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Servant of God Frederic Irenej Baraga, Slovene American, first bishop of Marquette (1797-1868).
Catholic Encyclopedia
First Bishop
of Marquette, Michigan, U.S.A., b. 29 June, 1797, at Malavas, in the parish of Dobernice in the Austrian Dukedom of Carniola [present-day Slovenia —
Ed.]; d. at Marquette, Mich., 19 January, 1868. He was baptized on the very day of his birth, in the parish church of Dobernice, by the names of Irenaeus Frederic, the first of which, however, he never used, retaining only the second. His
parents, Johann Nepomuc Baraga and Maria Katharine Josefa (
nee de Jencic), had five children, of whom Frederic was the fourth. His father was not rich, but his mother inherited after her father's death the estate of Malavas, besides a vast fortune. They were God-fearing and
pious, and strove, while they survived, to give a good
education to their children. His mother died in 1808, and his father in 1812, and Frederic spent his boyhood in the house of Dr. George Dolinar, a layman, professor in the diocesan clerical seminary at Laibach.
In 1816 young Frederic Baraga entered the
University of Vienna, studied
law, and graduated in 1821, but soon turned his thoughts to the
clerical state, and entered the
seminary of
Laibach that same year. He was ordained
priest 21 September, 1823, at
Laibach, and laboured with great
zeal and spiritual success as assistant in St. Martin's
parish, near Krainberg, and at Metlika, in Lower Carniola. On the 29th of October, 1830, he left his native land for the
United States to spend the rest of his life in the Indian missionary field. After a journey of two months, he landed in New York on the 31st of December, 1830. He then proceeded to
Cincinnati,
Ohio, where he arrived 18 January, 1831. He was most kindly received by the Rt. Rev. Edward Fenwick,
Bishop of
Cincinnati, and during the winter and spring months laboured among the German
Catholics of that city and elsewhere. On the 28th of May, 1831, he arrived at Arbre Croche, now Harbor Springs, his first Indian mission. There he laboured with
apostolic zeal at the conversion of the Ottawas during two years and four months, during which time he
baptized 547 Indian adults and children. He was succeeded in 1833 by Rev. F. Saenderl, Superior of the
Redemptorists in the
United States. On or about the 8th of September, 1833, Baraga left Arbre Croche to found a new Indian mission at Grand River, Mich. He arrived at his destination (now Grand Rapids, Mich.) on the 23d of September. He immediately began the building of a combination church,
school, and pastoral residence, which was very poor, owing to the deficiency of funds. There he laboured most earnestly, though not as successfully as at Arbre Croche, until February, 1835, when he was succeeded by Father Andrew Viszoczky, a
Hungarian priest. Baraga himself estimated the number of his converts at about two hundred, but Bishop Rese estimated the number of Indian converts in his
diocese in 1834 at three thousand, with twelve churches or
chapels.
Baraga's next Indian mission was among the
Chippewas at La Pointe,
Wisconsin, where he arrived 27 July, 1835. There he laboured successfully for about eight years,
baptizing 981 Indians and whites. In 1843 he founded the L'Anse Indian mission in
Michigan, arriving there on the 24th of October. For ten years he laboured in this vast mission, being for many years the only
Catholic priest in Upper Michigan. He attended not only to the Indians, but also to the whites of the vast territory, as the discovery of iron and copper drew many German, French, and English-speaking
Catholics to the Northern Peninsula of Michigan. Truly
incredible are the hardships and labours of Baraga at this period of
his life. On the 29th of July, 1853, the Northern Peninsula of Michigan was detached from the
Diocese of Detroit and erected into a
vicariate Apostolic, and Baraga was appointed its first
bishop. He was
consecrated in the
cathedral of
Cincinnati by
Archbishop Purcell, Bishop LeFevre of
Detroit and Bishop Henni of
Milwaukee officiating as assistant consecrators. Shortly after his elevation to the episcopal dignity Bishop Baraga issued two circulars to his people, one in
Chippewa and the other in English. His
jurisdiction extended not only to the whole Northern Peninsula of Michigan, but also to a large part of the Lower Peninsula, to Northern
Wisconsin, and to the North Shore
of Lake Superior. He laboured in this vast extent of territory for
fifteen years, travelling almost incessantly, from the opening to the
close of navigation year after year. On the 23d of October, 1865, by Apostolic authority he transferred his See from Sault Ste. Marie to
Marquette, where he died at the age of seventy years.
Bishop Baraga will always rank with the foremost authors in American Indian literature. He composed the first known
Chippewa grammar. This was a truly Herculean task, for he had to establish after long and close observation and deep study all the rules of the
Chippewa grammar. This grammar has gone through three editions. In his preface to his
Chippewa dictionary, printed in preface to his
Chippewa dictionary, printed in
Cincinnati, O., in 1853, by Jos. A. Hermann, he says: "This is, to the best of my
knowledge, the first Dictionary of the
Otchipwe language ever published. The compilation of it has cost me
several years of assiduous labour." This dictionary has also passed
through several editions. Both grammar and dictionary are most highly
prized and constantly used by Indian missionaries and others. His Indian
prayer book and works of instruction are much read by both Indians and their
pastors. Baraga always wrote in a very simple and clear style. His writings are admirably adapted to the limited capacity of his Indian readers, and can be understood even by
ignorant Indian children. His "Dusna Pasa", a
prayer
book in Slovenian, his own native language, passed through ten
editions, the last, in 1905, with 84,000 copies. This alone is a
proof of its great popularity and usefulness.
In addition to the "Theoretical and Practical Grammar of the Otchipwe [Chippewa] Language" (Detroit, 1850), the
Chippewa dictionary, and the "Dusna Pasa" mentioned above, the published works of Bishop Baraga include: "Veneration and Imitation of the Blessed Mother of God", in Slovenian (1830); "Animie-Misinaigan", an Ottawa
prayer book; "Jesus o Bimadisiwim" (The Life of Jesus), in Ottawa (Paris, 1837); "On the manners and customs of the Indians" in Slovenian (Laibach, 1837); "Gagikwe-Masiniagan", a sermon-book, in
Chippewa
(1839 and 1859); "Zlata Jabelka" — "Golden Apples" (Laibach, 1844);
"Kagige Debwewinan" — "Eternal Truths"; "Nanagatawendamo-Masinaigan" —
Instructions on the Commandments and
sacraments.
No Indian missionary of modern times was more beloved and revered by both Indians and whites than Baraga. He
loved his Indians with a warm-hearted devotion which they reciprocated. Men of all positions in
society,
Catholics and non-Catholics, revered him as an ideal
man,
Christian, and
bishop. Michigan
has named after him one of her counties, several towns, and post
offices, and his name has been given to one of the principal streets of Marquette. In his native country he is, if possible, even more popular than in America. His life, published in Slovenian, in 1906, has already (1907) reached a sale of 85,000 copies. That life might be summed up in the one phrase: Saintliness in action.
The Snowshoe Priest
Shrine of Bishop Baraga
First Bishop of the Upper
Peninsula
"The Snowshoe Priest"
On the stretch of US 41 between L'Anse and Baraga, is
a giant copper figure standing astride a silvery cloud
rising some 60 feet above the bluff overlooking Keweenaw
Bay. This heroic statue pays tribute to one of the earliest
and most beloved pioneers of the Keweenaw, Frederic Baraga,
the Snowshoe Priest who became the first Bishop of the Upper
Peninsula and the Apostle of the Great Lakes.
Frederick Baraga left his home in Slovenia in 1830 for
the Catholic missions of the Upper Great Lakes. Father
Baraga's intention was to minister to the native peoples of
the region. In the process he founded five missions along
the south shore of Lake Superior and created a
legend.
The last of his missions was sited in the village of
L'Anse which had been the site of an earlier Jesuit mission
founded in the late 1600's. He remained in L'Anse from 1843
and was consecrated as the first Bishop of the Upper
Peninsula in 1853.
Much been written about this priest who left an upper
class European existence for the hardships of the
northwoods. Stories of his endurance in overland treks to
reach members of his flock are at times difficult to credit,
yet the records attest to both his strength of will and
physical stamina.
His title as the Snowshoe Priest" came from the
necessity of long treks overland in the winter months to
serve his far flung churches that served both the native
population and the small communities of copper miners on the
Keweenaw Peninsula. Even after he became a Bishop, Baraga
continued his circuit covering distances of more than 60
miles. Bishop Baraga was known to travel over 700 miles in
winter serving his churches.
Father Baraga had these comments about his work among
the L'Anse Chippewa: "I have few comforts here, often times
barely the necessities of life. But what consolation, what
grand reward, what unspeakable joy will it be for me on the
day of judgment, some or hopefully all of these my good
children may surround me and give me testimony before our
final judge".
Baraga learned to speak the native languages fluently
and developed their written language. His Chippewa grammar
and dictionary are still used today. In 1832, his first
Indian Prayer Book was printed in Detroit.
In 1853 he was elevated to Bishop, becoming the first
Bishop in Upper Michigan. He continued his long treks to
visit churches in his jurisdiction.
The Shrine
The Bishop Baraga Shrine, erected in the 1960's, was
designed and constructed by the late Jack Anderson with the
help of Art Chaput. Anderson was commissioned by the Bishop
Baraga Foundation to memorialize this dedicated man of God
through funds raised by local subscription.
Rising six stories above the Red Rocks Bluff, the
Shrine commands a breathtaking panoramic view of virgin
hardwoods, scenic coastline and the oldest mountains,
geologically, in the world. Flanking the southern side of
the Bluff is the Lac Vieux Desert Trail, a gateway to the
Mississippi Valley for Native Americans in the early
1830's.
Holding a cross (7 feet high) and snowshoes (26 feet
long) the statute of Bishop Baraga is 35 feet tall and
weighs four tons. It floats on a cloud of stainless steel
supported by five laminated wood beams representing Baraga's
five major missions.
The Shrine is a lovely spot to rest and get out of
your car to stretch your legs. There is a well kept picnic
area, restaurant, and gift shop on the site where you will
find several fine books about Baraga and the early days of
these Keweenaw Bay communities. You may also find yourself
reflecting on the challenging conditions confronting this
priest in his efforts to bring the Grace of God to the
indigenous peoples of a wild and unforgiving land.
His triumph over adversity is still evident today in a
county, a village, and a L'Anse street all named after
Baraga, in the continuation of the Holy Name Church in
Assinins, and in the Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest.
Although an average of 100,000 people visit this
peaceful setting each year, donations cover only minimal
upkeep of the grounds. Major maintenance of the shrine
itself has been financed through bank loans and donations of
labor.
The future of the Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest is
unsure at best. The Bishop Baraga Foundation must increase
its membership and income in order to maintain the Shrine
properly.
If you would like to become a member of the Bishop
Baraga Foundation, send a donation of $5 or more to BISHOP
BARAGA FOUNDATION, INC
Shrine of the Snowshoe Priest
Box 47
Baraga, Michigan 49908
There is a small shop with books, gifts, baked
goods, ice cream, coffee, and snacks.
