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A teacher and priest at St. Jerome’s, Father Gaston Leboutilier initially seems to be the only ally Saul Indian Horse has at the school. Leboutilier teaches Saul how to play hockey, and gives him endless encouragement and love. Without Leboutilier, Saul leads readers to believe, Saul would never have developed his skills as a hockey player, and would have continued living at St. Jerome’s in utter misery. However, as the book comes to an end, it becomes clear that Father Leboutilier, quite contrary to being Saul’s friend, was actually a rapist who abused Saul under the guise of nurturing him.
Father Gaston Leboutilier Quotes in Indian Horse
The Indian Horse quotes below are all either spoken by Father Gaston Leboutilier or refer to Father Gaston Leboutilier. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 22 Quotes
"Hockey is like the universe, Saul," he said one day. "When you stand in the dark and look up at it, you see the placid fire of stars. But if we were right in the heart of it, we'd see chaos. Comets churning by. Meteorites. Star explosions. Things being born, things dying. Chaos, Saul. But that chaos is organized. It's harnessed. It's controlled.
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Chapter 23 Quotes
"Do they hate me?"
"They don't hate you, Saul." 'Well, what, then?"
"They think it's their game."
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Chapter 24 Quotes
I looked around at all those adult faces, lingering on Father Leboutilier's. I'd never been offered choice before.
'All right," I said. "I'll go."
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Chapter 49 Quotes
He'd told me I could play when I was big enough. I loved the idea so much that I kept quiet. I loved the idea of being loved so much that I did what he asked. When I found myself liking it, I felt dirty, repulsive, sick. The secret morning practices that moved me closer to the game also moved me further away from the horror. I used the game to shelter me from seeing the truth, from having to face it every day. Later, after I was gone, the game kept me from remembering. As long as I could escape into it, I could fly away. Fly away and never have to land on the scorched earth of my boyhood.
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Chapter 55 Quotes
"Did you want to hunt that fucker down? Make him feel some of the same pain?" Virgil asked. He still couldn't turn away from looking at the ice.
'At first, yeah. Then, the more we got into it at the centre the more I realized it was more than just him. I'd be hunting a long time if I lashed out at everyone. In the end, I learned the only one I could take care of was me."
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"My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." -Graham S.
Father Gaston Leboutilier Character Timeline in Indian Horse
The timeline below shows where the character Father Gaston Leboutilier appears in Indian Horse. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 15
The same year Saul arrives at St. Jerome’s, a priest named Father Gaston Leboutilier begins teaching there. He’s unusually cheerful and kind, and he takes the children on long...
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Father Leboutilier urges Saul to join the hockey team, insisting that hockey is “the greatest game” there...
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Saul begs Father Leboutilier to teach him how to play hockey. Father Leboutilier sadly explains that only older boys...
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Chapter 17
By his second winter at St. Jerome’s, Saul has found an important ally in Father Leboutilier . Leboutilier defends Saul from teachers when they’re too cruel to him. Emboldened by Father...
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Chapter 18
In hockey practice, Father Leboutilier is a tough coach. He knows exactly what he wants his boys to learn to...
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...boy, explaining that he’s been practicing every morning. Even though Saul is still too young, Father Leboutilier decides to allow him to fill in during the scrimmage that day.
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...fast as he can down the rink, and scores a goal. Everyone is impressed, especially Father Leboutilier . He decides to let Saul play center in the scrimmage. Saul has a great...
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Chapter 19
Although Father Quinney and Sister Ignacia protest, Father Leboutilier is able to convince them to allow Saul to join the hockey team. He insists...
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Chapter 20
...the opposing team also laugh at Saul and shout, “The Indian school brought their mascot!” Father Leboutilier warns his team that the opposing team is very good, recommending that the boys should...
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...his own every morning, he takes a shot and scores. The crowd goes “crazy,” and Father Leboutilier shouts, “You were beautiful.” For the rest of the game, Saul excels, scoring goal after...
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Chapter 22
When Saul plays hockey, he leaves his misery and frustration behind. Father Leboutilier continues to take an interest in Saul’s development as a hockey player, and sometimes comes...
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...morning, knowing that he needs to strengthen his legs. He also practices his aim, with Father Leboutilier ’s help. He becomes a celebrity at St. Jerome’s—the champion hockey player.
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Chapter 23
...new hockey season. Shortly after the season begins, some men from the nearest town approach Father Leboutilier and ask him about Saul. Saul is so talented, they explain, that they want him...
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...the town team, the White River Falcons, coached by a man named Levi Dieter. However, Father Leboutilier continues coaching Saul in the mornings. As Saul begins playing for the Falcons, he does...
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One day, Levi Dieter has a talk with Father Leboutilier , and delivers some bad news which Leboutilier has to pass on to Saul: other...
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Chapter 24
For the rest of hockey season, Saul competes in scrimmages with his teammates. Father Leboutilier continues to work one-on-one with Saul, inspiring him to improve his game.
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...day, a man named Fred Kelly comes to watch Saul and the other players practice. Father Leboutilier explains that Kelly coaches a big tournament team, The Moose. Tournament teams, he elaborates, compete...
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Father Leboutilier explains that Fred Kelly has come to make Saul an incredible offer. Saul will live...
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When Father Leboutilier mentions Fred Kelly’s idea to Sister Ignacia, Ignacia is disgusted. She claims that hockey is...
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...and then walks outside to where Fred Kelly is waiting. Before he leaves, he embraces Father Leboutilier , who whispers, “Go with God.”
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Chapter 28
...of their games. Saul maintains his teammates’ respect, and gets a lot of play. Sometimes, Father Leboutilier comes to watch his games. Once, Leboutilier tells Saul, “You make the other players better.”...
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Chapter 49
Saul walks around the St. Jerome’s campus and finds himself remembering his time with Father Leboutilier . When Leboutilier hugged Saul, Saul felt completely and totally loved. This makes him think...
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Chapter 50
That night, Saul camps by the side of the river. He remembers Father Leboutilier ’s words, “You’re free,” and suddenly becomes angry. He realizes that Leboutilier was lying to...
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Chapter 55
...he didn’t know this about himself until last year. He proceeds to tell Virgil about Father Leboutilier , his family, and his early life with his family. Virgil asks Saul if he’s...
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