Joseph-Octave Plessis: A Cornerstone of the Catholic Church in Canada During the First Quarter of the Nineteenth Century

Transcription

1 Joseph-Octave Plessis: A Cornerstone of the Catholic Church in Canada During the First Quarter of the Nineteenth Century Introduction Many Catholics in Canada may take for granted that the Church is firmly established in this country, but there was a time in the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries when British colonial powers vehemently objected to its existence in both Upper and Lower Canada. After the Seven Years War concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the Catholic Church in Canada was in an uncertain state since Anglicanism was encouraged now that the British had authority over Canada as outlined by the treaty. 1 The person responsible for making the single greatest contribution to the Roman Catholic Church in Canada throughout the first quarter of the 19 th century was Joseph- Octave Plessis. If it were not for his efforts in advancing the Roman Catholic Church in Canada during the time when the Anglican Church dominated, the existence of Catholicism as the largest religious group in Canada today would probably be uncertain. 2 Joseph-Octave Plessis, the fifth Superintendant of the Romish Church was born in Montreal on March 3, 1763, approximately three weeks after the British invaded New France, and he died on December 4, 1825 in Quebec City, three months shy of his sixty-third birthday. 3;4 Plessis was an ambitious realist who was known for his remarkable memory and excellent judgement in matters related to business and the Church. 5;6 Second to the Church, Plessis loved Canada, and as he served God, he worked towards shaping the future of his home and native land. 7 Plessis was a determined and Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 25

2 dedicated servant of the Church, who made it his goal to reinforce the existence of the Catholic Church in Canada. Historian John Moir describes Joseph-Octave Plessis as the most important and powerful figure in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada during the century from the Conquest to Confederation. 8 This paper will analyze significant achievements in the life of Joseph-Octave Plessis to attest Moir s statement. Plessis leadership in his early religious life, from his achievements as a student to his work as coadjutor to Bishop Denaut, will be examined first, followed by an assessment of his accomplishments as Superintendant of the Romish Church, paying particular attention to his ability to cooperate with the British while resisting their attempts to end Catholicism in Canada. The paper will conclude with an evaluation of Plessis achievements as a legally recognized Bishop of Quebec and his success in dividing his diocese into smaller districts. Successes in Early Life, Joseph-Octave Plessis was a model student, and he always excelled in his studies. In the autumn of 1778, Plessis completed his studies at the Petit Séminaire de Québec, and in October 1778 due to his extraordinary intellect and outstanding leadership skills, he was received into the Congrégation de la Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie-Immaculée. 9 In April, 1780, in recognition of his leadership and academic achievements, he was selected as prefect, the highest title that a student could receive. 10 At the age of seventeen, Plessis felt he was being called to the Priesthood, and in 1786 he was ordained, thus marking the beginning of Plessis work in the church. 11;12 Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 26

3 Plessis had been teaching classes of Rhetoric and Belles-Lettres at a college in Montreal for three years when he was called by Bishop Jean-Olivier Briand in October 1783 to become Secretary of the Diocese. 13 This position was given to the most promising priests as it provided essential preparation in diocesan administration. 14 Plessis accepted the offer, and he would serve as Secretary not only to Briand, but also to the Bishop s successors, Louis Philippe Mariauchau d Esgly and Jean-François Hubert. 15 On May 31, 1792, Bishop Hubert appointed Plessis as the Curé of Notre-Dame Parish, permitting Plessis to continue his position as Secretary. 16 Despite his young age, the Bishop found Plessis to be so invaluable that he provided his Secretary with an assistant. 17 Reportedly, Joseph-Octave Plessis worked tirelessly throughout his career: he woke up at four in the morning, and rarely went to bed before midnight. 18 Plessis dedication paid off. He acted as Bishop Hubert s spokesperson, and he succeeded in developing mutual relationships with high-ranking leaders, including the Anglican Bishop Jacob Mountain, Solicitor General Jonathan Sewell, Lieutenantgovernor Robert Shore Milnes, and Attorney General Herman Witsius Ryland. 19 Given his privileged position, Joseph-Octave Plessis was able to act as a mediator between the British Crown that demanded loyalty from its Canadian subjects, and the middle-class workers in Canada who resisted the British. 20 These affiliations were valuable for Plessis on several occasions. On September 6, 1797, just two days after Denaut began his tenure as Bishop, Plessis was chosen as his coadjutor. 21 Although Canadian Catholics eagerly supported the Bishop s selection, Joseph-Octave Plessis declined the request. Yet, after having heard that the Duke of Kent was hoping for the nomination of a timid coadjutor, Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 27

4 incapable of supporting the Church, Plessis quickly accepted Denaut s offer, feeling that it was his obligation to sustain the Roman Catholic Church in Canada. 22 According to historian L Abbé Ferland, Plessis had been set to become coadjutor by providence. 23 Although Pope Pius VII sent the proper bulls as quickly as he could, it was not until January 21, 1801 that Denaut consecrated Plessis as his successor due to the onset of the French Revolution, and the untimely death of Pope Pius VI in August, ;25 Nonetheless, the consecration of the almost thirty-eight year old Plessis proved to be a wise decision for strengthening the Catholic Church in Canada. In early 1805, Denaut and Plessis learned about a British plan led by Bishop Mountain with the support of Milnes and Sewell, in which the British government would give the Roman Catholic Church in Canada legal status and increase the Bishop s income, in return for placing the Church under their executive control. 26 Thus, the Catholic Bishop would be validly recognized as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church rather than just Superintendant, but the British would have full power over the appointment of priests and other church issues. The British proposition was not without its ulterior motives; they were searching for ways to control the Roman Catholic Church in Canada. In particular, the British did not like that in Canada the Roman Catholic Church was able to appoint its own priests, and manage church affairs independent of the British Crown. 27 Moreover, as noted by John Moir, the benefits of legally validating the Roman Catholic Church under British executive control were superficial, since King George s coronation oath had promised not to legalize the Roman Catholic Church in Canada, but to expand Protestantism. 28 Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 28

5 It troubled Plessis that the Anglican Church was legally recognized in Canada, but the Roman Catholic Church was not. He actively communicated his views in order to amend the plan led by Bishop Mountain, although Denaut refused to participate in discussions. 29 Moreover, being left with the Anglican Church as the sole established church in Canada worried Plessis. 30 In April and May of 1805, Sewell and Plessis discussed the issue, with the primary debate focusing on the formation of future parishes. 31 Plessis sent out petitions to the king and governor against the plan, although Denaut believed that the outcome would be unfavourable to the Church. 32 On June 4, 1895, Denaut wrote a letter expressing his views on the topic: I would prefer my precarious state as it is now than to accept the solid establishment [of the Catholic Church] that is being offered to me. 33 The letter failed to convince the British. Nonetheless, in 1805 on the return of Milnes to London, the plan rested at a stand-still, as there were no further pressures from the British urging Catholics to accept the plan. 34 Thus, Plessis ability to negotiate and to see the larger picture with regard to the status of Catholicism in Canada were displayed from the time he began his education to when he became the coadjutor of Bishop Denaut. Nevertheless, this was only the beginning of Plessis adventure. As his position rose in the hierarchy, there would be many more endeavours that Plessis would embark on in order to assist the Catholic Church in Canada. Accomplishments as Superintendant of the Romish Church, Bishop Pierre Denaut passed away unexpectedly on January 17, Hence the perfect opportunity arose for the British to control episcopal succession of the Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 29

6 Catholic Church in Canada. However, Plessis upset this possibility by requesting that Thomas Dunn, the President of the Executive Council who was also the civil administrator of Quebec since Milnes replacement had not yet been appointed to name him Bishop of Quebec, with Bernard-Claude Panet as his coadjutor. 36 Plessis had decided to choose the older Bernard-Claude Panet as his successor because Panet would allow Plessis to do most of the work of the episcopate himself, while also giving him time to prepare a younger priest such as Pierre-Flavien Turgeon or André Doucet as his actual successor. 37 Joseph-Octave Plessis convinced Dunn to concede to his request, and at the age of forty-two, Plessis became the Bishop of Quebec. Despite his young age, Plessis was well prepared for his new position. He had been Secretary for three bishops, Curé of Quebec since 1792, and coadjutor since L Abbé Hermann Plante argues that [Plessis] possessed intellectual qualities and had the heart of a great bishop. At this moment of history, a mediocre bishop would have been a true calamity for the Church. 39 John Moir affirms that Plessis was no mediocre bishop stating, the bishopric of [Plessis] inaugurated a generation of forceful policy and solid advances for the Roman Catholic Church in Canada. 40 Although his title was not yet legally recognized by the British, Plessis accomplishments as Bishop of Quebec during this time certainly confirm Moir s statement, exemplifying his natural ability to negotiate with an ambitious spirit. Bishop Plessis dedicated himself to the Church and in his first address to his congregation he vowed to follow the Great Apostle, St. Paul, declaring, I will employ myself willingly in every thing that I can, and I will employ myself beyond my strength for your welfare, and Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 30

7 above all the salvation of your souls. 41 Throughout his tenure, it is evident that Plessis strived to stay true to his promises, and he dedicated his work towards the well-being of the Catholic Church. Plessis moved into the Séminaire de Québec for the purpose of committing himself to his pledge by strengthening his relationships and by developing the education system. 42 Plessis had two ultimate goals: the first was for himself to be legally recognized as the Bishop of Quebec, which would officially recognize Catholicism in Canada, and the second was for the division of his diocese as a mode to better serve the congregation. To these ends, Plessis continued to defend the Roman Catholic Church from British interference but at the same time, he worked collaboratively with British civil authorities. 43;44 Plessis proved to be worthy of his new position. Lionel Lindsay says, Plessis, by his firm yet deferential attitude, his prudence, and his loyalty to the Crown, removed all opposition. 45 Plessis had a natural knack for gaining support from the British and Catholics alike in Canada. He proved to be an open-minded and inclusive individual, not allowing language or culture to interfere with achieving his goals. 46 For instance, after being in power for only one month, the Bishop appointed English-speaking Alexander Macdonell as vicar-general for Upper Canada, and he wrote to him in English although it was a challenge. 47 Plessis played a key role in the reformation of the educational and ecclesial systems. He declined a seat on the secular board of trustees of the Protestant Royal Institute for Advanced Learning, deciding instead that each parish must offer a primary school. 48 In addition, Plessis created a seminary at Nicolet with the purpose of Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 31

8 increasing recruitment to religious life since there was a constant shortage of priests and that the British prohibited the importation of French priests to Canada until Plessis skillfully managed to balance the task of remaining compliant to the British government, while continuing to resist their domination. 50 Thus, when the new governor, Sir James Craig, arrived in Quebec on October 27, 1807, Plessis supported him in the hope that in return, the governor would support the Catholic Church. 51 However, in the summer of 1807, the vicar-general in London, François Bourret, brought news about Mountain, who had returned to oppose Plessis. 52 Mountain had devised a plan to have Plessis named Patriarch of the Roman Church in North America to ensure that the only Bishop of Quebec would be from the Anglican Church so as to eliminate the already limited authority that the Catholic Church in Canada possessed. 53 There was constant tension between Craig and Plessis: Plessis was hoping that Craig would support the Catholics, but Craig refused to endorse the cause. Despite the dilemma, Plessis worked towards the division of his diocese by sending Macdonell to the lieutenant-governor of Quebec, Francis Gore, to allow for the appointment of a missionary bishop whose primary purpose would be to aid in the expansion of the Church in Canada. 54 Although Gore recommended Plessis proposal to the British, there were no results. Fortunately, the conflict was temporarily settled when the War of 1812 commenced, as Plessis encouraged Canadian Catholics to side with the British in the hope that their loyalty would be rewarded. 55 Indeed, the outcome was beneficial for Plessis and the Catholic Church. In recognition of the Canadian Catholics support, particularly their success at Châteauguay, the British government was less severe in dominating the Catholic Church in Canada, and they increased subsidies that were Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 32

9 provided by the Canada Act. 56;57 In 1813, Sir George Prevost, who replaced Craig as governor of Quebec in 1811, increased Bishop Plessis salary. 58 Thus, during his time as Superintendant of the Romish Church, Plessis resisted the attempts by the British to marginalize the Catholic Church in Canada, and was able to reinforce and strengthen the Church. Soon, Plessis greatest fear, the disappearance of the Church in Canada, would no longer be a threat, and Plessis would devote his time entirely to the division of his diocese. Achievements as Bishop of Quebec, In 1817, Plessis hard work and persistence for legal recognition was rewarded. He accepted the offer for a seat on the Legislative Council as another reward for his loyalty to the British during the War of On April 30, 1817, Joseph-Octave Plessis was selected as a Legislative Councillor. 60 However, in order to have a seat on the Legislative Council, Plessis position had to be legally recognized. The new governor, Sir John Sherbrooke, easily convinced the British Crown to name Plessis the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec. 61 There was little protest against this appointment since the British colonial powers had acquired the support of Plessis and the Catholic Canadians during the War of 1812, they did not want to jeopardize this loyalty in case of a future need. 62 On February 2, 1818, Plessis took his seat at the Legislative Council. 63 Plessis wrote to Rome, Here for the first time, the Catholic episcopate of Canada has been recognized and acknowledged by the British government, and I have reason to hope that my successors will be recognized as well. 64 Although Plessis wish for his immediate successors to be legally acknowledged did not happen, Gilles Chaussé praises Plessis official status as Bishop, noting that after the legal and material Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 33

10 insecurity of the preceding years, this recognition, even if it only applied to Bishop Plessis personally and not to his successors, represented an enormous step towards freedom for the Catholic Church. 65 After achieving legal bishopric of Quebec, Plessis could now focus on his second objective. In 1815, Plessis had written to the Propaganda in Rome four times seeking the division of the diocese of Quebec, and they had never responded; 66 however, some progress had resulted on this front. In 1817, Rome and London agreed to make Edmund Burke the vicar apostolic of Nova Scotia. 67 Nonetheless, Plessis was not pleased with the arrangement, since he thought that there was too much dependence on Rome, and so he decided to personally request the division of his diocese, setting sail to Europe in June 1819 to visit London and Rome. 68 Pierre Flavien Turgeon and Jean-Jacques Lartigue accompanied Plessis. 69 However, Plessis had stirred some activity in Rome. The Holy See had decided to name Plessis the Archbishop of Quebec, and Alexander Macdonell and Angus Bernard McEachern as his suffragan for Upper Canada and vicar apostolic for Prince Edward Island respectively. 70 Nonetheless, the ship bringing the papal bulls was unable to reach Plessis before he sailed off, and much to his surprise, Plessis was informed off his new title shortly after he arrived in Europe. 71 On September 1819, in London, Lord Bathurst, secretary of state for the colonies, agreed to the appointment of two additional suffragans, Lartigue for Montreal and Joseph-Nobert Provencher for the Northwest, on the condition that Plessis would renounce his title of Archbishop. 72 After going to Rome to obtain the bulls for his Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 34

11 suffragans and to reject his title as Archbishop, Plessis returned to Quebec on August 7, Plessis goals were achieved: he was finally recognized as the Bishop of Quebec by the British, and he had successfully divided his diocese into four smaller districts. Conclusion Joseph-Octave Plessis was a man with a dream who directed his efforts toward the strengthening of the Catholic Church in Canada. Plessis gained experience in Church issues during his time as Secretary for three bishops and as coadjutor to Bishop Denaut, and was able to develop relationships with key figures. When Plessis became Superintendant of the Romish Church, he committed himself fully to establishing a firm foundation for Catholicism in Canada. Plessis cooperated with the British, yet still fought for legal recognition of the Catholic Church in Canada. Finally, as a reward for his support during the War of 1812, the British appointed Plessis to the Legislative Council. Consequently, Plessis was named Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Quebec. Later, Plessis successfully divided his diocese into four smaller districts. James Lambert describes Plessis as a little round, affable ascetic with an iron will and a big heart [who] inspired the younger clergy by force of example a sense of direction and dedication that their elders had lacked. 74 Indeed, Joseph-Octave Plessis changed the Church and he was a role model to the younger generation. He demonstrated leadership qualities, dedication and fortitude in fighting for the well-being of the Church in Canada. John Moir claims that the measure of Plessis achievement would have been unbelievable in the dark hours of the Conquest. 75 Joseph-Octave Plessis was certainly a key pillar of the Catholic Church, and probably the most important and powerful figure Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 35

12 in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Canada during the century from the Conquest to Confederation. 76 Throughout his life Plessis encouraged Catholicism, and his contributions aided in expanding the Catholic Church in Canada. Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 36

13 Note Original French Quotations 33 «J aimerais donc mieux mon état précaire, tel qu il est, que cet établissement solide, tel qu il est, que cet établissement solide, tel qu il m est offert.» 39 «Il [Plessis] possédait les qualités d esprit et de c ur d un grand évêque. À ce moment de son histoire, un évêque médiocre eût été pour l Église une vraie calamité.» 64 «Ainsi voilà pour le première fois l épiscopat catholique du Canada reconnu et avoué dans ma personne par le gouvernement britannique, et j ai lieu d espérer que mes successeurs seront reconnus de même.» Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 37

14 Bibliography Canadian Mennonite University. French Catholic Christianity to Canadian Mennonite University. Frnch%20Cthlc%20Xnty%20-% pdf. Chaussé, Gilles. French Canada from the Conquest to Translated by James MacLean. In A Concise History of Christianity in Canada, ed. Terrence Murphy and Roberto Perin, Toronto: Oxford University Press, Codignola, Luca. Conflict or Consensus: Catholics in Canada and the United States, CCHA Historical Studies 55 (1988): Fay, Terence J. A History of Canadian Catholics: Gallicanism, Romanism, and Canadianism. Montreal: McGill-Queen s, Ferland, L Abbé Jean Baptiste Antoine. Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Bishop of Quebec. Translated by T.B. French. Quebec: G & G.E. Desbarats, Lambert, James H. Plessis, Joseph-Octave. The Canadian Encylopedia. RTA Plessis, Joseph-Octave. Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online The Face of Upper Canadian Catholicism: Culture and Metropolitanism in the Establishment of the Roman Catholic Church in Upper Canada, CCHA Historical Studies 54 (1987): Lemieux, Lucien. L Établissement de la Première Province Ecclésiastique au Canada Ottawa: Éditions Fides, Histoire du catholicisme Québécois : Les XVIIIe et XIX siècles. Vol. 1: Les annees difficiles Montreal: Boreal, Lindsay, Lionel. Joseph-Octave Plessis. The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Marston, Daniel. The French-Indian War Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., Moir, John S. The Church in the British era: from the British Conquest to Confederation. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 38

15 Mills, Sean. French Canadians and the Beginning of the War of 1812: Revisiting the Lachine Riot. Histoire Sociale 38, no. 75 (2005) : Noll, Mark A. A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Plante, l Abbé Hermann. L Église Catholique au Canada Trois-Rivières: Éditions du Bien Public, Smith, T. Allan. Catholicism. The Canadian Encylopedia. RTA Wallot, Jean-Pierre. The Lower Canadian Clergy and the Reign of Terror (1810). CCHA Historical Studies 40 (1973): Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 39

16 1 Daniel Marston, The French-Indian War (Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2002), T. Allan Smith, Catholicism, The Canadian Encyclopedia, 3 Terence Fay, A History of Canadian Catholics, (Montreal: McGill-Queen s, 2002), James Lambert, Plessis, Joseph-Octave, Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography Online, James Lambert, Plessis, Joseph-Octave, The Canadian Encyclopedia, 6 John Moir, The Church in the British Era, (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., 1972), L Abbé Jean-Baptiste Antoine Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, (Quebec: G & G.E. Desbarats, 1864), Moir, The Church in the British Era, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Ibid. 11 Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Lambert, The Canadian Encylopedia, 13 Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Fay, A History of Canadian Catholics, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Ibid. 19 Lucien Lemieux, Histoire du Catholicisme québécois, 2 sec. 1, (Montreal: Boreal, 1989), Fay, A History of Canadian Catholics, Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Ibid., Ibid., L Abbé Hermann Plante, L Église Catholique au Canada, (Trois-Rivières: Éditions du Bien Public, 1970), Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Canadian Mennonite University, French Catholic Christianity to 1840, Canadian Mennonite University, % pdf 28 Moir, The Church in the British Era, Lucien Lemieux, L Établissement de la Première Ecclésiastique au Canada, (Ottawa : Éditions du Bien Public, 1968), Ibid., Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Plante, L Église Catholique au Canada, Moir, The Church after the British Conquest, Ibid. 36 Gilles Chaussé, French Conquest from the Conquest to 1840, trans. James Maclean, in A Concise History of Christianity in Canada, ed. Terrence Murphy and Roberto Perin, (Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996), 83. Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 40

17 37 Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Lemieux, Établissement de la Première Province Ecclésiastique au Canada, Plante, L Église Catholique au Canada, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, e?&id_nbr= Mark A. Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,1992), Lambert, The Canadian Encyclopedia, 45 Lionel Lindsay, Joseph-Octave Plessis, The Catholic Encyclopedia, 46 James Lambert, The Face of Upper Canadian Catholicism, CCHA Historical Studies, 1987, Ibid. 48 Fay, A History of Canadian Catholics, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Jean-Pierre Wallot, The Lower Canadian Clergy and the Reign of Terror (1810), CCHA Historical Studies, 1973, Lemieux, L Établissement de la Première Province Ecclésiastique au Canada, Moir, The Church in the British Conquest, Ibid. 54 Ibid. 55 Canadian Mennonite University, French Catholic Christianity to 1840, 56 Mills, French Canadians and the Beginning of the War of 1812: Revising the Lachine Riot, Histoire Sociale, 2005, Noll, A History of Christianity in the United States and Canada, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Codignola, Conflict or Consensus, CCHA Historical Studies, 1988, Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Canadian Mennonite University, French Catholic Christianity to 1840, 63 Lemieux, L Établissement de la Première Province Ecclésiastique au Canada, Ibid. 65 Chaussé, French Canada from the Conquest to 1840, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Ibid. 69 Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Codignola, Conflict or Consensus, Ferland, Biographical Notice of Joseph-Octave Plessis, Chaussé, French Canada from the Conquest to 1840, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Lambert, Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online, Moir, The Church in the British Era, Ibid., 70. Saeculum Volume 5, issue 2. 41