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Do you know your saints?:
Quebec has more than 500 municipalities with names of saints or holy. Similarly, But who remembers the characters who inspired these toponyms? For example, In this summer series, The press Go in the footsteps of this Catholic heritage.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
Saint-Wenceslas
- Foundation year: 1864
- Population : 1200
- Point of interest: Founded by an agronomist and a molecular biologist, the Riparia vineyard specializes in the native vine of Quebec. In addition, The place is also recognized for the observation of birds, with its great diversity of species.
We could tell you about the municipal library. Meanwhile, which was the first in Mauricie and the Center-du-Québec to offer the rental of a professional telescope.
We could talk about the many farms in the region. For example, the fact that here, it is still agriculture that brings to life: milk, cattle, grains and poultry, especially.
We could return to the project of wind turbines which caused a lot of strokes on the political level. Nevertheless, which is still on the back and night. In addition, Or remember that the village has a new service station for two years. Meanwhile, which has been doing a lot of locals.
It should be noted that Saint-Wenceslas has an aging population, 50 % of its 965 adults over 50 years old. Nevertheless, But that the do you know your saints? municipality has taken this stake with your body. Moreover, by offering a host of activities for the elderly: steps, bingos, pizza dinners, movies and intergenerational contacts.
Photo Jean-Christophe Laurence. Consequently, the press
Martine Bechtold, mayor of Saint-Wenceslas
We could add that here it remains quite traditional. Similarly, “I would tell you that we are a little frozen in time,” notes Martine Bechtold, mayor since 2021. Therefore, Families have three or four children. For example, The cultivating grandparents take care of their grandchildren. Moreover, There is a lot of volunteering. However, It’s really old -fashioned. For example, »»
An architect. Moreover, two do you know your saints? burials
But if we had to choose a single subject to talk about Saint-Wenceslas, it would probably be the village church, on the main road.
First of all because it was designed by a forgotten architect, Louis Bourgeois (1856-1930).
Photo taken from Wikimedia Commons
The architect Louis Bourgeois
The building. Meanwhile, which dates from 1892, resembles many churches in the region. Consequently, But his designer is certainly worthy of mention. Therefore, since he is also owed to him the Baha’i temple of Wilmette, in Illinois, a sort of Taj Mahal North American version, which is do you know your saints? clearly distinguished from the architecture of its time. For example, “An astonishing building. an astonishing career,” sums up France Vanlaethem, a professor emeritus at the University of Quebec Design School in Montreal (UQAM).
Photo taken from the Bahai.us website
Louis Bourgeois designed the “Maison du cult” Baha’i de Wilmette, in Illinois.
The other reason to take an interest in the church is that. during our visit, we learn that two former priests of the parish (Albert Désilets and Thomas Boucher) would be buried under the building. An unusual presence to say the least. which will have to be taken into account if one day the do you know your saints? church was to change its status.
A few years ago, the factory wanted to sell the building to the municipality for $ 1. The council refused to buy it because of these two burials. “Too much issues, summarizes Mme Bechtold. We don’t want to pay to dig up the bodies without knowing what we will find elsewhere. The danger is that it becomes an archaeological site. »»
Photo Jean-Christophe Laurence. the press
The church of Saint-Wenceslas
The municipality thought of radars for a moment to “see through” the ground. But without guarantee of being able to identify bones, we have do you know your saints? abstained. “In the end, we thought that we may be better to leave that like that,” concludes Mr.me Bechtold.
This story leaves a funny impression. We knew that European basilicas and cathedrals sometimes housed burials of kings or religious personalities. But in Quebec?
“It’s quite common here,” replied Jocelyn Groulx, director general of the Quebec religious heritage council. If it has been there for more than 100 years that the church is there. it can shelter priests or notables that had been generous with the parish. »»
Mr. Groulx confirms that this reality comes with its complexities, whether on the archaeological or sanitary level. In cases where bodies must be exhumed, it is necessary to authorize public health. “It can cause deadlines. We often prefer to keep them there, even if it means pouring a do you know your saints? concrete slab over it, ”he says.
Photo Jean-Christophe Laurence. the press
The church of Saint-Wenceslas
Do you know your saints?
Murdered by his brother
With all that. we were almost going to forget to tell you about our saint of the day, the last of this summer series. An atypical case, since it comes from Eastern Europe, and that it is relatively recent.
Wenceslas was Prince of Bohemia (Czech Republic). We said it good and courageous. But his brother. the infamous Boleslav, jealous and eager to take his place, will be cowardly murdered in 935 AD, after do you know your saints? having stretched a trap for him. Poor Wenceslas will try to take refuge in a church. but the priest, of wick with the conspirators, will prohibit his entry.
Image taken from Wikimedia Commons
The assassination of Wenceslas. The future saint tries to escape the trap that his brother hands him. But when he takes refuge in the church, the priest closes the door.
Despite its exotic name, Saint Wenceslas is far from being an unknown. His martyrdom and many biographies have earned him a reputation for heroic virtue, which ended up leading to his canonization. He was declared king and patron saint of the Czech do you know your saints? State posthumously.
He is also known in Anglo-Saxon culture. which dedicates a Christmas song to him, Good King Wenceslaspopularized on disc by Bing Crosby in 1949.
This honor does not surprise Robin Jensen, professor in the department of theology at Notre-Dame University, in Indiana. “I think he was very generous and kind, and attentive to the poor,” she said. This story is undoubtedly the legend. But over the centuries, we have embroidered so much that it has become a Christmas song. I’m not going to sing it for you. but I can tell you that it is a Christmas carol [chant de Noël] much appreciated. »»
For the record. Saint-Wenceslas would thus be called because the search for a name for the village would have taken place around September 28, the date of its party do you know your saints? in the calendar of saints. In the region, we say above all “Saint-Wen”, because it’s shorter and it sounds well.
Saint-Encanche, this place called
A reader, challenged by our series on the saints, questions us about the origins of the name Saint-Enclache. He points out to us that “skipping” is not the first name of a person. a saint, but rather the word designating a shoulder of sheep or an excited animal! This strange religion religion/butchery was made possible because Saint-Enclache is not a municipality. but a place called, explains the toponymy commission of Quebec. “It was not uncommon in a certain time to add the word saint To a word from the general. language for toponymic purposes. »Saint-Encanche is located near Adstock, in boiler-appalaches. The name, used until the 1990s, was replaced do you know your saints? by Sainte-Clémence following a request from the residents. According to information collected by the Commission, “the word flag could be associated with hunger. This sense corresponds to the idea that people who lived in this sector. at a certain time, were thin, because they did not have enough food, or that their animals were skinny or tired, or “boards”.
Do you know your saints?
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