Frederic Baraga
Encyclopedia
Frederic Baraga, Servant of God
(June 29, 1797 – January 19, 1868) was a Slovene American Roman Catholic missionary
, bishop
, and grammarian.
at Mala Vas
(Germ. Kleindorf) no. 16 near the Carniola
n village of Dobrnič
, in what was then the Habsburg Monarchy
and is now part of the municipality of Trebnje
in Slovenia
.
He grew up during the Napoleonic Wars
, when the Slovene Lands
were changing hands between France and the Austrian Empire
. The official language of instruction in his schools changed several times during his childhood between French
and German
, neither of which was his native tongue. In addition, Latin and Greek
were required subjects for all students. Thus, by age 16, Frederic Baraga was multilingual—a skill that would serve him well in later life.
prior to entering the seminary, and was ordained as Roman Catholic priest on September 21, 1823 in the Cathedral
of St. Nicholas
in Ljubljana
. As a young priest, he was a staunch opponent of Jansenism
. During this time he also wrote a spiritual book in Slovene entitled Dušna Paša (Spiritual Sustenance).
In 1830, he answered the request of Bishop Edward Fenwick
of Cincinnati for priests to aid in ministering to his growing flock, which included a large amount of mission territory. A year later Baraga was sent to the Ottawa
Indian mission at Arbre Croche (now Cross Village, Michigan) to finish his mastery of the Ottawa language, which he had begun in Cincinnati.
This resulted in the publishing of "Otawa Anamie-Misinaigan", the first book written in the Ottawa language, which was a catechism
and prayer book, in 1832. After a brief stay at a mission in present-day Grand Rapids, Michigan
, he moved north to minister to the Ojibway (Chippewa) Indians at La Pointe, Wisconsin
, an old Jesuit
mission on Lake Superior
, in 1835.
In 1843 he founded a mission at L'Anse, Michigan
. During this time he earned the nickname “the Snowshoe Priest” because he would travel hundreds of miles each year on snowshoes during the harsh winters. He also worked to protect the Indians from being forced to relocate, as well as publishing a dictionary and grammar of the Ojibway language. Although these works have important historical value, they are not recommended as basic resources for the language today.
, and consecrated November 1, 1853 in Cincinnati, Ohio
at Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral
by Archbishop
John Purcell
. He was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
, now the Diocese of Marquette
. On 27 July 1852 he began to keep a diary, written in several languages (primarily German, but with English, French, Slovene, Chippewa, Latin, and Italian interspersed), preserving accounts of his missionary travels and his relationship with his sister Amalia. During this time, the area experienced a population explosion, as immigrants arrived to work in the copper and iron mines near Houghton
, Ontonagon
, and Marquette
. This presented a challenge because he had few priests, and would now have to tend to the needs of the miners and the native population. On the other hand, it signaled the increased development of the area, particularly improving travel on Lake Superior.
Nonetheless, the only way to travel in winter was on snowshoes, which he continued to manage into his sixties. A final challenge was the diversity of the region, which included the native inhabitants, the original French settlers, and the new German and Irish miners. Difficulties arose because of language problems: while Bishop Baraga himself spoke eight languages fluently, he had trouble recruiting priests who could do the same.
Bishop Baraga traveled twice to Europe to raise money for his diocese, on one trip he was presented a jeweled cross and episcopal ring by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, which the bishop sold.
In addition, he wrote numerous letters to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith
describing his missionary activities. These letters were widely published at the time, and were instrumental in inspiring both Saint John Neumann and Father Francis Xavier Pierz
to come to the United States. In time, Baraga became renowned throughout Europe for his work. In his last ten years, his health gradually declined; he became intermittently deaf and suffered a series of strokes. He died January 19, 1868 in Marquette, Michigan. He is buried there in the crypt beneath the Cathedral of Saint Peter.
Bishop Frederic Baraga has been declared a Servant of God
by the Roman Catholic Church. The village of Baraga
, Baraga Township, Baraga County
, and Baraga State Park
(all in Michigan) bear his name. Jack E. Anderson
's memorial sculpture of Baraga is located in L'Anse, Michigan
. A Catholic School has been named after him in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Bishop Baraga Catholic School. Also, a marker which Baraga originally erected in thanks for his safe landing during a storm on Lake Superior in 1846 stands today in Schroeder, Minnesota
, at the mouth of the Cross River. The wooden cross was replaced with a granite one, which still stands today.
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
(June 29, 1797 – January 19, 1868) was a Slovene American Roman Catholic missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
, bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, and grammarian.
Early life
Frederic Baraga was born as Friderik Irenej Baraga in the manor houseManor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
at Mala Vas
Knežja vas
Knežja vas is a village in the Trebnje municipality in eastern Slovenia. The area is part of the historical region of Lower Carniola. The municipality is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region....
(Germ. Kleindorf) no. 16 near the Carniola
Carniola
Carniola was a historical region that comprised parts of what is now Slovenia. As part of Austria-Hungary, the region was a crown land officially known as the Duchy of Carniola until 1918. In 1849, the region was subdivided into Upper Carniola, Lower Carniola, and Inner Carniola...
n village of Dobrnič
Dobrnič
Dobrnič is a village in the Trebnje municipality in eastern Slovenia. It lies on the Trebnje to Žužemberk regional road and is the largest settlement in the Dobrnič basin. The area is part of the historical Lower Carniola region...
, in what was then the Habsburg Monarchy
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
and is now part of the municipality of Trebnje
Trebnje
Trebnje is a city in Slovenia. The city lies on the Temenica River in the traditional region of Lower Carniola. The settlement developed on the main regional road and railway line from Ljubljana to Novo Mesto. The settlement had a population of about 3,520 in 2010...
in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
He grew up during the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, when the Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands
Slovene Lands or Slovenian Lands is the historical denomination for the whole of the Slovene-inhabited territories in Central Europe. It more or less corresponds to modern Slovenia and the adjacent territories in Italy, Austria and Hungary in which autochthonous Slovene minorities live.-...
were changing hands between France and the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. The official language of instruction in his schools changed several times during his childhood between French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, neither of which was his native tongue. In addition, Latin and Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
were required subjects for all students. Thus, by age 16, Frederic Baraga was multilingual—a skill that would serve him well in later life.
Priesthood
He attended law school at the University of ViennaUniversity of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
prior to entering the seminary, and was ordained as Roman Catholic priest on September 21, 1823 in the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of St. Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
in Ljubljana
Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and its largest city. It is the centre of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin, and is a mid-sized city of some 270,000 inhabitants...
. As a young priest, he was a staunch opponent of Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
. During this time he also wrote a spiritual book in Slovene entitled Dušna Paša (Spiritual Sustenance).
In 1830, he answered the request of Bishop Edward Fenwick
Edward Fenwick
Bishop Edward Dominic Fenwick, O.P. was born on the Patuxent river, Maryland to Colonel Ignatius Fenwick and Sarah Taney...
of Cincinnati for priests to aid in ministering to his growing flock, which included a large amount of mission territory. A year later Baraga was sent to the Ottawa
Ottawa (tribe)
The Odawa or Ottawa, said to mean "traders," are a Native American and First Nations people. They are one of the Anishinaabeg, related to but distinct from the Ojibwe nation. Their original homelands are located on Manitoulin Island, near the northern shores of Lake Huron, on the Bruce Peninsula in...
Indian mission at Arbre Croche (now Cross Village, Michigan) to finish his mastery of the Ottawa language, which he had begun in Cincinnati.
This resulted in the publishing of "Otawa Anamie-Misinaigan", the first book written in the Ottawa language, which was a catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
and prayer book, in 1832. After a brief stay at a mission in present-day Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, he moved north to minister to the Ojibway (Chippewa) Indians at La Pointe, Wisconsin
La Pointe, Wisconsin
La Pointe is a town in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The town includes all of the Apostle Islands. There is also an unincorporated community named La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands . The population was 246 at the 2000 census...
, an old Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
mission on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, in 1835.
In 1843 he founded a mission at L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Baraga County. The population was 2,107 at the 2000 census. The village is located within L'Anse Township....
. During this time he earned the nickname “the Snowshoe Priest” because he would travel hundreds of miles each year on snowshoes during the harsh winters. He also worked to protect the Indians from being forced to relocate, as well as publishing a dictionary and grammar of the Ojibway language. Although these works have important historical value, they are not recommended as basic resources for the language today.
Bishop
In 1853, he was elevated to bishop by Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, and consecrated November 1, 1853 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
at Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is a Greek revival structure located at 8th and Plum Streets in downtown Cincinnati...
by Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
John Purcell
John Purcell
John Purcell VC was an Irish soldier in the British Army who received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
. He was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie is a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church. As it is a titular see, it is not an active diocese.-History:...
, now the Diocese of Marquette
Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Marquette is a suffragan diocese of the Roman rite, encompassing all of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, in the ecclesiastical province of the Archbishop of Detroit. It encompasses an area of 16,281 square miles .Its cathedral is St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette,...
. On 27 July 1852 he began to keep a diary, written in several languages (primarily German, but with English, French, Slovene, Chippewa, Latin, and Italian interspersed), preserving accounts of his missionary travels and his relationship with his sister Amalia. During this time, the area experienced a population explosion, as immigrants arrived to work in the copper and iron mines near Houghton
Houghton, Michigan
Houghton is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and largest city in the Copper Country on the Keweenaw Peninsula. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,708. It is the county seat of Houghton County...
, Ontonagon
Ontonagon, Michigan
Ontonagon is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,769. It is the county seat of Ontonagon County....
, and Marquette
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
. This presented a challenge because he had few priests, and would now have to tend to the needs of the miners and the native population. On the other hand, it signaled the increased development of the area, particularly improving travel on Lake Superior.
Nonetheless, the only way to travel in winter was on snowshoes, which he continued to manage into his sixties. A final challenge was the diversity of the region, which included the native inhabitants, the original French settlers, and the new German and Irish miners. Difficulties arose because of language problems: while Bishop Baraga himself spoke eight languages fluently, he had trouble recruiting priests who could do the same.
Bishop Baraga traveled twice to Europe to raise money for his diocese, on one trip he was presented a jeweled cross and episcopal ring by Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, which the bishop sold.
In addition, he wrote numerous letters to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith
Society for the Propagation of the Faith
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith is an international association for the assistance by prayers and alms of Catholic missionary priests, brothers, and nuns engaged in preaching the Gospel in non-Catholic countries...
describing his missionary activities. These letters were widely published at the time, and were instrumental in inspiring both Saint John Neumann and Father Francis Xavier Pierz
Francis Xavier Pierz
Francis Xavier Pierz was a Roman Catholic priest and missionary to the Ottawa and Ojibwa Indians. Because he was also responsible for attracting large numbers of Catholic German Americans to settle in Central Minnesota, he is referred to as "The Father of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint...
to come to the United States. In time, Baraga became renowned throughout Europe for his work. In his last ten years, his health gradually declined; he became intermittently deaf and suffered a series of strokes. He died January 19, 1868 in Marquette, Michigan. He is buried there in the crypt beneath the Cathedral of Saint Peter.
Legacy
Servant of God
Servant of God is a title given to individuals by various religions, but in general the phrase is used to describe a person believed to be pious in his or her faith tradition. In the Catholic Church, it designates someone who is being investigated by the Church for possibly being recognized as a...
by the Roman Catholic Church. The village of Baraga
Baraga, Michigan
Baraga is a village in Baraga County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Bishop Frederic Baraga....
, Baraga Township, Baraga County
Baraga County, Michigan
-National protected areas:* Keweenaw National Historical Park * Ottawa National Forest -Demographics:As of the 2000 census, there were 8,746 people, 3,353 households, and 2,223 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 4,631 housing units...
, and Baraga State Park
Baraga State Park
Baraga State Park is a state park in Baraga County, Michigan. The park sits on the Keweenaw Bay of Lake Superior along US-41 on the south side of the village of Baraga, Michigan. The park, village and county bear the name of Bishop Frederic Baraga. The Bishop Baraga Shrine is nearby...
(all in Michigan) bear his name. Jack E. Anderson
Jack E. Anderson
Jack E. Anderson was a metal sculptor of large commemorative statues that are roadside attractions in the Midwestern United States. His work includes the tall figure that is part of the Iron Man statue at the entrance to the Ironworld Discovery Center, 1.3 kilometers outside Chisholm, Minnesota,...
's memorial sculpture of Baraga is located in L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse, Michigan
L'Anse is a village in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Baraga County. The population was 2,107 at the 2000 census. The village is located within L'Anse Township....
. A Catholic School has been named after him in Iron Mountain, Michigan, Bishop Baraga Catholic School. Also, a marker which Baraga originally erected in thanks for his safe landing during a storm on Lake Superior in 1846 stands today in Schroeder, Minnesota
Schroeder, Minnesota
Schroeder is an unincorporated community in Cook County, Minnesota, United States. Schroeder is located on Minnesota State Highway 61 between Grand Marais and Little Marais. The Cross River flows through the heart of Schroeder.-History:...
, at the mouth of the Cross River. The wooden cross was replaced with a granite one, which still stands today.
Further reading
- Baraga, Frederic. The Diary of Bishop Frederic Baraga: First Bishop of Marquette, Michigan. Translated by Joseph Gregorich and Rev. Paul Prud'homme, S.J. (Great Lakes Books, 1990).
- Lambert, Bernard J. Shepherd of the Wilderness: A Biography of Bishop Frederic Baraga. (Chicago:Franciscan Herald Press, 1974).
- Ceglar, Charles A. Baragiana Collection. (Hamilton: Baragiana Publishing, 1991).
External links
- Bishop Baraga's pastoral letter
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- Biography from the Catholic Encyclopedia
- St. Peter Cathedral and Bishop Baraga
- "The Snowshoe Priest: the Servant of God, Bishop Frederic Baraga", by Brian Kelly at Catholicism.org.
- Fr. Baraga's 1853 Ojibwe Dictionary
- Father Baraga's cross