Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs 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 Shrine of the Canadian Martyrs, also known as the Martyrs' Shrine, is a special Roman Catholic church in Midland, Ontario, Canada. It was built to remember the Canadian Martyrs. These were eight brave people – six Jesuit priests and two helpers – who died a long time ago while working as missionaries.
This Shrine is one of nine important national shrines in Canada. Other famous ones include Saint Joseph's Oratory in Montreal and the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
Contents
History of the Martyrs' Shrine
The story of the Martyrs' Shrine began over a hundred years ago.
Building the First Chapel
In 1907, Denis T. O'Connor, who was the Archbishop (a high-ranking leader) of Toronto, blessed a small chapel. This chapel was built in a place called Waubaushene, Ontario. It was close to where two of the martyrs, Sts. Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant, had died.
Planning a Larger Church
Later, in 1925, a Jesuit leader named Father John M. Filion decided to build a bigger church. He wanted it to be closer to the old mission site of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. He bought a farm in Midland, Ontario, right across the road from Sainte-Marie.
Construction and Opening
Building the new shrine started in 1925. Some materials came from the first chapel in Waubaushene. Other materials were given by lumber companies from Northern Ontario. Many parts of the church, like the pews (benches), stained glass windows, and the altar, were donated by other churches.
The inside of the shrine was designed to look like an upside-down canoe. This design was created by Ildège Bourrie. The construction was finished by the winter of 1925. The Martyrs' Shrine was officially blessed on June 25, 1926. Cardinal William Henry O'Connell from Boston, Massachusetts led this special ceremony.
Holy Relics and Winter Closures
The shrine holds the bones of three important martyrs: St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Gabriel Lalemant, and St. Charles Garnier. These special items are called "reliquaries."
The shrine was built without any insulation. This means it gets very cold inside during autumn and winter. Because of the cold, the shrine closes during these seasons. The reliquaries are moved out of the church during this time to protect them.
Canonization and Papal Visit
The martyrs were later made saints by Pope Pius XI in 1930. This process is called canonization.
In September 1984, Pope John Paul II visited the Martyrs' Shrine. He prayed over the skull of Saint Jean de Brébeuf during his visit.
