The Makers of Canada

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN

CANADA

I

f, standing upon the threshold of the twentieth century, we cast a look be-

hind us to note the road traversed, the victories gained by the great army

of Christ, we discover everywhere marvels of abnegation and sacrifice; every-

where we see rising before us the dazzling figures of apostles, of doctors of

the Church and of martyrs who arouse our admiration and command our

respect. There is no epoch, no generation, even, which has not given to the

Church its phalanx of heroes, its quota of deeds of devotion, whether they

have become illustrious or have remained unknown.

Born barely three centuries ago, the Christianity of New France has enriched

history with pages no less glorious than those in which are enshrined the

lofty deeds of her elders. To the list, already long, of workers for the gospel

she has added the names of the Recollets and of the Jesuits, of the Sulpicians

and of the Oblate Fathers, who crossed the seas to plant the faith among the

hordes of barbarians who inhabited the immense regions to-day known as

the Dominion of Canada.

3 ADRIEN LEBLOND

And what daring was necessary, in the early days of the colony, to plunge into

the vast forests of North America! Incessant toil, sacrifice, pain and death

in its most terrible forms were the price that was gladly paid in the service of

God by men who turned their backs upon the comforts of civilized France

to carry the faith into the unknown wilderness.

Think of what Canada was at the beginning of the seventeenth century! In-

stead of these fertile provinces, covered to-day by luxuriant harvests, man's

gaze met everywhere only impenetrable forests in which the woodsman's axe

had not yet permitted the plough to cleave and fertilize the soil; instead of

our rich and populous cities, of our innumerable villages daintily perched

on the brinks of streams, or rising here and there in the midst of verdant

plains, the eye perceived only puny wigwams isolated and lost upon the

banks of the great river, or perhaps a few agglomerations of smoky huts, such

as Hochelaga or Stadacone; instead of our iron rails, penetrating in all direc-

tions, instead of our peaceful fields over which trains hasten at marvellous

speed from ocean to ocean, there were but narrow trails winding through a

jungle of primeval trees, behind which hid in turn the Iroquois, the Huron

or the Algonquin, awaiting the propitious moment to let fly the fatal arrow;

instead of the numerous vessels bearing over the waves of the St. Lawrence,

at a distance of more than six hundred leagues from the sea, the products of

the five continents; instead of yonder floating palaces, thronged with trav-

ellers from the four corners of the earth, then only an occasional bark canoe

came gliding slyly along by the reeds of the shore, scarcely stopping except

to permit its crew to kindle a fire, to make prisoners or to scalp some enemy.

A heroic courage was necessary to undertake to carry the faith to these savage

tribes. It was condemning one's self to lead a life like theirs, of ineffable hard-

ships, dangers and privations, now in a bark canoe and paddle in hand, now

on foot and bearing upon one's shoulders the things necessary for the holy

sacrament; in the least case it was braving hunger and thirst, exposing one's

self to the rigours of an excessive cold, with which European nations were

not yet familiar; it often meant hastening to meet the most horrible