Page 61 - Transcriptions d'actes notariés - Tome 20 - 1682-1686
P. 61
Our Lady of the Saguenay on Cape Trinité
AB there is iio Ieclure in EngIish, 1 think the distinguished tnembers
of the Engli~h Section of Our Society will appreciate a short account of
my speech delivered 6rst in their language.
The great statue of Our Lady erected on the fore step of Cape Tri-
nité being of natioiial, and even of world-wjde interest, 1 consider it a
suitable subjecl for lhe circurnstaiice of our first meeting in the King-
dom of the Segueiiey.
There is no want of B ilescription for those who already enjoyed
what ihey cal1 "the Saguenay Trip" by seaway; biit for othere, let me
tell you that among the giaut cliffs which border the fjord of the Segue-
nay, the most majeetic are the two twin cepes called Trinité and Eterniié.
Tliis one is liigher, but from the ordinary points of observation, jt in
not so much impressive than cape Trinité, wlioee three-headed summit
and three-steped side-facc are uriique, and pose with sublime and
inspiriiig grandeur.
On tlie top of jts protuberant lower step, six hundrwl feet above
the water ievei, wns ereeted, exaetly seveiity-hve yeBT0 ago, a giant statue
of the Blessed Virgin, which is etill appearing an the fierce rocky fiire-
head, witti ~he title oi Notre-Dame du Sagueney.
The origin of this unusual monument is due to a double jnterven-
lion of the Blessed Virgin in relief of a commercial traveller, Charles-
Napolkrin Robitaille, of Quebee: once by rescuejng him from death,
whcn he plunped tlirough the ice, with his horse and sled, on the river
Sagueriay, aiid again a few wecks Inter. by saviiig him in a sickamg
technically incurable.
On a trip to the Saguenay, alter his recovery, Robitaille paid a
visit to Mur Dominique Raeiiie, firat hinhiip of Chieoutimi, and told him
his purpose of plaeing a statue of the lmmaculate in ex-voto on the shore
of the River where he weu first reseued by the Blessed Virgin. The
Bishop suggested Cape Trinité a9 the righ t place ior a convenient liomagc
to the Mother of God, aiid he wae 60 convincing, thot he decided the
poor man to undertake such a renlization.
With the bles9ingo ol the Episeopate and the anticipalion of the
people's generosi ty. Robitaille ordered the slntue to Louis Jobin, "the
last of OUT rnoster wood-carvers", wri~es Doctor Marius Barbeau.
The huge stnlue is 25 feet higli and 7 feet wide. Made of pine
wood, it iii al1 eovered with a leatl ioil, aiid painted white. Tlie Vjrgin
is powd iii ttie attitude she affecled iu her apparitions at Lourdes,
twelve stars surrounding her hend, and her faee is sererie and sweet.