Marie-Marguerite d'Youville
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| Saint Marie-Marguerite d'Youville | |
|---|---|
| |
| Founder of the "Grey Nuns" and First Canadian Saint | |
| Born | October 15, 1701, Varennes, Quebec |
| Died | December 23,1771 |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1959 |
| Canonized | 1990 |
| Feast | April 11 |
| Patronage | death of children, difficult marriages, in-law problems, loss of parents, opposition of Church authorities, people ridiculed for their piety, victims of adultery, victims of unfaithfulness, widows |
Saint Marie-Marguerite d'Youville (née Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais) (1701 – 1771), foundress of the Grey Nuns or Sisters of Charity, was the first Canadian-born person to be elevated to sainthood.
Early life
Marie-Marguerite d'Youville was born on 15 October 1701 at Varennes, near Montreal, Canada, to Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais and Marie-Renée Gaultier, and was the eldest of six children. Her father died when she was seven years old leaving the family in great poverty. It was only through the influence of her great grandfather, Pierre Boucher, that she was enabled to study for two years with the Ursulines in QuebecUpon her return home, she shared the housework of her widowed mother and undertook the education of her brothers and sisters.
In 1722, she married François d'Youville and they made their home with his mother. Her husband treated her with indifference, and it became apparent that he had no interest in making a home life. His frequent absences and illegal liquor trading with the Indians created significant suffering for herself and the family. She was pregnant with her sixth child when François became seriously ill. She faithfully cared for him until his death in 1730. Four of her six children had died in infancy, and the only two of her sons who reached adulthood became priests. After the death of her husband, she was forced to carry on a small trade in order to meet her obligations. Although she lived in poverty, she nevertheless helped the needy.
Charity Work
Mother d'Youville developed an ardent belief of God's presence in her life and of his love for every human person. She, in turn, wanted to make known his compassionate love to all. She undertook many charitable works with complete trust in God, who she loved as a Father.Due to her dedication to charitable works, she was called upon to rescue a hospital, founded in 1694 by M. Charon, from debt and ruin. This undertaking, which was to be the foundation of a new religious institution, the Grey Nuns or Sisters of Charity, flourished under the direction of Mother d'Youville. In 1747, the General Hospital was entrusted to her as she had already begun practicing, with the assisstance of fellow sisters, spiritual and corporal works of mercy. She opened the hospital to disabled soldiers, the aged of either sex, the insane, the incurable, foundlings, and orphans.
When the General Hospital of Quebec, then under the guidance of Mother d'Youville, needed to be saved, the intendant[#endnote_def1] Bigot, with Bishop Pontbriand's assent, decided to transfer to the former institution the property of the Montreal Hospital. Mother d'Youville acceded to this request. However, the intervention of the Sulpician superior, Cousturier, insured that her rights to the institution would be maintained.
In 1755, Pontbriand accepted the institutional principles drawn up by Father Normant. Mother d'Youville assumed the entire debt, 49,000 livres. To meet the expenses of restoring and rebuilding the hospital, as well as harbouring numerous inmates, the number of which had been increased by the admission of epileptics, lepers, and contagious patients excluded from the Hôtel-Dieu, she made clothing for the king's warehouses and for the traders of the upper country. This enterprise was her primary source of revenue.
During the Seven Years' War, so many English soldiers were treated at the hospital, that one of its wards was called "la salle des Anglais" (The English Ward). At a great price Mother d'Youville ransomed from the Indians an English prisoner destined for torture, and saved several fugitives from their fury. One of these fugitives later prevented the bombardment of the fortress-like hospital.
Owing to the exorbitant cost of necessities of life and due to corruption, the hospital was heavily indebted at the time of the conquest. A credit of 100,000 livres, due by the French Government, was redeemed with interest only under the reign of Louis XVIII, and the sum was applied to the work begun by the foundress.
Despite her poverty, Mother d'Youville undertook to rescue all foundlings thrown upon her charity. When, in 1766, the General Hospital was destroyed by fire, Mother d'Youville accepted the loss, knelt with her sisters and recited the Te Deum.
Death and After
Mother d'Youville died in Montreal, on December 23, 1771.Her institution has spread since her death, with the Grey Nuns having established schools, hospitals, and orphanages throughout Canada, the United States, Africa, and South America. Today, they are organized into six autonomous groups:
- Sisters of Charity of Montreal, "Grey Nuns"
- Sisters of Charity of Ottawa
- Sisters of Charity of Quebec
- Sisters of Charity of St. Hyacinthe
- Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
- Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
Beatification, Canonization, additional honours
The Decree introducing the cause of her beatification, and entitling her to be called Venerable, was signed on 28 April, 1890, and Pope John XXIII canonized Marguerite on May 3, 1959, bestowing upon her the title Mother of Universal Charity . [link]In 2003, d'Youville was made a member of the Canadian Hall of Medical Fame.
External links
- [Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online]
- [Biography from the Vatican web site]
- [Catholic Online Saints]
- [Knights of Columbus]
Notes
- #↑ [intendant]
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