The Jesuit Relations (1632-1673)

[David Morris]

The Jesuit Relations (1632-1673)

Relations or reports, then, were simply the annual communications of the 
superior in Quebec to his higher superior, the Provincial in Paris. The 
Relation from Canada would be made up of various written reports and 
letters, as well as oral observations, that had come from Jesuit 
missionaries in the field. These would be edited to some extent by the 
Quebec superior, put in some kind of order and then, along with anything 
added by the superior himself, would be sent by ship to the Provincial in 
France. [...]

The Relations [reports] concerned themselves mainly with the apostolic 
efforts of the Jesuits and their associates. But they touched on a number of 
other aspects of life in New France. Foremost then in these records were the 
missionaries' travels, methods of organization, studies of the people and of 
the language, actual instruction and spiritual ministrations. [...]

In general the authors were objective and realistic, but, at times, they 
could be severe in their condemnation of native practices, possibly over 
severe, and this was recognized in a penetrating observation by Paul 
Ragueneau, one of the greatest Jesuits in 17th century Canada.

Ragueneua's remark

"Had I to give counsel to those beginning to labor for the conversion of the 
Indians, I would willingly say a word of advice to them which experience 
will, I think, make them acknowledge as being more important that it seems 
at first sight.

"Namely: one must be very careful before condemning a thousand things among 
their customs, which greatly offend minds formed and fashioned in another 
world. It is easy to call irreligion what is merely stupidity, to see 
something as diabolical which is nothing more than human. And so one thinks 
that he is obliged to forbid as impious certain things done in all 
innocence, or, at most, only silly things and not at all malicious.

"These could be abolished more gently and, I would say, more efficaciously 
by bringing the Indians themselves gradually to see the absurdity of them, 
to laugh at them and so abandon them...

"It is difficult to see everything in one day, and time is the most faithful 
instructor that one can consult.

"I have no hesitation in saying that we have been too severe on this point, 
and that God strengthened the courage of our Christians beyond that of 
common virtue, when they deprived themselves not only of harmless 
amusements, in regard to which we raised scruples in their minds, but also 
of the greatest pleasures of life, which we found it difficult to allow them 
to enjoy, because there seemed to them something irreligious in these, which 
made us fear the presence of sin.

"Better still, it would perhaps been wiser at the beginning to be severe, as 
the Apostles were in regard to the use of things offered to idols, and of 
animals smothered in their own blood.

"Be that as it may, we see that such severity is no longer necessary, and 
that in many things we can be less rigorous than in the past. This will 
doubtless open the way to heaven for many persons who have not those 
abundant graces for displaying such heroic virtue, though they have enough 
to enable them to live as good Christians. The kingdom of heaven has crowns 
of very different value, and the Church cannot be equally holy in all its 
members"(Thw. JR, 33:144- 1466).




_________________________________________________________________
MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: 
http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx