Pierre Gravel

The abbot Pierre Gravel (September 24th, 1899 with Castle-Richer, Quebec - August 29th, 1977 with Quebec). Patriotic Québécois, it took part in the social life of Quebec in many ways.

Biography

He is the son of Edwidge Soucy and Pierre Gravel.

The priest

Pierre Gravel is ordered priest in his native parish on April 24th, 1924. He is initially teaching with the Petit Seminar of Quebec, then named Vicaire with St-Alphonse-of-Thetford-Mines, from May 17th, 1924 to December 23rd, 1935. He is director of the founder, Early work there and director of the Circle of social studies Pie XI, of the working Circle of Thetford, the trade unions of the asbestos of Thetford Mines, of Lake-Black, Broughton-Is and Asbestos. I founded the trade union of asbestos, not in a spirit of heinous claim, of violence, but in a spirit of collaboration.

A vigorous patriotic speech at the St-Jacques market, in Montreal, is worth to him its reference of Thetford-Mines and its nomination with Saint-Roch of Quebec. Its departure of Thetford gave place to a general strike and spontaneous one day as a sign of mourning.

The friend of the artists

In Saint-Roch of Quebec, from December 23rd, 1935 to October 11th, 1946, the Gravel abbot made mass a ceremony to which men and young people accourrent of everywhere. Artists sang there: Raoul Jobin, his wife Therese Drouin, Marthe Lapointe, Lucien Ruelland, Roger Thorn and much of others. Large friend of the artists, the Gravel abbot brings an effective help to a great number of them.

The Gravel vault

It was as during its vicariate with Saint-Roch as it organizes the third centenary of the arrival of its ancestor Joseph Macé Gravel, in l941, with Castle-Richer, where it joins together beyond: 2000 people. It made there build a small vault of very visited procession each year, which one names the Chapelle Gravel, Castle-Richer.

Priest of Boischatel

Established cleaned of Boischatel, on October 11th, 1946, it founds there a parochial library, a monthly newspaper, Boischatel , which it writes itself. It also founds artistic Tuesday, the Singers of Boischatel, the Travellers laurentiens, restores the church, founds and directs the Circle of studies Pie XII, etc Of great Québécois voices, whose Richard Verreau, Pierre Boutet, Patricia Poitras, Marguerite Paquet, Fernand Martel are made hear with the church of Boischatel during the large-masses. It leaves its cure with regrets and in the tears, on April 30th, 1975.

The patriot

The Gravel abbot carried on his cassock, since his ordination, a pin decorated with a flower of lily. He was a keen propagandist of the official recognition, at Quebec, fleurdelysé flag, and preserved this proclamation of January 21st, 1948, an immense gratitude towards Maurice Duplessis. The Gravel abbot said while speaking about patriotism: Patriotic truths which want to lead their country must sacrifice themselves .

The writer

Writer, it published several works, of which: the common direction , to ensure the future , After five years , a work which is essential , the Thought of the militants , Espoir without fear , social Mélanges and Courage and labor . It composed several hymns and patriotic and a work of poems. It published a book of poems and a book of sermons of the abbot Apollinaire Gingras.

The speaker

Born speaker, the Gravel abbot pronounced during his life more: 5000 speeches and conferences and writing beyond: 3000 sermons.

The man

Large intellectual and large reader, man equipped with a physical and moral force exceptional, the Pierre abbot was a daring being that nothing terrified and an optimist that nothing cut down. He said, just like Robert Brasillach, which he one was impassioned of the friendship. And never, indeed, its fidelity with those which he liked is not contradicted. The Pierre abbot had adopted a currency which one could read on his writing paper: “Courage and labor”.

Under the same flag

In July 1971, the Gravel abbot goes to the private residence of Maurice Duplessis. The residence had been converted into museum for the people whom it estimated. Before leaving, the hostess gives a package to him which contains the fleurdelysé flag which covered the coffin with Duplessis during transport of the skin of Schefferville with Three-Rivers. It is this same flag which covered the coffin with Gravel, fleurdelysé for which they had both warmly battled. It is the tenor Pierre Boutet who sang with his funeral. As one wrote of Pierre the Hermit: … it was a bugle and a standard of religious, national and social enthusiasm . The abbot Pierre Gravel was buried with the cemetery of Boischatel, on September 1st, 1977. In his will, one can read this last will: " I humbly beseech the forgiveness of all those which I could offend, wound or scandalize by my words or my actes".

Sources

1) Michelle of Saint-Anthony, Her word is burning (Pierre Gravel, priest) , 1969, Ottawa. 2) Public records of Quebec, Fund Pierre Gravel.

Random links: