The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636
History
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. 8: Quebec, Hurons, Cape Breton, 1634-1636
Canada -- History -- To 1763 (New France); Indians of North America -- Canada; Jesuits -- Missions; Jesuits -- North America
16 My consolation among the Hurons is that I confess every day, and
then I say Mass as if I were to take the Viaticum and die that very
day; and I do not think [232] that a person can live better, nor
with more satisfaction and courage, and even merit, than to live in
a place where he expects every day to die, and to have the motto of
St. Paul, _Quotidie morior fratres, etc._, "I protest, brethren,
that I die daily."
17 Pour conuertir les Sauuages, il n'y faut pas tant de science que de
bonté & vertu bien solide. Les quatre Elemens d'vn homme Apostolique
en la Nouuelle Frãce, sont l'Affabilité, l'Humilité, la Patiẽce & vne
Charité genereuse. Le zele trop ardent, brusle plus qu'il n'eschauffe,
& gaste tout; il faut vne grande magnanimité & condescendence pour
attirer peu à peu ces Sauuages. Ils n'entendent pas bien nostre
Theologie, mais ils entendent parfaictement bien nostre humilité, &
nostre affabilité & se laissent gaigner.
17 To convert the Savages, not so much knowledge is necessary as
goodness and sound virtue. The four Elements of an Apostolic man
in New France are Affability, Humility, Patience, and a generous
Charity. Too ardent zeal scorches more than it warms, and ruins
everything; great magnanimity and compliance are necessary to
attract gradually these Savages. They do not comprehend our
Theology well, but they comprehend perfectly our humility and our
friendliness, and allow themselves to be won.
18 La Nation des Hurons se dispose [233] à receuoir la lumiere de
l'Euangile, & on espere vn bien incroyable en tous ces quartiers là:
mais il y faut deux sortes de personnes pour bien faire cela: les vns
en l'anciẽne France assistãt de leurs sainctes prieres, & de leur
charité; les autres en la Nouuelle, trauaillant auec grande douceur,
& infatigabilité de la bonté de Dieu, & de ce doux cõcert dépend la
conuersion de plusieurs milliers d'ames, pour chacune desquelles
Iesus-Christ a versé tout son pretieux sãg.
18 The Huron Nation is becoming disposed [233] to receive the light
of the Gospel, and inestimable good is to be hoped for in all those
regions; but two kinds of persons are necessary to accomplish
this,--those in old France, assisting by their holy prayers and
their charity; the others in the New, working with great gentleness
and tirelessness; on the goodness of God and on this sweet harmony
depends the conversion of many thousand souls, for each one of whom
Jesus Christ has shed all his precious blood.
19 Si on pouuoit fonder à Kebec vn petit Seminaire d'vne douzaine de
petits Hurons, dans peu d'années on en tireroit vn secours incroyable,
pour aider à conuertir leurs Peres, & planter vne Eglise fleurissante
dans la Nation des Hurons. Helas! combien y en a t'il en Europe qui
perdẽt à trois coups de dez, plus qu'il ne faudroit pour conuertir vn
monde.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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