The Sulpicians of Montreal : A History of Power and Discretion, 1657-2007

In August 1657, four members of the Society of Saint-Sulpice completed their journey from Paris to Ville-Marie. Thus began the Sulpicians adventure in Montreal. Over the next three-and-a-half centuries, the Society would play a vital role in the fields of education, public charity, and pastoral care. Men of action and taste the Sulpicians served as missionaries, seigneurs of the Island of Montreal, and patrons of the arts. But their work was accomplished with the humility and discretion befitting their religious vocation. While their history long remained obscure, it has now been brought to light thanks to the work of the lay historians who collaborated on this book. These scholars had full access to archives whose holdings are among the oldest in Canada. Well-documented and richly illustrated, the resulting collection is much more than a reference work. It is also an invitation to journey through lesser-known aspects of Sulpicians history, which includes its share of trials and tribulations. For while pursuing their priesthood under the watchful eye of God, Sulpicians of Montreal remained interested-and remain interested in the world of men.