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Primary Document Analysis The Jesuit Relations from Barthlemy Vimonts section the Quebec Report

Alisha Sparling History 260 Section 202: History of Canada to 1867 October 14, 2010

2 In Barthelemmy Vimonts Quebec Report, the message being conveyed is that the once barbaric and uncontrollable savages are converting to Christianity and they are surpassing the expectations of the Jesuit Priests through their trials. In the opening of chapter II Vimonts says, of the good actions and good sentiments of the New Christians. (p.47) The good actions that Vimont speaks of are proven when the Natives braved the terrible weather to come to Easter Sunday mass, they sought to console the survivors of the Algonquin tribe who were defeated by the Iroquois and finally the severe punishments the Neophytes gave themselves when they believed they had defied God and sinned. The first action that the Neophytes do to prove their zealous Christian faith is when they come from the woods to Quebec for Easter Sunday mass in the most terrible of winter weather. Snow fell in abundance, and the gale drove it around like a whirlwind or like a white rain, but so thick that we could see neither the sky nor the earth. I thought that our Christians who had withdrawn into the woods on account of the cold, and to prepare for their great hunt would not come to Mass on that day; the inclemency of the weather and the difficult roads were sufficient excuse for their not doing so. I was greatly astonished when I saw the chapel filled.
(p.47) With the weather being so terrible it would have made for a legitimate excuse

to not make it to mass that day, however being as loyal to the Christian faith as these Neophytes were, they did not let the weather deter them from this very important Christian Holiday. This demonstrates how they surpassed the expectations of the Jesuits.

3 Another factor that demonstrates proof of the natives devotion to Christianity had to do with food, and their strong convictions of its importance to their survival. When they made the sacrifice to give up a days worth in preparing the supply of meat for the upcoming winter demonstrated further a very significant debt. To give up a day of securing and preparing their food supply shows that they were, of the good actions and good sentiments of the New Christians(p.47) this was not a deliberate attempt to please the Jesuits but further proof of their dedication to the conversion of Christianity. Easter Sunday generally falls at the time when the savages secure their supply of elk meat. Some of them were so anxious to receive their communion on that great day, that they left their hunting grounds and the place where they were drying the flesh, and came straight to Quebec. (p.47) These actions are proof that the new Christians are willing to make immense sacrifices for their new Christian faith. Another action of the Neophytes that Vimont uses as evidence of the new Christians staying true to their faith is the fight between the Algonquians and Iroquois in which the Neophytes sought to console the survivors of the defeated Algonquians and tried to bring upon them the Christian faith. When the Neophyte of St. Joseph heard of the death of the Algonquians slain by the Iroquois, they sought to console those who survived the defeat They brought them three words that is to say they gave them three presents and the finest [present] was given to win over to prayer those who seemed to have leant ear to it, but had not yet embraced it and to induce them to receive the faith of Jesus Christ.(p. 51) Even when the Algonquians deny this gift, the neophytes do not repent but agree to fight amongst

4 them a small party of Neophytes, wishing to show that the faith does not deprive of courage those who embrace it resolved to go to war with the pagans (P. 53). When preparing for this war the Algonquians resorted to feasts and dances full of superstitions. They cried aloud, they sang, they yelled, they assumed a thousand postures of men enraged, in order to excite themselves against their enemies. (Pg.53) Whereas the Christians had recourse to God. (p.53) This is proof that even though their traditional war rituals surrounded the neophytes, they stayed true to their Christian faith. The final affirmation that the new Christians are fully committed to their Christian faith came with the severe punishments, both mentally and physically they would inflict upon themselves. The Neophytes follow the Christian faith wholeheartedly and when they sin, they do what any devout Christian would do which is to go to confession. However it seemed as though confession were not enough and many engaged in physical punishment in an attempt to prove further their unrelenting devotion to God. One Neophyte is so distraught over his sin he cannot even finish his confession because he is so emotional, great tears fell from his eyes; the sighs and sobs issuing from his mouth prevented his speaking, and caused him to put off his confession until the following day. (p.61) Another even went further and inflicted intense physical pain upon himself, I remembered my sin; I arose, went to the woods, and cut branches from the trees with which I beat and scourged myself until I was exhausted. (p. 61) The action of these Neophytes shows their devotion to the Christian faith and animates just how important and strong a role it played in their everyday lives.

5 If we look at the actions of the Neophytes and their sentiment to the Christian faith, it is very evident that the Neophytes were true believers of the new faith and of Christianity. Not only had the Neophytes converted to Christianity, but they also through all these actions strongly demonstrated that they were now devout Christians and exceeded the expectations of the Jesuits for themselves.

6 References Thwaites, Reuben Gold, 1853-1913. The Jesuit relations and allied documents travels and explorations of the Jesuit missionaries in New France, 1610-1791. Edited by Edna Keaton, 47-61. New York, NY: Cleveland : Burrows, 1896