De Smet's Letters and Sketches, 1841-1842
In 1841 and 1842, Fr. Pierre-Jean DeSmet traversed the wide and wild American West to bring the gospel to the Flatheads, who had sent multiple delegations from Montana to St. Louis, repeatedly requesting a Blackgown priest to instruct them in Christianity. Fr. DeSmet’s letters to his Jesuit Superiors show his heroic religious dedication and selflessness, as he recounts fatigues, hunger, thirst, and dangers that rival those of the apostle St. Paul. He also makes intelligent observations of geography, geology, weather (including an enthusiastic description of a tornado), and the interesting customs of the different tribes he meets. His generous love and respect for the Indians was rewarded by their receptivity to his gospel message, with thousands receiving baptism. In years subsequent to the writing of these letters, Fr. DeSmet continued his missionary activities in the West, and traveled an estimated 180,000 miles in his unstinting efforts on behalf of the Indians and the Catholic faith. - Summary by Carol Pelster
Genre(s): Literary Collections, Christianity - Other
Language: English
Section | Chapter | Reader | Time |
---|---|---|---|
Play 01 | Letter 1 | Carol Pelster |
00:33:38 |
Play 02 | Letter 2, part 1 | Carol Pelster |
00:21:55 |
Play 03 | Letter 2, part 2 | Carol Pelster |
00:23:13 |
Play 04 | Letter 2, part 3 | Carol Pelster |
00:19:19 |
Play 05 | Letter 3 | Carol Pelster |
00:35:44 |
Play 06 | Letter 4 | Carol Pelster |
00:30:13 |
Play 07 | Letter 5 | Carol Pelster |
00:34:38 |
Play 08 | Letter 6 | Carol Pelster |
00:06:59 |
Play 09 | Letter 7 | Carol Pelster |
00:30:42 |
Play 10 | Letter 8 | Carol Pelster |
00:15:03 |
Play 11 | Letter 9 | Carol Pelster |
00:26:40 |
Play 12 | Letter 10 | Carol Pelster |
00:08:57 |
Play 13 | Letter 11 | Carol Pelster |
00:23:52 |
Play 14 | Letter 12 | Carol Pelster |
00:23:09 |
Play 15 | Book II Part 1 | Carol Pelster |
00:25:40 |
Play 16 | Book II Part 2 | Carol Pelster |
00:24:34 |
Play 17 | Book II Part 3 | Carol Pelster |
00:29:43 |
Play 18 | Book II Part 4 | Carol Pelster |
00:28:33 |
Play 19 | Book II Part 5 | Carol Pelster |
00:12:06 |
Play 20 | Letter 14 | Carol Pelster |
00:06:04 |
Play 21 | Letter 15 | Carol Pelster |
00:10:47 |
Play 22 | Letter 16 | Carol Pelster |
00:24:15 |