19 If a small Seminary of a dozen little Hurons could be founded at Kebec, in a few years incredible assistance could be derived therefrom, to help in converting their Fathers, and in planting a flourishing Church in the Nation of the Hurons. Alas! how many there are in Europe who lose in three casts of the dice more than would be needed to convert a world.
[234] 20 Vne des pensées qui pressent dauantage ceux qui sont si heureux, que de seruir Dieu parmy ces forests, c'est d'estre indignes d'vne vocation Apostolique, & si releuée, & auoir si peu de vertus dignes d'vn bel employ. Qui ne void la Nouuelle Frãce que par les yeux de chair & de nature, il n'y void que des bois & des croix: mais qui les considere auec les yeux de la grace, & d'vne bonne vocation, il n'y void [182] que Dieu, les vertus, & les graces, & on y trouue tant & de si solides consolations, que si ie pouuois acheter la Nouuelle France, en donnant tout le Paradis Terrestre, certainement ie l'acheterois. Mon Dieu qu'il fait bon estre au lieu où Dieu nous a mis de sa grace, veritablement i'ay trouué icy ce que i'auois esperé, vn cœur selon le cœur de Dieu, qui ne cherche que Dieu.
[234] 20 One of the thoughts which weigh most upon those who are so fortunate as to serve God among these forests, is their unworthiness of their Apostolic and so exalted calling, and that they have so few of the virtues worthy of a noble work. He who sees New France only through the eyes of the flesh and of nature, sees only forests and crosses; but he who looks upon these with the eyes of grace and of a noble vocation, sees only God, the virtues, and the graces; and he finds therein so many and so firm consolations, that, if I were able to buy New France by giving in exchange all the Terrestrial Paradise, I would certainly buy it. My God! how good it is to be in the place where God has placed us by his grace; truly I have found here what I had hoped for, a heart in harmony with God's heart, which seeks God alone.
[235] 21 On dit que les premiers qui fondent les Eglises, d'ordinaire sont saincts: ceste pensée m'attendrit si fort le cœur, que quoy que ie me voye icy fort inutile dans ceste fortunée Nouuelle France, si faut-il, que i'auoüe que ie ne, me sçaurois defendre d'vne pensée qui me presse le cœur. Cupio impendi, & superimpendi pro vobis: Pauure Nouuelle France, ie desire me sacrifier pour ton bien, & quand il me deuroit couster mille vies, moyennant que ie puisse aider à sauuer vne seule ame, ie seray trop heureux, & ma vie tres bien employée.
[235] 21 It is said that the pioneers who found Churches are usually saints; this thought so softens my heart that, although I see I am of but little use here in this fortunate New France, yet I must confess that I cannot forbid one thought which presses upon my heart. Cupio impendi, et superimpendi pro vobis: Poor New France, I desire to sacrifice myself for thy welfare; and though it should cost me a thousand lives, if thus I can aid in saving a single soul, I shall be too happy, and my life will be well spent.
22 Ie ne sçay pas que c'est d'entrer en Paradis, mais ie sçay bien qu'en ce monde, il est mal-aisé de trouuer vne ioye plus excessiue & surabondante, que celle que i'ay sentie entrant en la Nouuelle France, & y disant la premiere Messe, le iour de la [236] Visitation. Ie vous asseure que ce fut bien voirement le iour de la Visitation. Par la bonté de Dieu & de nostre Dame, il me sembla que c'estoit Noël pour moy, & que i'allois renaistre en vne vie toute nouuelle, & vne vie de Dieu.
22 I do not know what it is to enter Paradise; but I know well that in this world it is difficult to find a greater and fuller joy than I had upon entering New France, and saying the first Mass here on the day of the [236] Visitation. I assure you that this was very truly the day of the Visitation. Through the goodness of God and of our Lady, it seemed to me that it was Christmas for me, and that I was going to be reborn into an altogether new life, and a life of God.
23 Le mal de la mer qui m'auoit donné de la peine flottant sur la marine, fut bien-tost effacé par le bien du Ciel, & la ioye que Dieu respandit en mon ame touchant le Cap Breton. En rencontrant nos [184] Peres, il me sembla d'embrasser des Anges du Paradis, ie ne me pû empescher de crier, helas! que sera-ce quand on entrera en Paradis, & que Dieu & les Anges receuront vne belle ame, qui sortira des orages de la vie miserable qu'on mene sur la terre.
23 The seasickness which troubled me, when sailing upon the ocean, was soon effaced by the mercy of Heaven and the joy that God shed in my soul, upon landing at Cape Breton. In meeting our Fathers it seemed to me I was embracing Angels from Paradise; I could not refrain from exclaiming, "Ah! what will it be when we shall enter Paradise, and when God and the Angels shall receive a beautiful soul, which will emerge from the tempests of the wretched life that we lead upon earth!"
24 I'auois creu qu'il falloit des miracles pour conuertir ces Sauuages volans; mais ie me suis trompé, [237] car les miracles propres de la Nouuelle France sont ceux-cy. Leur faire bien du bien, & souffrir bien des maux, ne s'en plaindre qu'à Dieu, s'en estimer indigne, & se tenir pour fort inutile. Quiconque aura ces vertus, fera des miracles plus grands que les miracles, & deuiendra vn Sainct. En effect il y a bien plus de peine de s'humilier profondement deuant Dieu & les hommes, & de s'aneantir, que de resusciter vn mort; car cela ne couste que le dire, quand on a le don des miracles, & pour s'humilier comme il faut à vray dire, il y faut la vie toute entiere d'vn homme.