The Life of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys
Feast: 12 January
Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, France, on 17 April 1620. She was a girl like any other, concerned with her appearance and fond of amusements, until the day she was deeply moved by the Virgin Mary during a procession on the feast of the Holy Rosary. She was twenty, and she decided to consecrate herself to God. She joined the extern congregation of Notre-Dame de Troyes, which allowed her to teach poor children on the outskirts of the city. She did this for thirteen years, until she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, governor of Montreal in New France.
Maisonneuve invited Marguerite to go with him to Canada to teach in the new town founded under the name Ville-Marie. She arrived in 1653, at the age of thirty-three, and soon began building the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, inspired by the Virgin Mary, who had told her: “Go, I will not abandon you.”
She was able to begin her mission of teaching the faith to children only four years later. At the same time she devoted herself to social work with young families and with the “King’s Daughters” (Filles du Roy) who came to Canada to marry the settlers. She also visited the sick, comforted the grieving, helped those in distress and taught the catechism to the settlers, so that she became known as the “Mother of the Colony”.
After a journey to France, Marguerite came back with companions who shared her teaching work. She opened several small schools throughout New France. In 1658, with her companions, she founded the Congregation of Notre-Dame of Montreal, a religious community officially approved by the Church in 1698.
Marguerite Bourgeoys took her religious vows at the age of seventy-eight. She fell asleep in the Lord at the age of seventy-nine, on 12 January 1700.
Marguerite Bourgeoys was declared Venerable in 1878, and was beatified by Pope Pius XII on 12 November 1950; Pope John Paul II canonized her on 31 October 1982.
Her liturgical feast is 12 January.
Source:
diocesemontreal.org
Prepared by Rita of the Sawt el Rab team
