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Histoire Québec

The majestic Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Maurice Langlois

Volume 13, numéro 3, 2008

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Citer cet article Langlois, M. (2008). The majestic Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac. Histoire Québec, 13(3), 33–37.

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The majestic Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac by Maurice Langlois, author and historian

Maurice Langlois is a physician by profession and a retired clinical Professor with the University of Sherbrooke and the Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CHUS). Since retirement, he has spent considerable time researching the local and regional history of the Eastern Townships, mostly of the Magog area. He is Member of the Board of both, the Magog and the Stanstead Historical Societies. He regularly contributes articles published by both organizations. Mr. Langlois published three books in the past few years : Reminiscences of my Old Home and Other Poems, in 2000. Alvin H. Moore (1836-1911), First Mayor of Magog, published in French and in English in 2001. And The Merrys of Magog, also published in both languages in 2003. Another book is in press and will be launched in the spring 2008 under the title : Physicians of Magog (1846-1960) Historical Notes; in French, Les médecins de Magog (1846-1960), notes historiques.

While the Abbey of Saint- of the vi* Century in a moun­ at Fontenelle in Normandy, Benoît-du-Lac is not the oldest tainous area of Italy, around founded by Saint Wandrille monastery in Canada, it is one 529 AD. Although Saint Bene­ during the VIIth Century. It is of the best known in Quebec, if dict of Nursia (circa 480-547) is from the latter that Saint- not in Canada, partly because not the founder of Christian Benoît-du-Lac emerged. of the prestige attached to the monasticism, he did found the Benedictine order. Its site has well-known abbeys of Subiaco The difficulties did not stop attracted the attention of jour­ and Monte Cassino in Italy. with the ending of the Revo­ nalists, film-makers and the There, he wrote the Rule of his lution. Years later, in 1879, the public in general. The reputa­ order: obedience, silence, strongly anticlerical govern­ tion of the architects who desi prayer, apostolate and work, ment of the French Republic gned the buildings, Dom Paul intellectual and physical alike. subjected religious orders to Bellot, Dom Claude-Marie Côté This code of religious life such unacceptable conditions and Dan S. Hanganu, has most spread rapidly in all western of life that many were dissol­ likely contributed to the renown wold monasteries and stimula­ ved. Less than ten years after of this splendid place of medi­ ted the founding of many repossessing their monasteries tation. others. Saint Benedict is consi­ in France, anticlerical laws dered the Patriarch of occiden­ drove all of the Benedictine Why a Benedictine abbey in tal monks. In 1964, he was pro­ monks into exile. They were French Canada? Why and claimed by Paul vi, "principal, dispossessed of their belon­ when did the monks leave heavenly patron of the whole gings, and the monks of Saint- Europe to come to a country of Europe". Wandrille moved to Vonèche that was still in a state of colo­ (diocese of Namur) in Bel­ nization, nearly 100 years ago? Anticlerical atmosphere in gium. This temporary situa­ Why in Quebec and, more spe­ France tion and other factors like cifically, in the Eastern Town­ several costly moves were not ships? And why did they settle In France, during and follow­ compatible with a healthy at Bolton? Only history can ing the Revolution, Benedic­ monastic life and drastic chan­ answer these questions. tine life was practically extinct, ges became necessary. but it flourished anew around Origins of the Benedictine the middle of the xix* Century Early attempt by Mgr Antoine order with Dom Prosper Guéranger. Racine (1822-1893) Monastic life was restored in a The origins of the Benedictine few monasteries in France: at The Benedictines considered order go back to the early part Saint-Pierre-de-Solesmes and leaving Europe in the 1890s. In 13 \ ni in n

Tlie original farm house, in 1913. (Source : Stanstead Historical Society)

1892, Mgr Antoine Racine, first thought that the presence of a the monks. Mgr Racine died in Bishop of the diocese of Sher­ monastery in Bolton would 1893 and the deal was never brooke, promoted the found­ provide his parishioners with concluded. ing of a monastery on the sho­ an adequate religious frame­ res of Lake Memphremagog1. work. Mgr Paul LaRocque Mgr Racine chose the township (1846-1922) of Bolton, granted to Nicholas The Bishop had the collabora­ Austin in and his associates in tion of "Dean" David Shaw Years later, in March, 1910, 17972. It constituted an Ramsay, a Scottish Presbyte­ Father Joseph-Eugène Laferriè­ enclave of Anglo-Protestants rian converted to Catholicism re4 from Saint-Hyacinthe, while with a few Catholic families, and raised to priesthood in studying in Louvain, visited Irish and French Canadians, 1867. In 1891, David Ramsay the Benedictines of Saint- in the young (1874) Catholic had bought a farm of over 300 Wandrille, then established in diocese of Sherbrooke. The acres on the Nicholas Austin Dongelberg, Belgium. He surrounding parishes of Saint- Road, halfway between Austin informed Mgr Paul LaRocque, Cajetan of Mansonville (1872), (then East-Bolton village) and successor of Mgr Racine, that Saint-Étienne-de-Bolton Magog. He offered his farm to Dom Pothier, mitered Abbot, (1874) and the mission of the Benedictines in exchange wished to resume discussions Eastman were located some for a life annuity of $280-$320 a and had delegated Father 16 km away. Taking into year, based on the estimated Lucien David, a historian, to a account the then means of value of the property3. Commu­ Eucharistie convention to take transportation, they were con­ nication between Ramsay, who place in Montreal in Sep­ sidered far away. Catholics traveled frequently, and the tember. LaRocque and David were not in sufficient numbers Benedictines in Belgium was met in Montreal and the sub­ to justify the presence of a difficult, while the situation in ject of founding a monastery resident priest so Mgr Racine France seemed to improve for in the diocese was discussed. 101,1 \li; l:l .M MRU:!

Mgr LaRocque proffered a wel­ yacht to visit a property for come to the Benedictines and sale on the western shores of promised his full collabora­ the lake: it was Gibraltar Point, tion, but nothing came of it. overlooking the lake7.

In the preceding decade, nume­ Around 1870, a group of French- rous religious orders had Canadian businessmen from migrated to Quebec where a Montreal founded the Com­ more favorable atmosphere pany of Cap Gibraltar and Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, in 1922. E allowed them to fulfill their built a village called the Town (Source : Stanstead Historical Society) ^r missions. Among them, the of Gibraltar, referred to by Daughters of Charity of the some as Furness (Furniss) Dame-des-Bois where Dom Sacred Heart of Jesus came to Mills8. It included ten avenues Vannier had ministered from Magog in 1907 from Newport, running east-west and four August until November. Vermont, where they had been streets running north-south, all since 1905. In terms of reli­ named. About forty houses Fresh settlers arrived from gious orders, it appears that were built, a furniture factory France in 1913: Dom Félix the needs of other dioceses had operated for a while, and there Lajat in April and Dom Ernest been met and, in some instan­ were two stores, a saw mill Boitard, accompanied by Bro­ ces, exceeded, but Sherbrooke and a gristmill. A hotel of ther Hilaire Fraudeau, in was the exception5. Mgr LaRoc­ sixty-five rooms, the Gibraltar August. Just before the first que saw a golden opportunity Hotel, was also erected, but World War erupted in August, to fill the gap in Bolton. was never completed. The com­ 1914, two other Fathers, Paul Correspondence between the pany invested over $300,000 in Allix and Paul Brun, were able Benedictines and the diocese the venture, but ran into finan­ to leave Europe and arrived on of Sherbrooke resumed in cial difficulties around 1877. September 11*. February, 1912, and two sites The entire site was bought by were then considered: the Lake the Dufresne brothers (Salem A double tragedy Megantic region and Gibraltar and Amédée) from Montreal, Point on the western shores of who occupied both the hotel On November 30th, 19149, Lake Memphremagog, at the and the farm house for some Dom Vannier and Charles entrance to Sargent's Bay. The time. Collot were on their way to latter was preferred and Magog by motorboat to agreed upon. On October 5th, 1912, with the attend a ceremony comme­ authorization of his superiors, morating the Episcopal Con­ gr At Gibraltar Point Dom Vannier bought, for secration of M LaRocque. $12,500 from a Mr. Lachapelle, Inexperienced on the lake, Dom Paul Vannier, a former about 400 acres of land with a they failed to notice a thin sub-prior intrigued by the farm house and a few outbuil­ layer of ice that had formed adventure, convinced his supe­ dings that stillstood. By then, overnight. About a mile from riors to let him go to Quebec. the village and the hotel had Magog, the hull of the boat He arrived in Montreal on July disappeared. They took pos­ was punctured by the ice and 10 4'h, 19126, accompanied by session on December 4th and it filled with freezing water . The Brother Raphaël Pélissier. He was named Saint-Benoît-du- monks were drowned before contacted Mgr LaRocque and Lac. Dom Vannier moved in anyone on shore could reach met him in Sherbrooke. with three companions: two them. Father Vannier's body Vannier was then referred to French converse brothers, was found later in the day, but the parish priest in Magog, Raphaël Pélissier and Charles his companion's was only François-Xavier Brassard. Toge­ Collot, and Louis Prévost, a pulled out in the following ther, they sailed in Brassard's Canadian postulant from Notre- spring after the ice had melted. lants took the robe. At his own devoted to liturgical chant and request, Brun was relieved of the strengthening of monastic his functions and was replaced spirit. In 1947, the St. Benedict by Dom Paul Cosse. The latter tower, which houses an authen­ was summoned to return to tic relic of the Patriarch, was France three years later. On the erected near the monastery. 7* of April 1929, the Bene­ dictine house was raised to the In 1952, the status of the Abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, in 1935. rank of Priory and Dom monastery was again raised, *1 (Source : Stanstead Historical Society) Fernand Lohier became its first this time to the rank of Abbey, Prior. Under his priorate, the marking the last phase of its As a result of the war, the com­ first guest house was built and development. Dom Odule Syl­ munity was cut off from its named Villa Sainte-Scholas­ vain was named its first Abbot. parent congregation in Bel­ tique, after the name of Saint. It was under his leadership gium, and no Superior was Benedict's twin sister. In 1931, that a new guest house and the named to replace Dom Vannier. under a new Prior, Dom crypt were built. Construction Despite this and other difficul­ Léonce Crenier, permission to of the Abbey Church itself ties, the community prospe­ build a new monastery was began in 1990 under the direc­ red, although slowly. In 1918, requested, but not granted. tion of Dom Jacques Garneau, Dom Ernest Boitard reservedly However, enlarging the exis­ elected Abbot in 1983. The accepted the nomination. In ting building was allowed and plans were drawn up by Dan 1919, after the war ended and around 20 "cells" were added, S. Hanganu, a Montreal archi­ the abbey of Saint-Wandrille encircling the original farm tect, and the first permanent was liberated, the monks of house. In 1935, the monastery church was inaugurated on Saint-Benoît-du-Lac were was elevated to the rank of an December 4*, 1994, to comme­ summoned to return to Europe autonomous Priory, allowing morate the founding of the and to remain there". Fathers further growth of the commu­ monastery by Dom Paul Boitard and Brun, who did not nity. Vannier in 1912. agree with the decision, sailed to France to plead their cause Dom Paul Bellot, architect An unusual municipality to maintain their Canadian (1876-1944)12 house. Because of their insis­ Saint-Benoît-du-Lac is politi­ tence and the unconditional gr In 1938, it was decided to build cally and economically sepa­ support of M LaRocque, they a new monastery according to rate from its surroundings. It were allowed to return to plans drawn up by Paul Bellot, separated from Austin in 1939 Quebec and continue their a French Benedictine monk and became a distinct munici­ work. and renowned architect. The pality13. It has neither a mayor corner stone, blessed by M8' Phi­ nor a council, but is managed A period of accelerated lippe Desranleau, bishop of by a Corporation of monks. It growth Sherbrooke, was set in place has no representative at either on the 11* of July, 1939, the level of government, federal or In 1921, Dom Paul Brun memorial day of St. Benedict. provincial, and pays no taxes. succeeded Dom Boitard and A section of the old monastery According to historian Guy further expansion was under­ was converted into a guest Laperrière of the University of taken to improve conventual house, and the new monastery Sherbrooke, the Abbey had its monastic life. The new Supe­ was blessed on July 11th, 1941. greatest influence on The Bene­ rior was granted permission to In 1944, Dom Georges Mercure dictine monks are renowned build a noviciate, which was was elected to become the first for their religious music, nota­ inaugurated on the 5* of Octo­ Canadian superior. Under his bly their Latin Gregorian chant, ber, 1924, when seven postu­ priorship, great attention was and have recorded several CD's. CI \I Ml i:u

Music remains an important Notes component of their religious services. Besides spending considerable time in meditation Service des Archives de l'Archidiocèse de Sherbrooke (S.A.A.S.). and prayer, the monks partici­ SHUFELT, Harry B. Nicholas Austin the Quaker and the Township of Bolton. The Brome County Historical Society, 1971, p. 121. pate in frequent and elaborate S.A.A.S. Correspondance between M8' Antoine Racine and M8'David Shaw Ramsay. liturgical exercises accompa­ BERGERON, Claude et SIMMINS, Geoffrey. L'abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac et ses nied by Gregorian chant. They bâtisseurs, Les Presses de l'Université Laval, 1997, p. 62. perform many physical tasks S.A.A.S. Correspondance between M8' Paul LaRocque and Father Joseph-Ernest and are considered a self-sup­ Laferrière. La Tribune de Sherbrooke. 29 September 1962. Supplement on the 50* Anniversary of porting community. A guest the Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Abbey, p. 3. house is available to visitors so Ibid. that people from all walks of ABBOT, Louise. Furness Mills: The Ghost Town of Austin Bay. Journal of the Stanstead life can come to Saint-Benoît- Historical Society, vol. 21, 2005, p.13. du-Lac to experience the BERGERON, Claude, Op.cit. p.69. abbey's peace and tranquility, La Tribune,Op. cit. p. 4. 1 some for a weekend, others for S.A.A.S. Letter from Dom Ernest Boitard to M " Paul LaRocque, 20 March 1919. longer. The community is still BERGERON, Claude, Op. cit., Chapter 4, p. 79, dedicated to Dom Bellot. considered a "Gibraltar of Noms et lieux du Québec. Commission de toponymie, 1994, p. 613. prayer, meditation and both intellectual and physical work".