Dominica in 1842

Published as THE ROISEAU CATHEDRAL and the ABOLITION OF SLAVERY part 39

by Bernard Lauwyck

Detail of a stained glass window of the Roseau cathedral

In last week’s article, I mentioned that Bishop Richard Patrick Smith, Coadjutor of Bishop Daniel Mac Donnell of the West Indian Vicariate, visited Dominica in May 1842. This was his second visit to Dominica. This time the reason of his visit was due to trouble in church yard: frictions between Fr. Mignon and Fr. Gobert on one hand and Fr. Mignon and the Roseau Parish Council on the other hand as I described in last week’s article. The assistant priest, Fr. Christopher Fagan, was sent by the parishioners to plead with Bishop Smith to come and intervene.

I found, to my happy surprise, a letter from Bishop Smith describing this visit. The letter, dated February 7, 1846, was addressed to the Central Council of the Propagation of the Faith in Lyons and Paris.

I quote:
“ In the month of April 1842, I was labouring …in the midst of my dear and numerous flock when the Reverend Mr. Fagan arrived from Dominica on board a beautiful schooner which had been freighted by the faithful. This worthy ecclesiastic came in their name to beg of me to put an end, by my presence, to the cruel divisions which prevailed in this fine colony and which had unhappily already caused the greatest disorders.

I immediately set out, accompanied by the Rev. Messrs Christophe Capoulade and Fagan. We used all possible diligence and we arrived in a few days at Dominica. The agitation that prevailed in the island was extreme. The different parties might at any moment come to blows. The state of things was so afflicting and so deplorable that the governor said to me at the time of my visit: “ If in the space of ten years you succeed in bringing about a little calm, I will believe you worked a miracle”.
During several days I did everything that prudence could suggest to restore union but without success. I then had recourse to my ordinary means. I proposed to the respectable Missionaries, who accompanied me, to make a retreat and a novena in order to obtain from the infinite mercy of God, through the intercession of the most Holy Virgin, that peace which was for so long a time unknown to Dominica.

We commenced forthwith the pious exercises

Grace of my God how sweet and powerful thou art- a change is immediately wrought – the agitation becomes visibly calmer- hatred and revenge leave all hearts. The confessionals are besieged. The people crowd into the temple of the Lord and go to the foot of the altars to shed tears of repentance and joy.

Fervour increases as the retreat proceeds. The dissensions give way to the feelings of charity and the blessing of peace is everywhere diffused.
Oh how our soul has been greatly consoled in seeing those same persons, who had nourished in their hearts an implacable hatred against each other, come in crowds to surround the altar- press forward to the holy table and receive their God with all the marks of the most lively piety.

What an affecting and consoling sight Dominica then presented!

All mouths were repeating the sweet names of brothers and friends; in the middle of the streets, in the market places. Those who but lately were irreconcilable enemies fell on their knees on meeting, asked pardon of each other and then mutually embraced like members of the same family, who were happy to console themselves for a long separation by promising each other a sincere and lasting affection.
I think I ought also to mention the sacrifices made by the labourers, scattered over every part of the island, in order to attend at the exercises of the retreat and to prepare themselves for the happiness of communicating. I have known some of those poor people, who having only Saturday to themselves to cultivate their garden, left their dwellings immediately after the Friday’s work- betook themselves to boats and braving the winds and the waves, singing the praises of God, rowed laboriously all the night and a part of the day in order to arrive the next day at the town to receive the sacrament of penance.
Those intrepid and faithful men returned to their boats, praying to God, and rowed again during the whole night unceasingly celebrating in hymns the praises of the Lord. On Monday morning, being scarcely arrived at home, they betook themselves to the most laborious works with new ardour.

This Mission of Dominica will be ever dear to my heart.

I shall never lose the recollection of it. The people of all classes, of all conditions, vied in zeal and, at our departure, after the cruellest dissensions and the most implacable hatreds, loving charity united their hearts and the most delightful peace reigned in the bosom of their families. It was the work of the Lord. To Him alone be the glory.

 

In the farewell visit I paid to the governor of the island, although a Protestant, he said to me: “I did not think there were miracles since the time of our Saviour but how could I now deny them having before my eyes so great a miracle of grace. No human power could have been able to produce such a result.”

Signed:                                                                            Richard Patrick Smith, Bishop of Olympus, Vicar Apostolic
So ends Bishop Smith’s personal account of his visit to Dominica in 1842. This is an authentic document, which is very much part of Dominica’s history.
[Source: ANNALS OF THE PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH, VOLUMES 7-8]