- 1. Jesuit Relations Jesuit Relations
2. Introduction
- Jesuit's are the members to the society of Jesus Founded in
1534 by Ignatius of Loyola
3. The relations were annual reports of French missionaries of
the society and about their efforts of converting pagan savages to
Christianity. 4. Published in Paris between 1632 and 1673 these
were yearly chronicles that included more than evangelizing 5. They
each had taken special vows of poverty and obedience that
disingushed the from priests 6. They were men that sought out
personal christian perfection. 7. More
- 16 thand 17 thcentury saw a religious revival known as the
Counter reformation or the Catholic Reformation.
8. Instead of taking refuge from profane influences by
retreating the went out to conquer the secular 9. They Preached to
illiterate peasants and gave spiritual advice to kings 10. Jesuit
missionary enterprises encompassing the globe until the pope
dissolved the Society of Jesus in 1773. 11. Chapter 1 Montagnais
Huntersof theNorthern Woodlands
- The earliest published Jesuit relations were written by Father
Paul Le Jeune who lived in the time of 1592-1664
12. He was the First superior of the New France mission 13.
Raised as a Protestant but converted to Catholicism as a young man.
14. Years of experience as an educator and administrator in various
Jesuit colleges before traveling to Canada at the age of forety 15.
More 1 OntheGood Things Which Are Foundamong theIndians
- Paul Le Jeune writes this article in 1634
16. If we begin with Physical advantages... they possess these
in abundance. 17. As to the mind of the Indian, it is of good
quality 18. I Naturally compare our Indians with European
villagers, because both are usually without education 19. People
who come to this country... admit that the Indians are more Clever
that our ordinary peasants 20. The Jesuit relations are a good
source of information on the spread of old-world diseases among the
natives These document by shining a light on the Indians and
European views of sickness and health and these cultures respective
approaches to combating disease Noting the devastating effects
Smallpox influenza and measles has on populations that have never
been exposed to them The Jesuits of New France knew nothing of
germs thought were knowledgeable by their days standards Chapter 3
Disease and Medicine 21. Cont. 3 They brought new France various
medicines including sugar widely regarded as a cure-all in the
seventeenth century The Jesuits priority was saving souls and when
epidemics struck the put most of their efforts into baptizing the
dying rather that relieving the suffering of the living Many native
healers were skilled at setting at setting broken bones and could
perform surgery to extract arrows and bullets from wounded warriors
The non-christian spirituality occupy a major portion of
therelationsmainly regarded these techniques with horrified
fascination The Jesuits disapproval of most aspects of native
medicine is quite apparent and the on the contrast with their
funeral customsThey worried most when Pagan ceremonies did cure
illness 22. Chapter 4Diplomacy and War
- The french did not come to America as Christian Conquerors
23. Establishing a place for themselves in the existing native
alliance system eventually French Canada would emerge as the
strongest power in the region 24. Native wars became more intense
and deadly due to the adoption of European weaponry 25. The
pressures of upheavals occasioned by epidemics trade and other
effects of contact 26. Cont 4The Hurons Annihilated1649 Mohawks
were raiding the canoe routes of the Ottawa and st. Lawrence rivers
and the Iroquois armies were stepping up attacks against the Huron
country father west Traditionally they tried to inflict some damage
while capturing booty and prisoners the now seemed intent on
destroying an entire people The Hurons were taken by surprise by a
large Iroquois invasion and unnerved by this bold strike The Huron
tribe had their military strength reduced by population loss by the
devastating epidemics 27. Chapter 5Writings on the Natural
Environment The endless forests and the harsh climate sometimes
suggested a literally god-forsaken quality, uncultivated nature was
regarded as evil and ugly rather the picturesque Looking up from
the earth and its creatures the Jesuits also commented on the stars
above and on the appearance of unusual objects in the night sky
Curiosity led them to record comets eclipses and other celestial
phenomena to benefit of reasearchers in Europe These provide
glimpses of native modes of thinking in addition to what European
views of nature 28. Cont 5Earthquakes, Comets and Other Prophetic
Signs In1663 Various strange apparitions appeared in the sky and
then a violent earthquake struck Jerome Lalemant -
- Heaven and earth have spoken to us many times during the past
year
29. beginning with phenomena of great beauty then fallowed by
the earths violent upheavals 30. Fiery serpents flying through the
air intertwined in the form of the caduceus, borne on wings of
flame 31. Most extraordinary was the appearance of three suns;
almost in line, with the real one in the middle. Each of the three
suns was crowned by a rainbow of shifting colors
