Noël Chabanel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Noël Chabanel |
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| Born | February 2, 1613 Saugues (Haute-Loire), France |
| Died | December 8, 1649 (aged 36) Sainte-Marie among the Hurons (Midland, Ontario, Canada) |
| Canonized | June 29, 1930, Rome by Pope Pius XI |
Noël Chabanel was a brave Jesuit missionary who lived a long time ago. He was born on February 2, 1613, and died on December 8, 1649. He worked at a place called Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in what is now Canada. He is remembered as one of the Canadian Martyrs.
Noël Chabanel's Life and Mission
Noël Chabanel joined the Jesuit order when he was seventeen. This meant he was training to become a priest and missionary. He also taught a subject called rhetoric (which is about speaking and writing well) at Jesuit schools. People thought he was very good and smart.
In 1643, he traveled to New France, which is now part of Canada. He went with two other missionaries, Leonard Garreau and Gabriel Druillettes. He tried to learn the Algonquin language, but it was very difficult for him.
He was sent to work at the mission in Sainte-Marie. Here, he worked alongside another missionary named Charles Garnier. Noël Chabanel found it very hard to get used to the way of life of the Huron. He was worried he might want to leave his mission work. Because of this, he made a special promise that he would never leave the mission unless he was told to.
Chabanel was sent to help Jean de Brébeuf at the Saint Louis mission. This mission was near what is now Victoria Harbour. In February 1649, another missionary, Gabriel Lalemant, took his place. Chabanel was then sent to help Charles Garnier among the Petun people.
About a month later, something terrible happened. Brébeuf and Lalemant were captured during a raid by the Iroquois people. They were taken to a nearby mission called St. Ignace, where they were killed.
After Brébeuf and Lalemant died, the Jesuits decided to leave Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. They burned the mission down. They did not want it to be taken over or disrespected by the Iroquois. In early December 1649, Chabanel was told to go to St. Joseph Island.
His Final Days
Noël Chabanel died on December 8, 1649. He was killed by a Huron man who had turned against the missionaries. This man had offered to help Chabanel cross a river. The leader of the Jesuits, Paul Ragueneau, later wrote about this. He said the man, Honarreennha, had spread a false rumor. This rumor claimed the French had betrayed the Huron and made a secret deal with the Iroquois. Honarreennha later admitted that he had killed Chabanel.
Becoming a Saint
Noël Chabanel was recognized as a saint by the Catholic Church. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930.
