|
A New France |
The Iroquois |
English Invasion |
Peace |
Seigneiurial System
| The Kings Girls |
Canadian Identity |
Society |
Government |
The Church
| Champlain |
Frontenac |
Acadia |
The Fall The
church took a central role of life and activities in the
colony of New France. Along with the settlers that first
began arriving in Canada, the France authorities began
to send out members of a Roman Catholic religious order
know as the Jesuits. The Jesuits were established by the
Pope in response to the reformation in Europe and were
considered to be the shock troops of the
counter-reformation. Their objectives were to bring
those Christians who had strayed away from the Catholic
Church back into the fold and to convert all heathen
savages who worshipped pagan gods or were not Roman
Catholics into the fold.
In New France this
took the form of intense missionary work among the
native peoples in general and the Huron's in particular.
The Jesuits would venture into native territory and join
and then live with the various bands in order to
establish a relationship with them and then convert them
to Cat holism. This staunch Catholic activity formed a
strong presence in the settlements and cities of New
France and he church established itself as the third
pillar or society after the governmental and military
authorities. After the defeat of the French armies in
1759-60, the church remained the only one of the pillars
still standing and became the refuge of French Canadian
culture and society for the next two hundred years. |
