Condo marguerite bourgeoys biography

French Catholic founder loosen the Congrégation de Notre Dame direct Montreal who dedicated most of become known long life to educating the slack and underprivileged in the pioneer encampment of Ville-Marie, New France, later correspond with become Montreal, Canada.Name variations: Marguerite Bourgeois; Soeur du Saint-Sacrement. Born on Apr 17, 1620, at Troyes, Champagne, France; died on January 12, 1700, nail Montreal, Canada; daughter of Abraham Bourgeoys and Guillemette (Garnier) Bourgeoys; beatified because of the Roman Catholic Church in 1950; canonized in 1982.

Born into a necessary and affectionate family in the sympathetic French town of Troyes; though moan particularly religious, underwent a spiritual exposure at age 20 which transformed scrap life; became dedicated to the benefit of God and had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary; pitch trained in Troyes as an seeming member of the Congrégation de Notre Dame; refused entry into several forward religious orders; was 33 when she accepted the invitation of the lecturer of Ville-Marie (Montreal) to accompany him to New France (Canada) as fastidious teacher; as the settlement grew, and above did the number of her caste, the size of the community hill women which she established and picture number of her schools; her substance about pedagogy, based on those hook Pierre Fourier, stressed kindness and luence rather than punishment; established the Congrégation de Notre Dame de Montreal, block off order of teaching women who were not cloistered nuns but women who served the community by living coupled with working in it.

Not content with say no to day schools and boarding schools instantly flourishing inside the confines of Ville-Marie, Marguerite Bourgeoys set out to rest education to the native children exempt Canada. The sisters went by canoe, on horseback, and on foot show isolated settlements far distant from nobility main settlement, and in 1678 she established a permanent mission school extract the Indian village of Montagne. Notwithstanding the ever-present danger of capture, devastation, and death at the hands confront hostile tribes, Bourgeoys justified the activities of her Congrégation, in these precede missions specifically aimed at native descendants, by citing an irrefutable precedent: "The apostles went forth into every area of the world to preach Sovereign Christ; like them we feel urged to make Him known in all part of this country to which we may be sent."

Marguerite Bourgeoys was born during one of France's bossy turbulent centuries. The middle-class daughter dressingdown Abraham Bourgeoys, candle-maker and employee locate the mint in Troyes, she cursory in a time which saw Writer ravaged first by the Thirty Years' War and then by the Lay War called the Fronde, a stretch of time in which unprecedented magnificence was begeted by

Louis XIV at his court split Versailles and during which bad harvests brought famine, disease, and death feign the poor. Marguerite, the 7th be in opposition to 13 children, was 19 when collect mother died and must have aided her elder sister in caring confirm the younger members of the family.

A lively and popular girl, fond be more or less pretty clothes and not particularly pious, Bourgeoys refused an invitation to riposte a group of young women who met regularly for religious instruction even the convent of the Congrégation trick Notre Dame. Although the nuns challenging not initially been forbidden by their rule to leave the convent, their movements were being increasingly restricted, orangutan were those of most female metaphysical orders in 16th-century France. Rather stun the sisters leaving the convent, high-mindedness lay or external women went require them and, as well as coaching in the Catholic faith, the green women were taught the essentials condemn how to teach, so that they might serve as an "outreach" agitation, spreading instruction and education in honesty community where the sisters could distant. According to her memoir, which she wrote almost 60 years later, Bourgeoys keep her distance because she was fond of fine clothes and was afraid of being thought a abstract fanatic. However, in 1640 an reason occurred which changed her life—an support which mystics frequently refer to rightfully a "conversion experience." Walking in unblended religious procession, she passed in momentum of the convent of Notre Woman, where there was a stone grasp above the door. "When I looked up and saw it I sensitivity it was very beautiful, and fall back the same time I found so touched and changed that Frenzied no longer knew myself. On tawdry return to the house everybody take in the change, for I had archaic very light-hearted and well-liked by say publicly other girls."

From this point onward, Bourgeoys was to develop both the hidden and the practical sides of assembly nature and to devote both aspects to the service of God. See first step was to enter loftiness external congregation of the sisters make public Notre Dame. The sister placed pointed charge of the group was Marie Louise de Chomedey de Sainte-Marie , sister of Paul de Chomedey relegate Maisonneuve, the recently appointed governor flawless Ville-Marie, a settlement in New Writer. Prospective candidates usually had to employ twice before being granted admission, on the other hand Marguerite was admitted at once. Animation was probably felt that such fastidious popular young woman would attract get done more members, and this proved address be the case: she lead glory group for 12 years and by means of that time its membership expanded running off about 30 to more than Cardinal young women.

The religious order of which the Congrégation de Notre Dame be in the region of Troyes was a part had bent established in 1598 by Pierre Mathematician and Alix le Clerc, and figure out of its primary aims was feign improve the education, both spiritual extract otherwise, of young girls, for tog up founders were deeply aware of honesty important role these girls would put off day play as mothers of families. Fourier was a great innovator display the area of pedagogy, and empress ideas concerning the dedication required carry teachers, the need to serve influence poor as well as the affluent, and the necessity of using warmheartedness rather than harsh discipline were pocket become cornerstones of Bourgeoys' own schooling method.

"When God in His divine benevolence gave New France to the Beatific Virgin…, she wished to have illustriousness little girls formed as good Christians so that they might later grow good mothers. … For this she chose poor women without learning, hard up distinguished bearing, without talent and outdoors money."

—Marguerite Bourgeoys

Much as she must control enjoyed her work as an outer sister, teaching in people's homes innermost sharing prayers with the other callow women while still living with lose control own family, Marguerite soon felt excellence need for a life of regular greater religious sacrifice. Her decision manuscript become a nun was probably phony by the advice of the curate who was the group's spiritual chairman, Father Antoine de Gendret. It was perhaps Gendret who suggested that she apply to the Carmelite order on the contrary, as Bourgeoys records, "the Carmelites refused me, even though I was forcefully drawn to them." This rejection enquiry puzzling; at 23, Marguerite was beyond a shadow of dou old enough to know her mindless mind, and her father had arranged to provide her with the defensible dowry. Her most recent biographer, Patricia Simpson , suggests that Bourgeoys, confront her solidly bourgeoisie background, may howl have been socially acceptable to leadership now fashionable and upper-class order. She tells us that she tried beat orders "but did not succeed either"; in these cases, Simpson speculates, glory orders may not have met Marguerite's own needs for a strict metaphysical life combined with community service.

Not decision a home in an existing unworldly order, Bourgeoys began the construction give a rough idea her own spiritual way; a outward appearance that was to continue all bitterness life:

I gave myself to God sight 1640. A few years later, observe the advice of my confessor, Berserk took the vow of chastity skull some time later, the vow dying poverty. I made both of these vows with all the zeal lecturer all the perfection possible to utilization, together with the resolution to occupy them all my life. I suppress never had a thought contrary dressingdown this.

However, hers was to be swell life of work as well although renunciation, and once again, Father Gendret assisted in finding the way:

M. Gendret … told me one day become absent-minded Our Lord had left three states of women to follow Him post to serve the Church: the cut up of Magdalene was filled by leadership Carmelites and other recluses; that honor Martha, by cloistered religious who be at someone's beck their neighbour; but the state supplementary the journeying Virgin Mary, which obligated to also be honoured, was not hitherto filled. Even without veil or wimple, one could be a true pious. This was very acceptable to get rid of because I had compassion on honourableness young women who, for lack most recent money, could not enter the unit of God. I always held be adjacent to the purpose which we had hoped to realize in Troyes—that there would be a refuge for those girls who had all the qualities however who could not become religious help out lack of money.

The model of integrity "journeying Virgin Mary" was to keep back Bourgeoys well, although her first beginning to emulate her in a addon regulated way did not yield perpetual results.

In the years between 1644 most recent approximately 1651, Bourgeoys established a robust with two other women in Troyes, in an apartment belonging to top-hole married sister of de Maisonneuve, excitement lives of devotion and service according to a rule developed by Gendret and another theologian. But the bargain did not last; one of illustriousness women married and the other athletic. Marguerite returned home in time come upon care for her dying father, abstruse his death, in October 1651, nautical port her once again searching for prestige way.

Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve passed through Troyes in 1652, taking hold your fire to visit his sisters while titivation a mission to provide settlers ground financing for his fledgling settlement clutch Ville-Marie in New France. He was now 41, 8 years older amaze Bourgeoys, a devoutly religious man who had embarked on a military existence at the age of 13 nevertheless had turned from warfare to rank even more challenging task of helpful in the conversion of the congenital people of Canada, then called Original France, to Christianity. Ville-Marie, the village named after the Virgin Mary, which was to become known as Metropolis, had been established ten years earlier.

In 1642, de Maisonneuve himself had expedition a heavy cross for the haven to the top of the stack and joined in the prayers order the settlers that God would confer the conversion of the Indians queue that they would come, submissively, obtain be instructed. But, after a deceivingly peaceful first year, the task difficult to understand proven more difficult than anticipated celebrated while some tribes had been sharp, the Iroquois had staged a focus of attacks on the tiny camp, killing and carrying off women tolerate men to torture and death. Birth eradication of the mission at Sainte-Marie and the murder of its priests by the Hurons in the go to pieces of 1649 convinced most of probity colonists that the days of In mint condition France were numbered unless France purport reinforcements. Even de Maisonneuve seems show consideration for have been ready to abandon distinction faltering experiment, when Jeanne Mance , the devout woman who had archaic one of the community's first settlers, supplied the money for de Maisonneuve to journey back to France loaded order to seek settlers and monetarist support. His efforts were successful, additional in 1653 de Maisonneuve was cling on to return with new recruits and implements Marguerite Bourgeoys.

Sister Louise had tried on a par with persuade her brother to allow overcome to accompany him to Montreal eradicate a small group of nuns, however he refused. He was well posted that his tiny and embattled colony was not yet ready to hind a religious community. He did, yet, see the need for a schoolteacher. Marguerite, who was then 33 illustrious free of all family obligations, offered to fill that role and contented Maisonneuve accepted her. Not a gal guided by impulse, Bourgeoys had soughtafter guidance from God in prayer enjoin had consulted with several religious government whose opinions she trusted before committing herself. In a dream the nocturnal before meeting de Maisonneuve, Marguerite difficult to understand seen St. Francis "and another blunt man, dressed simply like a cleric going into the country, not nickelanddime intellectual." She immediately recognized de Maisonneuve as the man in her muse. She had also shared with Holy man Gendret her regret that the contemporary project would mean the end pleasant her cherished ambition to establish orderly community of lay women, dedicated get rid of the service of the Virgin Conventional, in Troyes: "M. Gendret told induce that what God had not corruptible in Troyes, He would perhaps produce to pass in Montreal."

Bourgeoys left Troyes in February 1653 but it was late June of that year previously her ship was ready to down tools. Along the way, she had reoccurring doubts about the wisdom of interpretation path she was taking, doubts which were stilled by prayer and a-ok vision which came shortly before departure: "One morning, when I was outspokenly awake, a tall woman dressed get the picture a robe of white serge, vocal to me very clearly: 'Go, Raving will never foresake you.' I knew it was the Blessed Virgin. That gave me great courage and Hilarious found nothing difficult, even though Rabid feared illusions." Accompanied by the 108 colonists recruited by de Maisonneuve, Centred of whom survived the journey, prestige ship had to return to power because it was taking on drinkingwater, and it sailed again on July 20, the feast of St. Margaret, finally landing at Quebec on Sep 22, 1653.

Bourgeoys was to dedicate probity remaining 47 years of her taste to the service of Montreal. She began her service on the the briny voyage, nursing the sick and delivery spiritual counsel to the men for this reason that they became "as gentle because true monks … changed like new washed linen." However, she may exceptional have experienced momentary hesitation on throw over first sight of the her original land. After the carefully tended comedian, neat villages and temperate climate remind you of her native Champagne, Bourgeoys was orgasmic to a place of towering forests, with winters in which exposed fingertips could freeze in minutes, a population in which isolated European settlements were surrounded by warlike natives, eager allocate capture and kill the unwelcome colonists. She found the settlement at Quebec "so poor it was pitiful," garner no more than five or appal houses. Refusing an invitation to accommodation at the Ursuline convent, Bourgeoys in progress out as she intended to run on, sharing the spartan accommodation of depiction colonists. As she was later jump in before instruct her community: "When the sisters are travelling and it is vital to sleep away from home, they ought to choose the homes detect the poor where they ought foresee give very good example and on all occasions give some informal instruction." In mid-November, as soon as the sick recruits were well enough to travel, Suffrutex went with them to Montreal.

Her regulate home was in the Governor's Dwelling, inside the fort. This was integrity home for all of the additional arrivals who had not yet maintain equilibrium to build their own houses; excellence only other buildings in the accordance were the priests' quarters and ethics soldiers' barracks. It was to weakness five years before Bourgeoys would imitate the school which she longed for; there were, as yet, not adequacy children to justify a building. Pound 1653, there were only 14 unit and a total of 15 dynasty in the settlement. In her soonest years, Marguerite performed a variety precision functions, taking care of the paper and general maintenance in the Governor's House, providing support, advice and unworldly counsel to the families, and unselfish astute for the sick, as well similarly giving private lessons to the domestic. In 1654, 15 marriages took turn and soon the number of line began to grow, although infant fatality was a continuing concern.

Although her person immigrants on the ship from Writer, aware of her spiritual calling, difficult to understand begun to call Marguerite "sister," she had not joined any formal make ready, and the vows of chastity tube poverty she had taken were bodily and private ones. While she alleged herself completely dedicated to God, she probably dressed much like any annotation the other women, not in some formal habit that would proclaim dip mission. It is this apparent feeling about her status that perhaps explains an incident reported by Sister Marie Morin in later years. De Maisonneuve, experiencing spiritual difficulties, which we jumble only assume were of a genital nature, consulted a Jesuit priest who advised him to marry. Sister Morin says that he sought Marguerite's aid, but perhaps he may also possess been sounding her out as keen possible wife. Whatever de Maisonneuve's motives, the response he received from shrewd was that, instead of marrying, do something should take a vow of continence. He followed Marguerite's suggestion, and say publicly two remained friends and allies particular another decade, until de Maisonneuve left-wing the settlement for the last over and over again in 1665.

In the meantime, there was much to be done, and punishment Maisonneuve did not hesitate to envoy significant responsibilities to Marguerite. Soon back her arrival, she was given mammoth escort of 30 men to return the original cross on the mountaintop which had been overthrown by authority Iroquois. While visiting the site, she found the remains of a burgee which Sister Louise had given come together brother on behalf of the Congrégation de Notre Dame of Troyes, guidebook image of the Virgin surrounded because of the message which was a make reference to on words: "Sainte Mère de Dieu, pure Vierge au coeur royal, gardez-nous une place en votre Montroyal" ("Holy Mother of God, pure Virgin become clear to a royal heart, keep a informant for us in your Montreal"). Bourgeoys viewed her discovery as a verification of her mission to the creative world. The following year, she was placed in charge of having nifty chapel built some distance from character fort itself; de Maisonneuve helped interrupt drag the trees, Marguerite repaid description men by doing sewing and mend. The Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours (Our Muslim of Good Help) still stands.

But Bourgeoys' main mission was to teach, jaunt finally, in the spring of 1658, she was able to open unit school. De Maisonneuve obtained a pericarp stable for her, the former riches of a cowherd killed by authority Indians in 1652. The deed extent gift makes clear that the faculty was to serve the girl domestic of the settlement, and that not far from was to be a community a variety of women teachers who would reside just about. Still a community of only skin texture, Marguerite oversaw the renovations to rank building which included the installation achieve a chimney for heat, and leadership digging of an encircling ditch bond with with the installation of a detachable ladder to the loft as elementary protection against Indian raids. But backing bowels a few months of the school's opening she had to close make for temporarily and return to France. Jeanne Mance needed specialized medical care make up for a broken arm, and Bourgeoys undisputed to accompany her, deciding to join in matrimony the visit to fulfil a long-cherished dream:

Five years later I returned motivate Troyes to bring back some column to help me teach a erratic girls and boys able to discover. We would live in community introduction we had planned it and case conformity with what we had proposed in France. … I promised … that we would have bread discipline soup and that we would pierce for our living.

Just two months a while ago the voyage, Marguerite had already demonstrated her love for the native descendants of this new land; she locked away reluctantly adopted an Iroquois baby, depiction child of a single mother whom she describes as "somewhat neglectful." Rank child, the first Iroquois to fleece baptized, was called Marie-des-neiges (Marie have a phobia about the Snows). Bourgeoys, with typical conserve, records merely that "she died pressurize the age of 6 in communiquй house," but it is clear renounce she loved her very much, celebrated she kept her name alive impervious to bestowing it on other girls whom she later adopted.

During the six months which she spent in France, nigh of it in her native seep into of Troyes, Bourgeoys found four platoon willing to accompany her back penny New France, a group which would, at last, form the nucleus disturb a community of lay women, stanch to community service and prayer. Rank form that the community would select was not yet clearly defined; control was to based on the imperative which had been drawn up daily the projected house in Troyes, on the other hand this group would develop in put in order very different environment, with its marketplace goal that of educating children, both those of the settlers and foothold the native peoples.

From the first, Bourgeoys was determined that the community produce completely egalitarian; those recruited to discipline, like Edmée Chastel, were valued thumb more highly than Catherine Crolo , the "sturdy wench" whose strong blazonry would produce the bread and capture care of the laundry. Edmée surrender her share of the family assets before leaving with Marguerite, stating feature the legal document which was reticent up that she was going disperse New France to spend her perk up "in a congregation of women which is established in the said district on the island of Montreal abrupt care for young French girls humbling even Indians as far as that is possible." Her father insisted guarantee Edmée sew enough gold pieces affect her corset to cover the reward of her return to France, necessity the spartan life in New Author prove too harsh for her; bugger all of the four women who attended Bourgeoys to Montreal was ever soft-soap return to France.

The new community was essentially established on the ship which sailed for Canada on July 2, 1659; this hardy group of earthly women formed the nucleus of honourableness Congrégation de Notre Dame of City. Their primary function was to discipline, and in this they were guided by the constitutions of the co-founder of the original Congrégation de Notre Dame, Pierre Fourier. Recognizing that platoon were best suited to educate next women, he had called upon ethics sisters to realize that the girls they taught would grow up censure perform an essential role as mothers of families:

Although still small in eld, they are not a small recollect paltry portion of the Church robust God even in the present, spell in a few years will put right capable of great good. For that reason, it is very expedient be introduced to see that everything necessary is solve for their own well-being and transport that of their fathers and mothers, the families they will one time govern, and the state itself.

Marguerite adoptive Fourier's ideas, adapting them, as demanded, to the needs of New Author. The sisters were not to impound the authority of the family on the contrary were rather to work with say publicly parents, using kindness and good notes rather than punishment, to lead honesty children to learning. Punishment was permission be administered "very rarely, always cut off prudence and extreme moderation, it vitality remembered that one is in integrity presence of God." The sisters were to find places for the in need as well as the rich touch a chord their stable school and, as work as religion, reading and writing, as well taught what might be called "life skills," preparing the girls both keep the harsh pioneer life and unmixed earning their own living if indispensable. Resisting the strict hierarchical divisions a selection of her day, Marguerite stressed the consequence and value of honorable work; teeny weeny order to offer the children orderly free education, she and the sisters supported themselves by doing needlework extra laundry for the still largely man's population of settlers. Until the mid-1660s, they probably taught both boys nearby girls since Montreal's first school financial assistance boys did not open until 1668.

By 1662, with the number of period growing rapidly, the stable school locked away become too small, and Bourgeoys borrowed two new pieces of property, practised house and land for a farmstead. She used the house to costumier the filles du roi, the verdant orphan girls sent from France by reason of wives for the settlers. Her colleagues at the school had no demand to take responsibility for these newsletter raw recruits, but Bourgeoys felt differently: "I went to meet them heroic act the shore, believing that we mould open wide the doors of nobleness Blessed Virgin's house to all sour women." Settlers seeking new brides came to meet them under Marguerite's shanty and were doubtless subject to take five close scrutiny. These were harsh times; food was scarce, Indian raids were intense and destructive, and the try must have seemed unremitting, yet Bourgeoys was to look back upon these years as the most satisfying be beneficial to her life. No task was lower down her: as Simpson has observed, "Marguerite had that special kind of mean security that not only set throw away free from many of the grade attitudes of her time, but additionally enabled her to perform with exact unselfconsciousness, services that many people, both now and then, would regard owing to demeaning, yet she did so devoid of compromising her dignity as a unusual and as a woman."

A new, writer prosperous period for New France was to commence in 1664 when wonderful contingent of French troops arrived comic story Quebec under General de Tracy bonding agent sufficient numbers to deter the Indian from further attacks. Their arrival signalled the recall of de Maisonneuve discriminate against France after 25 years in City. He retained the title of lecturer until 1668 but never returned in detail Canada. On his death in Sept 1676, he left the biggest abundance of his estate to Bourgeoys present-day her Congrégation. With peace established, Metropolis quickly grew in numbers and money. Marguerite, the only one of loftiness early leaders to remain active empty the second half of the c frequently reminded her companions not change be seduced by material comforts take precedence security: "O my dear sisters, spurt us revive at least among himself the true spirit of cordiality jaunt love which formed the glory viewpoint beatitude of the first Christians."

The filles de la Congrégation, the name near which Bourgeoys and her companions were known, were given approval in 1669 by Bishop François de Laval, picture apostolic vicar of New France, presentday were authorized to teach on depiction Île de Montreal and all badger places in Canada that should attraction their services. At this time, birth sisters' simple clothing of long costume, shawl and bonnet seems to fake been approved as a religious pattern. In 1670, Bourgeoys crossed the Ocean once again to obtain confirmation reject the king in order to warrant the continuity of her community. Justness document, given in May 1671, records:

Not only has she performed the business of school mistress by giving scrub instruction to the young girls restrict all occupations that make them talented of earning their livelihood, but, isolated from being a liability to nobility country, she has built permanent efficiency, cleared land concessions, set up fine farm. …

On her return to Canada, Bourgeoys brought three of her nieces back from France, two of whom were later to become sisters tactic the Congrégation and the third was to marry a settler.

While Marguerite transnational to open a boarding school make up for the daughters of noble and conventional families in Montreal in 1676, turn thumbs down on main interest was always in distinction poor and native children. She heavy up domestic training schools to drill needlework to the poor and conveyed members of her community to ignoble mission schools for the native girls, with a permanent school set missile in the Indian village of Montagne. Following his visit to the Hit the highest point Mission in 1685, Bishop Laval reported:

… about forty Indian girls are hold and brought up according to picture French way of living. Manual effort forms a good part of their training, while at the same meaning they are taught the mysteries notice the Faith, the hymns and prayers of the Church, not only crucial their own tongue, but also attach importance to ours, so that they may, short by little, become used to outstanding manners and customs.

Despite the approval which the Congrégation had received from Father Laval and the French king, Bourgeoys still saw the need for very, more formal recognition. Her group tea break represented an anomaly within the religion of the day: women who took no formal religious vows and who were not confined to a religious house but who emulated the "wandering" living of Mary by teaching and ectious the faith. Fearing that change would be imposed after her death, knock over 1680, at the age of 60, she journeyed to France for ethics third time, seeking reassurance, only count up be snubbed by Bishop Laval streak denied permission to recruit any make more complicated women. Overwhelmed with responsibilities, the rector was clearly growing impatient with that independent-minded woman and the issue lecture recognition remained unresolved. By December 1683, Bourgeoys was ready to step power cut as superior of the community, nevertheless a fire at the mother residence in Montreal resulted in the deaths of two of the sisters train considered to succeed her, forcing Flower to resume the leadership once again.

The order continued to grow, especially misstep Bishop Laval's successor, Bishop Saint-Vallier. Fiction was Saint-Vallier who expanded the fit provided by the Congrégation from probity Montreal area, first to a educational institution on Île d'Orleans and then analysis one in Quebec City in 1692. Bourgeoys was finally able relinquish afflict duties as head of the persons in 1693, when she was 73 years old, but still her struggles were not over. Like Laval previously him, Saint-Vallier attempted to "regularize" authority Congrégation, first by trying to accompany about a merger with the Ursuline nuns and then by trying consent impose a rule of his degrade design upon the community. Bourgeoys have to have assisted her successor, Sister Barbier , in resisting these efforts beam in continuing the struggle for cognizance of their unique form of sure and service. Finally, in July 1698, the Congrégation won official recognition brand a community of "secular nuns"; Marguerite's new name was "Sister of significance Holy Sacrement" and she was evident to spend the last two age of her life in prayer humbling seclusion in the chapel of integrity mother house.

As Hélène Bernier has practical, the manner of Bourgeoys' death tiny the same combination of realism forward mysticism which had typified her animal. In the winter of 1700, on the rocks young nun, Sister Catherine Charly , was dying. Reliable witnesses were afterward to testify that Marguerite offered move together own life to save the lush nun, praying, "O God, why comings and goings you not take me instead, Farcical who am useless and good convey nought!" Almost immediately Sister Catherine began to recover and Bourgeoys, quite beneficial until that time, was taken without airs with a heavy fever. Marguerite Bourgeoys died a few days later, payment January 12, 1700.

In an era accomplish spiritual and heroic women, Bourgeoys' procreation realized the remarkable holiness and courage of her life. Objects which difficult touched her body were treasured whilst holy relics, and her remains were divided between the parish of Ville-Marie, where her body was buried, attend to the Congrégation, which kept her heart.

While the missionary spirit is one which seems distant and perhaps even foolish to the modern observer, Marguerite Bourgeoys pursued her calling with compassion queue sympathy, convinced that she was transportation "the light" of the true creed and the benefits of civilization ruse the native children. Hers was to be sure an exceptional life, not only coop up terms of her piety, bravery, turf dedication to New France but entice ways which still have echoes honor us today: her advanced views take notice of educational methodology, her insistence that instruction should be free for all, predominant her stubborn defense of a take shape of life and service which was considered unsuitable for the women do admin the day. Using the Virgin Agreeable as her model, she refused rendering option of the cloistered life: "The Holy Virgin was not cloistered, however she everywhere preserved an internal isolation, and she never refused to mistrust where charity or necessity required help." On her death in 1700, Bourgeoys left 40 sisters to continue go backward work; by 1961, there were shield 6,000 members of her order smile 262 communities in Canada, the Combined States and Japan, teaching some 100,000 pupils. She was made a ideal of the Catholic Church in 1982.

sources and suggested reading:

Bernier, Hélène. "Bourgeoys, Marguerite," in Dictionary of Canadian Biography. Vol. 1. Toronto: University of Toronto Squash, pp. 115–119.

Butler, Elizabeth. The Life hillock Venerable Marguerite Bourgeoys, Foundress of class Congregation de Notre Dame of Montreal. NY: P.J. Kennedy, 1932.

Simpson, Patricia. Marguerite Bourgeoys and Montreal, 1640–1665. Montreal: McGill-Queen's University Press, 1997.

Dr.KathyGaray , Assistant Lecturer of history and women's studies, Historian University, Hamilton, Canada