Claude Chauchetière
Claude Chauchetière
Claude Chauchetière (September 7, 1645 - April 17, 1709) was a French Jesuit missionary, priest, biographer, and painter. Claude Chauchetière is well known for his published work Annual Narrative of the Mission of the Sault from Its Foundation Until the Year 1686 which detailed his time in New France as a Jesuit missionary. For most of his mission work he was placed in the village of Kahnawake where he encountered Kateri Tekakwitha an Algonquin-Mohawk Jesuit convert, an encounter that immensely impacted his spiritual life. Later on Chauchetière would also actively work to get Kateri Tekakwitha canonized as a saint.
Early Life and Education
Claude Chauchetière was born on September 7, 1645 in Poitiers, Saint-Porchaire, France. Claude Chauchetière grew up in a moderately wealthy family. His father Jehan Chauchetière was an attorney and worked for the highest court in the region[1]. Claude Chauchetiere’s childhood was filled with losing the people he loved at a young age. His mother passed away when he was only nine years old and at age sixteen he lost his father. He had a good relationship with his father and he did not take his death well. Chauchetière had an older brother named Jean and a younger brother named Jacques. Despite the death of their parents the three brothers maintained close relationship with each other.[2] Chauchetière and his brothers were all members of the Society of Jesus and served at different mission posts.
For their elementary school years, Claude Chauchetière and his brothers attended a small parish school in their hometown of Poitiers. After receiving basic instruction of reading and writing in French at the parish school, Chauchetière enrolled at the nearby Jesuit college at the age of thirteen.[3] After his graduation from the Jesuit college, Chauchetière joined the Society of Jesus as a novice. Claude Chauchetière studied at the Jesuit novitiate at Bordeaux, France in 1663.[4] Chauchetière excelled academically and at the Jesuit novitiate Chauchetière grew spiritually. While he was a Jesuit trainee Chauchetière also worked as a teacher at a junior level.
Mission Work in Kahnawake
Claude Chauchetière chose to do his missionary work in Canada also known as New France because he wanted to imitate the suffering and passion of Christ. In order to prepare for his mission post, Chauchetière studied the Huron language with the help of Reverend Father Mercier.[5] When he first arrived to Canada, Chauchetière was appointed to the mission of the Hurons. After a year of working with the Hurons, Chauchetière was appointed to work in Kahnawake.[6]
Chauchetière first arrived in Kahnawake also known as Sault St. Louis in the summer of 1677. When he first arrived there he was under the supervision of Jacques Frémin, a veteran missionary. After Jacques Frémin went back to France due to his failing health, Chauchetière was left alone with only one colleague, Pierre Cholenec, who would later serve an important role in helping him with getting Kateri Tekakwitha canonized.
His duty as a missionary in Kahnawake included celebrating mass, taking confession, visiting the sick, instructing newcomers, tending to the dying and dead, supervising work on the farm, and writing reports.[7] Many of the converts of Kahnawake were very devoted and would practice self-flagellation as evidenced of their faith. Some took it too far that Chauchetière had to advise against excessive self-flagellation. The only constant problem that Chauchetière and his colleagues faced was the ill influence of liquor on the Indians. Despite having converted the Indians were seen drinking and still practicing their old ways.[8]
This is all I have so far. I'll get it done soon :/
Encounter with Kateri Tekakwitha
Later Life After Kahnawake
Contribution to Kateri Tekakwitha's Canonization
Spiritual Life
References
- ^ Greer, Allan. (2005). Mohawk Saint : Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517487-9. OCLC 54022617.
- ^ Greer, Allan. (2005). Mohawk Saint : Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517487-9. OCLC 54022617.
- ^ Greer, Allan. (2005). Mohawk Saint : Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517487-9. OCLC 54022617.
- ^ "Biography – CHAUCHETIÈRE, CLAUDE – Volume II (1701-1740) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography". www.biographi.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-30.
- ^ Chauchetière, Claude (2006). Annual Narrative of the Mission of the Sault from Its Foundation Until the Year 1686. Arx Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-889758-75-6.
- ^ Chauchetière, Claude (2006). Annual Narrative of the Mission of the Sault from Its Foundation Until the Year 1686. Arx Publishing, LLC. ISBN 978-1-889758-75-6.
- ^ Greer, Allan. (2005). Mohawk Saint : Catherine Tekakwitha and the Jesuits. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517487-9. OCLC 54022617.
- ^ "The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents Volume 62". moses.creighton.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-10.