Shrine's eyes resolved priest's devotion

When he saw statue of Mary's eyes open, Fr. Frederic affirmed his cause to the holy rosary

Blessed Frederic Janssoone – August 5

- WCR photo by Ted Fitzgerald Statue of Fr. Frederic greets visitors outside his Trois Rivieres tomb.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
Trois Rivieres, Que.

In June 1888, a Franciscan priest arrived in Canada who was to leave an indelible mark on all those he met and develop a reputation for enthusiastically promoting interest in Quebec's Cap de la Madeleine Marian Shrine.

This was not the first time that Father Frederic had visited the already popular site that honoured Our Lady of the Rosary. Seven years earlier, a few months spent here convinced him that he would try to live the rest of his days closely associated with Mary and her shrine.

Born in 1838 in Northern France, Frederic Janssoone strove towards a religious life and soon after his ordination as a Franciscan in 1870, served as a military chaplain, a pastor, librarian and finally as assistant superior of the Custody of the Holy Land in Palestine. Throughout his various careers he became noted for his efficiency, humility, and oratorical and writing skills.

Miraculous ice bridge

In Canada, devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary had centred on the little parish church, second on the site, since 1714. In 1879, the parishioners were faced with the problem of transporting building stone from the other side of the St. Lawrence to their north shore community for a new, larger church. Then, following a novena of rosaries by the Madeleinoise, an ice bridge miraculously formed across the river and allowed all of the necessary stone to be transported and assembled at the building site.

Within a year, the new sanctuary was blessed while a decision to preserve the little church was made so that today it still forms an important part of the shrine complex, outlasting its 1880 replacement.

Father Frederic's first visit to Canada in 1881 was a fundraising trip to raise money for the Holy Land. He visited the Rosary Shrine at Cap de la Madeleine and while recovering in the rectory there from a sudden illness, became enamoured with the idea that his future would be spent promoting the tradition of praying the rosary.

- WCR photo by Ted Fitzgerald Fr. Frederic is entombed in the Franciscan Chapel of St. Anthony in Trois Rivieres.

Called back to Palestine, it would be another seven years before he would be able to begin the new phase of his life.

Father arrived back at the Cape just in time to participate in the formal dedication of the new church to the holy rosary in June 1888. Within a few days, his decision to work here was reaffirmed when he and two others witnessed the miraculous opening of the eyes of the shrine's statue of Mary.

He immediately embarked on a full schedule of preaching, writing and travel to encourage interest in the shrine and achieved instant success as a charismatic speaker and a kind, thoughtful pastor, constantly seeking the means to assist the poor of the area.

Entombed in chapel

Good Father Frederic passed to his heavenly reward in 1916 and, following elaborate funeral services at Montreal, Trois Rivieres and Cap de la Madeleine, he was entombed in the Franciscan chapel of St. Anthony on rue St. Maurice and blvd. Laviolette in Trois Rivieres. Here, in 1938, a shrine was established to assist in promoting the holy man's cause for sainthood.

Throughout his life he was an inspiration to others and his intercession is claimed in connection with a number of miraculous cures.

In addition to praying at his simple white tomb-reliquary, visitors may also enjoy a small museum featuring photos and artefacts relating to the good man's life.

Each year, the life of Blessed Frederic Janssoone, beatified in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, is celebrated in the Canadian Church as an optional memorial on Aug. 5 to honour beloved Le Bon Pere Frederic.

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