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.
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