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
The usual method that we follow is this: We call together the
people by the help of the Captain of the village, who assembles
them all in our house as in Council, or perhaps by the sound of
the bell. I use the surplice and the square cap, to give more
majesty to my appearance. At the beginning, we chant on our knees
the _Pater noster_, translated into Huron verse. Father Daniel,
as its author, chants a couplet alone, and then we all together
chant it again; and those among the Hurons, principally the
little ones, who already know it, take pleasure in chanting it
with us, and the others in listening. That done, when every one
is seated, I rise and make [195] the sign of the Cross for all;
then, having recapitulated what I said the last time, I explain
something new. After that we question the young children and
the girls, giving a little bead of glass or porcelain to those
who deserve it. The parents are very glad to see their children
answer well and carry off some little prize, of which they render
themselves worthy by the care they take to come privately to get
instruction. On our part, to arouse their emulation, we have each
lesson retraced by our two little French boys, who question each
other,--which transports the Savages with admiration. Finally the
whole is concluded by the talk of the Old Men, who propound their
difficulties, and sometimes [196] make me listen in my turn to the
statement of their belief.
Nous commençasmes nos Catechismes par cette verité memorable, que
les ames qui sont immortelles, vont toutes apres la mort en Paradis
ou en Enfer. Et c'est ainsi que nous les abordons, soit en public,
soit en particulier. I'adioustay qu'ils auoiẽt le choix pendant la
vie, de prendre party apres la mort icy ou là, où ils aduiseroient
presentement. A quoy vn bon veillard m'ayant dit, Aille qui voudra dans
les feux d'Enfer, pour moy ie desire aller au Ciel. Tous les autres
le suiuirent, & vsans de la mesme response, nous prierent de leur en
monstrer le chemin, & oster les pierres, les arbres & les halliers qui
y sont, & qui pourroient les arrester.
We began our Catechizing by this memorable truth, that their souls,
which are immortal, all go after death either to Paradise or to
Hell. It is thus we approach them, either in public or in private.
I added that they had the choice, during life, to participate
after death in the one or the other,--which one, they ought now to
consider. Whereupon one honest old man said to me, "Let him who
will, go to the fires of Hell; I want to go to Heaven;" all the
others followed and making use of the same answer, begged us to
show them the way, and to take away the stones, the trees, and the
thickets therein, which might stop them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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