Minnesota in three centuries, 1655-1908 . r made near bishop Loras had visited Europe in 1838 in quest of laborers forthe large field which had been confided to his spiritual charge. InFrance a number of priests volunteered to accompany him to the wildsof America. Among these zealous and courageous spirits were somethat rose to high distinction in the affairs of the church and in thehistory of the country. They were Rev. Joseph Cretin, who becameBishop of St. Paul; Rev. Joseph Pellamourgues, who became Vicar Gen-eral of Dubuque; Rev. Augustin Ravoux, who became Vicar General ofSt. Paul and Mon


Minnesota in three centuries, 1655-1908 . r made near bishop Loras had visited Europe in 1838 in quest of laborers forthe large field which had been confided to his spiritual charge. InFrance a number of priests volunteered to accompany him to the wildsof America. Among these zealous and courageous spirits were somethat rose to high distinction in the affairs of the church and in thehistory of the country. They were Rev. Joseph Cretin, who becameBishop of St. Paul; Rev. Joseph Pellamourgues, who became Vicar Gen-eral of Dubuque; Rev. Augustin Ravoux, who became Vicar General ofSt. Paul and Monsignor and Rev. Lucian Galtier, who gave the cityof St. Paul its name. The party landed in New York in the fall of1838. Revs. Galtier and Ravoux had not quite completed their ecclesi-astic studies and proceeded to Emmitsburg College, Maryland, wherethey remained about a year. They were ordained in Dubuque, January5, 1840. See Memoir of Rev. Lucian Galtier by Rt. Rev. John Ireland,Minn. Historical Society Collection Vol. 3, p. 222 et H oo a Hi-l < c <! i—i P h-i EAELY HISTOKY. 113 the close of the seventeenth century, and the occupation byFathers Guignas Gonar on Lake Pepin, in 1727-1737, the com-mencement of Catholicity in Minnesota dates from the visit ofBishop Mathias Loras and Father Pellamourgues, in the summerof 1839. Organized Eoman Catholicism certainly had its originthen. Previously, of course, there had been Catholics in thecountry among the fur traders and the soldiers, but they had nosort of church organization. There was no opportunity for theirapproaching any of the sacraments, their sins went unshrivedand unconfessed. The Bishop was much impressed with the situation andpromised the Catholic soldiers of the garrison and the employesof the American Fur Company at Fort Snelling that they shouldsoon have a priest permanently located among them. He andFather Pellamourgues set out on their return in a canoe pur-chased for them by Peter Quinn, the Sioux int


Size: 1272px × 1966px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., bookauthorholcomberireturnira18, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900