GOUPIL, René, French missionary, born in Anjou, France, in 1606; died in Smith's Island, near Westport, New York, 29 September, 1642. He was known in his native town as "the good René." He studied to be a physician, but left the profession to become a novice of the Society of Jesus. He was forced by ill-health to leave the novitiate, and then became a "donné" of the society--that is, one who gives his whole services to religion, receiving only a support.

He went as a missionary to Canada, and accompanied Father Jogues on his return from Quebec to St. Mary's of the Hurons in August, 1642. The flotilla of canoes, in one of which they sailed, reached Three Rivers on 1 August, and had scarcely gone three leagues from that place when it was riddled with bullets by Mohawks in ambush.

During the panic that ensued Father Jogues and René could have escaped from the Mohawks, who were wholly intent on securing their Huron prisoners. They surrendered themselves, however, in order to be near the captives.

Goupil was cruelly beaten by his captors, and dragged from village to village for seven days, witnessing the deaths, one by one, of the Huron Christians. He was engaged in constant prayer during the whole agony, and in the middle of his torments instructed the young Indians to make the sign of the cross and to pray.

This infuriated the savages still further, and finally, while in the act of teaching an Indian girl to make the sign of the cross, near the village of Andagoron, he was killed by a young Mohawk. Miracles are said to have attested his sanctity, and his name occurs in the list of martyrs recommended for canonization by the plenary council of Baltimore held in 1884.

Pius XI canonized the all on the list as The North American Martyrs, with René’s name first, in 1930.

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 Virtualology^TM

GOUPIL, Rene, French missionary, born in Anglers, France, in 1607; died in Smith's Island, near Westport, New York, 29 September, 1642. He was known in his native town as "the good Rend." He studied to be a physician, but left the profession to become a novice of the Society of Jesus. He was forced by ill-health to leave the novitiate, and then became a "donne" of the society--that is, one who gives his whole services to religion, receiving only a support. He went as a missionary to Canada, and accompanied Father Jogues on his return from Quebec to St. Mary's of the Hurons in August, 1642. The flotilla of canoes, in one of which they sailed, reached Three Rivers on 1 August, and had scarcely gone three leagues from that place when it was riddled with bullets by Mohawks in ambush. During the panic that ensued Father Jogues and Rend could have escaped from the Mohawks, who were wholly intent on securing their Huron prisoners. They surrendered themselves, however, in order to be near the captives. Goupil was cruelly beaten by his captors, and dragged from village to village for seven days, witnessing the deaths, one by one, of the Huron Christians. He was engaged in constant prayer during the whole agony, and in the middle of his torments instructed the young Indians to make the sign of the cross and to pray. This infuriated the savages still further, and finally, while in the act of teaching an Indian girl to make the sign of the cross, near the village of Andagoron, he was killed by a young Mohawk. Miracles are said to have attested his sanctity, and his name occurs in the list of martyrs recommended for canonization by the plenary council of Baltimore held in 1884.

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