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In the rear of the Basilica, in a small apsidal chapel, rests a remarkable and particularly precious object for the Congregation of Holy Cross: the original tombstone of its founder, Blessed Basile-Antoine-Marie Moreau. The story of its journey is relatively enigmatic.
On January 20, 1873, at twelve-thirty in the afternoon, Reverend Father Basile Moreau breathed his last.
For three days, members from all walks of life and ages came from everywhere to the chapel to kneel in prayer before the body and touch it with objects of piety.
His funeral took place on January 22, and his remains were laid to rest in the cemetery chapel of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Le Mans. The next day, a tombstone was placed to protect his remains. His nephew, Father Charles Moreau, was tasked with composing the epitaph.
The first tombstone of Father Basile Moreau, in dark slate, in the cemetery chapel of the Congregation of Holy Cross in Le Mans, France. Archives Service of the Canadian Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross, A1,21,6.1
In the early 1920s, the Congregation of Holy Cross decided to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Father Moreau’s death.
On January 12, 1924, his remains were exhumed to place them in a new oak coffin lined with lead for better protection.
However, there was a problem: the dark slate tombstone protecting the remains was no longer in good condition and did not blend well with the recently restored white marble of the chapel.
Before the exhumation, a new marble tombstone was commissioned to replace the first.
An historical error was corrected by modifying the fourth line of the epitaph to include the Salvatorians (Fathers of Holy Cross) and the Josephites (Brothers of Holy Cross).
A mention of the exhumation was also added at the bottom of this new tombstone.
The second tombstone of Father Basile Moreau, in white marble. Archives Service of the Canadian Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross, A1,21,6.5
With the removal of the old black slate tombstone, the question arose of where to store it. As an authentic relic, it was too precious not to be preserved. Possibly foreseeing another major war in Europe, it was sent to Canada between 1924 and 1939. A great mystery remains regarding the conditions under which it was transported to Canada.
In 1945, Father André Legault wrote in his book “Father Moreau, 1799-1873: Founder of the Religious and Nuns of Holy Cross”: “This tombstone […] was brought from France to America, as a notable relic.”
We do not know where it was at that time, but towards the end of 1960, the provincial authorities of the congregation decided to move it.
The tombstone was then attached to a wall near the funeral chapel of the congregation cemetery, behind the church of Saint-Laurent.
As it increasingly struggled with the Canadian climate, it was decided to install it in the main chapel of Saint-Laurent College, near the jubé door of the organ.
After the sale of the college in 1967, it was transferred to the basement of the church of Saint-Laurent.
In September 1980, the tombstone was transferred to the Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal. It remained hidden in one of its reserves for nearly two decades.
In 1997, during an exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Holy Cross in Canada, the tombstone was displayed at Saint Joseph’s Oratory Museum.
Following this event, the congregation asked the authorities of the Oratory to display it to the public “in a place suitable for such a stone.”
Thus, it saw the light of day in an apsidal chapel to the right of the choir of the Oratory Basilica.
Installation of the original tombstone in its current location. CARDG
After the beatification of Father Moreau in 2007, the authorities of the Oratory could finally transform the apsidal chapel into a chapel dedicated to the founding father.
For the occasion, a bust of Father Moreau was added.
However, the tombstone remained hidden from the public by a wall, and for security reasons, the chapel was closed off by a grille, leaving only the bust visible.
It was only during the exhibition commemorating the 150th anniversary of Father Moreau’s death on January 20, 2023, that the grilles were finally opened, allowing the faithful to pray inside the chapel and admire this precious relic.
Additionally, a white stone statue of the Blessed, coming from the Sisters of Holy Cross, sits in the center of this chapel.
The wonderful irony of history is that he who had dreamed of a shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph, now has his tombstone resting in the largest shrine dedicated to the foster father of the Savior, built by the humblest of his spiritual sons who preceded him in holiness, Saint Brother André.
Interior of the apsidal chapel dedicated to Father Moreau. Photographer: Martin Brideau
It has often been said that Saint Brother André was ignorant and that he could barely read and write. The reality is more complex. While he left behind very few writings, aside from some postcards to family members, he could certainly sign his name, and the few books found in his room after his death demonstrate his interest in pious readings. The fingerprints he left on certain passages of these books and the numerous intimate witnesses of his life confirm this. But what books are we talking about? Let’s discover them together.
Every year, on November 2nd, the Catholic Church invites us to a time of reflection and prayer to commemorate our deceased loved ones, commonly referred to as “All Souls’ Day.” This day is not merely a moment of remembrance ; it serves as a profound reminder of the unbreakable communion that binds us to our departed loved ones. It is not a sterile nostalgia focused on the past, but rather an authentic spiritual encounter, a mystical synergy with those who have already entered the beyond, in the unwavering hope of the resurrection promised by Christ.
In October 2024, quietly and without fanfare, Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal will celebrate 120 years of existence. When you think about it, it’s quite overwhelming: the sanctuary has endured an entire century! Almost a hundred years ago today, the chronicler of the magazine Les Annales de Saint-Joseph, Father Émile Deguire, c.s.c., took pleasure in reflecting on the twentieth year of the sanctuary’s activities.