Letter 131

From Quebec, to her son, October 30th 1650.
Eulogy of Fathers Bressani and Lalemant, SJ.

My very dear Son,

I believe you have already received four letters from me, and that you have had the consolation of seeing the Fathers whom I have begged to visit you. Yet I cannot let this last ship go without giving myself the consolation and satisfaction of a little word with you, which Fr Bressani has promised to deliver. You will see a real martyr. You have already heard of his sufferings, and especially of his captivity by the Iroquois. Without pretending, look at his hands. You will see them all mutilated, hardly a single finger intact. This year he has been struck on the head by arrows three times. It was thought to be his crown at the end of his labours. One of his eyes is almost blind as a result of these blows. His courage has exposed him to such eminent dangers that he bears these honourable marks of the Cross of the Son of God.

He is Roman by nation, eminent for learning, and above all for virtue. He has promised me to visit you, and I begged him to have this given to you as soon as he arrives, so that you may go to greet the Father Superior of the Missions who is going to France himself, the Church here is in such a critical state. He promised to visit you, but I should be pleased if you would anticipate his visit. He deserves the courtesy. I tell you again that he is the man to whom I am most indebted, both for the establishment of our House and the spiritual maxims of the saints that he has given us according to our vocation. For nearly six years be has been our Superior and Director, mine very particularly. There is a threat that he will not be reappointed to Canada. If that happens it will be a serious loss to us all. He is the Father of the poor, both French and Indian. He is Zelator of the Church and seems to have been brought up in the Ceremonies which is not usual for a Jesuit. He is the holiest man I have known in my lifetime. I beg you to receive him with all possible welcome to thank him for his charity to our Community especially to me because he is my Father Superior. Now don’t think that it is the affection I have for the Jesuit Fathers which makes me praise them - no I am not exaggerating. Rather I assure you that I do not do justice to their virtues and merits.

From Quebec. 30th October 1650.
p. 158-159.