Loyola University Chicago - Loyolan Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

Page 30 text:

CU. I. 'NO lnixlll-1912 U Y r P11010 Cnifrfusy fliifwlzuflinlzal .Yrfur RPN THE BIARQUETTE CRoss Observance of 250th anniversary of Father Marquette's residence on the site ot' Chicago, held at spot where his cabin was located, on December 14, 1924. Rev. Herbert C. Noonan, SJ., seen bestowing blessing. Near about the cross are, at left, M. Henri Dido, French Consul at Chicago, Miss Valentine Smith. Alphonse Campion, Mrs. Amos XV. XValker. Madame Henri Dido, Bettie XValker, and visitors, at right, Murray Blanchard. joseph 1. Thompson, Alderman John Johntry, Mrs. Henry Grien, Mrs. james Hutchinson, Mrs. Louis Hopkins, Mrs. Daniel VV. Earle, Regent Chicago Chapter D. A. R., and a ilelegfatiou of Daughters of the American Republic. first encounter with Frencthmeng possible martyrdom did not deter him, nor the thought of tiendish torture, even though he knew of -logues, so fearfully maimed and mangled that he was forced to return to Europe to gain a papal dispensation to use again his torn fingers in the Divine sacrifice, before he should go back and to die a martyr and a man of almost supernatural calm in the flames of an Iroquois building: Xavier, dying desolately on the bleak coast of Japan, served not to repel him but to attract him to the never-ceasing duel in which souls were the stake. Thus he strained every effort to be sent to New France and a grave from whence his spirit, contrary to the procedure of this life, would walk the paths of glory spurned by his eager feet, while he was alive and treading the paths pointed out by his Master. At last his wish to be a missionary was granted and Marquette obtained the permission of his superiors to take up the work he so ardently desired. Thus, lPage 201

Page 29 text:

'I ln- Lr,mYUl.AN-iff! l lx X .R ll . A Y. l 1 X ,-. - Q xx ' , -f l l 'N' . X X5 F X' is 'x fin l'li.fln ttm1'f.'xy Lilrlrlmn Ifuily ,Yrtzxv KI,xI:QL'i1.'1 1'i2 LQABIN AT lix'rR.xNt'r: TU Lil'lIL.XlIO Riviau As reproiluceil liy Vliicago City Building lbepartinent at north end of l.inl-c Bridge for celeliratimi uf the 250th anniversary of lfqitlier M:irqnette's resnlence nn the site of Ciliiezigo. but in reality. girding and strengthening himself for his threefold enemy, the world, the tiesh and the devil. Finally his years of toil and struggle were at end and he received the accolade of his Heavenly Captain, a priest forever after the order of Melchisidechf' A period of teaching ensued. but not in the classroom was Marquettes spirit to he contented. ,-Xlways of a sickly and delicate constitution, more adapted to the life of the recluse and student than that of the vigorous men he Cllviefl. nevertheless, he yearned for the missionary held. He knew what awaited him: hardship, privation, a return to the primeval, almost1 he knew what he must be prepared to meet: the Iroquois. sxvorn enemies of France ever since their IPage 191

Page 31 text:

l'lu l.OYOl,AN-l'1Jw in 1666 he set forth for New France. 'l'he voyage took over three months-a hardship well comparable to any present-day voyage of exploration when we can contrast traveling conditions of that day with those that now prevail on the floating cities that cross the Atlantic in less than a week. Finally the arduous and monotonous voyage was over, Marquette was on the threshold of a new life. He took up his quarters in Quebec. the seat of both French and Catholic power in the New Wlorld. Here he applied himself dili- gently to the study of the Indian dialect, a task, in those prenatal days of philology and multitudinous textbooks, enough to discourage even the stoutest heart. For two years, until 1668, under the able tuition of Father Druillettes, Marquette continued his labors, and so well had he worked in preparing his tools for his forthcoming ventures, that within a few years he was master of six of the barbarous tongues. J THE IXIAYORYS Commirree AND THE STUDENTS XVHO Exixcrizn THE AIARQUETTE ,loL'1iNev, DECEMBER, 1924 In 1668 he was appointed to his lirst mission, among the Ottawas. The result of this appointmenlt was the founding of a mission at Sault Ste. Marie, the lirst in what is now Michigan. Here he remained until September, 1669, when he was transferred to La Pointe. It is during the time of his mission at La Pointe that we get the first hint of the future labors that were to immortalize him. In a letter to the Superior of the Missions he speaks of the uphill work in trying to learn the language of the Illinois among whom it had been settled he was later to establish a mission. In another letter he speaks of the Illinois Indians coming to the mission, who had to cross a great river which is nearly a league in width, Hows from north to south, and to such a distance that the Illinois, who do not know what a canoe is, have not yet heard any mention of its mouth. He continues to speak of this river farther along in the letter: It is hard to believe that that great river lPage 211