Marian heritage · Baie-Comeau

Our Lady
of the World

A statue commissioned by Bishop Labrie that returned to the North Shore nearly fifty years after his death.

1957–1968 · Propagation of the Faith

A commission by Bishop Labrie

While chairing the French section of the Propagation of the Faith in Canada, Bishop Napoléon-Alexandre Labrie commissioned this work from sculptor Émile Brunet.

The statue depicts the Virgin Mary carrying the Child Jesus. After Bishop Labrie’s death, it was given to the Eudist Province and installed at the Eudist House in Charlesbourg.

The Eudists later sought to return it to the diocese founded by Bishop Labrie. The parish of La Nativité-de-Jésus received the statue and chose a Marian site for it: the forecourt of Saint-Nom-de-Marie Church in Baie-Comeau.

The bronze statue is about two metres tall and stands on a one-metre plinth. Since its installation, it has welcomed visitors near the stairs leading to the church parking lot.

A work passed on

From Charlesbourg to Baie-Comeau

The statue follows its commissioner’s journey: kept by the Eudists, it eventually returned to the Diocese of Baie-Comeau.

After 1973

At the Eudist House

After Bishop Labrie’s death, the statue was moved to the Eudist House in Charlesbourg.

June 12, 2022

Return to the North Shore

The Eudist community gave the statue to the parish of La Nativité-de-Jésus in Baie-Comeau. Michel Bourgoin’s team moved it.

October 13, 2022

In front of Saint-Nom-de-Marie

Our Lady of the World was installed in front of Saint-Nom-de-Marie Church, where it can now be seen from the top of the steps.

The statue on the move

Charlesbourg, the move, and Baie-Comeau

Statue of Our Lady of the World with the Christ Child at the Eudist House in Charlesbourg — Our Lady of the World in Charlesbourg · Photo by Daniel Abel, edited for this page

Déménagement de la statue Our Lady of the World à l’aide d’un chariot élévateur — The move, June 12, 2022 · Photo by Daniel Abel, edited for this page

Statue de Our Lady of the World devant un bâtiment à Baie-Comeau — After installation in Baie-Comeau · Photo by Daniel Abel, edited for this page

Eudist House · Charlesbourg

Photographs by Daniel Abel

With thanks to Mr. Daniel Abel for these remarkable photographs. They were taken at the Eudist House in Charlesbourg, where the statue was moved at the end of Bishop Labrie’s term with the Propagation of the Faith.

Detail of Our Lady of the World’s hands — The statue’s hands

Manteau de la statue et feuilles d’érable sculptées — The mantle and maple leaves

Main ouverte de la statue, paume tournée vers le haut — The open hand

Detail of a branch of maple leaves sculpted in bronze — The maple-leaf branch

Visage de l’Enfant Jésus — The face of the Child Jesus

Détail d’un pied en bronze et de la base ronde de la statue — The foot and bronze base

Rear view of the statue in the garden of the Eudist House — Rear view in the garden

Tête de la Vierge vue de profil arrière — The Virgin, rear profile

Detail of the Christ Child’s feet beneath the garment — The Child Jesus’ feet

Rear view of Our Lady of the World in front of the Eudist House — The statue from behind

Plaque commémorative honorant Mgr Napoléon-Alexandre Labrie — The plaque dedicated to Bishop Labrie

Vue arrière de la statue et de son socle — The statue and plinth, rear view

Visages de la Vierge et de l’Enfant Jésus vus de profil — The Virgin and Child, profile view

Visage de la Vierge Marie — The Virgin’s face

Buste de l’Enfant Jésus devant le manteau de Marie — The Child Jesus, close-up

Drapery and maple leaves sculptées — Drapery and maple leaves

Détail d’un pied de la statue sous le drapé — Detail of the foot beneath the drapery

View of Our Lady of the World in the garden — Overview in the garden

Inscription Our Lady of the World gravée sur le socle — The inscription on the plinth

Visage de la Vierge légèrement incliné — The Virgin’s bowed face

Vue latérale de la statue et de son socle — Side view of the work

The sculptor

Émile Brunet

Joseph-Émile Brunet (1893–1977), born in Huntingdon, was one of the leading Québec sculptors of his generation. Trained in Montréal, Chicago, and Paris, he created memorials, public works, and religious sculptures.

His works include pieces for the Musée de la province de Québec and monuments to Wilfrid Laurier. Our Lady of the World also reflects his contribution to religious art in Québec.

Learn more about Émile Brunet ↗

Monuments · Sculpture · Architecture

Selected works by Émile Brunet

A portrait and public works that place Our Lady of the World in the sculptor’s career.

Portrait d’Émile Brunet vers 1913 — Émile Brunet, c. 1913

Monument aux Patriotes de Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu — Patriots’ Monument · Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu

Monument aux Braves de Longueuil — Braves’ Monument · Longueuil

Statue de Wilfrid Laurier à Ottawa — Monument to Wilfrid Laurier · Ottawa

Monument à Wilfrid Laurier à Montréal — Monument to Wilfrid Laurier · Montréal

Statue of Brother André at Place du Frère-André, Montreal — Statue of Brother André · Montréal

Canadian Pavilion, designed by Émile Brunet for the 1937 Paris Exposition — Canadian Pavilion · Paris, 1937

Sources for this page

Sources et crédits

The photographs are by Daniel Abel. They were taken at the Eudist House in Charlesbourg and during the statue’s move and installation. Their sharpness, contrast, and resolution were adjusted for this page; the original framing, inscriptions, and scenes have been preserved.

Our Ladyof the World