Martyrs' Shrine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Martyrs' Shrine |
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| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Martyrs-Shrine.com |
| History | |
| Dedication | Canadian Martyrs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Martyrs' Shrine |
| Diocese | Toronto |
| Province | Toronto |
The Martyrs' Shrine, also known as the Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs (French: Sanctuaire des martyrs canadiens), is a special Catholic church in Midland, Ontario, Canada. It was built to remember the Canadian Martyrs. These were six Jesuit priests and two other people who died long ago while working at a mission called Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. This shrine is one of nine important national shrines in Canada, like St. Joseph's Oratory in Montreal.
Building the Shrine
The story of the Martyrs' Shrine began in 1907. At that time, Dennis O'Connor, who was the Archbishop of Toronto, blessed a small chapel. This chapel was in Waubaushene, close to where Sts. Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant died.
Later, in 1925, a Jesuit leader named Father John M. Filion decided to build a much bigger church. He wanted it closer to the old Sainte-Marie mission. So, he bought a farm in Midland, right across from the mission site.
Construction and Design
Building the new shrine started in 1925. Some materials came from the old chapel in Waubaushene. Other materials were given by lumber companies from Northern Ontario. Many churches in London and Toronto donated important items. These included pews, beautiful stained glass windows, and an altar.
The inside of the shrine was designed to look like an upside-down canoe. This unique design was created and built by Ildège Bourrie. The construction of the shrine was finished by the winter of 1925. It was officially blessed on June 25, 1926, by Cardinal William Henry O'Connell from Boston, Massachusetts.
Important Relics
The Martyrs' Shrine is very special because it holds the bones of three Canadian Martyrs. These are St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Gabriel Lalemant, and St. Charles Garnier. These bones are called "reliquaries."
Because the shrine was built without insulation, it gets very cold in the autumn and winter. For this reason, the shrine closes during those colder months. The reliquaries are carefully moved out of the church during this time to protect them.
Honoring the Martyrs
The martyrs were officially recognized as saints by Pope Pius XI in 1930. This process is called canonization. Many years later, in September 1984, Pope John Paul II visited the Martyrs’ Shrine. He prayed there, even over the skull of St. Jean de Brébeuf.
