Our Lady of the Hurons

Marian Advocation of Midland (Ontario)
Recognized by the Church

Our Lady of the Hurons (Our Lady of the Hurons / Notre-Dame des Hurons) is a historical advocation linked to the Jesuit mission of Sainte-Marie-among-the-Huronsin the region of Huronia (Midland, Ontario), the stage of the evangelization of the Huron peoples in the 17th century and the martyrdom of the Holy Canadian martyrsamong them, Jean de Brébeuf. The iconography and title evoke Mary's protection over those missions. Devotion subsists today linked to Martyrs’ Shrine (Sanctuary of the Martyrs), great national pilgrimage center, without separate Marian sanctuary.

Main data

Origin and history

Our Lady of the Hurons (Our Lady of the Hurons / Notre-Dame des Hurons) is a historical advocation linked to the Jesuit mission of Sainte-Marie-among-the-Huronsin the region of Huronia (Midland, Ontario), the stage of the evangelization of the Huron peoples in the 17th century and the martyrdom of the Holy Canadian martyrsamong them, Jean de Brébeuf. The iconography and title evoke Mary's protection over those missions. Devotion subsists today linked to Martyrs’ Shrine (Sanctuary of the Martyrs), great national pilgrimage center, without separate Marian sanctuary.

The image and the sanctuary

The Marian presence is ventured within the Martyrs’ Shrine de Midlandthe national sanctuary dedicated to Canadian martyrs, where Mary is honored as Mother of the Church in Canada and protector of the mission among indigenous peoples. It's not an autonomous Marian sanctuary.: the image of the Virgin is seen in the context of the veneration of the holy martyrs Jean de Brébeuf and companions. No consta a Marian image of miraculous origin of this title.

Sponsorship and coronation

No consta a modern proclamation of civil patronage canonical coronation of this title. It is traditionally considered to be a protector of Christian ferrets and, in the whole of the sanctuary, Mother of the Church born in Canada.

Party and devotion

Devotion is associated with the the feast of the Holy Canadian Martyrs, on September 26, in addition to the universal Marian solemnities. The place is a pilgrimage destination that unites the memory of the martyrs with Marian veneration linked to the mission among the First Nations.

Link to the Rosary

The evangelization of Huronia was carried out with the Rosary in the hand of the missionaries, who taught to pray to the Huron peoples. To call on Our Lady of the Hurons is to remember that the Rosary was an instrument of that first sowing of faith in Canada, and to join in prayer for the original peoples and for the fruits of the witness of the martyrs.