Catholic Ladder

The Catholic Ladder

Rev. Father F.N. Blanchet made first use of this "Catholic Ladder" in July of 1842 at the Cowlitz Mission (also known as St. Francis Mission) in order to teach the Indians the main truths of the Catholic faith. Many copies of the ladder were made and presented to the Indian chiefs, thereafter it was in constant use among the Northwest Indians. A display featuring the Catholic Ladder stands on the grounds of St. Francis Mission.

The 40 horizontal bars represent the 40 centuries B.C. The 33 dots represent the years of Christ's life on earth. The 18 bars represent the 18 centuries A.D. and the 42 dots represent the 42 succeeding years.

Some examples of what the other symbols represent are:

(1) Heaven, Angels, and the 6 days of Creation,

(2) Noah's Ark,

(3) the Ten Commandments,

(4) Elizabeth and Zachary,

(5) Star of Bethlehem, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,

(6) The Twelve Apostles,

(7) The Reverends Blanchet and Damers.

St. Francis Xavier Mission

Toledo, Washington

First Catholic Mission

In Western Washington

Established in 1838