Nicolas Viel
| Father Nicolas Viel, O.M.R. | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Coutances, Normandy, France |
| Died | June 25, 1625 Sault-au-Récollet, Quebec, Canada |
| Cause of death | Drowning |
| Body discovered | June 28, 1625 |
| Resting place | Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
| Citizenship | French |
| Occupations | Franciscan friar and missionary |
Nicolas Viel — Father Nicolas Viel, O.M.R., (died 25 June 1625) was a French Recollect missionary to the Hurons from 1623 to 1625.
Biography
Among the first missionaries sent by France to its colony, Viel traveled to Huron territory, arriving there with fellow Recollect Father Joseph Le Caron in 1623. He was studying the language and collecting material to add to Le Caron's dictionary.
After almost two years, in May 1625, Viel decided to return to Quebec in the company of a band of Hurons, with the intention of making a few days' retreat and then returning to his missions. It is known that he never reached Quebec, but was drowned in the last chute of the Riviere des Prairies, which from that time bears the name of Sault-au-Récollet. The neophyte Auhaitsique, whom he had instructed and baptized, met with the same fate.[1]
Sagard and Le Clercq give accounts of Father Viel's missionary work, and of his death. Their information regarding his death was obtained after the fact and through interpreters. The canoe(s) apparently attempted to shoot a rapid that would usually have been portaged. Suspicions that the drowning was intentional appear to be weakly based on the survival of the accompanying Hurons, and tensions between the Hurons, the Iroquois, and the French.[1][2] They have, nonetheless, led to repeated assertions that Viel and his companion were murdered.[3][4] French Jesuit priest Charlevoix could only conclude "Whether there was some miscalculation in the measures they took or whether it was brought about by design the canoe capsized."[1]: 285 The rapids were certainly dangerous enough to explain the outcome: Sagard wrote that "Time and again we ran the risk of losing our lives and of being swallowed up in the falls and whirlpools as were, since then, good Father Nicholas and a young boy Francis, our disciple."[1]: 284
Viel is sometimes referred to as the first Canadian martyr, which can be seen as technically correct given that the Catechism of the Catholic Church states "Martyrdom is the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death."[5] A painting by Georges Delfosse in Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde, Montreal, Quebec, shows Viel holding aloft a cross as the canoe is about to capsize. The scene, in which one person holds a broken paddle and another has one arm around Viel, can be ambiguously interpreted.[6] The designation of martyr has been strongly opposed by those who see it as supporting the belief that Viel and Auhaitsique were murdered by the Hurons.[7]
According to the records of the Recollets, Father Viel was buried in St. Charles's Chapel, Quebec City, 25 June 1625.[1]: 286
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Nicolas Viel — Died 1625, the first victim of apostolic zeal on the shores of the St. Lawrence. After persistently asking for three years, he at length obtained the favour of consecrating his life to the Canadian missions. He arrived at Quebec, 28 June, 1623, accompanied by Brother Sagard, the future historian. After a few days rest he set out for the Huron country, which he reached with great difficulty, taking up his residence in the village of St. Nicolas (Toanche), but did not remain long before joining Father Le Caron stationed at St. Joseph (Carhagouha). Here he began earnestly to study the language, collecting the first elements of a dictionary, and sowing the good seed of faith amidst great difficulties and tribulations. In the spring of 1624 he found himself completely isolated, Fr. Le Caron and Br. Sagard having left for Quebec. The following year he consented to accompany a band of Hurons going down to Quebec, with the intention of making a few days retreat and then returning to his missions. It is known that he never reached Quebec, but was drowned in the last chute of the Riviere des Praiiries, which from that time bears the name of Sault-au-Recollet. The neophyte Auhaitsique, whom he had instructed and baptized, met with the same fate. It was learned later that this was not an accident; but that a few Hurons, enemies of religion, drowned them in hatred of the Faith. If we can rely on the "Martyrologe des Recollets", Father Viel was buried in St. Charles's Chapel, 25 June, 1625.
SAGARD, Grand voyage: Histoire du Canada; LECLERCQ, Premier etablissement de la Foi; LE TAC, Histoire chronologique; JONES, Huronia; Jesuit Relations.
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Back to citation occurrence 1.2 Back to citation occurrence 1.3 Back to citation occurrence 1.4 Ontario Legislative Assembly (1907). "F. Nicholas Viel, Recollet, at St. Joseph, or Carhagouha". Sessional Papers - Legislature of the Province of Ontario. 8 (41): 283–287. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- Back to citation Trigger, Bruce G. (1987). The Children of Aataentsic: A History of the Huron People to 1660. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press. p. 396.
- Back to citation Melançon, A. (1912). "Nicholas Viel". The Catholic Encyclopedia (New Advent ed.). New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
- Back to citation Dumas, G.-M. "VIEL, NICOLAS". Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- Back to citation "II. To Bear Witness to the Truth". Catechism of the Catholic Church. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- Back to citation "Praise to you, Lord, through the Islands of Montreal". Order of Friars Minor. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
- Back to citation Gareau, Ronald (23 January 2015). "Tableau de Nicolas Viel à la cathédrale". Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montréal.