Louis-François Richer Laflèche

Louis-François Laflèche, (4 September 1818 – 14 July 1898), was a Catholic bishop of the diocese of Trois-Rivières, in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Early Life and Career

He was born on September 4, 1818 in the village of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade to Louis-Modeste Richer dit Laflèche and Marie-Anne Richer dit Laflèche (née Joubin dit Boisvert). His family held the secondary surname of Laflèche because their ancestor, Jean Richer, was from an area in France called La Flèche, near Anjou.

Laflèche studied at the Nicolet College from 1831 to 1839. Following his education, he taught classics and science while continuing courses in theology. He was ordained a priest on January 7, 1844. Laflèche educated himself in three Native American languages: Cree, Montagnais, and Anishinaabe. He was the first to reduce the Montagnais language to grammatical form.

In 1844, he headed a mission near the Red River of the North. He joined the famous mission of Île-à-la-Crosse in 1846. He engaged in a great deal of missionary activity in 1851. In North Dakota, dressed only in a black cassock, white surplice, and stole, he directed a miraculous defense of 60 Métis against 2,000 Sioux combatants, using a crucifix at the Battle of Grand Coteau. After a siege of two days (July 13 and 14), the Sioux withdrew, convinced that the Great Spirit protected the Métis. Laflèche was also one of the founders of the Vicariate Apostolic of Keewatin.

Pius IX nominated Laflèche to be Bishop of Arath in 1849. However, an illness had left him with in infirmity in his limb, and he asked to be withdrawn from the nomination and be replaced by Mgr. Alexandre Taché. When he returned to Canada in 1856, he taught mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy at Nicolet College. He was appointed president of the college in 1859.

Diocese of Trois-Rivières

In 1866, Bishop Thomas Cook of Trois-Rivières selected Laflèche to be his coadjutor. The following year, he was elevated to be head of the diocese of Anthedon. In 1869, he blessed the new church of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade. While attending Vatican Council in 1870, he was appointed Bishop of Trois-Rivières. He used his power and influence to interfere in the affairs of the Province of New Brunswick in an attempt to quash the passage of the Common Schools Act of 1871 that resulted in the Separation of church and state in the New Brunswick education system.

Bishop Laflèche authored five volumes of pastoral letters and two works concerning religion in the family and a discussion of the encyclical Humanum Genus. In 1885, Leo XIII split his diocese, and he was forced to comply with this action and step down from him post. Following this, he became involved in the Manitoba Schools Question from 1890 to 1896, asking the help of Joseph-Adolphe Chapleau and Wilfrid Laurier. His concern was voiced in the Affari Your encyclical of 1897.

Influence on Politics

As Bishop of Trois-Rivières, Laflèche gave weekly sermons at the cathedral, often touching upon subjects dealing with political and religious questions of his day. In 1876, he led the Ultramontanist movement in Quebec, with the help of Bishop Ignace Bourget. He therefore had many disagreements with Bishop Elzéar-Alexandre Taschereau, who was a liberal.

Laflèche used his religious authority to help the Conservative Party of Quebec. He is credited with the phrase, "L'enfer est rouge et le ciel est bleu" (Hell is Parti rouge and heaven is Parti bleu). Blue is the color of the Conservatives and red, that of the Liberals. Laflèche's influence was especially strong in the 1890 provincial election. All the Conservative candidates were elected in the Mauricie area, even though most of them were overwhelmingly defeated across the province.

Death

He died on July 12, 1898 at 79 years of age. He had been a priest for 54 years and a bishop for 31 years.

Honor

The following sites and landmarks were named to honor Monsignor Laflèche:

* In the Mauricie, Quebec area:
** Avenue Laflèche, located in Shawinigan, Mauricie;
** Laflèche College and Rue Laflèche, in Trois-Rivières;
** Rue Laflèche, in La Tuque;
** Rue Laflèche, in Louiseville;
** Rue Laflèche, in Saint-Paulin;

* In the Greater Quebec City area:
** Rue Laflèche, in Beauport, Greater Quebec City Area;
** Rue Laflèche, in L'Ancienne-Lorette;
** Rue Monseigneur-Laflèche, in Sainte-Foy;

* Elsewhere in Quebec:
** Rue Laflèche, in Montreal;
** Rue Monseigneur-Laflèche, in Boucherville, Montérégie.

Also, the former federal electoral district of Saint-Maurice—Laflèche was named in his honor.

External links

* [http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?&id_nbr=6207 Biography at the "Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online"]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08739b.htm the "Catholic Encyclopedia"]
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