Surely we can admire the courage and dedication of the Jesuits who ministered to the Native Americans in upstate New York and Southern Canada during times of political and tribal tumult. Warring Native American tribes, competing French, Dutch and English fur traders and the epidemic of disease brought by the settlers themselves to the naive immunity of the Native Americans all made for harrowing and dangerous evangelization. It eventually cost the missioners their lives, including Isaac Jogues who returned after an escape to France for yet another mission in North America.
During his escape to France from his first captivity, he stayed for a brief time in the Dutch colony of Manhattan and became the first Catholic priest there, for which he is honored on one of the great bronze doors at St. Patrick's cathedral.
The statue shown here depicts his maimed hand from torture, which prohibited him from saying mass until special permission was obtained from the pope.