La Salette in Dominica

Dominica is one of the Lesser Antilles, West Indies, (was) part of the British Empire, but for the possession of which England and France have fought many battles. It was, in the sixteenth century, the home of a tribe of Caribs, said to have been fierce warriors and cannibals. They have a settlement of their own, to this day, but their number has dwindled to about one hundred full-blooded Indians. They are all Catholics.

The French were the first to colonize the Island. Hence, many of the names of places and families are French: Grand' Hanse, Vielle-Case, Grande-Savane, Soufriere, Rivière, Beaurisseau, Larocque, Duverney, La-Motte, etc.

The people's language, even now, is "le Creole" or "patois", almost identical in vocabulary and grammar, with the patois of the neighboring French Islands, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Roseau, the Capital, is the seat of a Bishopric.

A Devoted Parish Priest Brought La Salette

In 1861, Msgr. Poirier, Bishop at the time, sent his nephew to France in quest of priests and resources to organize parishes, build churches and schools. Rev. Father Ardois, during his stay there, learned of the Apparition and devotion to Our Lady of La Salette. He fell under its powerful influence and resolved to introduce it into his parish. When he returned to Dominica, he brought with him the La Salette group, a beautiful statue of Our Lady and statues of Melanie and Maximin.

He had a chapel added to the Church and there established the Devotion. The parishioners took to it at once, and did all in their power to beautify the Shrine. The Shrine was blessed by His Lordship, Bishop Poirier, in the presence of all the priests of the island, and an immense concourse of people, who, at the invitation of the Bishop, had come in well-organized pilgrimages from every parish, some walking for two days, over mountains, through rivers, under the tropical sun. The Prelate preached a touching sermon that drew tears from all eyes and then he consecrated his people to Our Blessed Mother amid scenes of indescribable enthusiasm.

Devotion to the Weeping Mother

The devotion is strongly anchored in the hearts of the people and every 19th of September sees an immense multitude gather in the Shrine from three o'clock in the morning, all through the day. Pilgrims come, all the year round, from every part of Dominica, to implore help and assistance, and they return strengthened, consoled and succored. Rome has favored the Shrine by granting a great number of Plenary Indulgences, amongst others: the Indulgences of the Portiuncula on the Feast and every day during the octave.

The People Fight the Powers That Be

How the people are attached to their Madonna will be shown by an incident that happened some years ago. One day, rumor spread through the parish that the priest in charge, the late Father Verlooy, C.SS.R., had sold the Shrine to the Bishop of Roseau, to transfer Shrine and Devotion to the Cathedral. The day and hour of removal were known. Dozens and dozens of men and women with sticks and oars – theirs is a fishing village –paraded in front of the church and rectory, praying and singing and, interspersing prayers and hymns with threats and oaths.

The priest spoke to them in a friendly manner, told them they had been imposed upon, that there never had been question of so outrageous a removal, but all to no purpose. They continued their watch. At night, some men broke into the church for a night’s vigil around their beloved statue; others stationed themselves around the edifice, while others slept under the adjoining trees, to be at hand for any emergency.

For days they kept a watchful eye on the doings of their pastor, and the arrivals and departures to and from Roseau. They had sworn that no one, not even their Bishop, would get possession of their mother's image. Does not this remind us of the ages of faith, where people fought and bled for the possession of holy relics? God bless them! With all their faults and failings, they are a warm-hearted, – is it hot-tempered? – loyal and generous lot.

Celebration of the La Salette Feast

In 1922, on September 19th, we celebrated at Pointe-Michel, with splendor and enthusiasm, the golden jubilee of Our Lady of La Salette's arrival in the parish. From 4 A.M. till 9 A.M., when Pontifical Mass was sung by Bishop Moris, C.SS.R., people kept crowding the church, hanging in clusters in the windows and surrounding trees, while Masses succeeded one another and thousand of Communions were distributed. The day was closed by a magnificent procession, Pontifical Vespers and Benediction.

May Our Lady of La Salette continue to bless Pointe-Michel and Dominica and bring us nearer and always nearer to the heart of her Divine Son!

Pointe-Michel, Dominica, December 2nd, 1931.