PREFACE by poster TOPHER of Freerepublic: Father Sebastian Râle, SJ, was viciously martyred on this date in 1724 (August 23). He was terribly disfigured in this martyrdom that Abenaki (native Americans that he was a missionary to) could not recognize him. This was not done by Mohawks or other Indians, but rather by a combination of New Englanders and Indians. The hate the people of New England had for this Holy Priest has stood in the way of his beatification and canonization.He wrote a dictionary of the Abenaki language, which is a prize treasure at Harvard -- but Harvard does...