His first and only miracle!

The time is past when Oblate Missionaries traveled by railroad, wearing their black cassocks, and proudly displaying the large crucifix at their cincture. Authors, such as Fathers Pierre Duchaussois, Paul-Émile Breton and Eugène Nadeau wrote about the most famous among them. On the other hand, many valiant Oblates have fallen into oblivion in spite of their long careers replete with zeal and dedication. Father Léon Nadeau belongs to this group. Nothing spectacular happened in his life, except fifty years of faithful service to the Whites, Métis, and the Amerindians of Western Canada.

Who was Father Léon Nadeau?
He was born in Chapleau, Ontario, on November 10, 1891. Even when he was very young, he mingled among railroad workers, since his father worked as a brakeman. He finished his studies at the Juniorate in Ottawa, and then young Léon entered the Oblate Novitiate at Ville LaSalle. On May 18, 1918, He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Ovide Charlebois, O.M.I. After a few years at the University of Ottawa and at Hull, we find Father Nadeau at Kapuskasing, in charge of the missions scattered along the railroad line.

For seven years he made many trips, most often aboard freight trains. The railroad men knew him well. He was pleasant, charming, and most sympathetic. In spite of the natural distinction in his manners and speech, he never hesitated to meet others at their level. A kind word here, a story there, he easily made friends.

Father Nadeau was later sent to the distant region of Grouard where he spent the last forty years of his life, as pastor successively at Rivière-la-Paix, Fahler, and Girouxville. He died on April 25, 1972, at the end of a long and painful illness.

Thou shall not eat meat on Fridays…
If we go back sixty years, this Commandment of the Church was strictly obeyed by the Catholics in Canada. All the adults were seriously obliged to abstain from meat. Only for a grave reason could anyone exempt himself from this abstinence. Now it happened one Friday in June that our young Father Nadeau was traveling on the Canadian National. He was seated in the caboose, and was chatting with the employees. The conductor, a good Protestant, said in a friendly manner: “Father Nadou… I invite you to eat with us. However, we have nothing but meat to offer. Unless you can perform a small miracle to change this meat into fish, you will have to do like the rest of us.” Saying this, he winked in collusion with the cook who was busy at the stove. Father Nadeau responded with a smile, and added, bantering: “I accept.” Was he just accepting the dinner, or to perform a miracle? Perhaps both, for that noon he was as resourceful as he was hungry.

A bit of sleight of hand
A few minutes later, the train stopped near a brook. It was time to take in water for the locomotive. Glancing out the window, the priest noticed a lad casting his line into the water. Discreetly, he jumped off the train and approached the young fisherman. The boy was willing to share a few fresh trout. The Oblate hurried back to his place in the train. Since he was alone for the moment in the car the miracle-worker removed the meat from the pan and replaced it with the fish.

Soon, when the cook returned he thought he was dreaming. As for the conductor who had issued the challenge, he was flabbergasted. Father Nadeau watched attentively, acting as if nothing had happened. He was too absorbed in a book. “Father! Look! Miracle.” The Oblate’s only answer was a teasing smile and a slight cough.

And this was the source of the news, among the railway men, that the little missionary priest had really performed a miracle that Friday, on board the Canadian National!

André DORVAL, OMI