L'Anse in Baraga County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Departure from Metlika

— Bishop Baraga Shrine —

Departure from Melika Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 3, 2024

1. Departure from Melika Marker

Click on the image to examine the illustration.

Inscription. Father Frederic Baraga's last assignment in his native homeland was in a parish in Metlika, caring for more than 6,000 souls. His love of the Lord and his zeal for the people were rewarded with the love the people had for him. They responded to the call of this prayerful priest who thought not of himself or of his personal possessions, but only of them and their needs, spiritual and temporal.

On the day of his departure towards the end of October 1830, the villagers came from all around to see him and to receive his parting blessing. They crowded around the wagon, holding on to the wheels and restraining the horse in an effort to keep their beloved priest longer. Father Baraga was deeply moved by their love and consoled them, but begged them to let him depart. Having received his final blessing, the people, many in tears, released their hold on the wagon and let their Father Baraga leave for America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1830.

Location. 46° 44.956′ N, 88° 28.414′ W. Marker is in L'Anse, Michigan, in Baraga County. It is on Lambert Road south of U.S. 41. It is on the grounds of the Bishop Baraga Shrine. The shrine

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is no longer accessible directly from U.S. 41. It is well signed. Turn south on Lambert Road and follow it across the railroad tracks and to the right around the curve to the shrine’s parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17572 US-41, Lanse MI 49946, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

and in Copper Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and on Lake Superior’s South Shore Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Snowshoe Priest (here, next to this marker); Celebration of Holy Mass (here, next to this marker); Unum Est Necessarium (here, next to this marker); Arrival at LaPointe (here, next to this marker); Storm On Lake Superior (a few steps from this marker); L’Anse-Lac Vieux Desert Trail (a few steps from this marker); Dog Sled Episode (within shouting distance of this marker); Adrift on Ice Floe (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in L'Anse.

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry for Frederic Baraga. Excerpt:

Baraga grew up during the Napoleonic Wars, when France had taken over the Slovene Lands from the Austrian Empire for a time. As a result, the official language of instruction in his schools changed several times during his childhood between Slovenian and German. By the time he was nine, he was fluent in French as well. In addition, Latin and Greek were required subjects for all students. Thus, by age 16, Frederic Baraga was multilingual—a skill that would serve him well in later life.

Baraga attended law school
Photographed by J. J. Prats, August 3, 2024

2. Departure from Metlika Marker
This interpretive sign is in the center of this photograph.
at the University of Vienna, where he graduated in 1821. Influenced by Clement Mary Hofbauer, Baraga then entered the seminary in Ljubljana. At age 26, he was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on September 21, 1823, in St. Nicholas Cathedral by Augustin Johann Joseph Gruber, the Bishop of Ljubljana. As a young priest, he was assigned as an assistant first at St. Martin's near Kranj and later at Metlika in lower Carniola. ... During this time, he wrote a spiritual book in Slovene entitled Dušna Paša (Spiritual Sustenance).

(Submitted on August 29, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,113 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.