Biography
René Goupil
About René Goupil
Born in France in 1608, Goupil trained as a surgeon. Jesuits Global says he left the Jesuit novitiate because of ill health and later served the Jesuit missions as a layman. He came to New France in 1640 and attached himself to the mission in Quebec. In July 1642 he received permission to accompany Isaac Jogues toward the Huron mission; the party was attacked and captured. Goupil was a lay donné who had recently taken vows as a Jesuit brother, as the Canadian bishops explain.The Canadian bishops report that Goupil died at Ossernenon on September 29, 1642, after being struck unconscious. Jesuits Global recounts a tradition that an elder objected to his making the sign of the cross over a child and killed him with a hatchet blow. The Roman Martyrology honors Goupil with the North American Martyrs on October 19; the Canadian church celebrates the group on September 26. Thus the documented day of his death and the two group feast dates are kept distinct.
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