Martyrs

Brave Hearts #2

by Kathryn Griffin Swegart

Father Sebastian Rale was a little-known Jesuit missionary who lived among the Wabanaki people from 1689-1724. In this riveting story, readers travel into the Maine wilderness and witness the heart of a true martyr for the Faith. Like St. Isaac Jogues, Father Sebastian Rale was a heroic missionary to the New World.

Martyrs is an unforgettable story of courage, faith, and enduring friendship. This piece of historical fiction for readers 10-14 is an inspiring book for young and old alike.

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2019

About the author

Kathryn is a professed Secular Franciscan with a Master’s degree from Boston College. Her passions are her family, reading, and writing for young readers.

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third book by Kathryn that I have read in as many weeks. I bought this book and one other before even finishing Perilous Days, book 1 in the Brave Hearts series. I did not even read the description before purchasing it, so I was honestly a little surprised when the setting was not WWII. For this book takes place almost 250 years before the events of World War II. But my shock at the jump back in time did not impact how excellent a read this book was. This story takes us back in time. It is the story of Father Sebastian Rale a Jesuit missionary that lived among the Wabanaki people from 1689-1724. This book is a page turner, and I am having a hard time placing it. It could be historical fiction, it could be hagiography, or it could be biography. Or a mix of all three.

In reading this book we learn about the life of Father Sebastian Rale he was a heroic priest. He was a missionary, and he was a martyr. He lived to serve. He loved his adopted people, and ultimately died for them. He had great faith, great innovation, and ultimately great courage. I read through this book in 2 sittings because I could not put it down. And Since then I have started reading it with my three children ages 8-13. It is an excellent read. The historical note at the beginning of this book ends with this paragraph:

“In every war there must be a lightning rod for hatred. That enemy must be evil personified. As British propaganda pamphlets were printed and distributed to colonists, one name stood out above all the rest. Father Sebastian Rale, S.J., was a missionary living with the Wabanaki people in Norridgewock, along the banks of the Kennebec River. British leaders saw him as a man in league with the devil. Soon after Father Rale arrived in the New World, Jesuits were banned from the colonies. No one could have imagined that this refined Jesuit, trained in the finest universities in France, could live among the Wabanakis for thirty years.

Meanwhile, hatred for Father Rale and racial bigotry toward the indigenous people boiled over in the year 1724. A price was put on Father Sebastian Rale’s head; the British sharpened their knives and took to the woods, intent on scalping his gray head. After thirty years of this Frenchman living among the Wabanakis, the time had come to take his scalp.”

It was inspiring to read this story. A story about a time when Catholicism was misunderstood and hated. A time and a place when being a priest or being Catholic was dangerous. It is the story of a priest living out his vocation in a remote community, far from home, and even from having the support of other Catholic clergy.

As a Canadian it is very interesting reading this story about a Jesuit that traveled from New France, to Main and lived and served, and died there. This story expanded my horizons, it enhanced my knowledge of the early missionaries in North America and their love and support of their community. This book was so hard to put down, and just as I was finishing this read, I heard that the author is already working on a third volume in this excellent series.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More and reviews of other books by Kathryn.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martyrs is the story of Father Sebastian Rale, a Jesuit missionary who lived among the Wabanaki tribe in the Maine wilderness in the late 1600s. The book provides an interesting look into this time period and the conflicts not only between the natives and the British but also between the French in Canada and the British in what is now America. I was quite intrigued by the hostility the Protestant British leaders had with the Catholic church and the Jesuit priests that lived with the natives. This would be a great book for older middle-school and high school students to understand and contemplate the many complicated issues that settlers faced in the New World. The book is full of thought-provoking discussion topics.
Since this was a tenuous time in our country’s history, full of desperate battles for land, there are some difficult passages that might not be appropriate for younger readers. The violence is not overly graphic but still could be upsetting to some. This is the second book in the Brave Hearts series, and I’m looking forward to the next one. These books do a fabulous job of relaying the stories of fascinating, devoted Catholics who did indeed have brave hearts and remained dedicated to their faith during extremely difficult times.

[Shawn Henry Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathryn Swegart has written a beautiful and inspiring story about the life, ministry, and martyrdom of Father Sebastian Rale (1689-1724). Readers who enjoy historical fiction and are in search of a well-told story will love this book. Martyrs (Brave Hearts Book 2) is full of adventure, courage, and compassion – all necessary elements in a memorable tale. Yet, perhaps most importantly, the author inspires readers to follow the example of Father Rale, and through his work, the Wabanaki people, as they longed to know, love, and obey God – especially to regularly encounter our Savior in the holy eucharist. Swegart’s style of writing draws the reader into the story. Her descriptions of sights, sounds, and feelings bring characters and events to life. I found this aspect of her book especially appealing. The setting for this story was especially interesting to me, as one of my ancestors, 22-year-old John Webb III of Northampton, Massachusetts, was captured by an amalgam of native peoples called “Albany Indians” on 9 Feb 1689/90 and taken to Canada. John was freed or escaped by 5 Mar 1692/3, when he married Anna Corneliszen in Hackensack, New Jersey, before returning to Springfield, Massachusetts. I’ve often wondered about John’s life among the native peoples in Canada. His survival suggests that he may have encountered the same humanity – Christian charity – that we read about in this book. I especially enjoyed reading about Father Rale’s faithful ministry. His actions, prayers, admonitions, and advice all reflect the character of a true servant of God. I highly recommend this book!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This historical novel tells the story of Fr. Sebastian Rale, a missionary priest in New England during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. It is a window into a time and place not treated in detail in the history books, and into a real-life missionary whose love for the Lord and conviction about his mission will inspire the reader.
One caveat: this book does contain graphic scenes of war, torture, and martyrdom. It is not for the sensitive reader. It's labeled for ages 10 to 14, but I'd recommend that parents read it first, for this reason.

[Christine Calabrese · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book, I just like the other books the author wrote with shorter stories in them better.