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Information:
| Feast Day: |
October 16 |
| Born: |
15 October 1701, Varennes, Quebec |
| Died: |
23 December 1771, Montreal,
Canada |
| Canonized: |
9 December 1990, by Pope John
Paul II |
| Major Shrine: |
Chapel of St. Marie Marguerite
d'Youville, near Montreal |
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Patron of: |
Against death of children,
difficult marriages, in-law problems, loss of
parents, opposition of Church authorities, people
ridiculed for piety, victims of adultery, victims of
unfaithfulness, widows |
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MARGUERITE d'YOUVILLE, the first native Canadian to be
elevated to sainthood, was born October 15, 1701 at
Varennes, Quebec. She was the eldest of six children
born to Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais and
Marie-Renée Gaultier. Her father died when she was seven
years old leaving this family of six in great poverty.
It was only through the influence of her great
grandfather, Pierre Boucher, that she was enabled to
study for two years at the Ursulines in Quebec. Upon her
return home, she became an invaluable support to her
mother and undertook the education of her brothers and
sisters.
She married François d'Youville in 1722 and the young
couple made their home with his mother who made life
miserable for her daughter-in-law. She soon came to
realize that her husband had no interest in making a
home life. His frequent absences and illegal liquor
trading with the Indians caused her great suffering. She
was pregnant with her sixth child when François became
seriously ill. She faithfully cared for him until his
death in 1730. By age 29, she had experienced desperate
poverty and suffered the loss of her father and husband.
Four of her six children had died in infancy.
In all these sufferings Marguerite grew in her belief of
God's presence in her life and of his tender love for
every human person. She undertook many charitable works
with complete trust in God, whom she loved as a Father.
She provided for the education of her two sons, who
later became priests, and she welcomed a blind woman
into her home. Marguerite was soon joined by three young
women who shared her love and concern for the poor. On
December 31, 1737, they consecrated themselves to God
and promised to serve him in the person of the poor.
Marguerite, without even realizing it, had become the
foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, "Grey
Nuns".
She persevered in caring for the poor despite many
obstacles. She was in weakened health and mourning the
death of one of her companions when a fire destroyed
their home. This only served to deepen her commitment to
the poor. On February 2, 1745, she and her two early
companions pledged themselves to put everything in
common in order to help a greater number of persons in
need. Two years later, this "mother of the poor" as she
was called, was asked to become director of the Charon
Brothers Hospital in Montreal which was falling into
ruin. She and her sisters rebuilt the hospital and cared
for those in most desperate human misery. With the help
of her sisters and their lay collaborators, Marguerite
laid the foundation for service to the poor of a
thousand faces.
In 1765 a fire destroyed the hospital but nothing could
destroy Marguerite's faith and courage. At the age of 64
she undertook the reconstruction of this shelter for
those in need. Totally exhausted from a lifetime of
self-giving, Marguerite died on December 23, 1771 and
will always be remembered as a loving mother who served
Jesus Christ in the poor.
Pope John XXIII beatified Marguerite on May 3, 1959 and
called her "Mother of Universal Charity." She was
canonized by Pope John Paul II, December 9, 1990.
(Abridged from Catholic News Services)
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