Mar 10 2008
A Biography of Bishop Baraga, the Snowshoe Priest
“The Indians of Arbre-coche are almost all converted, except for some good-for-nothing stubborn ones, who do better in not dishonoring our holy religion by accepting it. - Frederick Baraga, in a letter dated June 25, 1835
Frederick Baraga, the first bishop of Marquette, Michigan, is one of my heroes. I pray that he will be declared saint; his cause for canonization has been sent to the Vatican. He was a generous and selfless man who trekked the wilderness on snowshoes during the winter and travelled by canoe, all to care for God’s people - especially the ones who didn’t know Him.
He was also feisty, as his letter attests.