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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir, by Fr. Vincent de Paul
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+Title: Memoir
+
+Author: Fr. Vincent de Paul
+
+Release Date: October, 2004 [EBook #6733]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on January 20, 2003]
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+Edition: 10
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+Language: English
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMOIR ***
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+Produced by Avinash Kothare, Tom Allen, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks
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+This file was produced from images generously made available by the
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+
+
+
+MEMOIR
+
+OF
+
+FATHER VINCENT DE PAUL,
+
+RELIGIOUS OF LA TRAPPE:
+
+
+TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL FRENCH
+
+BY
+
+A. M. POPE,
+
+
+WITH A PREFACE
+
+BY
+
+THE RIGHT REVEREND DR. CAMERON,
+
+BISHOP OF ARICHAT.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+The reply of Maximilian to the wealthy courtier who tendered him a
+goodly purse of gold for a title of nobility, was worthy of that
+emperor: "I can enrich thee," he said, "but only thy own virtue can
+enoble thee" All true grandeur, excellence, and dignity, are the
+offspring of virtue. Even the most renowned oracles of paganism
+proclaim this, and the very persecutors of holiness are often
+constrained to pay homage to their victim. No wonder, then, that
+whenever we are privileged to find one of those rare mortals, whom
+virtue has unmistakably marked as her own, we lovingly attach an
+exceptional importance to everything connected with his history. Such
+assuredly was he whose "account of what befel" him during his first
+ten years in America, is now for the first time published in English.
+A brief sketch of the religious Order to which he belonged, of the
+life he led, and of the Monastery he founded, may give added interest
+to his own simple and edifying narrative.
+
+What Scripture terms "the world," and so emphatically denounces as
+such, is the poisonous source of the mother-evils described by St.
+John as "the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the
+eyes, and the pride of life." Flight from the contamination of this
+threefold inordinate love of pleasures, riches and honors, being
+essential to salvation, is most easily, most surely and most
+meritoriously achieved by those who, in answer to a Divine call,
+consecrate and give themselves wholly to God, by the practice of the
+evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience. Those who
+embrace this angelic profession form the choice portion of the fold
+of Christ. They rank as His spouses, and, by the holy ambition of
+their virgin love, console Him for the craven defections or the cold
+indifference of so many Christians.
+
+All Christians animated by the spirit of Jesus are religious, just
+as they are holy, and kings and priests (I Peter 2,9). Such is the
+unity of the marvellous body of Christ, the Church, whose soul is
+infinite love, that her every member shares, in some sense and
+measure, all her sublime prerogatives. But as God willed that in His
+family some goods should be common to all, so He likewise decreed
+that other goods should be reserved to comparatively few, and through
+these chosen and privileged ones benefit the rest. Hence, as besides
+this elementary royalty and priesthood conferred by baptism, there
+are, according to the express order of God superior and official
+royalties and priesthoods, in like manner besides the fundamental
+religion, which is the vital breath of every soul in a state of
+grace, there is a religion more eminent, more definite, more perfect.
+Thus as there is here below a sacerdotal and royal state, so likewise
+is there a religious state which is confined to those only who bind
+themselves by vows to a monastic life. It is evident, therefore, that
+when Catholics use the expression "religious Order," or term a monk
+or nun "a religious," they are perfectly justified in doing so, the
+cavillings of Dr. Trench to the contrary notwithstanding.
+
+Each religious order is characterized by the special purpose for
+which it was founded, and by the constitution and rule which its
+members are to follow. The observance of the Benedictine rule was
+greatly relaxed in the monasteries of France towards the close of the
+eleventh century, when St. Robert (1098) inaugurated a reform at
+Citeaux, which resulted in the establishment of the Cistercian Order.
+A monastery of this Order was subsequently (1140) founded in La
+Perche, France, by the Count of Perche, and was called La Trappe. In
+1662 the commendatory abbot of La Trappe, Armand Jean le Bouthilier
+de Rance', a nobleman who abandoned wealth and a brilliant career,
+visited La Trappe, undertook a new reform of the Cistercian rule, and
+thus became the founder of that branch of this Order which became
+known as the congregation of La Trappe. In consequence of the
+Revolution of 1789, one of the Trappist Fathers, Dom Augustin
+conducted twenty-four of his brethren from France to Valsainte, in
+Switzerland. Here they decided to adopt a rule still more strict than
+that which they had hitherto observed. This step occasioned a
+division in the Trappist Order: some monasteries following the rule
+of Valsainte, others that of de Rance'. An appeal to Rome resulted in
+a decree dated October 3rd, 1834, by which all Trappist monasteries
+were placed under one government. The decree not having however had
+the desired effect, the Holy See decided in 1847 to sanction two
+distinct congregations, one to follow the constitution of de Rance',
+and the other to observe the rule of St. Benedict, with the primitive
+constitution of the Cistercian Order. To the latter congregation
+belong the Trappist monasteries of Canada and the United States,
+whose time-table on week days during winter is as follows:--
+
+At two o'clock, a. m., the Trappists rise and proceed to their
+chapel, where they devote their time to the recitation of the Office,
+meditation, &c., till 7.45, when they have High Mass, followed by
+manual labor, which, with the interruption of only half an hour given
+to the recitation of Office and examen of conscience, continues till
+2 p. m.; ten minutes more and they break their long fast of twenty-four
+hours with the lean and only repast of the day. At 6 p. m. begins
+spiritual reading, immediately followed by compline and other
+devotional exercises till 7, when they retire to their much needed
+rest on their hard straw mattresses. Perpetual silence is prescribed,
+unless in case of necessity, so that the Trappist's whole life is one
+of extraordinary austerity and of incessant recollection, reminding
+him at every turn of the shortness of life and the tremendous rigor
+of judgment. The time-table for summer varies in some minor practices
+and observances, while, according to that of Sundays and holidays,
+those religious in the latter case rise at midnight, and in the
+former at 1 a. m., and busy themselves till 7 o'clock, p. m. during
+winter, and 8 o'clock during summer in the praises of the Lord.
+
+James Merle was born at Lyons, France, the 29th October, 1768. His
+father was a much respected physician in that city. On the 7th of
+April, 1798, while the godless Revolution was carrying resistless
+devastation over the country, he privately received the holy order of
+priesthood at the hands of Mgr. C. F. D. Dubois de Sanzay, Archbishop
+of Vienne, and seven years afterwards he entered the Trappist Order,
+taking the name of Father Vincent de Paul, by which he has always
+since been known.
+
+In his memoir Father Vincent speaks of having bought a large tract
+of land near the sea in Nova Scotia, and of having built a house
+thereon. This was in Tracadie, where he resided for some years
+previous to his return to France in 1823. In 1824 he came again to
+Tracadie with another worthy priest of his Order, Father Francis, a
+native of Freiburg, together with three lay brothers, and the house
+above referred to became thenceforth the monastery of Petit
+Clairvaux. A few years later three other lay brothers were admitted,
+two of them from Halifax, and one from the United States.
+
+Until the Rev. John Quinn was appointed parish priest of Tracadie,
+(1837) Father Vincent had pastoral charge of the three missions of
+Tracadie, Havre au Boucher, and Pomquet, and the old people of the
+place still recount his innumerable acts of extraordinary zeal and
+devotion. "He scarcely ever had the stole off his neck during Lent,"
+is the remark of one of them. He also made frequent excursions to
+Cheticamp, Arichat, and other parts of Cape Breton, to preach
+missions there, and to assist the dying. In his memoir he speaks of
+that sublime pilgrimage of the heart, the admirable devotion of the
+Way of the Cross, as one especially acceptable to God; and no wonder
+it bore marvellous fruit as conducted by him. At each station this
+holy servant of God did not content himself with reading the usual
+prayers: he gave expression to heavenly thoughts inspired by his own
+burning love of his crucified Saviour, producing a mysterious and
+lasting echo in all hearts. The church was always crowded on those
+occasions. To prepare children for their first communion, he devoted
+six entire weeks of instruction each year. His capacity for work was
+immense; and while hurry never appeared in his actions, he managed to
+glide through them with a masterly ease far out-stripping the
+speediest progress of ordinary mortals. A supernatural light seemed
+to supersede the necessity of recourse to the usual slow and
+laborious process of reasoning in seeing one's way, and to endow him
+with an intuition excluding all doubt, and with an instinct ever
+ready in performance. Thus for everything he found ample time,
+because no particle of his time was lost. He was a living,
+palpitating, breathing, vocal, acting temple of the Holy Ghost, and
+this Divine indwelling was, in a manner, visible to all. At the
+altar, during the holy sacrifice which he daily offered, it seemed to
+transfigure his countenance so as to impress his heavenly citizenship
+upon all beholders. In administering the sacrament, in instructing
+the people, in his incessant endeavors to keep or win them from sin,
+and to provide for all their spiritual wants, the same irradiation of
+holiness imparted the most extraordinary efficacy to his charity and
+zeal.
+
+So palpable was this impress of sanctity in his every-day-life, that
+no one could come in contact with him without perceiving it and
+feeling its inherent power. Such being the rare effulgence of Father
+Vincent's sanctity as seen amid the dust and darkness of the world,
+one can more readily realize the transcendent perfection and purity
+of his soul as nurtured and revealed in his divine communing in his
+own beloved cloister. No wonder, then, that when this admirable
+servant of God, fall of days and merits, was called away to his
+reward on the morning of New Year's Day, 1853, all felt that they had
+one intercessor more in heaven. No wonder that miraculous cures
+wrought through his mediation began soon to multiply. Nor was Father
+Vincent's reputation for sanctity confined to Catholics. Even
+Protestants not only acknowledged the heroism of his virtues, but
+also sought to possess some earth from his grave, and one of them, J.
+H., still living, was restored to health and usefulness by the
+application of this relic to his diseased and disabled limbs.
+
+The next Prior of Petit Clairvaux was the dauntless and holy Father
+Francis, whose advanced age obliged him in 1858 to resign his office
+into the hands of the sweet Father James, a native of Belgium, and a
+religious eminently qualified for the position. Such was the success
+of his administration that in 1876 the community was raised by Pius
+IX of blessed memory to the dignity of an abbey--an abbey, which,
+with its forty-one fervent religious, now wisely governed by the
+worthy Abbot Dominic, presents an example of heroic abstinence,
+mortification and prayer, well calculated to put the characteristic
+dissipation, effeminacy and dissoluteness of the age to blush, and to
+bring home to our minds that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness
+with God." (I Co. 3,19).
+
+JOHN CAMERON,
+_Bishop of Arichat._
+
+
+
+
+MEMOIR
+
+OF
+
+FATHER VINCENT.
+
+
+[Some account of what befel Father Vincent de Paul, Religious of La
+Trappe, with observations made by him when in America, where he has
+spent about ten years, with the permission of his Superior, in
+obedience to whose orders he writes the following:]
+
+The reverend Father Abbot, of La Trappe, Dom Augustin, (De
+Lestrange) foreseeing that Bonaparte would seek to destroy the
+communities existing in Europe, resolved on sending a party of his
+religious to America, in order that they might establish themselves
+there and preserve their monastic state.
+
+In 1812, I, in company with two other brothers, was sent by him to
+the United States, there to found an establishment of our Order. We
+left Bordeaux on the 15th June, and on the 6th of the month of August
+we arrived at Boston. We had with us one of our Trappistines, whose
+object was also to found a community; with this intention she had
+preceded her companions, but now found herself alone, as passports
+were refused to the other sisters. We were welcomed by the worthy Mr.
+Matignon, parish priest of the town, who coaxed us to remain in the
+diocese of Bishop Cheverus. However as we had received orders to
+establish ourselves near Baltimore, after a few days rest I started
+for that town alone, leaving my brothers and the nun in Boston,
+intending to send for them when I should find a suitable site for the
+two projected establishments. I paid my respects to His Grace the
+Archbishop of Baltimore, who received me kindly, but appeared at a
+loss where to find a site such as we desired. After many unsuccessful
+efforts and researches, he established me temporally on a farm
+belonging to the Society of Jesus (of which he was a member) until
+such time as we could procure the sort of place we wanted; then as I
+thought that time might be long in coming, I summoned my brothers to
+me, and arranged for a suitable lodging for the nun.
+
+During our stay, a rich man of Baltimore, who was once a Protestant
+and had been converted, offered us 2000 acres of land in the
+mountains of Pensylvania, near a river called the Delaware. He was
+even generous enough to offer me the services of his son, who was
+also a recent convert, and who came with us to point out the property
+which, however, I was not able to inspect thoroughly as I remained
+there only one day.
+
+I returned soon after with two young men who were inclined to join
+our Order. They commenced a somewhat rude novitiate, for we fasted
+and kept silence on the way, going always on foot for want of money.
+After great suffering from fatigue and heat (as it was summer), we
+arrived at a little town, distant about sixty miles from
+Philadelphia, whence we had started on our tour of inspection. This
+little town, which was called Milford, was quite near to the land
+that was to be ours.
+
+On the way we passed through many Protestant villages whose
+inhabitants appeared to be anxious for the light of the true faith,
+and this budding town of Milford did not look askance at us, as
+almost all of its inhabitants came to mass on Sunday. After mass one
+of the young men aforementioned, who knew English well, expounded the
+catechism to them, and they listened with attention. The Protestant
+minister came afterwards to preach, but we were told that none of the
+people went to hear him which without doubt annoyed him greatly. One
+of the principal men of the place, a Protestant, as indeed they were
+all, begged me to remain with them, saying that they would subscribe
+me a pension, and that he would head the list with the sum of fifty
+dollars. But we had not come to this country to be missionaries, so
+we left Milford to go and inspect our land.
+
+Travelling through these immense and trackless forests was very
+difficult, and we often went astray. One day when I was alone with a
+child who served me in the capacity of guide, we were greatly
+puzzled. We wished to find a little hut that we had built in the
+woods in which to sleep; nightfall was coming on, and there seemed no
+chance of finding our camp before sundown. I said to the child: "here
+is a low, flat rock, on which I will spend the night." He replied
+that if I remained there I should be devoured by the bears, of which
+there were a great number on these mountains; we had already heard
+their cries and hideous howlings. At length, thanks be to God, we
+found the cabin, which was not a very safe refuge for us, as it was
+only a little hut built of young trees. The two novices and I slept
+there like Indians, either on the bare ground or on couches formed by
+heaps of the branches of trees.
+
+Having no provisions with us we were obliged for the first few days
+to eat what we could find in the woods, such as certain little blue
+berries that they call "bluets," and other wild fruits, which the
+people of the country despise. On the third or fourth day help came.
+A Jew and a Protestant appeared on the scene, bringing us potatoes.
+This Jew showed a leaning towards our religion, and the Sunday
+previous I had said mass in his house. I do not doubt that if we had
+remained longer with these people many would have been converted.
+There was one entire family, of father, mother and three children,
+whom I had instructed, and who were to receive baptism and embrace
+the Catholic religion. Unfortunately the woman was the victim of evil
+counsel at Milford, and was deterred from her good purpose. There
+were many people in Milford who were bitter enemies to the truth.
+
+I often said mass in our cabin. One day we made a cross and carried
+it in procession for nearly a mile: we sang psalms, and part of the
+way went barefoot, until we reached the spot where we planted the
+cross, which was our consolation and our safeguard, as there were in
+this desert a great number of rattlesnakes and other reptiles no less
+dangerous. When we left our retreat we would sometimes step upon them
+and would hear the noise that these serpents make with their rattles.
+
+At last having walked over a great portion of these two thousand
+acres of land during the two weeks that we spent there, we left these
+solitudes and went down to Philadelphia. [Footnote: It was not deemed
+advisable to accept this property, it being almost entirely rock or
+marsh land. Besides which it was not suitable for one of our
+establishments, communication with other places being too difficult.]
+
+Upon arriving at the town I told the Bishop how well-disposed were
+the people whom we had seen, and suggested to him to send some
+missionaries there, but he told me that he had none to send. If I had
+been free I would have returned at once to labor for the conversion
+of these poor people.
+
+After a year of crosses and difficulties in the way of our discovering
+a suitable and convenient place for our establishment, we found
+ourselves in Maryland, an excellent province, producing all the
+necessaries of life in abundance. It is near the sea, and near to the
+Potoxen, and not far from the Potomac, two great rivers that add to
+its commercial advantages and render it more flourishing. We thought
+we had at last found the country in which to succeed in establishing
+our foundation. I consulted His Grace the Archbishop of Baltimore, and
+the reverend gentlemen of the seminary of St. Sulpice, and in
+accordance with their advice, I decided to go there and commence the
+work. Three more brothers sent from France by our Reverend Father
+Abbot, arrived at this juncture and joined us. We bought the land and
+set ourselves to work to cultivate it. We built a house for ourselves,
+which consisted of trees placed one upon another--what is called in
+this country a _loghouse_. It was small, being only eighteen feet
+long, and as many wide. We shortly commenced another which would serve
+as a chapel. The negroes of the country--who are all Catholics--gave
+us a helping hand in this work On arriving here we found lodgings in a
+private house near our clearing, in which we remained until our
+_loghouse_ was fit to receive us.
+
+Maryland produces an abundance of Indian corn, the cultivation of
+which is the chief work of the negroes. We subsisted almost entirely
+upon this food, with potatoes and occasionally bread; wheat, however,
+and buckwheat grow very well. We arrived there at the beginning of
+the year 1813, and during the winter we were occupied in cutting down
+trees and preparing the land for work in the spring, so that when
+that season arrived we had an acre and a half of land under
+cultivation. Part of this we planted with potatoes, another part was
+a garden where we sowed different vegetables, and we also laid out an
+orchard of young fruit trees. So far everything looked well, but when
+summer came, and while we were working most zealously we all fell ill
+with fever, and many of us were attacked with dysentery. I attribute
+these maladies to many causes,--first to the miasma or poisonous
+vapors exhaled from newly cleared land, then to the great heat and
+the bad water that we had to drink, which, though it had been pure
+enough in the winter and spring, had become bad by reason of a
+multitude of little insects that were perpetually drowning themselves
+in it. Another reason that contributed to render us ill was the
+number of different sorts of flies by which we were devoured day and
+night. There were among others two species of flies which in this
+country they call _tics_. Some of them are large, others are
+small, they fasten themselves to the skin and so penetrate into the
+flesh that one can only remove them by pulling them to pieces, even
+then a part remains and causes an insupportable itching.
+
+We were dying one after another in this place when our Rev. Father
+Abbot on his way from Martinique, with several religious, arrived at
+New York. He summoned our community to him, as well as that of the
+Rev. Father Urbain, which a short time previously had united with
+ours, so that these three little communities now formed but one,
+under our chief Superior, who thus in a moment effected a foundation
+such as we had spent years of fruitless effort endeavoring to
+establish. Our new monastery was established in the country near New
+York, and did much good. Thirty-three poor children (almost all of
+them orphans) were brought up there, and were given all the
+necessaries of life, even to their clothes. Protestants came to see
+the good work and two ministers were converted. These gentlemen came
+sometimes to see us, and assisted at our religious ceremonies. They
+liked to converse with our Reverend Father Abbot, who won them by his
+frank and polite manner. In addition to the work of this monastery,
+our Reverend Father Abbot supported and directed another house of our
+Order which he had also founded, and which was productive of much
+good. This was a community of nuns. There was yet another convent,
+one belonging to the Ursulines quite near, that is to say about three
+or four miles from our monastery, which our community supplied with a
+chaplain. I was obliged to go there every Sunday to say mass and to
+confess the nuns. When we arrived in their neighborhood they were
+without a priest; we could not leave them in such need, so that I,
+ill though I was, had to say two masses on Sundays, one in the church
+of the Ursulines, the other in that of our sisters. However, this was
+to me a cause of rejoicing, although I was fatigued after my voyages
+and overwhelmed by the work with which I was charged, I was
+compensated and consoled by the good that I could be the means of
+doing. I remember having received the abjuration of Protestantism of
+three young ladies who were boarders at the Ursuline Convent, and who
+had the happiness of becoming Catholics.
+
+Although we were in a Protestant country, our Reverend Father Abbot
+undertook to have the procession of the Blessed Sacrament on the
+festival of Corpus Christi, thinking it might do some good. He had
+several repositories built in a field adjoining our house, these he
+decorated in the best style possible and managed to have a canopy and
+boys to swing censors and others to throw flowers before the Blessed
+Sacrament. When the time for the procession arrived we saw our
+Reverend Father bearing Jesus Christ in his hands and walking under
+the dais borne by four religious in dalmatics accompanied by the
+community and by several strangers singing hymns and canticles.
+Numbers of children preceeded the Blessed Sacrament, exercising the
+solemn functions which had been allotted to them. This infantine
+band, clad in white surplices girded with different colors, resembled
+angels and presented a spectacle at once beautiful and edifying to
+the beholder. The Protestants who were present appeared to be much
+pleased with the procession.
+
+Our Reverend Father Abbot wished with all his heart to be able to
+continue the good work thus commenced, but he was obliged to abandon
+it for want of pecuniary means, and perhaps also because of the
+ill-will of many who offered opposition to his projects; besides which
+King Louis XVIII had been restored to the throne of France, and
+religion was being re-established in that country. Almost all our
+brothers were dispersed here and there throughout Europe, and it
+would be necessary to reunite them. Persuaded, besides, that he would
+receive more help in France than in the United States, and in short,
+reflecting that there would perhaps be more good to be done yet in
+the old world than in the new, (the Revolution having been the cause
+of such wickedness and having done so much harm) our Father Abbot
+decided that he and his community would return to France. He embarked
+in the autumn of 1814, and took with him from New York the greater
+number of our Brothers and all our Sisters, leaving only six Brothers
+and myself behind, with orders that we should join him in France
+after I had arranged our business matters and recovered my strength,
+for I had still within me the germ of that malady of which mention
+has been made in speaking of Maryland where I contracted it, as did
+the others. It left me with a slow fever, that lasted for a long time.
+
+At this junction two of our Brothers died, a lay Brother and an
+oblate. This latter had been almost a millionaire he having acquired
+a large fortune in the West India Islands; he lost it, however, in
+the negro rebellion, and retired to La Trappe, where he died poor
+enough.
+
+Belonging to the house in which we were living was an orchard which
+we had made our cemetery, here we had buried our two brothers; but,
+as we were going to leave this spot and did not wish to expose their
+bodies to be perhaps profaned by heretics who might buy the ground
+and not wish to have them there, we determined to exhume them. They
+had been buried about a fortnight, and the weather was warm, so we
+provided ourselves with incense to burn in case there might be a foul
+odour. This precaution, however, was not necessary, as there was no
+smell perceptible, they were as fresh, so to speak, as if they were
+still alive. We remarked especially that the body of Brother Jean
+Marie, (the lay Brother) was supple. I touched it myself, and saw
+that it was really so, for while I held him his legs swayed as would
+those of a person in life.
+
+Near the town there was a little cemetery well walled in, and
+intended for the poor. As our brothers were poor in fact, and by
+profession, I had them laid there, and in the same spirit of poverty
+interred them side by side in the same grave. We accompanied these
+good brothers to the tomb, offering our prayers for their repose, and
+all was finished before daylight.
+
+About the middle of the month of May, 1815, our business being
+concluded, we left New York, and fifteen days later arrived at
+Halifax, without having experienced bad weather. After two week's
+delay in searching for another vessel, we at length found one, and by
+means of the recommendation of Mr. Burke, then pastor of the town,
+and since Bishop, we were taken on board with our seven trunks
+without being obliged to pay anything for our passage. The ship was a
+transport called the "Ceylon," and was delayed by contrary winds. The
+second day after we embarked the wind still being from a wrong
+quarter, I was stupid and imprudent enough to go ashore to see about
+some business that was not of grave importance--when lo! the wind
+veered round suddenly and became favorable. The ship sailed, but
+Father, Vincent remained and lost his passage!
+
+I thus found myself alone in a strange country, and without means. I
+made every effort to discover some way of overtaking the ship, but in
+vain. It was impossible to do so, and I felt very sad at the thought
+of my brothers being carried so far away from me.
+
+My Superior in France, to whom I made known this event, wrote to me
+that as God had permitted it, I could remain until farther orders,
+and occupy myself with the salvation of the Indians; for which object
+I accordingly labored up to the time of my leaving Nova Scotia, that
+is to say up to the month of October, 1823. These labors, however,
+did not prevent my working for the good of our Order, as we shall see
+later.
+
+Mr. Bourke having gone to Ireland, we were only two priests for the
+town of Halifax and its suburbs, where there were many Catholics,
+without counting the Mic-macs, who are the Indians inhabiting Nova
+Scotia. These Indians were called to the Faith about four centuries
+ago. French priests or Jesuits coming at the peril of their lives,
+brought them the light of the Gospel. Many of these ministers of our
+Lord fell victims of their own zeal and charity, being murdered by
+this nation, then pagan and barbarous. Since these Indians became
+acquainted with the true religion they have never been known to
+conform to any other, but have preserved their firmness in the faith
+up to the present day in spite of the danger of perversion to which
+they are so often exposed, more especially since they have lived among
+the English, and in spite of their ignorance, for it is difficult to
+teach them. Their language which they call "Mic-mac," is a jargon
+without rule. They have been taught to read in it, but only by means
+of hieroglyphics. A figure or a sign which they write themselves on
+bark or on paper, may sometimes signify only one word, sometimes again
+it stands for a whole phrase. Some have thought they detected Arab
+words amongst this language, but I think it bears more resemblance to
+that of children just learning to speak without being able to
+understand what they say. For example for the "_yes_" they say
+[long-e] (ay); for "_no_" they say "mena." The accent of the Mic-mac
+is soft and slow. I have remarked that, they do not convey their ideas
+well in any other language. When one translates Mic-mac for them into
+French or English, they often appear dissatisfied, and one can see
+from their manner that the true sense is not given. What renders their
+faith more remarkable and meritorious is, that they confess through
+the medium of an interpreter, and they avail themselves of the first
+they find, no matter who, provided he knows their language. They are
+often interpreted by their relatives, even the oldest by the youngest.
+Mr. Mayar, a French priest who was formerly missionary to these parts
+and who died in Halifax full of merit before God, was deeply regretted
+by these Indians. By means of great application, and by the aid of
+light from heaven, he accomplished the task of translating into their
+language a number of the prayers and chants of the church, so that
+they now sing the _Kyrie_, the _Gloria in Excelsis_, the _Credo_, &c,
+even the _Te Deum_, on the Roman or Parisian tone, (for this worthy
+priest came from Paris). They know many hymns of the Blessed Virgin,
+which they sing equally well, also the prose _Dies Irae_. They sing
+mass fairly well, especially the tone Royal, and the mass for the
+dead. Some persons may be surprised at this, and perhaps harbor a
+doubt of it, but I can testify as a witness to its truth. More than a
+hundred times they have sung it for me. So recently as the month of
+August, 1823, I was in a parish called Havre-a-Bouchers, when
+twenty-six canoes filled with Indians arrived there; they came to have
+their children baptised, and for confession, &c. There were eight
+singers among them, and during the week that they remained, they sang
+mass for me each day, and one might say conducted themselves like
+canons or like Trappists! They have clear voices. These poor Indians
+might shame some of our European Catholics by their zeal and their
+piety; they will go fifty or even a hundred leagues to find a priest
+and to receive the Sacraments, and as it often happens that they have
+no provisions when they arrive, they pass two or three days without
+eating, occupied only with their souls and forgetful of the wants of
+the body.
+
+While in Halifax, which is the capital of Nova Scotia, I found
+myself overladen with work. The priest who was with me being in very
+delicate health and often indisposed, most of the work fell to me. He
+was at length obliged to go away for change of air and was absent for
+a month, during which time it fell to me to baptize, confess, marry,
+visit the sick in town and country, and be on my feet day and night,
+besides saying mass on Sundays and Holy days.
+
+Although I knew very little English, I preached twice in that
+language in the Catholic church of the town, where there were about
+two thousand Catholics, of whom the greater number were Irish.
+
+Soon I felt constrained to go further into the Province of Nova
+Scotia to minister to the wants of the poor, neglected inhabitants.
+The first place to which I went was a parish called Chezzetcook,
+composed of French Acadians, who were without a priest. It is seven
+leagues from the town (Halifax) and when it possessed a missionary
+the Indians had been accustomed to go there. They were not long in
+learning of my presence, and came from a circuit of fifteen or twenty
+leagues. I had a transparancy representing the suffering souls in
+purgatory, which our Revered Father Abbot had made. The figures
+expressing different shades of grief and of the desire as well as the
+hope of seeing God, combined with the brilliant and real looking
+flames, were well calculated to produce an impression. I showed it to
+them and explained it by means of one of their interpreters who knew
+French. At once penetrated with compassion and charity for the
+suffering souls in purgatory they began to weep, and to look up the
+money they had with them so as to have the Holy Sacrifice offered on
+behalf of these suffering souls, and that without my having said
+anything to give them the idea. They all wear the cross, some have it
+hung round their necks, others fasten it on their breast. It is
+seldom that an Indian leaves home without his beads; they generally
+have them and do not neglect to say them, sometimes repeating the
+chapelet several times a day, as well as in the middle of the night,
+when they rise to pray. They observe all the fasts of the Church, and
+the penances imposed on them they generally perform on Fridays. On
+that day in a spirit of penitence, and in memory of the passion of
+Jesus Christ, a man will hold out to his wife the backs of his hands,
+which the wife strikes with a rod, giving twenty, thirty, or fifty
+blows. She then in turn presents her hands and receives the same
+chastisement from her husband. This chastisement is dealt out
+indiscriminately, children are thus chastized by their parents, and
+what is surprising, the little Indians when struck on the hands do
+not withdraw them, no matter how much they feel the pain. I have seen
+them bleeding, yet in spite of that they were firm and motionless.
+Their religion is not only exterior, they have it in their heart as
+will be seen by the following fact: The feast of St. Anne is a great
+festival for the Indians, and I made a point of being at Chezzetcook
+on that day. Two hundred Indians assembled, most of them came in a
+spirit of devotion, but some of them had evil designs, for they
+mediated killing their king and all his family. I discovered this
+plot in time, and learnt the cause with astonishment. It was that
+they believed that the chief and all his family would change their
+religion, that they had become Protestants, or that they intended so
+to do. This is how it came about. Some heretics called Methodists,
+had done all in their power to attract the king of the Indians to
+their sect, going so far as to give him all sorts of provisions, and
+other valuables, such as cows, pigs, farming implements, &c. One of
+these Methodists was sent among the Indians to learn their language,
+and so corrupt them more easily. In this way the report got about
+that their Chief, Benjamin (which was the name of the king) had
+joined the Methodists with all his family. Mr. Mignault, parish
+priest of Halifax, and myself knew this to be false, for Benjamin
+himself, whom we had warned against the dangers that threatened him,
+had replied: "The potatoes, cows, and the other provisions of Bromlet
+(which was the name of the Methodist who had given him the things)
+are good, I have taken them and made use of them, but his religion is
+worthless, I will have none of it."
+
+In consequence of this we assembled the Indians in the church of
+Chezztecook, which was not large enough to hold them all, and we made
+the king repeat his profession of faith in their presence, so that
+they should no longer doubt his sincerity. He did this in a most
+edifying manner. His example was followed by all his officers, who
+also made their profession of faith. We remarked in particular one of
+his brothers who was conspicuous by the touching beauty and eloquence
+of his speech, and by the earnestness of the gestures which he
+employed. Some fragments of his discourse were rendered into our
+language by an Acadian interpreter, who understood Mic-mac pretty well.
+
+"How," said he, "could we leave our religion that will save our
+souls if we follow it, this religion that comes from God, whose son
+died on the cross for our salvation? Shall we lose our souls that
+have cost Him so dear, for which he suffered so much, and which he
+shed all his blood to purchase? No, better die than change our faith
+and do such a great wrong."
+
+I had written to Mr. Mignault to come so as to render the affair
+more imposing and dignified, and he arrived in good time. He carried
+a large crucifix, which at the conclusion of the ceremony the Indians
+came to venerate. The missionary then said a few words of
+instruction, after which the Indians embraced each other as brothers
+and friends, in token of general satisfaction and peace. I heard all
+their confessions, and a large number had the happiness of receiving
+Holy Communion. On the eve of St. Anne's feast, they made a bonfire,
+and while the wood burned they fired off guns and danced around the
+fire, clapping their hands in imitation of musical instruments. This
+lasted for a great part of the night, however, they had previously
+said their evening prayers, and sung hymns and canticles.
+
+We can obtain almost anything from them in the name of our holy
+religion, so great is their attachment to it, as will be seen by the
+following: One day while I was in Halifax, a number of Indians came
+to the presbytery to complain to me of the Governor who resided in
+the town. They clamored for the guns and powder which had been
+promised to them, and which they were accustomed to receive every
+year from the English Government in addition to their gifts of woolen
+blankets. The missionaries distributed, or saw to the distribution of
+these latter. I was obliged to go myself to see the Governor on the
+subject of this small rebellion, for the Indians wore a threatening
+air. His Excellency begged me to pacify them and to tell them that
+their demand would soon be granted. I returned and said a few words
+in the name of religion, which at once quieted them.
+
+Another time some barbarous and fanatical miscreants set a number of
+Indians against us, making them believe that we only drew them around
+us in order to do them harm, and to emperil their safety. This they
+apparently believed, for we were warned that they would attempt our
+lives. I spoke to them instructing them as well as I was able. At
+last by the arguments of the religion to which they are so attached,
+I turned them from their wicked purpose. I am sure that afterwards
+they experienced a lively remorse for having entertained such a
+thought. Formerly, that is to say, before priests came among them,
+they had the barbarous custom of killing their fathers and mothers
+when they became old and infirm. Many of the bludgeons and war clubs
+with which they killed their parents have been found quite recently.
+Now, however, they take care of them until their death, respecting
+and loving them. It is thought that before they had any knowledge of
+religion they were cannibals.
+
+How is it that this people who were formerly so unnatural and so
+barbarous are to-day so different, so humane, and quiet and
+tractible? What has rendered them so docile and submissive; in short,
+what has worked this happy change if not the Catholic religion?
+Protestants, as we have shown above, have tried to civilize them, and
+to imbue them with different sentiments, even going so far as to live
+among them and entering into their pursuits, but their undertakings
+have always failed, each attempt has met with the same result It is
+only the true religion and its priests that have power to convert and
+civilize these savages and make them useful members of society. Each
+year they have masses said for different intentions, and in this they
+give evidence of generosity and nobleness of sentiment. The first
+mass that they recommend is for the human race, that is for all men
+living; the second is for the souls in purgatory; the third for all
+Indians and others who have died during the year; the fourth to thank
+God for all benefits received from His hand during the year, and the
+fifth to offer up to Him the coming year so that he may bless it. For
+this object they save their money, sometimes to the end of the year,
+sometimes to the feast of St. Anne, when they have an opportunity to
+come to their religious duties. This, however, does not prevent their
+having a special mass said, should any of their near relatives die.
+They generally recommend high masses for these general intentions,
+and for thanksgiving.
+
+Before the French took possession of Nova Scotia, which they called
+Acadia, the Indians lived only by hunting and fishing, and had no
+clothing, but such as they made of the skins of wild beasts. Their
+houses were hut-like in form, as they are at the present time, for
+they have not changed their ancient manner of living. I have often
+slept in their cabins, which are very uncomfortable for civilized
+people, such as Frenchmen, although the Indians prefer them to our
+houses. A proof of this is that, notwithstanding the length of time
+they have lived among Europeans, they have not made up their mind to
+imitate them. This may possibly arise from idleness, for it would
+cost them much labor as well as time and money were they to erect
+houses such as ours. They are not rich enough to employ workmen, but
+in less than a day, without expense and with little labor, they can
+build the house in which they live, sleep, cook, &c., and which is
+much less trouble for them. They cut fifteen or twenty little trees
+of about the same size as the arm of a youth of fifteen. From these
+they remove the branches, if there be any, and make them into posts
+of nine or ten feet in length. They then plant them in the earth at
+equal distances, in the form of a circle, placing them so that they
+may incline inwards, so that the base is much larger than the summit.
+An opening is left at the apex sufficient to admit of the escape of
+the smoke from the fire, which is always made in the middle of the
+cabin. They then cover these poles with the bark of trees, leaving an
+open space for the entrance. If they are not too poor, they cover
+this space with some pieces of old blankets. Their houses are built
+in the shape of a sugar loaf, their bed is the naked earth, or some
+small branches of trees, shreded fine, that serve as a mattrass.
+These cabins are never more than fifteen or twenty feet in diameter.
+
+Their cookery consists chiefly in suspending above their fire some
+eels or hares that they have killed. These they eat almost before
+they have changed color, (what the Acadians term _boucare_).
+There are some who have kettles, and who cook their fish in water,
+with potatoes, which vegetable for some time past the Indians of Nova
+Scotia have planted, and which now forms almost their principle
+nourishment. Many have boats in which they go codfishing. Although
+they are generally rather idle, they occupy themselves nevertheless
+at work which requires attention and a certain kind of application,
+such as making pretty boats out of bark and pretty boxes of different
+shapes and colors, and elegant and highly ornamented baskets. For
+this ornamentation they use the quills of the porcupine, an animal
+very common in America. These quills they die black, red, blue, &c.
+They make these colors themselves by means of certain barks which
+they boil in water. They then fasten the colored quills on the bark
+of their boxes in tasteful and varied patterns. This is generally
+considered to be women's work. That of the men is heavier, such as
+the making of churns and other wooden utensils for domestic use. They
+tan the skins of the animals they kill and make their shoes or
+moccasins out of them. These are very thin and do not last long. As,
+regards their dress, both men and women are oddly attired. Their
+clothes are fashioned somewhat after the manner of ours, but the
+sewing is all on the outside and the stitches are very large. The
+selvedge of the cloth, (which they are always careful to secure when
+buying it) also shews on the outside, from their shoulders to their
+heels, and is considered ornamental. The squaws' dresses are similar,
+with the addition of a hood, which, when turned up, completely covers
+their head. The more elegant are ornamented with ribbons, flowers,
+beads, &c. It is more particularly when they come to their devotions
+that they decorate themselves thus. The men also at such times dress
+themselves with more than usual care. They live very peaceably
+together, willingly lend to each other, and have almost everything in
+common. If one receives a gift of anything, bread for example, all
+the others, men and women, regard it as a present made to all, and
+are as grateful as if each had received it, consequently there is no
+such thing as jealousy among them. A beautiful example for all
+Christians!
+
+We will now speak of their dexterity. It is wonderful to see them
+manage their bark canoes, which are extremely light. These little
+boats are narrow at both ends, a little wider in the middle, and
+generally about nine or ten feet long. They move with surprising
+quickness in the midst of the angry waves. Two persons are sufficient
+to propel them, and it can be done by one. When fishing eels they
+stand at the end of their canoes and spear the eels with a long stick,
+to the end of which is fastened a sharp pointed iron. This instrument
+they call _higogue_. They are so long sighted that they can see to the
+bottom, of water twenty feet in depth. They wait until the fish rise,
+then spear them as they go along. Their dexterity is such that they
+seldom miss their aim. I have often gone with them; we have journeyed
+together by sea and by land. When there are _portages_, that is to say
+lands to cross, in order to regain the sea or lakes, they put their
+canoes on their heads and carry them to the water, and if they are
+overtaken by rain or by bad weather, they turn them over and take
+shelter underneath them.
+
+Without counting the Indians who in 1818 numbered many thousand
+souls in Nova Scotia and in Cape Breton, which Province alone, is
+almost as large as France, there were at least twelve hundred and
+fifty Catholic families scattered over these two large Provinces. At
+that time we numbered only seven priests, two of whom were very
+infirm, which was the reason of my being obliged to leave the Halifax
+mission and to repair to a place two hundred miles from there, on the
+coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and in the neighborhood of Cape
+Breton, This part of Nova Scotia (to which I was sent by Bishop Burke
+on his return from his visit to Europe, where he had been made Bishop
+of Sion and Vicar Apostolic of this Province), was without a priest,
+although it contained a great number of Catholics. On my arrival I
+found three parishes abandoned and deprived of the precious
+consolations of religion. Many children were brought to me for
+baptism, and I had numerous confessions to hear, &c. They came from
+great distances to take me to visit the sick who had ample time to
+die before I could get near them.
+
+I was given especial charge of three parishes composed of Acadians
+and of natives of France, to whom the English Government had given
+land, and who still remain in this country. The Acadian portion of my
+charge having intermarried with the Indians, had become half savage,
+and had adopted many of the Indian customs. [Footnote: Le peuple
+Acadien s'etant allie avec les Sauvages, est devenu moitie Sauvage,
+et a pris beaucoup de leurs manieres.] There is a tribe of the
+Indians called _Micmacs_ in one of these three parishes that is
+named Pomquet (an Indian word) and I was in a position to observe
+them as they were only ten miles from Tracadie, which was my ordinary
+place of residence. They there possessed a considerable property
+given to them by the Government. They cultivated it, planted potatoes
+and cut hay. When I arrived among them I found great disorder. Many
+had given themselves up to drunkeness, and they were without a chief.
+One day I assembled them together and spoke to them strongly about
+these matters. Since then I have seen with pleasure that they have
+not opposed me, but that they have chosen among themselves a chief
+whom they obey,--not all of them unfortunately, for there are some of
+them who are wicked and have always given me much trouble; their love
+for brandy is their ruin.
+
+I have often crossed an arm of the sea in order to visit other
+Micmacs who live in Cape Breton. This Cape is surrounded by little
+islands, and there is there a lake seven leagues in length and five
+or six in width; on which I was once shipwrecked. We were two priests
+in a bark canoe, paddled by two Indians, and were carrying the
+consolations of religion to many families of Indians who lived on the
+other side at the foot of a mountain. A storm suddenly arose, a long
+stick, which served as a mast and carried a sail, was broken, and
+during the two hours that the bad weather continued, we momentarily
+expected to be engulfed by the immense waves that rose like hills and
+fell, breaking against our feeble bark, although the pilot endeavored
+to avoid them as much as possible, while the other Indian tried to
+break their force by means of his paddle. One of these Indians, the
+elder of the two, and the more experienced, trembled, fearing every
+moment that we should be lost, and he was not so afraid for us as we
+were for ourselves. However, thanks to Providence, and to the wood of
+the True Cross that I had with me, we were delivered from danger, and
+arrived safely in port.
+
+We found a new plantation made by the Indians, that is to say, some
+tracts of cultivated land, some animals and some frames of houses.
+The Indians received us with great joy, especially when they learned
+that we were two priests who came to visit them; but in nearing their
+habitations we were exposed to great danger from the horns of a bull
+that was ferocious and was in the habit of rushing at passers by. God
+delivered us from this peril also, although the animal in question
+was quite near to us.
+
+These Indians set before us for our supper, tea, milk, butter,
+potatoes and some fruit that resembled small apples (petites pommes).
+We were hungry and tired. We ate with good appetites, and were
+anxious to retire for the night. But what beds! Appropriate truly for
+a Trappist. They were made of grass and of branches of trees thrown
+on the ground. And what a house! It had no chimney and scarcely any
+roof, so that we were all night exposed to the snow and rain which
+was falling. My companion who was suffering from lung complaint was
+injured by this, while for my part, I shivered all night and could
+not get warm, although quite near to a fire that had been kindled in
+the centre of the cabin.
+
+The next morning we rose before daybreak and baptized several Micmac
+children, (for these Indians were of the same nation as those of Nova
+Scotia) and confessed others. After that we prepared to re-cross the
+lake, which was not easy, as the sea was still very high.
+
+Another time that I started on a mission to this same Cape (Breton)
+the Indians who conducted me in a canoe perceived three monstrous
+fish called _maraches_, and they were frightened, as these fish
+are very dangerous. Their teeth are made like gardiners' knives, for
+cutting and boring, or like razors slightly bent. They are extremely
+voracious, and often follow boats, attacking them with violence. Bark
+canoes cannot resist them, they rend them open with their teeth, so
+that they sink to the bottom, which is why the Indians have such a
+terror of them. Happily for us these fish did not follow us, we
+arrived, thank God, in good health.
+
+Tracadie was usually my starting place when I left for the Indian
+mission of Cape Breton. I had from eighteen to twenty leagues to
+journey by water, making long circuits and paddling round twelve or
+fifteen little islands, and passing near many others. Nevertheless it
+only takes one day to make the journey in a bark canoe, that is if
+the wind be not contrary. The Micmacs of the Cape (Breton) knowing
+that I was on the road and would soon arrive at the mission
+[Footnote: This place is called "Mission" or "The Mission of the Bras
+d'or," because it is there that the missionaries are accustomed to
+confess, baptize and administer the Sacraments to the Indians, and to
+those who present themselves to receive them. It is a pretty little
+island on which they have built a nice chapel, and a house
+sufficiently commodious for the priest.] would all gather there to
+the number of five or six hundred. On the occasion referred to above,
+three canoes came to meet us. (I was then accompanied by another
+missionary). This was to do honor to us, to show respect and
+gratitude. When we approached near to the island two of these canoes
+were sent on ahead to announce to the king that we would arrive
+immediately, The king had all his braves armed (for they all have
+guns) and the moment we landed he commanded them to fire, after which
+he formed them into two lines and made them kneel to receive our
+benediction; they then rose and we passed between them. They
+accompanied us to the church where we chanted the _Te Deum_, or
+rather it was chanted by themselves in thanksgiving for our arrival.
+This is about the ordinary ceremony to honor the arrival of a
+missionary. When the mission was opened, after having implored the
+light of the Holy Spirit, they all confessed, and a great number
+received Holy Communion. I made the Stations of the Cross partly in
+their own Micmac language. I know that they understood me by the
+signs that they made, as well as by their devout appearance in
+following the procession. Afterwards each one came to make the
+Stations himself the best way he could. This went on for six days,
+during which time I left the pictures of the Stations in the church.
+I put a high indulgence on their crosses, crucifixes, beads, &c., by
+virtue of a power that I received from Rome since I came on this
+mission. Some Indians had given bad example and had openly sinned;
+these made public reparation, promising to correct themselves and
+praying the king, who was present in the church, to punish them, if
+they again fell into the same fault. I was obliged to leave, and had
+not time to erect fourteen large crosses which I had intended to
+place in the middle of the island to serve as a Calvary. They,
+themselves, made three crosses, probably by this time they have set
+them up (as I instructed them how to do) before leaving.
+
+The Cape Breton Indians are the best of all the Micmacs, they are
+sober, obedient to their priests, exact in the observance of the
+smallest articles of religion (if indeed there be any small). It is
+true that they are ignorant, but this is pardonable in them because of
+the difficulty of their language. One day I had given Communion to an
+old squaw who was ill. They were all alarmed as she was not fasting
+when she received; they thought that both the priest and the squaw had
+been guilty of great disrespect to the Blessed Sacrament. In order to
+quiet them, I said to them in Micmac: "_Kijidou_," which means: "Be
+easy, there is no harm in that, it is permitted, I know what I have to
+do." Immediately they looked at each other and smiled, their
+consciences at rest. The missionary who was with me once said to them:
+"I want you to make me a road in the woods one or two miles long." The
+next day, very early in the morning, one or two hundred Indians, each
+armed with a hatchet, began to cut down the trees, and at the close of
+the day the road was finished. This incident alone will serve to
+illustrate their good will and devotion.
+
+During the five years and a half in which I worked at the holy
+ministry in this second mission, I had consolations and God delivered
+me from many dangers besides those of which I have spoken. One winter
+when I went to one of the three Acadian parishes to hold a mission
+there, I fell between two large cakes of very thick ice; this was on
+the sea, for every winter in this part of the world the water freezes
+sufficiently to allow a man and even a horse and sleigh to pass over
+it. A young man with whom I was travelling, came to my assistance,
+and by his help, but more by the help of God, I drew myself out. I
+was safe, but very wet and benumbed with cold. Some days after I was
+seized with a violent sore throat, which I attributed to the accident
+that had happened to me a short time previously. Many times I have
+been on foot and on horseback night and day, going on sick calls in
+the most severe weather. I have walked upon the frozen sea on one
+day, and have passed the same place on the day following and seen
+that it would not then bear me, and should I have attempted to cross
+it then, I would have perished. When the navigation was open, almost
+all the journeys rendered necessary, by the wants of my people, I
+made by sea, sometimes going in a boat, sometimes in a larger vessel.
+Besides the general risk that one always runs on this perfidious
+element, I have often experienced bad weather and long and perilous
+passages, but the Lord has preserved me in the midst of the waters. I
+must not omit to mention a most critical moment when Monseigneur
+Plessis, Bishop of Quebec, with several other priests and myself were
+in danger of losing our lives in 1815, while going by sea to
+Chezzetcook, a parish situated twenty-one miles from Halifax, and of
+which I have already spoken. Monseigneur, two priests and myself,
+were in the same boat, we had just quitted a long boat that had
+brought us from the town to the harbor. We were about landing, but
+had still some breakers to avoid. Two totally unexperienced young
+Englishmen who were rowing us led us suddenly into grave danger. The
+sea rose very high, and we found ourselves crossing the breakers, so
+that we momentarily expected to have our boat upset and ourselves
+sent head over heels into the midst of the waters. All who saw us, or
+knew of our situation, thought that we ran the greatest risk; but we
+held on, thanks to Providence, who arranges all, and nothing was lost
+but my hat, which was struck by a breaker and carried into the sea.
+Not only has divine Providence often delivered me in like dangers
+that I can call to mind, but also we were protected in the tempest
+which we experienced in the beginning of December, 1823, when we were
+coming from America to France. If I have been exposed to danger on
+the sea, I have also on land, but God made the elements; He dwells
+therein, He is their master. I have fallen three times from the back
+of a horse, at great risk of being killed or of breaking a limb, and
+I have twice been robbed by thieves who broke into the house in which
+I usually resided; they took the little money I had, my clothes,
+etc., but I was absent from home when they executed their evil deed.
+God permitted it, may His holy name be blessed!
+
+There are in the parish of Tracadie and its environs twenty or
+thirty-six families of negroes, of whom the greater number are
+Protestants. Besides being heretics they are rascals, given to all
+kinds of vice. I have often visited them, and upon every occasion
+that offered, tried to instruct them in spite of the danger that I
+ran of being ill-treated and perhaps killed by them, for there are
+some among them who are bad at heart and capable of evil deeds. I had
+some experience of this when I lived near them.
+
+Recently one of these negroes, remarkable among the others for his
+age and his pretended learning, fell ill. I went to see him thinking
+that my visit would not displease him. There were a number of blacks
+round his bed, who were singing hymns and praying. They offered me a
+chair. I seated myself near the sick man and commenced to speak to
+him of death, of judgment and of the truth faith, of the only true
+religion in which we can save ourselves. Finally I said to him that
+he would be dammed if he died in his false belief. At these words the
+other negroes turned on me with fury; by their animated features, by
+their eyes flashing with anger, and by their horrible cries, I knew
+that I was not safe with them, and that I could do no good there, so
+I left the house. They followed me, crying out against the priests. A
+young ecclesiastic who accompanied me was very frightened, and I
+myself expected to be assaulted by them. There was one in particular
+more enraged than the others, and who screamed most loudly. He said
+that if a hundred or a thousand priests should speak to him of
+religion he would not believe one of them. I returned there some days
+afterwards with another priest who was conversant with English (for
+the sick man could not speak French). After some hours conversation
+with the missionary, the sick man asked him if he would come to him
+again when he sent for him. Soon after this I left the country, but I
+have reason to think that he sent for me. I do not know what is the
+result for his soul, whether he is converted or whether he remains in
+error, for the above incident occurred just before my return to France.
+
+During the five years and a half that I have spent at Tracadie,
+which is in Nova Scotia, I have had the consolation of seeing four or
+five families of these Protestant negroes embrace the Catholic
+religion. Many other persons also of different nations and sects have
+changed their faith, to the great edification of the children of the
+true Church.
+
+It has been found necessary to build new churches and to enlarge
+others, to enable them to hold their congregations, which have so
+increased in number, either by conversions, by the multiplying of the
+old Catholic families, or by the number of strangers who came every
+day to settle in this country, and who bring the true faith with
+them. For some time I was the only missionary there, and obliged to
+traverse forty or fifty leagues by land and by sea. I found every
+where colonies who were Catholic, as well as many persons who were
+not. If some zealous priests would go to carry spiritual help to all
+these people who are in a measure abandoned, they would perform a
+great act of charity and win much merit; but they must be prepared to
+suffer many miseries, hunger, cold, persecution, poverty, &c, and to
+risk their lives often both on land and sea. The principal
+nourishment of the people of the country consists of potatoes and
+salt meat, water or spruce beer (biere de Pruche) is their ordinary
+drink. They love rum which is common enough, and is not expensive--
+but on the other hand it is dangerous and unhealthful to soul and
+body. A very small quantity of this liquor will make a man lose his
+reason, and quite inebriate him. It is this unhappy and deadly drink
+that ruins the Indians in this country as in all others.
+
+The climate of Nova Scotia and of Cape Breton is very cold during
+the winter (which lasts six months), and sometimes very hot in
+summer. From time to time we hear of persons having their hands and
+feet frozen, and even parts of their faces. I myself have seen many
+who were obliged to have their hands or feet amputated, they having
+mortified from the effects of the cold. Another danger that one has
+to face is that of being surrounded by the snow when it is drifted by
+the wind, as sometimes happens on the Alps, on the side of Mont Cenis
+and Simplon. This is what is called a "snow storm." In these eddies
+of snow one cannot see the road on which to travel, not even a house
+fifteen feet distant The snow, driven with force by the wind, fills
+your eyes, nostrils and mouth, and prevents you from breathing, so
+that you are really in danger of perishing. Every winter a tremendous
+quantity of snow falls, so that one is obliged to use snow-shoes in
+order to travel. In spite of all these drawbacks it is a healthy
+country, and one which produces all necessary grain and vegetables,
+such as wheat, bearded wheat, rye, kidney beans, beans, turnips,
+cabbage, potatoes, &c, and even good fruit, such as apples, pears and
+plums. As to the fruit, in some townships it is very good, in others
+it is small, while as to vegetables, potatoes succeed the best. These
+latter are very fine in Nova Scotia and in Cape Breton.
+
+A proof of the country not being a bad one is, that every one lives
+well there. Strictly speaking, there are no poor, for one never sees
+a beggar. It has been remarked that those who work well, and are
+rather industrious, live in comfort, without being exactly rich.
+Again, the people have fish at their doors, for living as they do
+near the sea and the lakes, they can have all kinds, such as herring,
+mackerel, salmon, eels and codfish in abundance. It is true that the
+winter is long and severe, but there is plenty of wood with which to
+keep warm.
+
+A consideration that ought to overweigh all the troubles and dangers
+which have been mentioned, is the great work that may be here done
+for religion among so many souls that are abandoned and given over to
+ignorance for want of priests to instruct them. More particularly
+among the Indian people, who deserve that we should try to save them,
+because of their good faith and fine natural character. It occurred
+to me to group them into villages as soon as I got to know them well;
+for that purpose I have bought a large tract of land near the sea,
+there to form a religious establishment which will serve to civilize
+them and to make them still better Christians. They will establish
+themselves near us, and we will be at hand to see them and to
+instruct them. I have built a house on this land, hoping that the
+Government or some charitable and generous soul will assist in
+erecting a chapel and some other buildings, that we shall need, in
+order to carry out our project, and to effect the good that we hope
+for. My Superior consents, and encourages me to return to America for
+this laudable undertaking, and in order to work for the salvation of
+those Indians who know not God, such as the Esquimaux. These latter
+are a barbarous and cannibalistic people. Recently they made a
+descent on some European fisherman in the woods that they inhabit,
+which are not far from the banks of Newfoundland, a little to the
+north. The Indians having let fly several arrows at the fishermen,
+the latter replied by some shots from their guns. One of the Indians
+was killed, the others saved themselves by flight. Our fishermen
+seized a squaw who remained near the dead body of the Indian;
+probably they had lived together, and she regarded him as her
+husband. She was taken to St John's Newfoundland, and the Governor
+having been notified gave orders to the merchants of the town to
+allow this Indian woman such wearing material as pleased her. It was
+noticed that she fancied everything of the most gaudy description.
+The colors, red in particular, pleased and delighted her,
+consequently the material she chose was principally red. They
+prepared something for her to eat and offered her food which had been
+cooked; she, however, scorned that, and seized upon a raw fowl which
+she devoured without removing the feathers. A Frenchman who was there
+and saw her, told me that her nails and teeth were extremely long.
+Instead of keeping her among civilized beings, she was taken to the
+woods where she had been found. This was probably by order of the
+Governor. It is very difficult to civilize this kind of Indian. They
+are very fierce, and their language, which is not the same as that of
+the Micmacs, seems to present great difficulties. Still these souls
+have been created by God and bought by Jesus Christ, and the more
+abandoned, and the further from the religion of heaven they seem to
+be, so much the more do they call for our compassion. We have
+succeeded in civilizing many barbarous nations and in rendering them
+Christian and Catholic, we may equally, with the help of God, bring
+others to the knowledge of the true religion, and since pretended
+philosophers have abandoned the faith, it must, according to the
+divine oracle, go to other men. If this faith is extinguished for
+many, who have deserved the misfortune in closing their eyes to its
+light, it goes to others who will render themselves worthy by
+allowing this divine truth to enlighten them. Thus faith is never
+lost, if it leaves us, it is our own fault.
+
+To return to our Micmacs of Nova Scotia,--it does one good to reflect
+on what they were formerly and what they are now. Formerly they were
+ferocious idolaters, now they are gentle and they know the true God.
+If the Government had chosen to help us we could have done for the
+Esquimaux what the early missionaries did for the people of which we
+speak; and even these latter for whom we have worked would, without
+doubt, have become much more civilized. We would have ventured to
+promise to make of them, not only well instructed and perfect
+Christians, but also good laborers and good workmen, in a word, good
+citizens who would be useful to society and not a burden to the State
+as they have hitherto been. The way in which they have profited by the
+few lessons that they have received from us on agriculture is a proof
+of the success that we should have had. We have worked with them and
+our example has encouraged them. It is well that they know how to farm
+a little, for instance, how to plant potatoes, for the country is
+beginning to be populous, and they do not find enough game to subsist
+upon, and there are times when they cannot fish. It is then charitable
+as well as necessary to teach them to gain their livelihood in some
+other way. But all that is only a small part of the good that we
+propose to do; to work efficaciously at the saving of their souls, to
+render them humble, sober, industrious, charitable, &c., from
+religious principles which is the way by which we hope to complete and
+perfect the good work. Not having succeeded so far in making an
+establishment of any consequence, by reason of want of means, we have
+contented ourselves with forming a little school for girls, more
+especially for the young Micmac squaws. This school is taught by three
+excellent women, natives of the place, who live as religious of the
+third order of La Trappe, until such time as they can establish a
+house of the first order. They have already gone through a year of
+novitiate at the convent of the Ladies of the Congregation of
+Montreal, in Canada, which congregation was founded by Sister
+Bourgeoys, as one reads in the history of the discovery of that great
+country. These three women are stationed in the parish of Pomquete,
+one of the three parishes with which I am especially charged, and of
+which mention has been made at the beginning of this narrative. It is
+a good little parish, composed of French people, born most of them at
+St Malo, Dinan or Grandville. When I left these poor people in order
+to return to France, they were inconsolable, fearing they would have
+no priest. They called a meeting to discuss what they should do in the
+event of so sad a situation. Many were resolved to follow me with the
+hope of bringing me back, or of returning with another priest. All
+were agreed to pay the passage of the missionary who should come to
+them, as well as to undertake to supply all that might be necessary
+for food or raiment while he should be with them. One man named
+Dominique Phillippar, born in Paris, and a resident of Pomquett for
+about thirty years, was chosen for an important errand. He was to
+accompany me to France, and to entreat the Reverend Father Abbot, my
+Superior, that I or some other member of our Order might return with
+him. In case that could not be managed, we were by his recommendation
+and through his instrumentality to address ourselves to the Bishop,
+asking for some zealous priests who were willing to consecrate
+themselves to the North American missions, and to minister to people
+who had no spiritual help. His place was secured in the ship that took
+me to France, but as he had not arrived from his parish when we set
+sail, he lost his passage, the ship having sailed a day earlier than
+was expected. Doubtless the good man experienced poignant regret. He
+was ready to journey almost two thousand leagues (including going and
+coming) in order to get a priest. This fact illustrates the faith and
+zeal for religion existing in the Catholics of these countries. I hope
+that God who is often satisfied with our good will and who permitted
+this event, will inspire some good ecclesiastics with the desire of
+going to the aid of these poor souls who so well deserve assistance.
+
+When we arrived in America we found most Catholics well disposed.
+Their religion was obscured, but they seemed to be impressed with the
+first invitations or instructions that we gave them; of this they gave
+exterior proof, such as building churches, erecting crosses on the
+roadside, establishing Calvaries, and making the way of the cross, a
+devotion which touches the heart and bears excellent fruit. I, myself,
+have often been witness of the good effect produced by the Stations,
+and it is not long since one of my parishoners who was given over to
+drunkenness was completely converted after assisting at this devotion.
+He threw himself at my feet dissolved in tears, made his confession,
+and since that time he has always been extremely sober and filled with
+the fear of God. I often make the Stations in the different places
+where I go to hold missions, and as I have remarked a change for the
+better in the manners and in the amusements, the dancing, vanities,
+&c, of the people, I attribute it to the grace attached to the
+devotion of the way of the cross.
+
+Those who have resolved to go over to those countries will do well
+to procure the faculty for establishing this precious devotion
+everywhere.
+
+_Ut in nomine Jesu omne genu flectatur caelestium, terrestrium et
+infernorum. Ad Philippenses, 2 10_.
+
+"At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, whether in heaven, or on
+earth, or in hell."
+
+[Footnote: The Procession of the most Holy Sacrament made by the
+Indians of Cape Breton and the Bras d'Or has not been mentioned in
+these pages, as it took place since this narrative was written.]
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+
+
+TRANSLATOR'S NOTE.
+
+
+The foregoing very imperfect translation of Father Vincent de Paul's
+quaint narrative, is published at the request of the leading clergy
+of Antigonish County, that section of Eastern Nova Scotia in which
+the holy Trappist so long lived and labored.
+
+The original from which the translation was made, was printed in
+France in the year 1824, and, as far as is known, is the only copy in
+Canada. It was for many years lying _perdu_ in the old convent
+of the Trappistine Sisters, in Tracadie, Nova Scotia, where it was
+discovered in the autumn of 1883. It is interspersed with corrections
+and footnotes in the pious monk's own handwriting and was printed at
+a private press, in the Trappist Monastery at Bellefontaine, France.
+
+Father Vincent's labors were, generally speaking, confined to the
+district over which he presided, but occasionally in cases of urgent
+need, he would be sent for to administer the Sacraments to the dying
+in Prince Edward Island. Old Catholic residents along the northern
+and eastern shores of King's County, will tell how, with Father
+Vincent seated in the prow, the smallest boat would ride safely over
+an angry sea.
+
+His apostolic zeal it was that kept the Faith alive in Eastern Nova
+Scotia, in the days when, with the exception of a few French
+missions, it lived only in the hearts of the poor Micmac Indians.
+Before his death, however, he had the happiness of seeing the
+Catholic religion firmly rooted in the land he so loved, by the
+arrival and establishment there of the loyal Highlanders, who by
+their energy and perseverance have changed the desert through which
+Father Vincent made his perilous journeys into a beautiful and
+fertile country.
+
+To the Right Rev. Dr. Cameron for his kindness in writing the
+preface, to the Rev. Clergy for their liberal patronage, and to the
+Trappistine Sisters for the loan of the original copy of Father
+Vincent's book, are due the most grateful thanks of
+
+THE TRANSLATOR.
+
+Charlottetown, P.E. Island, 18th June, 1886.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The words "mattrass," "preceeded," "shreded,"
+"tractible," and "transparancy" appear thus in our print copy; also,
+"Pomquet" is variously spelled as "Pomquet," "Pomquett," and
+"Pomquete"; we have retained these spellings as they appeared in the
+published work.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Memoir, by Fr. Vincent de Paul
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