On the fourteenth of April

As to death, I believe that all of us would have been very glad to submit to it for the defense of the Cross.

savages

The Rocket was the preeminent presence,if not player, of his era

which now lives only in the soft-focus haze of fondmemory

and thenassaulted a linesman. Three days later Campbell suspendedRichard for the Canadiens' three remaining regular-season gamesand the entire playoffs

Smoke from a tear-gas canister haddriven thousands of hockey fans into the streets, sparking afour-hour rampage that yielded the requisite fires, shatteredwindows, looted stores, overturned cars and 137 arrests

Sport is part of culture and a good way to learn about another country

Another example of religious behaviour is an expectation of sacrifice, Bauer said.

— of blood, sweat and tears — will lead them to glory.They are the fans of the Montreal Canadiens.In Prof. Olivier Bauer's class at the Université de Montréal, worshippers can argue that their team is their religion."It's a divine inspiration," Bauer said of the idea behind the theology course that begins in January 2009.Two years ago, shortly after the minister moved to Montreal, he and one of his students decided the university should offer the opportunity to study whether the Canadiens are, in fact, a faith.The graduate course is open to students in all faculties and those in undergraduate programs. ((Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images))"When we learned about the 100th anniversary, we thought it was a good time to talk about the relationship between sport and religion, especially between the Habs and the religious context in Montreal and in Quebec," Bauer said.The graduate course is open to students in all faculties and those in undergraduate programs. Bauer expects to see more than his usual 10 to 20 people in the class."I hope I have enough students to make two hockey teams. Maybe enough to fit the Bell Centre," he joked.In addition to the class, Bauer has launched an essay contest asking the question, "Are the Montreal Canadiens a religion?"Submissions are due Dec. 12 and the top three essayists (determined in a "playoff round") will present their papers at a symposium on Jan. 16. Three others, including Bauer, will make presentations.Others include Denis Müller from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and the University of Winnipeg's Tom Faulkner, author of More Than a Game, Less Than a God: Canadian Hockey."I wanted to invite Don Cherry, too. I think it could be interesting.… He would probably have a lot of things to say about it," Bauer said.Jennifer Guyver, Bauer's research assistant, is helping to co-ordinate the symposium and said she was "really excited" to hear that Bauer was organizing the event, titled La Religion du Canadien or The Habs Religion.In Prof. Olivier Bauer's class, students will compare and contrast the Montreal Canadiens and other religions. ((David Sandford/Getty Images))"We really want to see what everyone wants to say.… When you have a lot of people passionate about hockey, and not about religion, it's interesting to see people's reactions to the question," she said. "If they can make connections between religion and sport, it helps get people involved; there will be a lot of diversity."In Bauer's class, students will compare and contrast the Montreal Canadiens and other religions.Bauer said he might demonstrate his neutrality on the subject by lecturing in a referee jersey.He knows the class will attract students who are unfamiliar with religious studies and says that's okay. He noted, however, it's still an academic course."We don't just want to look at some games and drink beers. You have to work, but even if you're not a theologian student you can follow the class," he said, adding that those who don't believe the team is a religion can still earn high marks.Course assignments include studying media coverage of the Canadiens, reading chapters from the book La religion du Canadien de Montréal (co-edited by Bauer and Jean-Marc Barreau), and writing essays.Bauer's book has six chapters, one of which was written by Benoît Melançon, author of the book Les Yeux de Maurice Richard (The Eyes of Maurice Richard, which will be published in English in April 2009 as The Rocket: A Cultural History of Maurice Richard).Melançon said he's pleased that Bauer is bringing attention to the topic."[Bauer] has really touched something deep in Quebec society, something that is so obvious nobody has taken the time to mention it," he said. "It really strikes something, and it's really fun too. Serious, but with some humour."Students in the class might have some fun with a pastoral activity Bauer plans to assign."Maybe invite Guy Carbonneau to speak at your church, or maybe you can create a hockey team in your church. Maybe organize a hockey tournament with different ethnic or religious communities," he said.Topics will change each week. Students will find themselves examining religious metaphors, behaviours and ethics, and drawing links between them and the Habs.Certain religious behaviours, like praying, surround the Canadiens, Bauer pointed out."The fans, they pray for two things. The first is that the Canadiens will win. The second thing is that they pray for the Canadiens to crush the Maple Leafs, but I think you don't need any God for that," he said with a laugh.Another example of religious behaviour is an expectation of sacrifice, Bauer said."You know, you have to suffer if you want to win. Jesus had to die and resurrect. That's the kind of thing we expect from our players. You must be ready to suffer in order to win or earn us some victory. You must risk everything and sweat and fight or be knocked out," he said.Other parallels can be taken from various media, Bauer said. Newspapers, for instance, have called Patrick Roy St. Patrick, and referred to Carey Price as Jesus Price.Ethics also offers an interesting study topic."Charity has been the function of the church. Now it's the team who is taking charge of the social life, visiting children in hospitals, inviting children to see a game or giving money to charity… Does that mean they have kind of a religious role?" he asked."I hope [people] will be moved by what I teach them," he said.Bauer, who is from Switzerland, has lived in France, French Polynesia and Washington, and said discovering sport has been a way to discover society."Sport is part of culture and a good way to learn about another country… To discover why people are so passionate about it, it's like, 'Tell me what your sport is and I'll tell you who you are,' " he said.CBC's Journalistic Standards and PracticesRelated Stories Montreal Forum: An event not to be missed Memories of Red, white and blue BLOG: Elliotte Friedman: Patrick Roy nearly left Montreal in a much different way Roy welcomed back to Montreal Roy, religion and the Habs

Ree-char, Ree-char!

Peanuts, tomatoes, galoshes, crumpled newspapers, programs. A hardboiled egg bounced off Campbell’s hat. An orange nailed him in the back. A rubber overshoe jostled Ms. King’s headwear.

Announcers on Montreal radio stations urged those upset by Campbell’s decision to make their feelings known.

RICHARD GOES INSANE

They want to arrest Richard for assault

clutching and shoving one another. Linesman Cliff Thompson grabs at Richard but he slips the official’s grip. Richard connects with an uppercut to Laycoe’s cheek

His stick blade clips the Rocket above the left ear and opens a gash. The blood stains his scalp.

Maurice Richard­-le Rocket

a St. Patrick's Day game

Richard smacked the official.

score 50 goals in a season

Sticks were high, fists flew, blood often smeared the ice, and the owners thought this was all manly and a great way to sell tickets.

Go on, Charles Eugene! Go on there!

Yes ... If you wish I will marry you as you asked me to

Her parents would like her to marry Eutrope Gagnon—that she felt—because she would live near them,

You will not have me, Maria? You have no liking for me, or is it, perhaps, that you cannot make up your mind?"

But I love you, Maria, I earn a good wage and I never touch a drop. If you will marry me as I ask I will take you off to a country that will open your eyes with astonishment—a fine country, not a bit like this, where we can live in a decent way and be happy for the rest of our days."

"You are their slaves; that's what you are. You tend them, you clean them, you gather up their dung as the poor do the rich man's crumbs.

kin

NEW YEAR'S DAY

At noon Maria came out to the door-step and gave a long call to tell them that dinner was ready.

feast of Ste. Anne

Ninety thousand,

The women of the Chapdelaine household had no part in the work of the fields.

seeing that the good Father would soon die, made an opening in the upper part of his chest, and tore out his heart, which he roasted and ate. Others came to drink his blood, still warm, which they drank with both hands,—saying that Father de Brebceuf had been very courageous to endure so much pain as they had given him, and that, by drinking his blood, they would become courageous like him

they were about to eat the flesh of one of their own number.

a burnt-offering

a flood of water rushed in. The crew, composed of about [page 229] thirty-seven persons, strove to check this flow,—some working the pump, others dipping water with buckets, while still others threw overboard the cannon and the Ship's cargo; but with all their efforts they could not overcome that torrent of water, and it soon sank the Vessel

he placed his confidence in God. He said to them, " Do upon me that which God permits you;

They had slashed their bodies in various parts; and, in order to increase the feeling of pain

shortly after his death, an uncle of his, one of those most rebellious against the Faith in these countries, and an aunt of his, asked us for instruction, and have become Christians.

it was believed that he went to drown him self.

JANUARY, 1649

Although he did not witness this tragedy,

not only the priests, but their servants—are ready to lay down their lives, if need be, for the sake of the little Indian church which they have there founded.