baptism

POWERFUL AND INTERESTING QUOTES IN THE LIFE OF ST. JOHN DE BREBEUF

By Bro. Peter Dimond

NO BAPTISM OF DESIRE – ST. JOHN DE BREBEUF ON THE NECESSITY OF WATER BAPTISM

In the life of St. John de Brebeuf (17^th century missionary to North America), there is the following very interesting occurrence. As captive of the Iroquois savages, he was being tortured by them. One of them (a Huron turned Iroquois) was mocking him and the many times he had told them that they must be baptized to be saved. This savage was pouring burning water on St. John in mockery of baptism. He said he was “helping” him get to Heaven. What the savage says about what St. John said concerning baptism is quite interesting. Note: St. John de Brebeuf was known to them as “Echon.”

“De Brebeuf, standing shackled to the torture post, answered the spokesman as mildly as he had often answered his enemies in the Huron councils and pleaded with him to remember the One-who-governed-all. ‘Echon,’ the former Huron spoke sweetly, ‘you see plainly that we treat you as a friend. You have often told us that we must be baptized in order that we may have eternal happiness after we die. In turn, we wish to be the cause of your happiness in heaven. Thank us, then, for the good turn we do to you. We believe what you have told us, that the more you suffer here, the more God will reward you hereafter.

“They carried forward the steaming pots of boiling water and, while emptying them over his head, they shouted: ‘Echon, we baptize you so that you may be happy in heaven. You know that you cannot be saved by your God without a proper baptism.’” (Francis X. Talbot, Saint Among the Hurons, p. 300.)

Deaths after Baptism

There are many quotes in the life of St. John de Brebeuf which explain how almost all of the people they baptized would die shortly after baptism. In other words, it’s as if the natives were being kept alive for baptism and then, once it was received, they departed life. Here’s just one quote of many:

“… Lalemant [Superior of the mission] testifies: ‘The Hurons observed with some sort of reason that those who had been nearest to us, happened to be the most ruined by the disease. Whole villages who had first received us, now were utterly exterminated. It has happened very often and has been remarked a hundred times, that where we were most welcome, where we baptized more people, there it was, in fact, where they died most. On the contrary, in the cabins to which we were denied entry, although they were sick to extremity, at the end of a few days, one would see every person happily cured.’” (Francis X. Talbot, Saint Among the Hurons, p. 221)

Accepted Interracial Marriage

In response to our recent videos which refuted and condemned racism, some leftover racists and opponents of interracial marriage complained about the lack of more positive proclamations from the Church that specifically authorize interracial marriage. We refuted this by pointing out the illogic of the objection (i.e., where would the line be drawn?), and the fact that never once was it forbidden, even though it occurred and other prohibitions (such as interreligious marriage) were enacted. It was directly endorsed by accepting all marriages between baptized Christians, and members of all races fall into that category. We also pointed out that it was done especially in mission territories. To further refute them, here’s a quote from the life of St. John de Brebeuf, 17^th century missionary to North America. To solve a certain problem, he specifically recommended interracial marriage with the natives. This proves that he (and everyone else) recognized that there was nothing wrong with it. It was not enacted in this particular case because of the still untrustworthy morals of the natives; but this quote demonstrates, once again, that it was accepted by the Church.

“Marriage with native women was thought of as a solution. Champlain had promised this and de Brebeuf, knowing the circumstances, rather approved of it. In one of the councils near Ihonatiria he asked the chiefs their thought on the marriage of the French with the Huron women; they thought it would bind the nations together more closely. He proposed that the matter be brought before a general council; they saw no reason for this. He explained that these marriages must be permanent and that the women could not divorce themselves or mix with other men; they did not think this reasonable. The matter ended by their demanding valuable gifts which the women would own. It was clear to de Brebeuf that such marriages, at this time, would be ruinous for the Frenchmen.” (Francis X. Talbot, Saint Among the Hurons, p. 178.)