North America.
St. Isaac Jogues is also a great saint to seek intercession from if you are of Native American decent, as he spent much of his life ministering to Native Americans.
You can also ask St. Isaac Jogues for prayers on behalf of the Jesuits or for a particular Jesuit priest, since he was a member of the Jesuits.
You can pray the St. Isaac Jogues Novena for any intention!
St. Isaac Jogues Novena Prayers
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to devote his life to the priestly and religious vocation.
St. Isaac Jogues, you entered religious life when you were just seventeen years old. Hoping to serve God as a missionary in newly discovered lands, you were ordained as a priest.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
Your life as a missionary priest in New France was a difficult one. You faced hardships and sufferings, but you never wavered in your commitment to God or in faithfulness to your vocation.
Pray for me, that I may never waver in my Faith. Pray that I may always serve God fully, no matter what hardships I might encounter.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to devote his life to serving You as a member of the Jesuit religious order.
St. Isaac Jogues, you chose to devote yourself to God as a member of the Jesuit order when you were seventeen years old. You entered a community that was known for its missionary work, and you were inspired to serve as a missionary yourself.
Please bring my petitions before the throne of God!
Along with some of your Jesuit brothers, you embarked on dangerous missionary work among people who were sometimes hostile. Though you endured a lot of suffering, you never wavered in your Faith.
Pray for me, that I may serve God as wholeheartedly as you did. Pray that I may never cease to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to devote his life to missionary work.
St. Isaac Jogues, you entered a community of Jesuits who were well-known for their missionary work. They had established many missions in the New World, and you desired to serve God by joining in their missionary work.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God Whom you desired to serve!
You embarked on missionary work just a short time after your ordination to the priesthood. In your new role, you encountered a lot of hardship and mistreatment, but you continued working for the conversion of those whom you served.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to bring others to God. Pray that I may never allow suffering to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the faithfulness he showed in remaining devoted to his missionary work despite many trials and hardships.
St. Isaac Jogues, you were inspired by the missionary work of your brother Jesuits. You longed to serve God through missionary work among the native peoples of New France.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you longed to serve!
Even after suffering mistreatment and tortures at the hands of the natives, you persevered in your missionary work. You did not grow bitter or discouraged. Instead you continued preaching to your captors and working to win souls for God.
Pray for me, that I may always seek to lead others to God. Pray that I may never allow suffering to deter me from seeking to serve God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion you You he showed by courageously persevering in his missionary work despite hostilities, mistreatment, and even torture.
St. Isaac Jogues, you longed to win souls for God among the native people in New France. You met a lot of opposition in this work, but you courageously continued working to bring souls to God.
Please continue to bring my petitions before God!
You were mistreated and tortured because of your Faith and your refusal to abandon your mission. You bore these sufferings courageously and continued preaching to your captors amidst your sufferings.
Pray for me, that I may be courageous in the practice of my Faith as you were. Pray that I may never allow sufferings to deter me from wholehearted service to God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in holding fast to his Faith and his mission amidst persecution and torture.
St. Isaac Jogues, you suffered a lot on account of your Christian Faith. You endured beatings, mutilation of your hands, and burning with coals. Despite these sufferings, you were faithful to God and to your mission.
Please be faithful in presenting my petitions before God!
Throughout your sufferings, you continually comforted your fellow prisoners, administered sacraments, and preached to your captors. You never wavered in your Faith, despite your severe trials.
Pray for me, that I may never waver in my Faith amidst hardship. Pray that I may seek to help others even when I am suffering myself.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in treating his torturers with charity and love.
St. Isaac Jogues, you suffered great tortures during your captivity among hostile Native American tribes. Despite your terrible trials, you never gave in to bitterness or anger toward your captors but persevered in charity.
Please persevere in bringing my petitions before the throne of God!
Even amidst beatings, mutilation of your hands, and severe malnourishment, you never ceased preaching to your captors and doing what you could to work for their conversion
Pray for me, that I may never allow the mistreatment of others to lead me to bitterness. Pray that I may treat with charity even those who have hurt me.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by persevering in his Faith and his mission despite the pain and affliction he endured when his hands were mutilated.
St. Isaac Jogues, you suffered deeply when you captors mutilated your hands. They tore out your fingernails, gnawed your fingers to the bone, and even cut off your thumb. But you remained faithful and did not despair at these deep, afflicting injuries.
Please continue to faithfully bring my petitions before God!
Your hands were so mutilated that you needed a special dispensation to celebrate Mass, since you couldn’t hold the Eucharist in the typical manner. But you continued in the duties of your vocation with great love.
Pray for me, that I may never give in to despair or bitterness when I suffer. Pray that I may persevere in love as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Isaac Jogues Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Isaac Jogues as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by persevering in his mission to the North American natives, despite great sufferings and even torture.
St. Isaac Jogues, you had a deep desire to serve the people of North America as a missionary. Even though you encountered hardships and mistreatment from the start of your mission, you continued working faithfully for the conversion of those you encountered.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
After enduring your many sufferings, you escaped your captors and returned to France. But you longed to return to your mission in North America. You were eventually killed while working to win souls among the North American people.
Pray for me, that I may passionately seek to win souls for God, as you did. Pray that I may never allow sufferings to deter me from serving God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Isaac Jogues, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.