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But his creative work was primarily with the Montagnais, among whom he established a church which was respectful of their language and which could sustain itself.Įmployees and clerks of the trading posts made his task difficult because of their general conduct and their trade in spirits with the Indians. He also served the French on both sides of the St Lawrence and the Acadians of Baie des Chaleurs, since registers of at least 15 parishes record his ministrations.

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As early as 1767 he had William Brown and Thomas Gilmore print 3,000 spellers and 2,000 prayer books in Montagnais, designed, as he noted, for “those who know how to read and for those who will learn.” He devoted winters to the education of the Montagnais, showing them how to read and write, teaching them the catechism, liturgical rites, singing, and the rudiments of music, and training catechists to carry on his work in his absence and after his death.

His chief concern was to establish a Montagnais Christian community on firm human foundations. In 1773, however, Joseph-Mathurin Bourg took over his responsibilities for the Acadians and Micmacs.Īnnals containing his annual summaries of his activities from 1766 to 1776, two Tadoussac registers recording his official acts – the “Miscellaneorum Liber” and the “Magnus Liber” – his letters, and various other statements reveal the nature of his work. In 1770 Bishop Briand also made him responsible for ministering to the area from Cacouna to Rimouski on the south side of the St Lawrence, as well as to Acadia, St John’s (Prince Edward) Island, and Cape Breton Island. He was then appointed missionary to the Montagnais, who inhabited an immense territory stretching from he aux Coudres to Sept-Îles and from Tadoussac to Chicoutimi, and he began the most significant work of his life, through which he would make an outstanding contribution and attain both historical fame and legendary renown. In 1761, however, he was given the tranquil parish of Saint-Henri-de-Mascouche, and remained there until the middle of 1766 despite requests from the Indians of Saint-François for his return. During his years with these Indians he had improved his knowledge of their speech and in 1760 completed a basic dictionary of the Abenaki language.įrom his earliest days in Canada, Father La Brosse had espoused the cause of the Acadians, Abenakis, and Malecites. The following year he still claimed the title of “missionary to the Abenakis” and was ministering occasionally in the parish of Saint-Louis-de-Terrebonne. On 4 October he and Father Roubaud escaped Major Robert Rogers’ raid on the Abenakis at Saint-François. He was taken prisoner at Pointeaux-Trembles (Neuville) but the next day was liberated as a military chaplain. In July 1759 La Brosse went with a party of Abenakis to Quebec, which was under siege. In the summer he went to assist Father Pierre-Joseph-Antoine Roubaud, who was with the Abenakis at Saint-François-de-Sales (Odanak), and at the same time he undertook regular duties in the parish of Saint-Michel-d’Yamaska. On 2 Feb. 1758 he pronounced his solemn vows in the presence of Father Claude-Godefroy Coquart* and then worked as chaplain in the Hôpital Général in Quebec until April. Returning to Quebec in the autumn, La Brosse lived in the Jesuit college until 1758, serving as procurator, adviser to the rector, confessor, and professor of philosophy. Early in March 1756 he narrowly escaped being taken by the British. As soon as he arrived Father La Brosse went along, helping them and encouraging them to flee. Since July 1755, when the deportation of their people had begun, these Acadians had been pursued and had had to take refuge in the forests. He stayed at Quebec and then in the autumn of 1755 went to join Father Charles Germain in Acadia, where he ministered to the Abenakis, Malecites, and Acadians of the St John River region (N.B.). Ordained priest early in April 1753, La Brosse came to Canada with a number of other Jesuits the following year.

He completed his training as a Jesuit by a third year of philosophy and four years of theology. He took his first vows on 10 Oct. 1742, studied philosophy for two years, and taught in various schools until 1749.

30 April 1724 at Magnac, a hamlet in the parish of Jauldes (dept of Charente), France, son of Jean de La Brosse, seigneur of La Chabrouillère and of Magnac, and Louise Dubois-Cuvier d. 11 April 1782 at Tadoussac (Que.).Īfter studying at the Jesuit college in Angoulême, Jean-Baptiste de La Brosse began his noviciate with the Jesuits in Bordeaux on 9 Oct. 1740. LA BROSSE, JEAN-BAPTISTE DE, Jesuit, priest, missionary, and professor b.

Jean baptiste de langy