The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 6: Quebec, 1633-1634
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
The seventh person whom we have placed among the number of the
children of God, through the Sacrament of Baptism, is the mother
of the little Savage whom we named "bien-venu;" she is called,
in Savage, _Ouroutiuoucoueu_, and now her name is Marie. This
beautiful name was given to her in pursuance of a vow once made by
Reverend Father Charles l'Allement, that the first Canadian Woman
whom we should baptize should bear the name of the holy Virgin; and
the first Savage, that [28] of her glorious Spouse, saint Joseph.
We did not know about this vow, when the others were baptized; I
hope that in a very few days it will be entirely fulfilled. But to
return to our new Christian. When I found her near the French fort,
abandoned by her people, because she was sick, I asked her who fed
her; she answered that the French gave her a few morsels of bread,
and that, on their return from the chase, they occasionally threw
her a pigeon. "If you wish to stay near us," I said, "we will care
for you, and will teach you the way to Heaven." She answered me in
a weak voice, for she was very sick, "Alas! I would indeed like to
go there, but I can no longer walk; have pity upon me, send some
one in a Canoe to fetch me." I did not fail to do this; and on
the next day, the 23rd of July, I had her brought near our house.
The poor woman asked me if she were not to go inside, expecting
us to show her the same [29] charity that the first two who had
been baptized had received; but I told her that, as she was a
woman, we could not lodge her in our house, which is very small;
that we would, however, carry her something to eat to her Hut, and
that every day I would go to see and teach her. She was satisfied
with this. When I began to speak to her about the holy Trinity,
saying that the Father, the son, and the holy Spirit, were only one
God, who has made all things, "I know that well," she replied, "I
believe it." I was greatly astonished at this answer, but she told
me that our good Savage Joseph occasionally reported to her what we
told him. This was a great consolation to me, for in a short time
she was sufficiently instructed to be baptized. My only trouble
was to make her feel sorrow for her sins. The Savages have not
this word "sin" in their language, though they certainly have it
in their customs. The word for wickedness and malice, among them,
means a violation of purity, as they have told me. So I was puzzled
to know how to make her understand sorrow at having offended [30]
God. I read her the Commandments several times, telling her that
he who made all things hates those who do not obey him; and that
she should tell him she was very sorry for having offended him. The
poor woman, who well remembered that God forbids all men to lie, to
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