The Response to Evil. Part 3. Mackinac Island
- Jul 30, 2018
- 2 min read
I promise, I do actually have other separate thoughts about how to respond to evil. But before I leave the thread of "do the thing in front of you that is too small and too big", I want to tell you about the beautiful illustration I saw of it on Mackinac Island this weekend.
I live in Wisconsin, and have for most of my life, but this was my first time to the island. And, since I'm me, I was obsessed with anything on the island related to history and/or the Catholic Church. (And basking in the beauty and the perfect weather, but that doesn't really come into this post... and the Native American mythology stories that our guide told on the carriage tour. Now before I dissolve into a simple list of highlights, let's get back to it.)
One of the first things we did on the Island was to bike the perimeter, allowing us to stop at two plaques - one marking where the British had landed in 1812 and had taken over the Island without a fight, the other marking where, in 1814, the Americans had tried to take the Island back and failed. Both of these were very exciting for me because... history. But what moved me even more (somewhat to my surprise) was a simple replica of a missionary chapel made of bark. The replica was not perfect, plastic peeked out from under the bark in the back and the glare off of the plastic divider inside somewhat lessened the impact of the altar, sacred images, and period-dressed mannequins. But I loved it.
When Fr. Jacques Marquette left to go on mission to the Americas, he was 29 years and he knew that he would never return home. He founded several missions and explored the Great Lakes region and the Mississippi River and died at the age of 37.
The British came with hundreds of men and occupied the island for several years and all that is left is a plaque. No evident impact on the Island or its culture*. Fr. Marquette came, with nothing except a life totally surrendered to mission, and he left, not only an impressive historic impact on the whole Great Lakes region, but a Catholic community that continues to evangelize and bring Christ to so many people to this day.
On Saturday evening I went to Mass at St. Anne's Catholic Church which is one of the oldest in the country with Baptism records dating back to 1695. The Parish has moved locations several times (including a move that apparently was crucial in drawing people to live on Mackinac) but came out of the mission that Fr. Marquette founded in St. Ignace. The pews were packed as we listened to readings about how God can do wonders with the tiniest offerings we give Him: "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"
(This song was in my head most of the weekend and I think it's awesome)
*NB - the British did build Fort Mackinac which was one of my favorite places. However, this was not a result of the invasion in question and so doesn't count for my point. :)
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