USA > Michigan > Marquette County > Marquette > History Of The Diocese Of Sault Ste, Marie And Marquette; Containing A Full And Accurate Account Of The Development Of The Catholic Church In Upper Michigan, With Portraits Of Bishops, Priests And Illustrations Of Churches Old And New, Volume 1 > Part 3
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"My predecessor, Rev. Peter John De- jean, a French secular priest, whom the Rt. Rev. Bishop Fenwick sent here in the year 1829, baptized very many adults and children, being the first missionary staying and residing here, but he had no Baptismal Register ; for which reason this begins only from the 29th day of May, 1831.
"Note. By the name: Arbre Croche is meant, in this book, the village here, where the Indians built the parochial church of St. Peter and the dwelling- house for the missionary. By the name of Arbre Croche are meant, however, all the dwelling places of the Indians from the place of the parochial church to the chapel of St. Paul, which dwelling places are comprehended in the Indian name; Waganakisi."
FREDERIC BARAGA, Priest."
Later Father Pierz added :
"The church of Arbre Croche, lately built by the Indians alone, was lawfully blessed by me, the undersigned, mission-
ary of this place, on the 25th day of May. 1851, in virtue of episcopal delegation, in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ as youth in the temple.
FRANCIS PIERZ, Roman Catholic Missionary."
And this was annotated by Bishop Bar- aga :
"Wherefore this mission shall be called hereafter Missio S.S. Adolescentiae Jesu.'
FREDERIC, Bishop."
In this new sphere Baraga's zeal turned especially towards conversions. In the first two and a half months he baptized seventy-two adults and children. Accom- panied by his interpreter, he made daily excursions in different directions entering the bark wigwams they chanced to find along the route. He thus soon acquainted himself, not only with the locality but with the people as well; he learned to know his children and the pagan Indians. When he encountered resistance he re- doubled his zeal and not without success. for already during the summer and fall of 1831, conversions were so many that nearly all the people were either con- verted or under instructions. He wrote under date of January 4th, 1832: "It is to my great consolation and pleasure to be here, where I see, day after day, how deeply affected are these poor sav- ages by the grace of the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for His sheep, and who wishes that all men be saved. This sum- mer and fall many savages have been con- verted, so that there are few who have not yet been christened or are not prepar- ing for baptism. Now, in the winter- season, there are few baptisms, because
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Reverendfsimo Domino Domino Eduardo Fenwick , Orgnifims Episcopo Cincinnatiensi.
Reverendifime Domine Domine ! -
flusso jam Tempore ardenhifimum in ammo senlis desiderimi. adjungenti me Missionaries , ub Deo adjuvante saciem aliqubus ammabus, qui adhus in Vendbris , It in umbre month's sedent, humerus vera fidei cattolica adferrem , isque per fidem I Bagolismum mans salwers alerna monterarem . Moc Desiderium neun samper quisons aidentifimum fail , sed buenosque 2) peclori- mes inclusum retini , occasionemi expectans manifeffande illand. Hac ocasio .- Des sint laudes, qui resposit numbiladen meant de csu. reenviem impliesi' bonis ! - has ocasio venit has anno : libellus nimmerum profil in incem , germanica Lingua Vienna in Auferia dilus a R. D. Frederico Rese, Vicaris Generali in Dieces, Reverentia Vifra in ques. cum lacrimis legi quam panci find operari in ifla Discesa megsis andem abundantifsima . His übellus porchiosifsimus muysu stug Imperatoris Austriaci ad omnes Eviscopos it at Episcopus ad omnes Decanos et omnes simul Sacerdoles istis fore Imperie mifous occasionem muhi probuil admidum porhuman manyestande desiderum neun Superioribus. Die 10. itugrifli transmisi ergo R. D. Episcopo L'ébacusi petitionem. scripting, qua supplicari ut Temblad me in Doucesin Cincinnatiensem in America septembrionali. Elle grabs anims politionew suscepit, at time at Aug Eroperatore nostro obtinut , wit at ille Dic S . O . permissionci mini Jederil transmigrandi in Direccsin Cincinnalensem , sola has conditions posible, ut a Reverentia. Viftra litteras accepts . dorias prius aferre debian. Pago engo, Reverendifsime Domine Goiscope ! I exixe polis , at Reverentia " Viltra mittal miki quan. Joins illeras acceptatorias , quibus miki promillere Signatur , ut. quando as has Diocesi Labacensi ribe Jimifons quero, Reverentia
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==
"Viltra recipial me in oxam- Discesin in numerum Missionarioum . in ifla Diocesi
Testimonia mea il alia documenta ; quibus abariem, Claudia de. demonfrasemi , nume non biausmillo Reverentia "Vertra quia igla fine magnis sumplibus in iam longingnam " regionen transmille non wofound . . Quando vero Deus benignifsimao, qui Zeitmili vette Bobut de perficere, Deinde omnia mea documents el deglimonia propria manuel cahibido Re, verentia Velfra. Inlerini vero fotummindo har rocefaria inco : Ego raud fum du 39. Jun anno F797 in Flygres ; in Director , Tabacens in Emporio Aufiriac'. Studia mea absolvi parti Libaci in Flyria varzim Hinna in Auferia . Presbyteriens Ordinem suspi die 2.1. Sep. dembris anno 1833 . Linguas calles germanicam illyricami, Cabinam ; gallin , ilaticam od anglican:
li
Flise commands me pia memoria Preventia Millia ifinal el ! nunquam invermilis orare post at. V.D. Goocopo mas quears.
Missing Die 13. Novembris 1829.
Fridericus Barraga '1 Cooperates in Turchia+ Halling in Flyvia inferiori. 1
FACSIMILE OF LETTER WRITTEN BY FREDERICK BARAGA TO BISIIOP FENWICK ASKING FOR ADMISSION INTO THE DIOCESE OF CINCINNATI.
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exactly those savages who are heathens yet, emigrate during the winter. Heathen savages have no permanent habitation, they live in tents, which they take along in canoes and put them up now here, now there. In the winter they go to the south side of the big Michigan Lake where they spend their time hunting and fishing. In spring and summer they re- turn, and then I hope, with the help of God, again many will be converted. I
am only sorry that in this place there are so few inhabitants. The savages of my station, will soon, I hope, all be Chris- tians, except some bad ones who boldly resist the Christian truth. After they are all converted, I shall, with permission of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, betake myself to another place, where there are, as I cer- tainly know, many savages, who are long- ing after the Bread of Life, and there is no one to break it to them, because, as I hear, they have no missionary. That place is very far to the north from here, and I have decided to go after those lost sheep of the Good Shepherd, if it be His holy will. Here, I have but one priest in the neighborhood, all other missionaries are from four hundred to five hundred miles away, and the further north one goes the fewer missionaries does he find, and the more savages. O, how glad and thankful I am to God, that I have left the country, which has an abundance of priests, and have come hither where my priestly neighbors are scattered hundreds of miles from each other. If some of my younger fellow-priests knew what happiness missionaries of savages enjoy, and what occasions they find to labor for the spiritual welfare of their fellowmen. some of them would certainly, despite the
hardships and dangers, come to this coun- try, where the word of God is preached to heathens, that by the grace of God, they may become Catholics and arrive at the life everlasting.7
During the winter, which he found ex- tremely long and severe, Baraga applied himself to the study of the Ottawa lan- guage. With the assistance of his inter- preter, a full-blooded Ottawa, but who spoke French exceptionally well, he tried to fit it to the rudiments of a modern grammar and dictionary, but this work never appeared in print. It was a source of particular joy to him when five heath- en Indians who, during the preceding summer had stubbornly refused to accept the Christian religion, came at Christ- mas, and of their own accord asked to be baptized. He had always hoped that these, too, would at least toward spring, yield to the grace of the Lord, but to his great joy, he was able to christen them on New Year's day. This brought the num- ber of his baptisms to one hundred and thirty-one, and many of these venerable old men, who before were his open ad- versaries, but now the joy of his heart and examples of unfeigned Christian vir- tue. Another joy was added to this. A Christian Indian made his way to the village and narrated, that at a distance of three days' journey, there were many In- dians, though of another tribe, who would receive Christianity, if they had a missionary. Who could have been more happy at these tidings than Baraga, whose soul was burning with zeal for new conversions. He presented this mes- senger with some pictures, charging him
7 Leop. Berichte, IV.
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to return to his fellow tribesmen and to do all in his power to keep them in their good resolution, promising to come to them with the first green of spring.
Easter fell upon the 22nd of April. Baraga hastened with the Easter confes- sions of his parishioners, and soon after set out for Beaver Island. Here is his own account of the journey ; dated Arbre Croche, July 1, 1832.
"As soon as my parishioners had per- formed their Easter duty, I set out on my journey to preach to these poor chil- dren of nature the word of God, which they had never heard from the lips of a priest. First, I set out for a beautiful island in Lake Michigan, which is so far from the main land that it can be seen only like a fog. This island is quite large, being about eight miles in circum- ference and is called Beaver Island, from the many beavers found there; and on this is a small village of savages consisting of eight houses built of bark. The prin- cipal source of support of these islanders is fishing and making of maple sugar. Occasion for this missionary visit was an inhabitant of the island, who had come, last winter, to Arbre Croche to be bap- tized. He had associated with Christians who acquainted him with their religion, and instructed him in the principles of it; he became an exemplary Christian. This good man returned, after his baptism, to the island and through him I sent word to the islanders, that in spring I would visit them and preach the word of God to them, because he had assured me that the inhabitants of Beaver Island would be very happy to see a priest in their midst. There were many who doubted
the success of the undertaking, but I set out confiding in the Lord, who had said that He will be with His servants till the end of time.
"My heart beat palpably as we ap- proached the Island. I had a white flag with a red cross in the centre, which I unfurl when going to a mission so as to make the boat of the Missionary recog- nizable. We had favorable wind when sailing towards the Island. The friendly banner of the cross floated lovely in the breeze, and announced the coming of the minister of the Crucified. As soon as the Islanders, who, like all savages, have a remarkably keen sight, noticed and recog- nized my flag in the distance, the chief caused his flag to be immediately hoisted over his wigwam. My Indians from Ar- bre Croche, who accompanied me, noticed the flag of the head-chief and interpreted this as a very good sign, which made me feel at ease.
"Finally, when we approached Beaver Island, I saw many of the savages hasten to the shore. Almost all the inhabitants gathered there to bid us welcome. The men fired a double salute with their guns, as an expression of joy over the arrival of the Missionary. Scarcely had I step- ped ashore, when all the men came and shook hands with me as a sign of wel- come. They conducted me to their vil- lage, composed of eight miserable birch bark wigwams. I first entered the hut of the head-chief, where a goodly number of the poor savages had assembled who could not satisfy themselves gazing at the Black-robe, for they had never seen a priest before.
"When you have any business to tran- sact with the Indians of this country, you
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ple, in whose hearts the anticipating grace of vocation to the holy faith had worked so mightily, had begun to build, after their own fashion, a little church of logs and bark, even before I had come to them. They had not expected that I would ful- fill my promise of coming to see them so soon, and for this reason their church had not yet been completed. When I saw them working so diligently at their church I, too, as best I could, began to work, and my nine companions, encour- aged by my example, aided in the good work and we finished the church that very day. The next day I called them all together and having first blessed the church, I read holy Mass in it and preached. With what deep emotion and gratitude to God I performed these eccles- iastical ceremonies I cannot describe ! The thought, that in this forlorn place, in the midst of primeval forest, where but lately only the cry of the savage was heard and idolatrous sacrifices offered to the wicked spirit, there now stands a temple of the living God, in which the Immaculate Lamb of God is offered to the Heavenly Father. This thought affected me so strongly, that I shed tears of deepest emo- tion and could not find words to express my thanks to God. Happy are we that He needs not the expression of words, for He sees our hearts. This little church is built of logs and bark and lacks every- thing that might please the eye and artis- tic taste, yet it appears to me to be a more precious temple, than so many churches in Europe, richly decorated with gold and works of art, but desecrated by the luke- warmness and misbehavior of those who visit them.
"I dedicated this little church to the
honor of God under the title of His Vir- gin Mother Mary.
"When I made the resolution to con- secrate my life to the (Indian) Mission, I promised our dear heavenly Mother, that I would dedicate the first church which I would bless among the savages, to her protective name, for I am con- vinced that she continually prays to her divine Son for the success of our Mission.
"I remained quite a long time with these good Savages, instructing them in the doctrine of religion and read Mass every day. All savages of this place, big and small, young and old, embraced the Christian religion, with the exception of one, to whom God, on account of his faults seems to have denied the grace of faith. He is unwilling to believe any- body, except his very weak reason. He stubbornly maintains that he had lived on earth once before, that this is his sec- ond life, and that after he shall have end- ed it he would go to where his pagan forefathers are.
"The 25th of May was for these savages a happy day, on which they were regen- erated by water and the Holy Ghost unto life eternal. I baptized there nineteen pagans! Thanks be to the Good Shepherd, who has so mercifully led these lost sheep into His fold! Thanks be also to Mary, the loving Mother of grace, who in- cessantly prays for the conversion of pagans.
"After Baptism they brought to me all their idolatrous articles, which they had hitherto used in their pagan sacrifices. I had a fire kindled and burned all those abominations of paganism as a holocaust to Him, the Almighty, the Eternal, to
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whom alone sacrifice is due and to whom be praise and glory forever !
"Before leaving these good and happy people, I distributed among them a good many religious pictures, and promised to visit them, from time to time, in order to preserve and strengthen them in the Faith, which consoled them very much. This place of Baraga's visit was Indian Lake near Manistique.
"From there I returned to Beaver Is- land, where they also brought me all ob- jects used in their idolatrous sacrifices which I likewise burned. The converted inhabitants determined to erect a small chapel. For the present, they have con- structed of branches, bark, canvas and mats a kind of chapel in which I daily read Mass, and gave thrice a day instruc- tion in catechism. Six more pagans were converted and baptized. There are not many pagans however, on this Island who refuse to be converted. One day several of these came to my tent, a piece of mat- ting fastened to their waists, being their only garment. One of these spoke in a shrill monotonous tone making a very silly speech, in which he declared to me, in the name of his companions, that they would not embrace the Christian religion, but would live and die in the belief of their forefathers. I answered him gen- tly but impressively, and hope that these, too, shall in course of time embrace the truth.
"I then returned home. The Christians of Arbre Croche rejoiced very much, when they learned that so many of their red brethren had now embraced the Chris- tain religion. I did not remain at home very long, but set out for the third village, pointed out to me, and which is one day
and a half journey distant, in an oppo- site direction, notwithstanding that I had learned that these savages were outspoken enemies of the Christian religion. The reason is this. These savages are incited to and kept in a hostile disposition against religion through godless traders, who visit them often and bring them rum for their pelts. These godless fur-traders know only too well, that if these savages em- brace Christianity, they must forego in- toxicants and entirely renounce drunken- ness, to which all pagan savages are much addicted. Now, in order to retain a profitable trade with the savages, they en- deavor, in every possible way, to make them averse to Christianity and to keep them in paganism. However, I went there and spoke to them of the Christian religion, but I received little attention. Still God gave me the consolation of not having gone there entirely in vain. There were five pagans who took God's call to heart; they were instructed and baptized on the 3d of June.
"I stayed some days longer with them, giving them additional instruction, and read Mass. After promising to visit them again, in the near future, I returned to Arbre Croche to celebrate Pentecost with my own congregation.
"But, also, here, in Arbre Croche the in- finitely merciful God gives me unspeak- able consolation. Almost every day, es- pecially on feast days, pagans come to me asking for holy Baptism. On Pente- cost Sunday I baptized seven, on Monday fifteen. God be praised and thanked for all.'S
The month of July was, as a rule, a dull month for missionary work, because 8 Leop. Berichte, V., p. II.
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HISTORY OF THE DIOCESE OF
N ous soussignes faisons foi et declarons , que le Sieur Barraga Fréderi Trébno i Laybach le 9. Coût 1813 Province Carniole élève de nôtre Lycée ayant suivi pendant l'année courante la classe de Deuxième --
année d'Humanité.(~ à subi les examens généraux sur l'interprétation Der auteurs Latins. Green et françois. la Posode. la Facture De Religion, l'Histoire et Géographie, les Éléments De Rhétorique De Poésie, et les Mathématiques Élémentaires, et qu'il a obtenu Dans les Auteurs Latina Dotime, quees Bene, françois Optime, la Prosodie Optime, la Religion Optime, l'Histoire Optime, les Éléments de Rh et de Poésie accessit, la Composition accessil, les Mathématiques Bene Sa conduite a été très-bonne.
En foi de quoi on lui a delivre le present certificat muni du sceau de notre Lycee.
Le proviseur du Lycée de Laybach.
Les professeurs de la classe de II" Onnée J'Y-humanités Valentin. Vodinikifica Prof. I'Hun. M Hallistermin Graf. Je Marthem
FACSIMILE OF BISHOP BARAGA'S CERTIFICATE WHILE STUDYING HUMANIORA.
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most Indians, even women and children went to Canada, where the Government distributed amongst them blankets, cloth- ing, and all kinds of implements, to main- tain the good will and friendly relation with the Indians of the Northwest. Bar- aga encouraged his Indians to avail them- selves of this distribution, because, as he thought, they thus obtained many useful articles of clothing and tools, which they could not afford to buy with their scanty trading of maple sugar.
But, just about this time, information reached Baraga that Bishop Fenwick was coming to Arbre Croche to confirm. He bade his Indians to postpone the journey to Canada until after the Confirmation and with renewed zeal took up the in- struction of those to be confirmed. Not little stress did he lay on how to accord his Bishop a worthy reception. The Bishop arrived on the second of August.
Writing to the Leopoldine Society October 10, 1832, Baraga describes it thus: "It is impossible to describe the heartfelt joy which our good Indians showed when they saw their Great Father approaching the village. They assembled at the lake shore and formed a double file. In one row were the men, and in the other the women and children. The men fired three salutes with their guns. The unfeigned manifestation of joy, on the part of these, his best children, greatly touched the pious Bishop. He gave us his apostolic blessing and then had the kindness to shake hands with each of them, a thing the Indians regarded as a sign of great friendship and favour. We conducted him in procession to the church, where after making his adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, he made a touching
address to the Indians, which deeply pen- etrated their hearts."?
August 5th, Bishop Fenwick confirmed 140 Indians, adults and children, and after the solemnities he convened the chiefs, all most exemplary men of the mis- sions. He promulgated some civil laws which he had composed for the Ottawas, which they accepted most willingly and promised to observe. The missionary and four chiefs were made the executors of those laws.
After the departure of the Bishop, Bar- aga hastened to visit his smaller missions, which he had established the preceding spring. To his great consolation he found his converts faithful. In Manistique he added to their number five new ones, and after five days sojourn there, went to Beaver Island. He had found that every where the converted Indians usually at- tracted by their new mode of living other savages, but particularly in this place many were preparing for holy Baptism. Completing their instructions, he baptized. on the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, fifteen, and returned to Arbre Croche.
By this time great flocks of Indians were making their way to Canada. Bar- aga availed himself of their absence and journeyed himself to Detroit, to have his new book, a combination of Prayer book and Catechism, printed. Bishop Fenwick, when last in Arbre Croche, had given Bar- aga two hundred and twelve dollars of Leopoldine Society's money, sufficient for one thousand copies of this prayer book.
There was a book of this kind com- posed by his predecessor, Dejean, but it contained too many Algonquin words,
" Leop. Berichte, V .. p. 35.
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which his Ottawas, especially now, when most of them had learned to read, could not well understand. "O how I heartily rejoice," writes Baraga, in the last above quoted letter, "that I will be able to give, by the help of this money, into the hands of my Indians so necessary a book of de- votion! These grateful people likewise heartily thanked their benefactors in the Austrian States, for the rosaries, crosses, and pictures. I could also say without hesitation, that those benefactors would certainly rejoice, if they could see for themselves, how well their gifts are em- ployed, and how devoutly the recipients of their gifts pray to God for them."
Only a heart like Baraga's is capable of such emotions! He had made his way to Detroit arriving in the city, August 29th, (1832). Immediately he commenced to busy himself with the printing of his book.
Detroit was just then not a very de- sirable place to live in. It was infested, from end to end, together with the sur- rounding country, by cholera. "The dan- ger occasioned by the disease made all hearts susceptible to truth; everybody wept; all hearts took refuge in repent- ance! The star of grace shone bril- liantly !"10
Priests were busy from daybreak till late at night-and would have been so all night, if bodily fatigue did not compel them to seek rest-comforting the dying and burying the dead. Father Gabriel Richard, Vicar General of the Michigan portion of the Diocese, was pastor of De- troit. His merits during the dreadful plague are written adequately only in
Heaven, though human gratitude, too. has raised him a token of love in perpet- ual memory of his self-sacrifice. He died of cholera on the 13th of September. Fa- ther Baraga was the only priest present. Father Francis Haetscher stepped in his place, while he attended to the sick in the vicinity. Baraga passed the time between correcting the printer's proof-sheets of his Indian book and ministering to the plague-stricken, in the city. Hard trials indeed! He was bitterly bewailing the loss of his friend and benefactor when- only thirteen days later-the messenger brought the sad news of the demise of his so much beloved Bishop Edward Fen- wick. Under date, of October 10, 1832, in a letter, written in Detroit, to the Leo- poldine Society, he thus gives expression to his grief and sorrow :
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