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+Project Gutenberg's The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois, by Anon.
+
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+Title: The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois
+
+Author: Anon.
+
+Release Date: November, 2004 [EBook #6883]
+[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
+[This file was first posted on February 6, 2003]
+
+Edition: 10
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by D. Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks,
+and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
+This file was produced from images generously made available
+by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS
+Foundress of the Congregation of Notre Dame
+ESTABLISHED IN MONTREAL. CANADA. 1659.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+THE LIFE OF VENERABLE SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS,
+
+
+FOUNDRESS OF THE SISTERS OF THE
+CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME.
+
+_ESTABLISHED AT MONTREAL, CANADA, 1659_.
+
+_TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH_
+
+BY A RELIGIEUSE,
+CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+AUTHOR'S PREFACE
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Having read a French edition of the Life of Venerable Sister Bourgeois,
+published in 1818, the translator of the present work was so charmed by
+its perusal that she resolved on rendering it into English for the
+spiritual edification of others.
+
+Many years ago the work of translation was commenced, but from some
+preventing cause or other, was as often laid aside. Yet the idea of
+presenting it to the public remained, as no _English_ Version of Sister
+Bourgeois' life exists, at least in the United States.
+
+Therefore determining at last to obey an impulse of long standing, the
+scattered translation sheets have been prepared for publication, with
+the humble hope that the reader may derive as much benefit from their
+perusal as did the writer.
+
+In this age of miscellaneous and corrupt literature, when people of
+every condition of life are literally devouring irreligious magazines
+and serials, it surely cannot be amiss to add another volume to the
+already rich store of our libraries in order to help roll back the
+torrent of universal depravity that threatens the rain of our beloved
+country, and also to place before the minds of the young, the glorious
+example of one of God's heroines.
+
+The _Second Centennial_ of Sister Bourgeois' advent to America is
+already past, and more than a hundred years before the _Declaration of
+Independence_, was she laboring in the cause of humanity for the glory
+of God in the New World.
+
+If reading the lives of such women as Mrs. Seton--a Protestant American
+lady, who after her conversion to the Catholic Church in Italy so burned
+with the love of God, as to return to her native land in her early
+widowhood to form a flourishing religious sisterhood in New York; of
+Nano Nagle, an Irish aristocrat, who turned from a useless fashionable
+life to the lowly spirit of the gospel on seeing the poor artizans of
+Paris crowding to early Mass in the Church of Notre Dame before
+beginning their daily toil, while she lolled weariedly in her carriage
+after a midnight ball; heroically putting her hand to the plough, she
+never turned back, and left behind her another religious Sisterhood in
+Ireland to perpetuate her philanthropic sanctity: of Catharine McAuley,
+who receiving from her adopted Protestant parents a princely fortune,
+expended every shilling of it in building up the Order of Mercy, one of
+the latest and most flourishing outposts of the Church of God; of St.
+Jane de Chantal, who after having been tried in the fire of affliction
+for years--founded in her advanced widowhood the Order of the
+Visitation, under the direction of St. Francis de Sales--and who
+attained such an extraordinary degree of perfection as to be seen
+ascending to heaven like a luminous meteor after her happy death.
+
+If the perusal of the lives of these, and a host of other sainted women,
+such as the Catholic Church alone can produce, has filled many a young
+heart with high and holy aspirations--perhaps the contents of this
+little volume will not be less efficacious for the glory of God, the
+interests of religion, and the salvation of souls.
+
+A literal translation has been adhered to as far as possible--one or two
+remarks at the close being the only additions. So if any defects exist
+in the work they belong solely to the translator, whose aim has not been
+rhetorical composition, but the greater glory of God. And if but one
+heart be won more closely to the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ by
+its perusal, she will be amply repaid, and prays that the blessing of
+the Sacred Heart of Jesus may be given to her humble effort to advance
+His honor and glory.
+
+Respectfully, THE AUTHORESS.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE DISCOVERY OF CANADA AND COLONIZATION OF MONTREAL.
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+MESSRS. DAUVERSIERE AND DE MAISONNEUVE VISIT MONTREAL
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOTEL DIEU--ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS
+FOR CANADA, ETC.
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+EARLY YEARS OF MARGARET BOURGEOIS AND HER VOCATION FOR THE
+CANADIAN MISSION
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+MARGARET BOURGEOIS, AFTER MANY TRIALS AND MORTIFICATIONS,
+AT LENGTH SAILS WITH M. DE MAISONNEUVE FOR CANADA
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SISTER BOURGEOIS'S ARRIVAL IN CANADA
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME
+AT VILLE-MARIE
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+M. FRANCOIS DE LAVAL DE MONTMORENCI IS APPOINTED FIRST BISHOP OF
+CANADA--SISTER BOURGEOIS SUCCEEDS IN BUILDING THE CHURCH OF NOTRE DAME
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE RULES OF THE CONGREGATION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSIONS
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL VIRTUES OF SISTER BOURGEOIS
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+SISTER BOURGEOIS'S HAPPY DEATH AND THE WONDERS THAT FOLLOWED IT
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE EXCELLENCE OF HER INSTITUTES, HER MAXIMS, INSTITUTIONS, ETC.
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+A RECAPITULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF SISTER BOURGEOIS
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+LIFE OF THE VENERABLE SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+THE DISCOVERY OF CANADA AND COLONIZATION OF MONTREAL.
+
+
+Every one knows that America is called the New World because, until the
+close of the 15th century, it was unknown to the other nations of the
+earth--at least it was then unknown to Europe. Until quite near the end
+of that century, Canada was absolutely a _terra incognita_--being one
+vast forest, inhabited only by the red man, and by beasts as wild and
+untamable as he. In the year 1534, James Cartier, a skilful navigator,
+being provided with a commission from the King of France, set sail from
+St. Malo, with two ships of sixty tons burden, carrying one hundred and
+twenty-two well-equipped seamen, in order to reconnoitre that part of
+the New World. Cartier's first voyage was quite successful. He
+discovered Canada and took possession of it, in the name of the French
+King. Having made his observations from the different posts which
+surround the Gulf that receives into its bosom the waters of the great
+river of Canada, since called the St. Lawrence, he conversed as well as
+he could with the savages, whenever an opportunity offered, in order to
+study their characters, and thought he occasionally discovered in them
+dispositions favorable to Christianity.
+
+This led him to hope that the King would form a colony in the country,
+that might be equally useful to commerce and religion. He accordingly
+returned to France, to acquaint his sovereign with his projects and the
+success of the expedition that inspired them.
+
+His plans met with a very favorable reception, and were immediately
+acted upon. The following year he received a new commission from the
+King and three well-appointed ships, several Breton gentlemen at the
+same time volunteering to accompany him. They left the port of St. Malo
+on the 3rd of May, but did not arrive at the Canadian Gulf until the
+10th of August. This being the festival of St. Lawrence, they called the
+Gulf by the Saint's name, in thanksgiving for their safe arrival. Having
+entered the river with his little fleet, he sailed as far as the Jacques
+Cartier River, so named in _his_ honor. Here they landed, and tradition
+says, he lost one of his ships at this place, although his biographers
+make no mention of the occurrence. Perhaps the vessel was stranded, and
+therefore became useless. But whatever accident happened, it did not
+cool his enterprising spirit in the least, nor prevent him from
+ascending the river as high as the Isle of Fochelagu (the present city
+of Montreal), which was described to him as a delightful place by the
+savages he met along his route. At Lake St. Pierre, three leagues above
+Three Rivers, he failed to procure material to repair his ships, and was
+compelled to leave them there. However, he manned two shallops and
+embarked on them with the bravest of his volunteers, arriving safely at
+Fochelagu on the 2d of October. Here he found a village of savages at
+the foot of a mountain (the site of the City of Montreal is a little to
+the right of that old Indian village), who received him very kindly--and
+he completely gained their friendship by making them various little
+presents. He was enchanted by the situation of the island, and surprised
+and dazzled by the beauty of the scene that presented itself to his
+view. He called it, in the enthusiasm of the moment, Mont Royal--since
+corrupted into Montreal. He remained, however, but a few days, as the
+season was advancing, and on the 5th of October set out to rejoin his
+fleet and return to Europe, convinced that the beautiful island was the
+most desirable locality in the country for a new colony. He related his
+success a second time at the French court, but as all attempted
+discoveries then had only one object in view--viz., the finding of gold
+and silver--and as Carrier's journal of discovery made no mention of the
+precious metals, he met with a very cool reception. However, in 1540 the
+King deemed it advisable to appoint Francis de la Roque his viceroy and
+Lieutenant-General of Canada. To be sure, the office was not a lucrative
+one--as for many years he had only the woods and forests to govern, and
+though boundless wealth lay concealed in these woods and forests, he had
+not the means to bring it forth. He made some voyages to Canada in
+virtue of his appointment, and attempted the foundation of a few
+colonies, which proved sadly unsuccessful, as France, being then
+occupied with domestic troubles, seemed to have forgotten Canada. It was
+not until 1598, in the reign of Henry IV., when a commission was given
+to the Marquis de la Roche--a Breton gentleman--(such as had been given
+to Francis de la Roque more than forty years before), that renewed
+interest in the affairs of the New World was awakened. This commission
+expressly provided that he should have chiefly in view the establishment
+of the _Catholic Religion_ in all the countries under his jurisdiction.
+He received no assistance from the government, however, for the success
+of the enterprise, and it therefore failed, like the preceding ones.
+
+These successive failures damped the ardor of the French court, and
+further colonization plans hung trembling in the balance. But during the
+period of this fluctuating policy several navigators and merchants of
+Normandy, Bretony, and elsewhere, sailed up the St. Lawrence on their
+own account, established many trading posts, and carried on a
+sufficiently lucrative trade with the savages. Their mercantile success
+excited the emulation of M. Chauvin, a sea-captain, who solicited and
+obtained from the King a continuance of the commission that had been
+formerly granted to Lords Roberval and de la Roche, with the additional
+privilege of an exclusive trade in furs. The subject of religion did not
+trouble M. Chauvin very much, his negative Protestantism being quite
+satisfied with the good things of this life. He made two voyages--one in
+1601, the other in 1602--realizing great wealth each, time, but died
+while preparing for a third enterprise. The Commander de la Chappe,
+Governor of Dieppe, succeeded him in 1603, having the same privileges
+accorded to him that had been bestowed on his predecessors. In order to
+extend his commercial pursuits he formed a company of traders and other
+persons of wealth and distinction. They prepared a considerable fleet,
+entered the St. Lawrence, and reconnoitered the island of Montreal a
+second time. On their return to France they heard with regret of the
+death of de la Chappe, and learned that his commission had been given to
+Pierre Dugats, a Protestant gentleman, but an honest man, who intended
+in good faith to establish the Catholic Religion according to the
+articles of the Commission. But God had not chosen any of these people
+to found _Montreal_, although Pierre Dugats continued the trading
+association formed by his predecessors, and increased its wealth very
+considerably, by carrying on commerce with the principal ports of
+France. He prepared a much more considerable fleet than any that had
+been hitherto attempted, and sailed again from France in 1604. Lord
+Champlain was one of his companions on this voyage, which, however,
+accomplished nothing beneficial for France. In 1608 he carried into
+effect the intentions of the court by establishing a permanent colony at
+Quebec on the St. Lawrence, and erecting a barrack for its security.
+This he did in the name and at the expense of the colony.
+
+Champlain remained there through the winter to prepare ground for
+agriculture--but in the spring of 1609 he made war against the Iroquois,
+who had been constantly harrassing the military post since its
+establishment. He pursued them as far as Lake Champlain, to which he
+gave his name, having first left a light garrison at Quebec, and in the
+autumn returned to France. About this time the name of _New France_ was
+first given to Canada. Champlain returned in 1610, and visited Montreal,
+intending to establish another colony there. But Providence had other
+designs in view. He was not successful, and contented himself with
+building a few huts for the purpose of trading with the savages.
+
+The death of Henry IV., which occurred at this time, produced a great
+change in the affairs of the new country. The commission of Governor of
+Canada was transferred from M. de Monts to Champlain, by the Queen
+Regent--who also appointed him Lieutenant-General to the Prince of
+Conde, which step was intended to pave the way for his additional title
+of Viceroy of New France.
+
+Champlain gave quite a different form to the Mercantile Company of
+Canada, and by his influence with Conde, obtained from the King letters
+patent and many new privileges. He returned to Canada in 1614 with a
+goodly number of colonists, and also a few Recollets to minister to
+their spiritual wants. Intending to pass the summer at Montreal, with
+some of his companions for the purpose of trading more advantageously
+with the savages, he left Quebec. But again his plans met with very
+partial success.
+
+In 1620 the Prince of Conde conferred the viceroyalty of Canada on the
+Marechal de Montmorenci, his brother-in-law, who in turn bestowed it on
+the Duke de Ventadour, his nephew. Until this period the affairs of the
+colony had been entirely in the hands of Protestants, who sought nothing
+but material wealth. Everything was languishing, and there were not more
+than fifty persons at Quebec. Some Jesuit Fathers arrived this year,
+having been sent over to assist the Recollets, and it was proposed to
+exclude Protestants from the colony, as they were becoming more numerous
+than was convenient for a Catholic settlement. Cardinal Richelieu, then
+minister of France, during the minority of Louis XIII., lent them his
+powerful assistance in their designs for the glory of God. By an edict
+dated May, 1627, given at the camp before La Rochelle, all the old
+Commercial Companies of Canada were suppressed and dissolved, new ones
+being erected in their stead, with the express conditions and
+stipulations that the colony was to be exclusively _French_ and
+_Catholic_, that the new company should, at its own expense, support a
+sufficient number of priests, and that agriculture should be actively
+encouraged.
+
+His majesty empowered the company to make grants of land throughout the
+whole extent of New France, in such proportions and with such
+title-deeds, as they deemed most prudent for the settlement of the
+country. He gave them also the exclusive control of the fur-trade,
+particularly that of the beaver, requiring the colonists to bring this
+kind of merchandise to the store-houses of the company, where they were
+to receive fixed prices for it, in order to ensure the success of the
+colony during the first ten years of its existence. He promised to all
+classes of persons, no matter what their rank or condition of life might
+be, whether ecclesiastics, nobles, military men, or others, that by
+incorporating themselves in the association they should not in any case
+forfeit the privileges of their rank. The Duke de Ventadour resigned his
+viceroyalty to the French minister, and Cardinal Richelieu, with M.
+Marechal d'Effiat, were named the heads of the Association. Many
+ecclesiastics and seculars at once became members of the Society, and
+with them were soon incorporated several of the wealthiest and most
+enterprising merchants of the kingdom. But while the Company was being
+thus enthusiastically formed in France, the English made an attack on
+Quebec, and the effect of the edict was suspended for a season. The King
+came almost to the conclusion of abandoning Canada forever, as he had
+only been influenced by religious and honorable motives in preserving
+the treaty of peace he had made at St. Germain in 1632. The newly-formed
+company, in this predicament, began to assert their own rights. They
+presented Champlain to the king as the man best suited to their wants,
+and his Majesty at once appointed him Governor of New France. He had the
+command of several well-appointed ships, and many Jesuit missionaries
+offered to accompany him to labor for the salvation of souls in the new
+field that was opened to them. The Associates decided that the sons of
+St. Ignatius would be more useful in the colony than the Recollets, who
+complained that they did not find sufficient support in Canada, and who
+had in fact left it for a time, nor did they return until 1670, when the
+colony had become quite populous. Champlain died at Quebec in 1635, and
+the same year the Jesuits of New France began to build their _first
+college_. The following year Chevalier de Montmagni succeeded Champlain
+as Governor of Canada. The settlers had now become very numerous, being
+encouraged by their trade with the new company, and many of the savages
+had embraced the faith, a mission having been opened for them at
+Sillery, near Quebec. France again took an active part in the success of
+the enterprise, and as the settlements were more French than Indian, an
+organization for a hospital was set on foot, and also a school for
+children. The Duchess d'Aiguillon took upon herself the foundation of
+the Hotel-Dieu, and defrayed the entire expense of the undertaking.
+
+She sent over some experienced Hospital Sisters from the hospital at
+Dieppe, who were glowing with zeal for the New World missions--Madame de
+la Pelleterie, a rich young widow of high birth, undertook at the same
+time the establishment of the Ursulines, consecrating herself also to
+the good work. She was ably seconded by the celebrated Sister Mary of
+the Incarnation, and Sister Mary of St. Joseph, whom she brought from
+the Ursuline Monastery at Bourges. All these pious women met at Dieppe
+in 1639, and thence set sail for New France, arriving the same year at
+Quebec.
+
+Yet, notwithstanding the philanthropic exertions of so many holy people,
+the colony was backward and languishing. The cruel and ceaseless attacks
+of the Iroquois had nearly disheartened the Christian world, men, women
+and children being mercilessly butchered, burnt alive, or carried into a
+still more horrible captivity. But Divine Providence remedied this
+terrible state of affairs, by means not naturally looked for, and which
+in the commencement seemed not only foolhardy, but little suited to the
+end. Yet a very special providence was visibly at work, in a chain of
+events that were altogether miraculous, as the sequel proved. A new
+colony was founded at _Montreal_, which was intended as a barrier
+against the inroads of the savages, and of which it will be necessary to
+speak a little in advance. While the French seemed to be taking an
+enthusiastic interest in the colonization of Canada--partly from
+political motives, partly from individual and and private interest, and
+partly from zeal for the spread of religion and the conversion of the
+Indians, Almighty God was quietly preparing a number of pious persons
+who would have His glory _really_ at heart. The first to whom He was
+pleased to manifest His designs, was Jerome le Royer, Receiver-General
+of the King's domains. This gentleman was an exemplary Christian, and
+quite remarkable for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin. It would appear
+that God had specially chosen him for the accomplishment of the work we
+are going to relate, and that the glorious Virgin herself had revealed
+to him the means by which he would succeed, as he rendered the greatest
+assistance to Sister Bourgeois in after years, in the establishment of
+her Congregation. Although he had never been in Canada, nor had ever
+seen the isle of Montreal, he had a supernatural and distinct knowledge
+of it, and knew it better than its present inhabitants. It was a vision
+that he never lost sight of, and he felt confident he would obtain from
+the king the proprietorship of the island, in order to consecrate it to
+the Blessed Virgin, and build a city on it, which he intended to call
+Ville-Marie (City of Mary). The aim of all his enterprises and hopes of
+the future centered in one grand idea, viz., the propagation of the
+Faith among the savages, and the greater glory of God. But as he knew
+well that he alone could not accomplish so great a work, he conceived
+the idea of forming a new company, that would not be devoted either to
+self-interest or commercial pursuits, like the preceding Associations,
+but whose chief desire would be the propagation of the Faith in America,
+and the conversion of the Indians. Full of these pious aspirations, he
+came to Paris, for the purpose of procuring means to put them into
+execution. He had many interviews with persons of distinction there,
+but, as generally happens with the works of God, he experienced so much
+difficulty, and encountered so much opposition, that a person less
+devoted to the divine honor, and less susceptible of the impressions of
+grace, would have been completely disheartened. Cardinal Richelieu
+himself, who was so clearsighted in human policy, when spoken to on this
+subject, treated it as a chimera full of imprudence and temerity. M.
+Dauversiere (le Royer) made no reply to his distinguished opponent, but
+went quietly to seek an interview with M. Olier, then professor in the
+Seminary of St. Sulpice, a man who had devoted all his masterly energies
+to that great undertaking. This true servant of God generously assisted
+every good work, and when there was question of promoting devotion to
+the _Blessed Virgin_, his unbounded confidence in her made him act
+instantaneously. One cannot doubt by the splendid sequel that he had a
+very strong presentiment of the ultimate success of the pious project.
+Therefore he applied himself earnestly to the task of persuading
+influential persons to join the company when formed, and also took the
+necessary steps to secure to the company, when formed, the
+proprietorship of the isle of Montreal. In 1656 he did secure it, with
+ample concessions from M. Jean de Lanzon, the King's counsellor and
+minister of finance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+MESSRS. DAUVERSIERE AND DE MAISONNEUVE VISIT MONTREAL.
+
+
+It has been stated that Cardinal Richelieu at first opposed the building
+of Ville-Marie, but this he did, not through apathy for anything
+relating to the spread of religion, but lest the work was a human
+impossibility, as indeed it then appeared to be. However, his
+opposition, from whatever cause it had arisen, disappeared before the
+reasoning of M. de Lanzon, for whom the Cardinal entertained the most
+sincere respect. He now gave the project his unqualified approbation,
+and obtained from the King a renewed confirmation of all the privileges
+conferred on the preceding associations, with undisturbed possession of
+the land. Being thus furnished with the best means of procuring funds,
+and being under the protection of His Eminence the Cardinal, Messrs. de
+Faucamp and Dauversiere, with a great number of other influential
+persons, who were pledged to support them, no longer hesitated to
+announce themselves as "The Company of Montreal," bound to uphold the
+Catholic Faith in Canada, and more especially to convert the savages,
+which was the real end they proposed to themselves. But it was not only
+the associates themselves who provided the necessary funds. Other
+persons also contributed, and none more generously than M. Alexander
+Bretonvilliers, a priest of the community of St. Sulpice, and afterwards
+its second Superior. Being son of the minister of state, he was the
+wealthiest eccelesiastic in France, and bestowed the greater part of his
+patrimony on this undertaking. The Duchess de Bullion also, who
+preserved an incognita for a long time, gave large sums of money to M.
+Dauversiere to assist the Montreal Association in the propagation of the
+Faith, as she had hitherto provided the principal funds for the
+establishment of the Hotel-Dieu, as shall be noticed again.
+
+It is now time to give the names of the principal members of this pious
+association, as they are undoubtedly written in the Book of Life. Most
+happily heading the list is the name of the great Cardinal Richelieu.
+Then follow such names as Marechal Duke d'Effiat, M. Jean de Lanzon,
+Jean Jacques Olier, first Superior of St Sulpice, Alexander
+Bretonvilliers, Gabriel de Quelus and Nicholas Barreau, all priests of
+St. Sulpice; Pierre le Pretre, priest by name and office, Louis Le
+Pretre his brother, Pierre Chevrier, Jerome de Royer, Jacques Gerard,
+Michael Royer Duplessis, Bertrand Drouart, a member of the suite of the
+Duke of Orleans, Christopher Duplessis, Antoine Barrilon, Jean Galibal,
+Louis Seignier, Louis d'Aibout de Coulonges, Paul de Chaumeday, the
+Duchess de Bullion, and the Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois, whose
+life we are about to record, and who, without being formally a member of
+the Society, took a most active part in it. We shall soon see her
+concealing the brightest virtues under the veil of humility.
+
+But pre-eminently was M. Olier the guiding spirit of this splendid
+association of Catholic hearts. He it was who projected the plans
+necessary for the greatness and security of the enterprise. The first
+thing he declared necessary was to secure the blessing of God and the
+protection of the ever Blessed Virgin. This was to be accomplished by an
+imposing ceremony that might be recorded in after ages for the
+edification of those who should undertake a similar work for the glory
+of God. It was a spectacle worthy of the complacency of heaven, and the
+zealous children of the Church who participated in it. On the 3rd of
+February, 1641, the day following the Feast of the Purification, all the
+members of that illustrious Society being assembled in Paris, went in
+the morning at an appointed hour to the church of Notre Dame. M. Olier
+celebrated Mass at the Altar of the Blessed Virgin, and all the
+associates who were not priests received Holy Communion from his hands.
+The priests at the same time offered the holy sacrifice at other altars.
+With one accord they supplicated the Queen of Heaven to bless their
+undertaking, and forever keep the Isle of Montreal under her special
+protection. At the close of the edifying ceremony the Associates
+assembled at the Hotel de Lanzon to hold their first meeting. The plan
+being already matured, it was resolved that in the spring of the year
+they would get ready a sufficient number of ships, three of which were
+to be devoted to the transportation of such respectable and honest
+families as were willing to go to Montreal and commence the foundation
+of a permanent colony. They were required to take with them all the
+provisions, clothing, furniture, and mechanical or other tools necessary
+for the first two years, and were to take possession of the isle in the
+name of Mary, whom they were to regard as their mother and mistress.
+
+With the King's permission they were to build a city in her honor, which
+was to be called Ville-Marie. Under the protection of Cardinal
+Richelieu, and during the first session of the assembly, M. de Lanzon
+was named administrator of the Society, M. Dauversiere being appointed
+its principal agent, which duty was especially suited to him because of
+his devotion to the Mother of God. When the plans were finally agreed
+upon, each member made it a point of honor to contribute as generously
+as possible to the success of the colony, and before the meeting broke
+up they received more than two hundred thousand livres. With this
+substantial aid, M. Dauversiere set to work in good earnest to prepare
+for the voyage across the Atlantic, the remainder of the winter being
+employed in preparing the necessary fleet. Authorized by the King, he
+enlisted a number of soldiers, whom he foresaw would be required to
+garrison and protect the colony. He also assembled a great number of
+families who volunteered to accompany him to the New World, and devote
+themselves to agriculture, retaining in his own service about thirty
+married people of various avocations, so that religion rather than
+worldly interest should range under his standard.
+
+Among the emigrants, the nobility were represented by such names as De
+Beletre, Closse and Mignon; merchants, by Lemoine, Lebert, Charly, etc.;
+mechanics and farmers, by Caron, Barbier, Archambault, Cavalier, Decari,
+and others. In the spring of 1641 all these different classes of people
+met at La Rochelle, from which port they were to embark. M. Dauversiere
+was everywhere--now at Paris, now at Rochelle--and all were ready to
+depart, when the idea suddenly struck him that a man of prudence,
+experience, and authority was still wanted to govern the miscellaneous
+crowd, and take the lead in the young colony. It was now the month of
+May, and the embarkation had not yet taken place because of this void.
+But Providence did not forsake him, and the want was supplied in a
+rather remarkable manner. Being one day in Paris he was invited to dine
+at the house of an intimate friend. During the conversation the subject
+of colonizing Montreal was discussed, as it was his absorbing idea, and
+he spoke of the embarrassing want that delayed him. After dinner one of
+the guests, until then a stranger to him, but who had listened very
+attentively to the colonization plan, of which he had not before heard,
+freely offered to accompany the expedition. "I am a gentleman of about
+forty years of age," he said, "I have spent my youth honorably in the
+King's service, and flatter myself with having acquired both experience
+and reputation. A desire to devote myself to the service of God in some
+way or other has induced me to withdraw from the service of his majesty,
+and I have lived for some time in a simple, quiet way, on a pension of
+two thousand livres, which is sufficient for my subsistence, but I see
+in the enterprise you have undertaken for the honor of the Mother of God
+so special a field for the spread of our holy religion, that if my
+services are agreeable to you, I willingly make the sacrifice of repose,
+and even of life."
+
+This man was Paul de Chaumeday, _alias_ de Maisonneuve. On hearing these
+words Dauversiere, filled with gratitude to God, adored His Divine
+Providence, and believed that the noble volunteer was appointed by
+heaven to lead the colonists. He embraced him with tears of joy and
+departed forthwith to relate the circumstance to his associates. The
+name of de Maisonneuve was well known to many of them, and his services
+were gladly accepted. A second meeting of the association was then held,
+at which it was unanimously agreed to appoint him Governor of Montreal.
+In this quality he was presented to the King for the purpose of
+expediting an official appointment. He was certainly a suitable person
+to head such an expedition, as he had long been a faithful client of
+Mary Immaculate. Many years before he made a vow of perpetual chastity
+in her honor, and recited her office every day. His reputation stood
+very high, and being in the full vigor of manhood, had given proofs of
+courage and prudence, even in religious matters. His business being
+quickly settled up, he set out for Rochelle with M. Dauversiere, each
+rejoicing at having met the other. They had scarcely arrived there, when
+another singular intervention of Providence took place, which was quite
+as remarkable as the preceding one. This was the vocation of Jean Mance,
+whose name will appear again. She was a young woman, about thirty years
+old, the daughter of simple, honest parents in Langers, where she had
+spent her youth in the most fervent exercises of piety, and was ignorant
+of the extraordinary exertions then being made in France to colonize
+Canada, but she felt inspired to pass the remainder of her life in some
+place consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, and waited for Divine
+Providence to direct her. She proposed her views to her confessor, but
+he being also ignorant of the projected establishment of Montreal,
+treated her as a visionary. Yet as she persisted in asking advice, he
+spoke of her in Paris to persons more enlightened than himself. Those
+with whom he conversed did not fail to recognize something remarkable in
+her vocation, and she was accordingly introduced to the Duchess at the
+Hotel de Bullion. As this lady was already laboring for the colonization
+of Montreal she took a lively interest in Jean, retaining her for some
+time as a confidential attendant in her own household. In this capacity
+the Duchess could not but admire the special designs of God, manifested
+in her well-formed habits of virtue. She encouraged her to go with the
+volunteers to the New World, and remain faithful to her vocation. As the
+day appointed for the embarkation drew near, after giving her a
+well-filled purse to supply her wants, she exacted a promise to apply to
+her in future for assistance in carrying on whatever good works Divine
+Providence might appoint for her. She then took an affectionate leave of
+Jean, and sent her to M. Dauversiere at Rochelle. On her arrival he
+desired to test her zeal and courage as a postulant, and represented the
+difficulty of such an enterprise for a young, friendless girl. He spoke
+of his intention to found Ville-Marie, but added that it might be
+reddened with human blood, if the savages should attack the colonists,
+and that she might possibly have to attend alone in the hospital on the
+wounded and dying. Finding that such pictures of horror only increased
+her zeal, he blessed the inscrutable ways of God, and joyfully permitted
+her to embark with the others. He did not hesitate even to enrol her
+name among the Associates, and she eventually became a most useful
+instrument in the hands of Divine Providence for completing the
+establishment of the Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph at Ville-Marie.
+
+The events we have just recorded delayed the sailing of the fleet until
+the end of June, at which time it left the port of Rochelle, but did not
+arrive at Quebec until the close of September. The season was then too
+far advanced to ascend the river to Montreal, and if it had been
+attempted they would have been compelled to winter at some place where
+there was neither human habitation nor fort, and would consequently be
+exposed to the attacks of the fierce Iroquois. They therefore concluded
+to pass the winter at Quebec as best they could. The Governor, Chevalier
+de Montmagni, welcomed them with much cordiality, but had views of his
+own in the Quebec colony, which were not favorable to an establishment
+at Montreal. He supposed naturally that in a country so weak as Canada
+then was, it would be unwise and imprudent to divide their strength, and
+that the success of a settlement at Montreal was impossible on account
+of its proximity to the Indian camping grounds, and their constant
+attacks on the French. He intended asking them to select the isle of
+Orleans, which was still unoccupied, and where assistance could more
+easily reach them in case of an attack. Like a wise politician, however,
+he was slow to reveal his plan, preferring to await the return of the
+ships to France, which had scarcely set sail when he convoked a general
+assembly in order to disclose his projects. It is not to be doubted that
+the garrison were as interested as he was, and so were the other
+inhabitants of Quebec. But the firmness of M. de Maisonneuve was a match
+for their intrigue, and when his views and opinions were asked during
+the debate, he replied with much dignity, that he was surprised the
+Governor of Quebec thought it necessary to convoke a public assembly on
+a matter which concerned the speaker only--that he made no secret of his
+intentions--that the settlement of the isle of Orleans had never been
+proposed by the Montreal Association--that he came expressly to found a
+_new city_, which was to be dedicated to the Mother of God, on the isle
+of Montreal--that he had not the least idea of changing his original
+plan--and finally, that unless he lost his life, he would execute his
+commission. It was impossible to gainsay him, and the assembly dissolved
+without deciding on anything. De Maisonneuve contented himself with
+sending some of his party to Montreal to cut down trees during the
+winter, that they might have a cleared section of land to work on in
+spring. He and the rest of the colonists passed the season quietly in
+their tents at Quebec, awaiting the arrival of fine weather, and the
+breaking up of the ice.
+
+In the month of May, as soon as the river was open to navigation, they
+were again in readiness to move on, and Governor Montmagni expressed a
+strong desire to accompany them. De Maisonneuve invited the Jesuit
+missionaries, Simon and Poncet, to go with them and bless the site of
+the new city, and take charge of the church they intended to erect when
+circumstances permitted. As there was no road through the country, and
+no settlements along the river between Montreal and Quebec, the journey
+was long, and everywhere beset with difficulties, so that they did not
+arrive at their destination until the 17th of May. Then they encamped,
+and called the neck of land at the mouth of the little river "Pointe a
+Calieres," in honor of the third Governor of Montreal, M. de Calieres,
+who built a fort there, in which he resided during the term of his
+administration.
+
+The fervent colonists erected a tent immediately, in which the holy
+sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated, and in which they afterwards kept
+the Blessed Sacrament. M. de Maisonneuve's first care was to give every
+family sufficient land on which to erect a house, and each one built to
+suit his own convenience. He erected a house for himself also, which was
+known long after as the "Old Seminary."
+
+To Jean Mance he gave sufficient ground for a hospital, the expense of
+building which was to be paid out of the fund bestowed by the Duchess de
+Bullion. The hospital was as large and convenient as the young colony
+required, and the people took the precaution to build their church near
+it. This building served for years not only as a parish church, but
+likewise as a chapel of devotion for the sick and wounded. As the houses
+were all wooden structures, they were speedily erected, and on the 15th
+of August, 1642--being the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed
+Virgin--the Adorable Sacrament was taken from the tent in which it was
+hitherto kept, and carried in solemn procession to the church with all
+the pomp and magnificence possible under the circumstances. Curiosity
+attracted the savages from all quarters, and as they were then less
+familiar with the ceremonies of our holy religion than now, they were
+transported with admiration and joy at what they saw. Nor were they less
+edified by the simple fervor and piety of the first French settlers.
+This glorious festival of Mary was long remembered in Canada by both
+French and Indians, as was the singing of the "Salve Regina" by Columbus
+and his crew, when he neared the shores of the New World.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOTEL DIEU--ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS FOR CANADA,
+ETC.
+
+
+While M. de Maisonneuve was arranging matters to insure the success of
+the new colony, he received a reinforcement which, though not so
+numerous as the first band of emigres, was equally well selected. It was
+led by M. Louis d'Aillebout de Masseau, a man of eminent piety, and a
+member of the Montreal Association. With this opportune and important
+addition, De Maisonneuve undertook to inclose the young city with
+palisades in the manner of a fort, as a barrier against the attacks of
+the furious Indians. These attacks they might any moment expect, and
+very justly feared, on account of the atrocities that were daily related
+to them. The Governor of Quebec being informed of the proposed
+fortification, or rather being assured that it was nearly completed,
+determined to oppose it, but de Maisonneuve would permit no outside
+interference. In order, therefore, that there might be no clashing of
+interests, he returned to France the same year, leaving the command of
+the garrison to M. d'Aillebout, with the title of Lieutenant-Governor.
+This gentleman discharged the duties of his office to the entire
+satisfaction of the people, securing both their esteem and their
+property. On his arrival in Paris de Maisonneuve sought an interview
+with the King, and related faithfully to him, as likewise to the members
+of the Association, the exact state of things in Canada. Every one was
+astonished at his success, and approved of his conduct. The King,
+moreover, on learning the opposition policy of the Governor of Quebec,
+gave De Maisonneuve a letter to place in the hands of that gentleman,
+which read as follows:
+
+"M. DE MONTMAGNI,--Being especially informed by the Montreal
+Association, at present residing in Montreal, that their intention is to
+establish a colony on that island, in order to labor more effectually
+for the conversion of the savages, we strongly approve of their design,
+and have given them permission to erect a fort on the said island, at
+their own expense, which fort they are to furnish with artillery and all
+other military supplies that may be needed to secure them from the fury
+of the savages. We desire that _you_ render them all the assistance in
+your power, and we have named M. de Maisonneuve governor and controller
+of the enterprise, so that nothing may occur to prevent its success.
+"LOUIS."
+
+"_February_ 21, 1643."
+
+
+Furnished with this letter, Messrs. de Maisonneuve and Dauversiere
+labored in concert to procure a third fleet and a new set of recruits,
+and they were quite as successful as on the two former occasions. The
+volunteers were select and numerous, their voyage across the Atlantic
+safe and pleasant, and at the end of July that year they arrived at
+Ville-Marie. The death of Louis XIII. occurring at that period, the
+Associates deemed it prudent to apply to the Queen Regent, mother of
+Louis XIV., for a confirmation of their former privileges, which she
+freely granted, permitting them also to organize militia companies for
+their future safety, and to secure the services of such ecclesiastics as
+they should judge most useful for the rising colony. Yet,
+nothwithstanding repeated royal favors, and untiring exertions to
+promote the general prosperity, the colony was languishing, and had much
+to suffer from the increasing ferocity of the Indians. But de
+Maisonneuve was always equal to the occasion, and derived advantage from
+their fury, that is, spiritual advantage. Many and many a time, he had
+the consolation to see those barbarous warriors throw down the bloody
+tomahawk and embrace Christianity. He was truly an apostle in their
+midst, attracting them as much by affability, as by the benefits he
+conferred, and it was his greatest pleasure to act as sponsor for them
+in baptism. Almighty God blessed the new settlement so visibly as to
+cause astonishment and admiration in the hearts of all devoted to His
+glory. Jean Mance also labored zealously in the service of the sick, who
+were cared for in the hospital she established, and already the work was
+greater than she alone could accomplish. Madame de la Peleterie, who
+founded the Ursulines at Quebec, came to Ville-Marie to offer her
+services to Mlle. Mance, who admired her generosity and good will
+without accepting her assistance. The members of the Association
+resident in Paris labored meanwhile very earnestly to establish the
+hospital in Montreal, but declined the interference of outsiders. The
+Duchess de Bullion had already made large advances for its support, and
+in 1648 donated an additional fund of sixty thousand livres. With this
+money M. de Maisonneuve assisted Jean Mance in building a wing of 60 by
+24 feet for the nurses, who were _still wanting_, and whose services it
+was time to secure, as the number of patients was constantly increasing.
+The ladies of the Hotel Dieu at Quebec, on hearing of the crowded state
+of the hospital, presented themselves as nurses, and two remained in
+Ville-Marie a considerable length of time to watch how matters would be
+arranged. Even the French court approved of them as nurses, but
+Providence ordained otherwise, as at that very time the Associates in
+France were making their _own_ arrangements, and disappointed those who
+wished to press the matter in Montreal.
+
+There existed at La Fleche a new congregation of Hospital Sisters,
+partly secular, who by simple vows added the service of the sick to the
+ordinary duties of a religious community. They were in their first
+fervor, the members applying themselves with zeal and edification to
+serve the poor invalids in the Hotel Dieu of St. Joseph, lately
+established in their city. Dauversiere, who was acquainted with their
+piety, asked and obtained a few Sisters to go to Ville-Marie and
+establish the Hotel Dieu of Canada. As soon as his proposal was made
+known, these pious women strove who should be first to claim the sacred
+honor of expatriating themselves for the cause of charity, and sacrifice
+life, if necessary, in a strange land, among wild savages who would most
+likely, in return, confer on them the crown of martyrdom. The French
+emigrants of those days had no other idea of the Canadian mission, and
+prepared themselves accordingly. On the 20th of May, 1656, the community
+pledged itself to send four of its zealous souls, who awaited the time
+of their embarkation with eagerness, but from some cause or other did
+not leave France until 1660. On their arrival at Ville-Marie, Jean Mance
+received them with every mark of esteem and affection that Christian
+charity could inspire. She put them in immediate possession of that
+portion of the hospital set apart for them, reserving to herself only
+the administration of the funds for the poor and destitute, a duty which
+she discharged faithfully, and with solid benefit to the recipients, the
+rest of her life. The new Sisters were little more than a secular
+congregation, until 1666, when Pope Alexander VII. approved of them as a
+religious order, by a bull dated January 8th, 1666, in which strict
+enclosure was enjoined, and a religious dress appointed to be worn.
+
+While the interests of the _hospital_ were being thus carefully attended
+to in France, it was evident that the _spiritual wants of the colony_
+were becoming every day more pressing. Montreal was now populous, and
+numbers of the Indians who embraced Christianity were anxious that their
+respective tribes should do the same. Yet there was but _one_ Jesuit
+Father in the whole colony, who could not possibly discharge all the
+duties required of him. When M. Olier heard of it, he thought seriously
+of sending to Canada a mission from the Seminary of St. Sulpice, and as
+he was suffering painful infirmities for many years, brought on by the
+laborious discharge of his official duties, he contemplated accompanying
+them himself. He accordingly selected four priests of his community, who
+were gentlemen of merit and distinction, viz., Gabriel de Quelus, Abbe
+of Laudieu (one of the Montreal associates), M. Francis d'Allet, Gabriel
+Souart, and Dominick Gallitier. M. de Quelus was a man of illustrious
+birth, and was appointed by their ecclesiastical Superior (the
+Archbishop of Rouen) Grand Vicar of the missionaries in Canada, with the
+entire spiritual control of New France. He was received both at Quebec
+and Ville-Marie with all the respect due to his dignity and birth,
+encountering no opposition in the discharge of his duties in either
+city. M. Souart was appointed pastor of Ville-Marie, the Jesuit Father,
+Claude Pigots, who had until then discharged the duties of pastor,
+resigning gracefully in his favor.
+
+The new pastor before becoming a Sulpician, had been a rich aristocratic
+Parisian. His parents, expecting he would have a brilliant career in the
+world, almost forced upon him a marriage suitable to his rank and
+wealth, and the day of the ceremony, which was the Feast of the
+Assumption, 1660, was fast approaching. His simple piety led him on the
+eve of that day to the parish church of St. Sulpice, where he heard an
+eloquent sermon, on the necessity of seeking light from heaven in the
+choice of a state of life. He was deeply impressed by the preacher's
+convincing eloquence, and entering into himself, found that he had not
+sufficiently consulted God on the alliance he was about to contract. The
+next day, therefore, instead of plighting his troth to a willing bride,
+he went to the seminary of St. Sulpice to make a retreat, during which
+Divine Providence clearly manifested to him that he was called to the
+ecclesiastical state. Faithful to the call of divine grace he renounced
+the world, entered St. Sulpice, and devoted his young life and rare
+talents to the service of the Church. He was joyfully admitted into the
+seminary, and having already received a university education, was soon
+promoted to holy orders, and raised to the dignity of the priesthood.
+His glowing zeal impelled him to volunteer for the mission of
+Ville-Marie, where he eventually succeeded M. de Quelus as Superior of
+the Montreal Seminary, which he governed happily for many years. He was
+the first priest who undertook the perilous task of forming the baptized
+savages into villages, and his successful attempt at civilization
+resulted in the famous "Mission of the Mountain," where he died shortly
+after.
+
+Two other missionaries, le Maitre and Vignal, arrived subsequently, and
+were killed by the treacherous Iroquois while laboring for their
+conversion with incredible self-sacrifice. It is a tradition of these
+times, that the savage who killed le Maitre, having wrapped the bloody
+head in a cloth, the face of the martyred priest was distinctly
+imprinted thereon, and so indelible was the impression that when the
+terrified savage displayed the cloth in his native village as a trophy
+of the war-path, the features of le Maitre were instantly recognized,
+the murderer being cuttingly upbraided for his cruelty by the braves of
+his tribe.
+
+It was now several years since the French had established themselves at
+Ville-Marie, and during all that time they suffered the most shocking
+cruelties from the relentless Iroquois. The earth might be said to have
+been constantly wet with the blood of the noblest and best sons of
+France, and the survivors, disgusted and disheartened, resolved to
+abandon the country. In speaking of this period of horror and dismay,
+Jean Mance says, "In 1560 the Iroquois had conquered and almost
+exterminated the Hurons, their ancient foes, and full of barbarian pride
+and insolence, turned their arms against the colonists, who were an easy
+prey, as their attacks were sudden, fierce, and stealthy. They killed
+several persons in the suburbs of Ville-Marie, and burned their houses;
+even our hospital was not secure from their brutal recklessness, and we
+were obliged to fortify it by a garrison. At length people despaired of
+being able to protect life or property, and resolved on abandoning the
+enterprise. In this extremity I reflected that many souls would be
+forever lost to God if the young city was forsaken, and that it would be
+a national humiliation for France to abandon Canada to the vengeance of
+wild savages, who were constantly killing each other. Therefore,
+fluctuating between hope and fear, I implored M. de Maisonneuve to
+hasten back to France and secure additional military protection for
+Montreal and its martyred people."
+
+He willingly acceded to the brave woman's request, and in September,
+1651, returned to France, having first appointed de Masseau commander of
+Ville-Marie in his absence. He was obliged to spend two entire years
+inducing recruits to enlist for Canada, so great was their horror of the
+Indians, and had to labor hard against disappointments, and go to great
+expense to secure his object. But God at length blessed with success his
+efforts in the cause of religion. He secured a company of more than a
+hundred brave soldiers, who sailed with him to the New World in 1653. It
+was during this voyage he first became acquainted with the remarkable
+virtues of Margaret Bourgeois, who accompanied him from France at a
+period when the whole nation was disgusted with the Canadian mission.
+This admiriable young woman, who had no other resources than courage and
+confidence in God, did not hesitate to cross the sea, to consecrate
+herself to the service of the Church, and to propagate devotion to the
+Mother of God. How perfectly she succeeded is proven by the splendid
+monument of her zeal which still exists in almost primitive fervor,
+after the lapse of more than two centuries. That monument is the
+"Congregation of Notre Dame," which has rendered such incalculable
+service to the cause of religion in Canada.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+EARLY YEARS OF MARGARET BOURGEOIS, AND HER VOCATION FOR THE CANADIAN
+MISSION.
+
+
+Margaret Bourgeois was born in the city of Troyes, in Champagne, on the
+15th of April, 1620. Her father, Abraham Bourgeois, was an honest
+merchant of that city, who espoused Guillamette Garnier. If these good
+people were not distinguished for high birth or the possession of great
+wealth, they were at least remarkable for the purity of their lives, for
+sound religious principles, and for unusual probity of character. As
+they belonged to the middle class of society, their means were limited,
+yet they took care to have their children educated, and instilled into
+their young minds a cordial love for the duties of religion. Their
+family consisted of five children, two boys and three girls, Margaret
+being the third born to them. She was baptized in the parish church of
+St. John of Troyes, and nothing is known of her infancy or childhood
+except that at a proper age she learned to read and write, with the
+other attainments of early school years. Of this we are certain, that,
+at an early period, she became a practical Christian, and never deviated
+from the principles she then imbibed. Almighty God had special designs
+on her future life, and from childhood infused into her heart a great
+love of labor and mortification, which foreshadowed what she was one day
+to become. Scarcely had she attained her tenth year when she was to be
+seen among her little companions, like a mother in Israel, assembling
+them together in secluded places, far from the noise and bustle of the
+city, instructing them in the discharge of their duties, principally in
+practices of piety, advising them to love labor and shun idleness, the
+fruitful source of the sins of youth, and to select such work as
+Almighty God had given them particular inclinations for.
+
+These assemblies of children were so many little communities of innocent
+souls in which God took great complacency, and it was at this time she
+made her first Holy Communion. Her mother's death occurring soon after,
+she had an opportunity of practising the virtues of obedience, etc.,
+under circumstances far in advance of her years. By the death of his
+wife, M. Bourgeois found himself embarrassed with the care of a helpless
+young family, but noticing in little Margaret a certain air of gravity
+and prudence, accompanied by sincere piety, he seriously thought of
+giving her charge of the household, and particularly of the education of
+a younger brother and sister. Nothing is known with certainty of the
+after lives of these children, except that, in 1653, when Margaret was
+making arrangements to leave France for Canada, two of them were minors,
+in whose favor she voluntarily dispossessed herself of _her_ share of
+the family inheritance. Neither can anything be recorded of the virtues
+she displayed in discharging the laborious duties of the position in
+which her father placed her at so tender an age. No one could speak of
+these years of responsibility except herself, and humility would never
+permit her to raise the veil, or speak of what must have been a most
+interesting portion of her saintly life. Only one circumstance of these
+early years could she ever be induced to mention, and of this she
+sometimes spoke with great bitterness of soul, and much exaggeration. It
+was that, a few times, during seasons of worldly dissipation, she had
+attached undue importance to dress--taking great pains to arrange her
+toilette fashionably so as to display her personal attractions to
+advantage. Although this happened without dressing beyond her station of
+life, or exceeding the bounds of modesty, she acknowledged that it
+tarnished the purity of her heart, and filled her mind with vain and
+foolish thoughts. It was one of those youthful faults for which she took
+care to punish herself severely in after life, being remarkable for the
+simplicity and modesty of her attire, even before she became a
+religeuse. Her beautiful and well-concealed spirit of mortification made
+her correspond faithfully to the motions of grace which Divine
+Providence infused into her soul, and by which she was to become so
+intimately united to God. As He always makes an instrument of His
+Blessed Mother to bestow such graces on His elect, it was by devotion to
+Mary that He attached Margaret Bourgeois irrevocably to His service. She
+had always been a devoted client of the Blessed Virgin, and the singular
+favor she received, that will now be related, was probably not the first
+vouchsafed her by the Queen of Heaven. The circumstances under which she
+received it prove that she was a member of the Rosary Society, which was
+then effecting such wonders in the spiritual life of Christendom.
+
+On the first Sunday of October, 1640--the Feast of the Holy Rosary--the
+Dominicans held grand processions in honor of Mary, and celebrated the
+feast with all possible splendor. Margaret Bourgeois, being then twenty
+years old, came with many others to assist at the procession, which was
+to take place within the monastery enclosure. The public were allowed on
+such occasions to join in the ceremony, but by a particular dispensation
+of Providence, the crowd was so great this year that the procession was
+obliged to pass along a public route, and file off before the church of
+Notre Dame-the cathedral of Troyes. There was a very fine marble statue
+of the Blessed Virgin placed on a pedestal in the porch of the church,
+and as Margaret turned reverently to gaze upon it, it shone brilliantly
+with supernatural light--the face of the Virgin beaming with an
+extraordinary life-like beauty. She had often seen the statue before,
+but never as now, and, like St. Paul, was almost blinded by the dazzling
+vision. To the last day of her life she felt her heart moved to its
+inmost depths when she recalled this celestial favor.
+
+On entering the church she reflected seriously on what had occurred, and
+felt convinced that God demanded of her something more than she had yet
+accomplished for His glory, and that His Blessed Mother was to be
+hereafter her strength and support. She immediately resolved by the help
+of God to eradicate from her heart the two imperfections that
+counteracted the influence of divine grace. These were an inordinate
+love of dress, and a strong desire to attract to herself the esteem and
+love of creatures. Accordingly she determined for the future to wear a
+simple dress of cheap material, to use no color but black or brown, and
+never again to display the vain ornaments of jewelry that young girls so
+much prize. In her fervor she made a vow to receive humiliations as
+coming directly from the hand of God, and we shall see that as SISTER
+BOURGEOIS she received many such favors.
+
+With these dispositions it was natural she should seek admission into a
+religious community, which in effect she did. There existed at Troyes a
+Carmelite Convent, of the reform of St. Teresa. Every one knows that the
+Carmelites are in a special manner devoted to Mary, under the title of
+"Our Lady of Mt. Carmel," and that their congregation is the origin and
+centre of the Confraternities of the Scapular. There is not a community
+of women in the Church whose discipline and manner of life is so
+austere, if we except the "Poor Clares." During all seasons of the year
+they dress in a heavy coarse habit, wear sandals on their feet, never
+make use of linen, are seldom seen in the parlor, sleep on a hard
+mattress, rise simultaneously, to chant the Divine Office, spend at
+least two hours each night at prayer, and are familiar with the use of
+the discipline, hair-shirt, etc. In a word, their mortifications are
+continual and rigorous. Now these extraordinary penances were what
+especially attracted Margaret Bourgeois to join them. But in order to
+act prudently, and learn the will of God clearly regarding her vocation,
+she addressed herself to M. Antoine Jandret, a virtuous and enlightened
+priest, who was confessor to the Carmelites. Having heard her
+attentively, he was struck with admiration at the manner in which God
+was working in her soul. She continued for some time to be his penitent,
+and after he had made trial of her virtue, he no longer hesitated to
+propose her as a subject to the Carmelites.
+
+The chapter met to discuss the matter, but some changes in her exterior
+manner of living (the motives of which they did not know) led them to
+suppose that her disposition was frivolous and volatile; and they
+refused to admit her. But it was not there Almighty God intended her to
+become a religieuse, and their refusal did not lessen her esteem for the
+austerities practised by them, and on which she modelled her own
+penances for the remainder of her life. Neither did a _first refusal_
+discourage her; on the contrary, she redoubled her prayers to learn the
+will of God, and it pleased His divine Majesty to unfold to the eyes of
+her soul, gradually but clearly, his designs regarding her. Being
+rejected by the Carmelites, she next sought admission into the extern
+congregation of young girls, at Troyes. It will be necessary to give
+some explanation of this society, as the singular graces accorded to
+Sister Bourgeois while she was one of its members influenced her very
+much in the formation of the congregation she afterwards founded.
+
+There existed in Troyes another convent of religieuses known as the
+"Congregation of Notre Dame," who were founded by Pere Fourier, cure of
+Martincourt, a man eminent for piety. They were cloistered nuns, who
+added to the ordinary duties of a religious life the education of young
+girls. This duty they discharged within the cloister, and without
+secular assistance. The Ursulines conducted their schools more publicly,
+and had established several successful missions. The former, therefore,
+were obliged to use as auxiliaries an extern congregation composed of
+virtuous young girls, who lived in their own families, but assembled on
+Sundays and festivals for the exercise of works of charity. They went
+two and two together, wherever the glory of God or the good of their
+neighbors required, always subject to the appointment of the
+religieuses. Most of the young ladies of the city belonged to this
+association, which was of course secular (enclosure not being suitable
+to their work), and they willingly admitted Margaret Bourgeois among
+them. It was in this edifying association that God manifested his
+designs on her future life, and it was for her a real apprenticeship in
+the school of virtue. Once received, she was soon distinguished for zeal
+and fervor, and was to be seen everywhere, exercising the duties of
+Christian charity. Her distinguishing trait, however, was the
+instruction of the ignorant, and teaching young girls the principles of
+religion, as well as the rudiments of education. It may be truly said of
+her from that period, that the animating principle of all her actions
+was to unite them in spirit with the human actions of the Mother of God.
+
+She never relaxed in her efforts to imitate this high model of sanctity,
+and never ceased by word and example to animate the Christian virgins
+who afterwards joined her religious order to imitate as closely as human
+infirmity would permit, the daily actions of Mary during her sojourn on
+earth. To quote her own words will best exemplify her spirit. She said:
+"Our Lord before His ascension into heaven left behind Him on earth a
+kind of congregation or community that would embrace persons of every
+condition of life, the first superior being His own divine Mother. The
+holy spirit in the Gospel has given us the name of this community, which
+had a two-fold object, and was to serve as a model for all future
+associations of women to be established in the Church. This was no other
+than the community of Magdalen and Martha,' the disciples and friends of
+Christ. The first represented religious congregations devoted to prayer
+and contemplation in the cloister. While Martha was to be a model for
+those who devote themselves to the service of their neighbor. But the
+Blessed Virgin reserved to herself the duty of instruction. She was the
+Mother and mistress of the rising Church, which she formed and trained
+to the practise of virtue, by word and example. Not that she undertook
+to preach the Gospel, which was the mission of the Apostles, but she
+instructed the _little ones_ in the virtues of poverty and humility, of
+which she herself made profession, knowing that the majority of the
+followers of Christ would be the poor and lowly. Thus was she the true
+model of a missionary congregation."
+
+By such admirable sentiments as these did she excite her companions to
+fervor in the discharge of their several duties. Yet her labors as a
+member of the externs at Troyes did not satisfy her. She felt that God
+required more from her, although He had not yet manifested his will, so
+she again determined to seek admission into a religious house, applying
+this time to the "Poor Clares." It is true she saw nothing in their
+institute that corresponded to her ardent desire of consecrating herself
+to the service of the Blessed Virgin, and of laboring for the salvation
+of souls, but she felt she would be unfaithful to grace if she did not
+make another effort to find out the will of God concerning her vocation.
+She therefore consulted her director, who advised her to present herself
+for admission, which she did, but as before, met with a humiliating
+refusal, as it was not there _either_, that Almighty God intended to
+make use of her for His glory, and He took this means of putting her
+humility to the test, and proving and perfecting her virtue.
+
+The first refusal of the Carmelites only served to animate her to
+greater perfection, and she made the same use of this second mortifying
+rejection. Being more and more impressed with a desire to consecrate
+herself to God, she resolved on making a vow of perpetual chastity,
+first acquainting M. Landret, her confessor, with her intention. He was
+a prudent man, and thought that circumstanced as she was, she might
+sometime repent having made the vow, or something might occur to change
+her resolution, and therefore told her to postpone such a promise until
+she was at least thirty years old, being then twenty-two. She submitted
+to his decision in silence, as humbly as if God had spoken. He soon
+changed his opinion, however, being convinced by her submission that God
+was operating great things in her soul, and permitted her to follow her
+inclination by consecrating her virginity to Jesus, which she did with
+fervor on the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, December 21st, 1643,
+being in her twenty-third year. Shortly after she added the a vow of
+poverty, and from that time her career of sanctity was unmistakable. She
+advanced in virtue as she advanced in age, and the practise of every
+good work, and held the office of Prefect of the extern congregation for
+many years. In 1647, her father falling dangerously sick, she attended
+him with all the love and charity that might be expected from such a
+daughter, and had the consolation of seeing him die full of hope and
+trust in the mercy of God. She arranged his body in the coffin with her
+own hands, although others were willing to spare her the performance of
+that duty of filial love, and the pious practice of preparing the dead
+for burial she ever after continued in Canada, until strength and life
+failed her, although it was often repugnant to her feelings.
+
+As M. Jandret knew the humiliation she endured by being refused
+admission in two religious orders, and knew also her virtues, he did not
+feel justified in advising anything that would stifle the operations of
+divine grace in her soul. He was, moreover, an eye-witness of her
+successful efforts in instructing young girls, both secularly and
+religiously, and thought it might be pleasing to God to associate with
+her other pious young persons, who could easily be found in the
+congregation of which she was Prefect, and establish them _permanently_
+in the discharge of that duty. He accordingly made the proposal to her,
+which she did not refuse, believing it would contribute to the glory of
+God, and be a means of accomplishing His will. In order to act
+prudently, however, M. Jandret consulted his superior, M. de Theoloyal,
+of the cathedral of Troyes, who assured him that the project was a wise
+one, and the two priests in concert drew up a formula of rules which
+they judged fit to lead those for whom they were intended securely in
+the path of Christian perfection. M. le Theoloyal went to Paris to
+submit the rules to the doctors of the Sorbonne, who decided in their
+favor, and advised that they be reduced to practice.
+
+Two virtuous young ladies were thereupon associated with Margaret
+Bourgeois, and Mme. de Chuly, of whom we shall have occasion to speak
+more at length, gave them an apartment in her own house to make the
+experiment. In proposing the rules to these pious young women, the
+persons who had written and approved of them had undoubtedly the
+_future_ in view, but God had still wiser and other designs. It was only
+a preparation or foundation for the rules and constitutions that
+Margaret, many years after, sought to have approved in France for the
+government of the Community she established at Ville-Marie, she and her
+first companions having had a most happy experience of them during their
+early religious life. They engaged zealously in the education of the
+children confided to their care, always making moral training the
+principal object, but most especially did they seek to guard those whose
+surroundings endangered their virtue. On one occasion, a set of
+libertines managed to entice a poor but honest girl away from home.
+Margaret Bourgeois fortunately heard of the intended outrage, and taking
+a crucifix in her hand fearlessly followed the ruffians in order to
+rescue the girl. Without taking any notice of the violence they
+threatened, as they were well armed, she spoke so forcibly of the
+judgments of God, that would inevitably fall on them if they persisted
+in their diabolical purpose, that they retired in confusion, leaving the
+trembling girl at liberty, and overpowered with gratitude for her
+benefactress. She afterwards became one of Margaret's life-long
+companions, and accompanied her to Canada, where she was known as Sister
+Crolo. But the trial establishment of M. Jandret did not last very long.
+One of the two associates died, and the other left, so that Margaret,
+finding herself alone, was forced to abandon a position in which she
+could not succeed without companions, and again occupied herself as a
+simple congregationalist. The mortified life she had thus been leading
+for years, always uncertain of the future, and without a particle of
+human consolation, could not fail to draw down upon her signal favors
+from heaven, and those she experienced were of the most precious kind.
+Almighty God favored her many times with ineffable and sweet
+consolations when she approached Holy Communion. The fire of divine love
+then burned so vividly in her heart that she could hardly refrain from
+letting appear exteriorly the ecstatic joy with which her soul was
+inundated. Once she saw Our Lord in the Holy Host during Mass, in the
+form of a little child, of a ravishing and incomparable beauty, and by
+such a singular favor we may easily judge of the state of her soul at
+that period of her life.
+
+On the Feast of the Assumption, 1650, which was the principal Feast of
+the externs, she was appointed to remain in adoration before the Blessed
+Sacrament during the annual procession in honor of the holy Virgin,
+which was that day held. After remaining a considerable time in prayer
+she felt suddenly inspired to raise her eyes and look at the holy Host
+in the ostensorium. A vision of the Redeemer was distinctly presented to
+her, and she was so profoundly penetrated with love and gratitude that
+earth had no more charms for her from that happy hour. Such is always
+the effect of celestial manifestations, and it was by these favors
+Almighty God prepared the soul of His servant for the great designs He
+had upon her, of which she was then ignorant. However, they were not
+much longer unfolding, and we shall, in the sequel, everywhere find
+occasion to notice the watchful care of Divine Providence and the marked
+protection of the Blessed Virgin over the colony of Ville-Marie, over
+Sister Bourgeois herself, and over the Institute of the Sisters of the
+Congregation.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+MARGARET BOURGEOIS, AFTER MANY TRIALS AND MORTIFICATIONS, AT LENGTH
+SAILS WITH M. DE MAISONNEUVE FOR CANADA.
+
+
+In a proceeding chapter we have spoken of M. de Maisonneuve, who was a
+native of Champenois, and consequently a fellow-countryman of Margaret
+Bourgeois--so favorably does divine Providence dispose the course of
+future events. We have also seen what a remarkable chain of
+circumstances led to his appointment as first Governor of Montreal. One
+might almost consider it _miraculous_. He laid the foundations of the
+new city, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin--naming it
+Ville-Marie, City of Mary. He had two sisters in the city of Troyes, one
+a religieuse of the Congregation of Notre Dame, the other a secular
+lady--Mme. de Chuly, of whom mention has been made. Before he left
+France he confided to these pious ladies his views for the advancement
+of religion, and his intention to build a city in honor of the Mother of
+God engaging them to unite with him in prayer for its success. As soon
+as the Congregation Sisters heard of the project they offered to
+accompany him, and establish in the New World a community of their
+Order. But as he was not prepared to make such an establishment, and as
+they pressed him very urgently to comply, he contented himself by
+promising that, in the future, if both parties agreed, he would attempt
+a foundation. As a pledge of their mutual understanding, they presented
+him a statue of the Blessed Virgin, on which were inscribed the
+following words: "Sainte Mere de Dieu, et Vierge au Coeur loyal, Gardez
+nous une place, en votre Mont-Royal."
+
+It is true there was to be, in the new city, a community of Christian
+virgins specially devoted to Mary, but it was not the _religieuses of
+Troyes_ God intended to be there, and so the matter ended. Three years
+after, when M. de Maisonneuve returned to France to procure assistance
+for Ville-Marie, he again visited these religieuses, who importuned him
+anew to take some of them to Canada, but he assured them as before that
+matters were not sufficiently matured in the New World for the
+establishment of a cloistered Sisterhood. So neither party took any more
+decisive step than a renewal of good wishes, and indefinite promises for
+the future. Divine Providence, meanwhile, was quietly preparing the way
+for the accomplishment of its inscrutable designs, not yet manifested.
+While these good ladies were filled with ardent hopes of the near future
+of their Canadian establishment, Margaret Bourgeois had many business
+interviews with them, being Prefect of the extern congregation connected
+with their monastery, and her singular virtue being very well known,
+they spoke to her confidentially of the expected mission they had so
+much at heart, frequently asking if she did not wish to be one of those
+selected for Ville-Marie. This was plainly hinting that they would not
+object to her joining their community. But, though God _did_ intend her
+for Canada, He did _not_ intend her for that Order; therefore she made
+no other reply to their proposal than that she desired to do the will of
+God with her whole heart, whenever and wherever He would please to
+manifest it to her. Although she had hitherto met with refusals on
+applying for admission to religious communities, yet she was not
+discouraged, and the proposal of the Canadian mission only incited her
+to learn the will of God, with more ardor than before. She sought the
+advice of her spiritual directors, knowing that their decisions were the
+usual means God makes use of in the direction of souls. M. Jandret being
+consulted, advised her to think seriously on the matter, as it seemed to
+him it might be the will of God she should go to Canada. However,
+diffiding in his own light, he recommended her to consult M. Pertuis
+another experienced priest, who was of the same opinion with the former,
+and both advised her to ask advice of the Bishop of Troyes. This
+distinguished prelate being absent at the time, she had recourse to M.
+Rose, his vicar general, who counselled her at once to go to Canada, as
+it seemed to be the will of God she should. Having thus taken every
+precaution that prudence suggested to learn the divine will, Sister
+Bourgeois no longer doubted of her vocation for Canada, but God had not
+yet declared either the time or the manner of her going. It was natural
+to suppose she would accompany the religieuses of the Congregation, but
+the Great Disposer of events ordained differently. During all this time,
+the savage Iroquois had repeated their attacks on the people of Montreal
+with the wildest fury. Men, women, and children fell beneath the
+tomahawk, and in 1651, M. de Maissonneuve was obliged to return a second
+time to France for military assistance. On these occasions he never
+failed to go to the city of Troyes, to visit the members of his family
+who resided there, and also to pay a visit of respect to the religieuses
+of the Congregation, for whom he entertained a sincere friendship, his
+sister being a member of the community. On the eve of his arrival,
+Sister Bourgeois had a singular prediction of the future. She saw in a
+dream, a grave, venerable-looking man, dressed like an ecclesiastic,
+standing silently before her. The form and features of the man, who was
+not then known to her, remained distinctly imprinted on her imagination,
+and she had an indefinable inspiration that he was to be in some way
+connected with the work for which God intended her. She related the
+dream to some of her friends, and three days afterwards M. de
+Maisonneuve arrived at Troyes. He called at the Convent, when as usual
+the subject of the proposed foundation at Ville-Marie was discussed.
+Sister Bourgeois was sent for, that _her_ opinion might be heard with
+the others. On entering the parlor, the first person that attracted her
+attention was the strange gentleman, who corresponded exactly to the
+person she had seen in her dream. Struck with astonishment, she could
+not help exclaiming, "Behold the priest of my dream." She was requested
+to relate the dream, which she did quite simply, and as a matter of
+course, had to submit to a good deal of badinage about her vision, as
+they called it, but jest soon turned to earnest, and before parting M.
+de Maisonneuve and Sister Bourgeois conceived a lasting friendship for
+each other. He asked if she would like to go to Montreal and teach a
+primary school for girls, to which she promptly replied that nothing
+would afford her greater pleasure, and that nothing was more suited to
+her inclinations. By her reply he understood that Divine Providence had
+fitted her for the New World, although he had not the most remote idea
+of the great things intended to be accomplished by her ever-increasing
+zeal. In the then state of the colony he felt convinced that nothing was
+more conducive to its welfare than the Christian education of children,
+and as the inhabitants were few, one skilful mistress would easily
+suffice; nor could he, at the time, procure a suitable dwelling for
+more. He accepted the offer of Sister Bourgeois on the spot, and the
+religieuses thanked him for even that concession, awaiting, as they
+said, a happier occasion for the foundation they so eagerly desired. The
+occasion, however, never presented itself, and they seemed to have some
+such presentiment, as they charged Margaret Bourgeois with breach of
+faith in accepting the proposal without their consent. Seeing they were
+touched with a sort of holy jealousy, she pleasantly replied, that if
+she had promised to go with them to Ville-Marie, she was ready to fulfil
+her promise, but if she had _not_ made the promise, or if they delayed
+too long, she should certainly go without them.
+
+As soon as Mlle. Crolo (whom she so heroically saved from dishonor)
+heard of her determination to cross the sea, she begged with much
+earnestness to accompany her, but this M. de Maisonneuve would not
+permit at the time, because he was bringing a regiment of soldiers to
+the New World, for the defence of Ville-Marie. This circumstance
+frightened Sister Bourgeois very much, as she found herself alone, and
+without escort, in the midst of a troop of soldiers, Her modesty was
+alarmed, and she sought her confessor's advice in the new danger. He
+told her that to judge according to the ordinary rules of prudence, it
+would be unsafe for an unmarried female to undertake a voyage of so much
+consequence, unaccompanied by one of her own sex, but that in her case,
+there were so many marks of a particular providence, the common rules of
+prudence might be set aside, and as he knew the exalted character of M.
+de Maisonneuve, he said to his penitent, confidently, "Go, repose entire
+trust in the prudence of that gentleman; he will be the guardian of your
+chastity, as he is one of the first chevaliers of the Queen of Angels."
+But even this assurance did not calm her fears, until the Blessed Virgin
+herself reassured her. One morning before she arose, being fully awake,
+and occupied with holy thoughts, a lady clothed in dazzling white robes,
+and of extraordinary beauty, suddenly stood before her, and said, slowly
+and distinctly: "Go to Canada. I will never abandon you." After which
+the glorious vision disappeared. Margaret's heart was filled with
+strength and joy, because she knew the peerless Mother of God had spoken
+to her. When M. Jandret heard it he rejoiced exceedingly, and predicted
+great results from the voyage, even hinting that she might possibly be
+able to form in Canada the community they had both failed to establish
+in Troyes. She replied that nothing was further from her thoughts than
+the establishment of any community, more especially, as she was to live
+alone at Ville-Marie. "Nevertheless," responded the good priest, "my
+good angel and yours shall be the first members." Satisfied with the
+pious ideas thus suggested, she quietly set to work at the preparations
+for the voyage across the Atlantic, which was then considered a very
+extraordinary affair. M. de Maisonneuve told her they would set sail at
+the end of May, it being then February, that the embarkation would take
+place at Nantes, in Bretagne, and advised her to be there in advance of
+him. He also gave her a letter of recommendation to M. le Coq, a
+merchant of that city, requesting him to offer her the hospitalities of
+his home during her stay, and promising to rejoin her as soon as his
+business was satisfactorily arranged. Everything else he left to her own
+prudence and discretion. Any other person, except Sister Bourgeois, or
+an apostle, would have prepared a good supply of clothing, and provided
+a sufficient sum of money for so long a journey, but she being fully
+convinced that to follow Jesus Christ it was necessary to forsake all
+things, began by despoiling herself of what she possessed, bestowing her
+money and clothing on the poor, and reserving nothing except a little
+package of linen, in order to appear decent. She carried the package to
+the ship herself, feeling that no one was worthy of wearing the livery
+of Christ, who was not poor and lowly like Him. She had not as yet
+informed her relations of her intention to leave the land of her birth,
+that she might escape their solicitations to remain where she was known
+and loved. Therefore she resolved to go to Paris on the pretext of
+business. At the same time, her uncle, M. Cossard, who was guardian of
+the minors of her family, and Mme. de Chuly, with whom she was residing,
+had each occasion to go to Paris, and so all three travelled in the same
+conveyance. This was on the 6th of February, 1653, Margaret Bourgeois
+being thirty-three years old. It was thirty-six leagues from Troyes to
+Paris, and when they were some distance on the road, she told them her
+intention for the first time, declaring that she had left Troyes never
+to return, and that she went to Paris only to take the route for Canada,
+whither she was to accompany M. de Maisonneuve. Her companions supposed
+she was talking to amuse either herself or them, and were not in the
+least disturbed by her declaration, nor convinced of the reality, until
+they arrived at Paris. Then she requested her uncle to conduct her to a
+notary's office, as she had business to transact. He complied with her
+request, but was astonished beyond measure when she assured him
+seriously that she was going to relinquish, by a legal procedure, all
+that might revert to her of the family inheritance, and place it in
+_his_ hands for the benefit of the two children who were minors, knowing
+that her trust would not be misplaced, as he was their guardian. She had
+already made the sacrifice interiorly, many years before, by the vow of
+poverty, and she now determined to make it legally, in a manner not to
+be reversed. M. Cossard endeavored to dissuade his niece from such an
+absurdity, as it appeared to him, but his eloquence and reasoning were
+useless, and the property was deeded away. He next tried to convince her
+that her vocation was chimerical, and the result of a sort of religous
+enthusiasm, which would die a natural death. And lest his rhetoric
+should not produce the desired effect, he started back to Troyes, where
+she was universally known and esteemed, to tell the news, and call to
+his aid the sympathies of her friends. As a matter of course, every one
+disapproved of her proceedings (when was anything undertaken for the
+glory of God, approved of by the children of this world?), and she was
+overwhelmed with letters from all quarters, containing criticisms on her
+conduct, and assuring her that she was acting a very foolish part. But
+her constancy remained unshaken, as conscience told her her resolution
+was made for the glory of God. This trial was followed by two others,
+which were calculated either to unsettle or confirm her vocation, as,
+under the guise of prudence, a seemingly greater good was proposed. In
+fact, a person less enlightened in the ways of God would have wavered at
+this period of her life. During her sojourn in Paris, she resided with a
+certain Mme. de Bellevue, a woman of merit and and virtue, but who, it
+must be acknowledged, used her tongue pretty freely on certain
+occasions.
+
+This lady had two distinguished brothers, one a canon of la Sainte
+Chapelle, the other being Provincial of the Carmelites in the Province
+of Paris. Both gentlemen were informed of the arrival of the lady from
+Troyes, whom Mme. Bellevue described as wonderfully as possible.
+However, they learned from _herself_ two things, which the devil
+endeavored to turn to _his_ advantage; first, that she was on the point
+of going alone to Montreal with M. de Maisonneuve, and second, that she
+had at one time a strong inclination to join the Carmelite Order, which
+had so far refused to receive her. These good people conceived a high
+idea of her sanctity during her short stay among them, and persuaded
+themselves they would be doing her a service, if they could induce her
+to give up the Canadian mission. The news of the murderous attack of the
+savages on the colonists of Montreal had reached them, and they made the
+most of the information. They even represented M. de Maisonneuve as a
+dangerous man, who was quite capable of abusing her confidence, and
+although she would not permit herself to believe such an assertion, she
+experienced much interior trouble. In this perplexity of mind, she
+sought advice from M. Carme, a holy priest who held her in great
+veneration. To console her, he promised to procure her admission into
+any Convent of the Carmelite Order in the province, that she should
+select. It was human policy to attack her weak side, _if she had any_,
+touching the Carmelites, and the temptation to abandon her original
+design was so much the more pressing, as she still had a greater desire
+to embrace and practise the austerities of Mt. Carmel, than any other
+order of the Church. She had, moreover, time enough to deliberate, and
+although she secured her seat in the coach from Paris to Orleans, which
+was to start next day, she now gave it up, fearing exceedingly that by
+refusing the offer made her, she would be refusing the will of God. This
+fear threw her into an agony of doubt. It was only a temptation,
+however, and in order to restore her peace of mind, she went to the
+Jesuits of Saint Antoine, that she might discover more clearly, if
+possible, the will of God by the decision of these wise directors. The
+Father to whom she revealed the state of her conscience was the oracle
+destined by heaven to decide her vocation for life. After hearing the
+wonderful history of God's providence over her, he told her to go to
+Canada without fear, and leave the result in the hands of Mary her
+Mother. A great and blessed calm instantly succeeded to the storm that
+agitated her soul, and leaving the Jesuit church, she went directly to
+the Provincial of the Carmelites to thank him for the good will he had
+shown her, and without more ado, again took her seat in the coach for
+Orleans, which was to leave on the morrow. But this was not the least of
+her trials. It seemed as if the contemplated voyage was to bring upon
+her a series of the saddest and most insupportable humiliations. As
+there was no female travelling with her, and as she evidently possessed
+nothing but the clothing she wore, and the package she carried, her
+companions of the coach made her feel that they regarded her as an
+adventuress, who ought not be admitted into honest society. When they
+arrived at Orleans, the host would not permit her to remain at the inn,
+although she begged humbly and tearfully for shelter during the night,
+offering to sit by the fire, if they would not give her a room. Seeing
+her reduced to the extremity of staying all night in the street the
+driver of the conveyance offered his room to her. He was prompted to do
+so, however, not by charitable, but by criminal motives. In her
+ignorance of the man's villany, she accepted the offer, and remained on
+her knees in prayer till the sun rose next day. Several times during the
+night, this person and his depraved associates attempted to force open
+her door, but Margaret Bourgeois was safe under the protection of Mary,
+her powerful guardian, and their repeated attempts to effect an entrance
+proved unsuccessful. In the morning she discovered another smaller door
+in the room, concealed by a curtain. This opened directly into the scene
+of the past night's debaucheries, and then she saw the horrors she
+escaped. Full of gratitude to the Immaculate Mother of God, who had so
+signally preserved her, she prayed and wept together. Very early in the
+morning she started off alone, and unobserved, to continue her journey,
+and secured a passage in the boat on the Loire, which had twelve other
+passengers. Among them there was only one woman, who carried an infant
+in her arms. Sister Bourgeois had the address to engage the entire party
+in exercises of piety during the river journey, which lasted several
+days, as the distance from Orleans to Nantes was almost one hundred
+leagues. Each day they recited together the office of the Blessed
+Virgin, and the rosary, after which she read a chapter from a spiritual
+book, on the duties of a Christian life, to which all listened
+attentively. One Saturday evening she obtained permission from the
+captain of the boat to go ashore, and enjoy the privilege of assisting
+at Mass on Sunday; which was a favor not usually accorded to the
+passengers. After sailing for some days they arrived at Saumur, where
+they made a short stay, as the boat needed repairs. Here also a public
+humiliation awaited this extraordinary woman. On presenting herself at
+the inn, in company with so many men, suspicion again closed the door
+against her. She was told plainly that an honest woman would not travel
+as she did, and that the credit of the house would be injured, by
+receiving her as a guest; nor did the companions of her journey
+sympathize with her in the least, on receiving the insult, although she
+had edified them very much since they left Orleans. Such marks of man's
+inconstancy frequently occur in every grade of society. However, a
+charitable citizen of Saumur, who was present, being touched with
+compassion by the modesty and meekness with which she received the
+affront, offered her the hospitality of his home, which she gratefully
+accepted. It is remarkable that these cruel insults cooled neither her
+determination nor her fervor; on the contrary, she interiorly rejoiced
+at the high honor God conferred upon her, by permitting her to share in
+the contempt and humiliation of His divine Son, whom the Jewish rabble
+maligned and cursed, and almost as extraordinary is the fact that she
+completely regained her influence over her inconstant fellow-travellers,
+when they again met on the boat to continue their route. They arrived at
+Nantes three or four days afterwards. One of the party was a young man
+who had determined to enlist in M. de Maisonneuve's regiment for Canada.
+
+He had many opportunities of noticing the exalted virtue of Margaret
+Bourgeois during the week, and politely offered to carry her little
+package when they left the boat. Even this attention of Christian
+charity drew upon her a fresh humiliation. Accompanied by the stranger,
+she enquired for the residence of M. le Coq, merchant of Nantes, which
+was the address given her by M. de Maisonneuve, but the gentleman was
+not known by that name in the city; he was there styled M. de la
+Bassonniers. She walked along every street in Nantes to find him, and
+was about giving up in despair, when she suddenly encountered at a
+crossing a brusque, business-looking man, whom she timidly requested to
+direct her to the residence of M. le Coq. "_I_ am the person you seek,
+madame," he replied, "and if I mistake not, you are the lady concerning
+whom M. de Maisonneuve wrote me a few days since," handing her the
+letter of her friend at the same time. Margaret was very agreeably
+surprised by the providential rencontre, and began to hope that the
+mortifications of her eventful journey were drawing to a close. The
+merchant directed her to his home, which was not far distant, and
+assuring her of a hearty welcome from his wife, left her abruptly to
+attend to his own concerns. On arriving at the house, she met Mme. le
+Coq, who was highly indignant to learn that her husband sent her a young
+woman to entertain, accompained by a rustic who carried her clothing. "I
+will positively receive no such people into my house," she said, "you
+must depart forthwith." And poor weary Sister Bourgeois did depart, but
+she went on her way rejoicing to suffer reproach for the cause of Jesus,
+and entered a neighboring church, where, at that very hour, was being
+held a procession in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. She assisted
+devoutly at the ceremony, and as she was not easily disconcerted by the
+repulses which were now becoming familiar to her, and also being
+fortified by prayer, she coolly determined to pay another visit to Mme.
+le Coq. Being an utter stranger to the strong-minded woman, she was
+severely reproached for permitting a young man to carry her package, but
+as M. le Coq himself then came in sight, the harangue upon propriety
+suddenly came to an end. He made the necessary explanations to his irate
+lady, and Margaret was received and entertained with cordial
+hospitality. The great day of the final embarkation was now approaching,
+and God had yet another trial in store to test the fidelity and
+constancy of her vocation. While she awaited the arrival of M. de
+Maisonneuve she had a strong desire to approach the Sacraments once more
+before leaving France, and as she always preferred a Carmelite
+confessor, she sought one, and was successful, as there was a Carmelite
+church in the city. It was one of her lifelong principles to do nothing
+by halves; therefore she once again related her whole past experience to
+the good Father, who unhesitatingly advised her to remain in her native
+land, and become a Carmelite nun. Humanly speaking, it was natural he
+should so advise her. But his suggestions threw her into a dreadful
+state of perplexity. On leaving him, she entered the Capuchin church,
+where the Blessed Sacrament was still exposed, and prostrating herself
+in the presence of God, shed abundant tears in the bitterness of her
+soul, protesting that her only desire was to _know_ His will, and _do_
+it. During this hour of spirit trial and loving colloquy with her divine
+Lord, a light from heaven suddenly enveloped her, her heart was
+replenished with the sweetest consolation, and she was made clearly to
+understand, at once and forever, that God willed she should go to
+Canada. Yet, although she was thus divinely reassured, she would not
+neglect the duty of holy obedience, and as her last confessor directed
+Her to write to those persons in Paris who had manifested an interest in
+her vocation, she did so, rather to thank them for what they had already
+done, than to ask them to renew their exertions. But during the three
+weeks she still remained in Nantes, she received no reply from these
+friends. It seemed now as if the devil had left no stone unturned to
+destroy her vocation for Ville-Marie, yet true to his old malice, he
+made one more attempt, and this time the trial came from M. de
+Maisonneuve himself. As soon as he arrived in Nantes, in order to hasten
+the preparations for their departure, he received an anonymous letter,
+in which it was alleged, among other unpleasant things, that Margaret
+Bourgeois was unfit to accompany him to Canada, as her vocation for the
+order of Mt. Carmel was evident, and that this preference would render
+her useless to him across the Atlantic. But as he was an upright man,
+who could not be terrified by shadows, nor influenced by the assertions
+of persons who would not honorably give their names, he contented
+himself by showing the cowardly communication to Sister Bourgeois, and
+calmly awaited her reply, which, when given, entirely disabused him of
+any doubts that might have lessened his confidence in her, and so he
+decided to set sail for the New World in July, 1653. During their stay
+of three weeks at Nantes, she completely won the esteem and friendship
+of M. le Coq and his family. Not only did they refuse to receive payment
+for her board, but eagerly pressed her to accept an outfit for the sea
+voyage, which they saw she took no care to provide. The kind-hearted
+merchant thoughtfully procured a comfortable bed for her, which she
+never slept upon, the ship's cordage being her only hammock during the
+voyage. He would also have given her a supply of wine, but knowing she
+would not use it, he substituted a few casks of fresh water, the lack of
+which often causes such frightful sufferings at sea. These were useless
+precautions for one who was determined to suffer in the flesh a portion
+of the mortifications of Jesus Christ. The water was stored in the ship,
+but she did not use it, as she drank only once a day, from a little
+leather cup that she carried by her side. She never deviated from this
+measure, and used only the tainted water, which was the ordinary
+beverage of the common sailors. M. de Maisonneuve wished her to eat at
+his table, but to this she would not consent; therefore he sent her
+daily a portion of the food prepared for himself, which was more
+delicate and better cooked than the ordinary mess. She took it
+thankfully, to divide among the sick, using herself only a small share
+of the common ship rations. During the voyage she carefully instructed
+the soldiers and sailors in the sublime though simple lessons of the
+catechism. She served the sick day and night, as there were many
+invalids to be found in a raw regiment of one hundred men. She solaced
+them in their sufferings with unwearied assiduity, and gave them the
+delicacies she received from the commander. Each day she read a lecture
+on the practical duties of Christianity, and induced all to recite aloud
+the morning and night prayers. Her courage and strength never failed
+during the inconveniences of a stormy sea-voyage, which was remarkable,
+as she had never been to sea before. She was really the guardian angel
+of the ship, and in the exercise of such heroic acts of charity did she
+arrive in Canada. However, in spite of her self-sacrificing virtue, she
+was the subject of uncharitable criticisms, as M. de Maisonneuve, who
+knew her worth, paid unceasing and deserved attention to her wants, and
+she testified the most humble and respectful submission to his wishes.
+Some who observed this wickedly construed it into hypocrisy to mask lost
+virtue, and although the lynx-eyed slanderers did not dare to assert as
+much openly on board, yet she knew it was discussed in private. But she
+endured the humiliation in silence, as was her custom when calumny of
+any kind assailed her.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+SISTER BOURGEOIS' ARRIVAL IN CANADA.
+
+
+The voyage from various causes having lasted three months, the fleet did
+not arrive in Quebec until the 22d of September, 1653. She therefore set
+her foot on Canadian soil for the first time in the capital of New
+France. It was like taking possession of the Province she was afterwards
+to edify and instruct, by word and example, not only by her own
+immediate labors, but also by the zeal of those who were in the designs
+of God to continue the good work she so happily commenced, and to
+continue it for centuries throughout the whole extent of that vast
+country. Yet it was not Quebec but _Montreal_, that God intended to be
+the centre of her missionary zeal, and that of her spiritual daughters.
+She therefore made but a short stay in the capital, and could not rest
+until she arrived at her final destination, accompanied by M. de
+Maisonneuve. Words would be quite inadequate to express the joy she felt
+on approaching Montreal. She was overpowered with gratitude to the
+Almighty God when she first beheld the young city for which she had so
+long sighed, and which was indeed the City of Mary, having been
+consecrated to her, and this joy was so much the purer as it was
+purchased by the pains and humiliations she endured for Christ's dear
+sake. In addition to what has been already related of this voyage,
+Sister Bourgeois says in her manuscripts, that as soon as they weighed
+anchor, it was discovered the ship was rotten, and leaked in many
+places. However, as it was well manned, having, besides the usual number
+of sailors, 108 soldiers on board, it was hoped they would be able to
+brave the sea, but the hope was vain. Although they worked night and day
+at the pumps, the ship could not be kept afloat. The water gained
+rapidly, and their provisions were nearly destroyed. They were obliged
+to return to the port of St. Lazare, on nearing which they must have
+perished but for the timely assistance rendered by the inhabitants of
+the place. Margaret Bourgeois felt the danger more keenly, as there was
+not a priest on board, and very few were prepared for death. M. de
+Maisonneuve took the wise precaution of putting the soldiers ashore on
+an island, to prevent desertions; but a few in despair cast themselves
+into the sea to effect an escape, as the ship was sinking before their
+eyes, and they believed M. de Maisonneuve was leading them to perdition.
+One alone was calm amidst that wild tumult of passion, and that one was
+Sister Bourgeois, who willingly and repeatedly offered the sacrifice of
+her life to God. In the meantime M. de Maisonneuve was fortunate enough
+to secure a new ship, and all other things necessary to continue the
+voyage. So they set sail again on the feast of St. Margaret, after
+having assisted at Mass, a happiness they had not enjoyed for a long
+time. As if to add to their misery, sickness now became general, and
+Sister Bourgeois was alternately priest and infirmarian, eight persons
+having died in her arms. As soon as they were finally settled in
+Ville-Marie, She requested M. de Maisonneuve to lead her to the cross he
+had erected in 1640. But that one having been weather-beaten and broken,
+he replaced it with another, higher up on the mountain, with an image of
+Mary near it. This was a rendezvous for the savages, who assembled there
+to receive religious instruction. He carried the second cross on his
+shoulders through thorns, and rocks, and forest trees, there being no
+pathway up the hill-side, and having secured it on the platform prepared
+for it, placed beside it the statue of the Blessed Virgin given him by
+the Congregation Sisters. The erection of this cross was quite a
+religious ceremony, and occurred on the _same day_, and at _then same
+hour_, on which Sister Bourgeois received the first miraculous favor
+from the Mother of God, in the porch of the church of Notre Dame, in the
+city of Troyes. She always believed that this extraordinary event
+determined her vocation for Canada. The consecrated hillside became
+afterwards the "Mission of the Mountain." The following year an altar
+was erected at the foot of the cross, and the early missionary priests
+of Ville-Marie celebrated Mass there for the converted savages. It
+happened once, that of fifteen or sixteen persons present at the Holy
+Sacrifice, not one knew how to serve Mass, and Jean Mance had to get a
+little child, four years old, to wait on the priest, by suggesting the
+responses, and indicating the ceremonies. At the foot of this mountain,
+in after years, the Indians assembled by hundreds, to embrace
+Christianity, and receive instruction from the priests and the Sisters
+of the Congregation. The first time M. de Maisonneuve conducted Margaret
+Bourgeois to the time-honored cross, he was obliged to have an escort of
+thirty men, lest the Iroquois should surprise and maltreat them. What
+then must have been her disappointment and grief to find it thrown down
+and broken. The Indians had watched their opportunity to insult the
+Christian standard, yet wonderful to relate, the statue of the Blessed
+Virgin was not in the least injured. She resolved on the spot to erect a
+third cross, with M. de Maisonneuve's permission, which she of course
+obtained, and for three days and nights they labored together on the
+mountain until the pious work was completed. This time they surrounded
+it with a strong palisade of stakes, and for years the colonists were in
+the habit of making annual pilgrimages to it. It was still standing in
+1760, when the English became masters of Montreal, but from that time it
+was seen no more. Sister Bourgeois soon after her arrival, commenced her
+labor of Christian love. Ville-Marie then contained about fifty houses
+scattered here and there, with a fort for the garrison. A few colonists
+settled in the surrounding country, where they made successful attempts
+to cultivate the ground, and some converted savages erected cabins in
+the vicinity. These constituted the entire population of Montreal at
+that remote period, and our heroine visited each house daily, like the
+Apostles of old, to animate the people with a portion of her own zeal in
+the discharge of their religious duties. She was to be found everywhere
+that the good of her fellow-creatures required, either waiting on the
+sick, consoling the afflicted, instructing the ignorant, washing and
+mending--gratis--the clothing of the poor soldiers, preparing the dead
+for burial, or despoiling herself of necessaries in favor of the
+destitute, which was the routine of her daily life. And it might be
+truly said in the words of Scripture, that her days were full. We have
+already related that M. le Coq gave her a sleeping outfit, consisting of
+a mattress, palliasse, two comforters, and a pillow. Although the first
+winter she spent in Montreal was an unusually severe one, she never used
+these articles of comfort _herself_, but freely bestowed them on
+_others_. A poor soldier, badly frozen, hastened to tell her his misery;
+the mattress was instantly given to him. A comrade hearing of his good
+fortune, presented himself for relief; the palliasse became his
+property, the comforters being bestowed on a third, who was as
+wretchedly lodged as the others. There was as yet no applicant for the
+pillow, which was a useless article of furniture to her, as she slept on
+the bare ground, or a plank, resting her head upon straw,
+notwithstanding the inclemency of Canadian winters. Yet she felt amply
+rewarded for her privations, by being permitted to perform charitable
+offices for others. She was the common mother of the young colonists,
+being an eye to the blind, a foot to the lame, consolation to the
+afflicted, a support to the weak and indigent, making herself like the
+Apostle, "all to all, in order to gain all to Christ." But her principal
+aim was the instruction of the little ones, and as she had no
+school-room to teach in, she followed them from house to house,
+instructing them in their religious duties, and inspiring them with
+devotion to the Immaculate Mother of God. While M. de Maisonneuve, her
+faithful fellow-laborer, struggled for the material prosperity of the
+colony, she endeavored to erect a spiritual empire in the hearts of the
+faithful. But as the population increased the extent of her
+foot-journeys covered a vast tract of country, and the number of
+children she instructed was greater than one teacher could attend to.
+Although her strength and courage never flagged, she evidently required
+assistance, which Almighty God provided in His own mysterious and
+adorable manner, as will soon be related.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE CONGREGATION OF NOTRE DAME AT
+VILLE-MARIE.
+
+
+Sister Bourgeois had now lived four years in Ville-Marie, during which
+time she had practised the most heroic virtues. Her zeal for the glory
+of God was ever increasing, her only desire being to win souls to His
+service, and to love and imitate the virtues of His divine Mother. About
+this period she felt interiorly inspired to build a church in honor of
+Mary, in which she might at times assemble her little pupils for
+instruction, in order to effect greater good among them. Hitherto she
+had literally to run after them from house to house, which unavoidably
+caused a great loss of her precious time. Yet, obedient to the
+inspirations of grace, she first consulted her confessor, Father Pizart,
+a Jesuit, who was then the only priest in Ville-Marie. To test her
+firmness he represented and exaggerated the difficulties she would have
+to encounter, but her zealous determination overcame his objections, and
+he approved of her design, not doubting that God would assist her to
+accomplish it. Being strengthened in her resolution by his approval, and
+full of confidence in God and His Holy Mother, she went directly to M.
+de Maisonneuve to ask for a suitable tract of land on which to erect the
+building. This he gave most willingly, as there was nothing dearer to
+him than to promote devotion to the Mother of God by every means in his
+power. Having unbounded confidence in Sister Bourgeois, he desired her
+to select a site for the edifice, wherever she pleased, and she
+accordingly took possession of the ground on which the church of
+Bon-Secours stands today, being about four hundred paces from the city
+of Ville-Marie. The extent of the lot was only 40 by 30 feet, which
+small enclosure she judged sufficient for her purpose, but she had no
+earthly means to carry out her design. However, she set to work
+hopefully, and enlisted the sympathies of the colonists. Nor was she
+disappointed, as all were disposed to assist; some prepared lumber,
+others quarried stone, mechanics worked as their services were required,
+laborers waited on the workmen, several contributed money quite
+liberally, and in a few days the foundation was ready to receive the
+ponderous wooden structure to be laid upon it. Everything seemed to be
+progressing favorably, but it was the work of God, and had to encounter
+contradiction to make it perfect. The contradiction came, too, from a
+quarter the least expected, God having so permitted in order to purify
+still more the heart of this holy woman. Until then, there had been no
+bishop at Quebec, and M. l'Abbe de Quelus, first superior of the
+Seminary of St. Sulpice at Montreal, arrived from France, at the precise
+time they were putting up the building. He came as Grand-Vicar of the
+Archbishop of Rouen, in whose name all spiritual jurisdiction in Canada
+had hitherto been exercised. He had never heard of Sister Bourgeois, and
+with three other priests of his society, came for the express purpose of
+founding a _seminary_ at Ville-Marie, being the first Sulpicians who
+visited New France. M. de Quelus was therefore surprised to find a young
+woman, whose humility concealed her talents and her virtues, take the
+lead in building a church, for which she had, as we have seen, the
+permission of a subordinate ecclesiastic. In his wisdom he ordered the
+work to be discontinued, and she submitted to the voice of authority
+without murmur or reply, but _reflected_, nevertheless, on the
+_consequences_. There was a large quantity of valuable lumber ready for
+the carpenters; it was procured at great expense and labor, but must, in
+consequence of the interdict, become a total loss, and rot on the
+ground. Human prudence would have regarded the event as a misfortune,
+and Sister Bourgeois, obedient as she was, sighed bitterly in secret.
+But God, who knows how to draw good out of evil, turned the
+contradiction into a work of enduring benefit. The contemplated wooden
+building was forbidden, it is true, but a stone church was erected
+instead, and the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame may be said
+to date _from that period_. It does not appear that she had previously
+thought of forming a community, but seeing her hopes thus suddenly
+dashed to the ground, and feeling she could no longer do justice to the
+children on the scattered plan she was compelled to adopt, she began
+seriously to think of associating with herself a few companions.
+
+Full of this idea, and convinced that in Ville-Marie she could not find
+persons suitable for teachers, she decided on going back to France, to
+induce the externs of Troyes, her native city, to form a corps of
+teachers for Canada. She foresaw her return would be considered unwise
+and ill-timed, but a voice within that would not be silenced, told her
+that God required her to return. According to the wisdom of the world,
+it did look badly for a single woman, without means or credit, to
+recross the ocean for the purpose of inducing others to imitate her wise
+folly, to renounce all things and sacrifice the peace and security of
+home for the dangers of a wild, thinly-settled country. The citizens of
+Troyes knew well that Canadian colonists were the constant prey of
+relentless savages, being murdered in cold blood, not only on the island
+of Montreal, but frequently at their own doors. Yet Sister Bourgeois,
+animated by the Holy Spirit, listened only to the voice of God, as did
+the Apostles of old, and as did also the holy woman who followed in
+their track. She left Ville-Marie with a strong presentiment of success.
+Perhaps she had also a prophetic view of what would follow. At least one
+is led to think so, by the positive assurance she gave to a confidential
+friend before her departure, that she would be absent _one year_, which
+prediction was literally verified, as she left Montreal, September,
+1658, and returned in safety with her new companions September, 1659. If
+the saintly woman herself displayed courage and zeal in undertaking the
+return voyage, no less heroism was evinced by those who followed her to
+Canada. It is always a matter of surprise to the worldly-minded, to see
+young girls courageously sever the ties of kindred and country, and
+attach themselves to one who possesses nothing but confidence in God,
+and who promises nothing in the future but humiliations, pain and labor
+to her followers. Such were the inducements held out by Margaret
+Bourgeois to those she succeeded in bringing to the New World, and such
+were the Christian heroines who associated themselves to this great work
+of charity. Four young girls accompanied her on the first recruiting
+voyage, whose names deserve to be transmitted to posterity. They were
+Mlles. Crolo, Raisin, Fyoux, and Chatel. The title of Sister was not
+given them for many years after, but in 1671 they received letters
+patent authorizing them to form a religious community. We cannot better
+describe the rise and progress of the Sisters of the Congregation than
+by giving extracts from the manuscripts of Sister Bourgeois. She says:
+
+"In 1658, five years after my first arrival in Canada, I felt inspired
+to return to France for help. It happened in this way: Mlle. Mance had
+broken her arm, and undergone an unsuccessful operation. It continued so
+painful, that she was obliged to go to France to have it properly
+treated, having also matters to arrange for her hospital. As she could
+not travel without a companion--being an invalid--I offered my services,
+which were accepted, but I had another object in view, namely, to
+procure capable young persons to teach my school. Mlle. Mance was well
+pleased that I should accompany her, and, as our simple preparations
+were easily made, we left Montreal on the Feast of St. Michael, Sept.
+29, 1658. Having been the sacristan of the parish church, I requested M.
+Galimier, a priest of the seminary, to keep matters so arranged that I
+could resume the pious duty on my return. I made the request before
+starting for Europe, and he promised that my desire should be complied
+with, provided I was not absent longer than a year. I made the promise
+partly in jest, yet I Divine Providence ordained that I should return
+safely on the next Feast of St. Michael. The crew of the vessel in which
+we embarked numbered but six men, and were all Protestants, Mlle. Mance
+and myself being the only Catholics on board. We scarcely ever went on
+deck, preferring to remain quietly in the cabin allotted to us, and
+perform our devotions. The crew, at times, _sang their prayers_ too
+loudly for the comfort of an invalid, and Mlle. Mance was reluctantly
+obliged to complain to the captain. After that the singing of the
+prayers ceased, and we were treated with marked attention and respect.
+We had a prosperous voyage over the blue sea, and cast anchor at La
+Rochelle, during the Christmas holidays. Mlle. Mance went immediately to
+La Fleche, to get her arm reset, in that famous hospital, and hoped to
+bring back with her, on her return, a few of the Sisters, to assist in
+the management of the hospital she had established at Ville-Marie. I was
+delighted to have the consolation of again seeing M. de la Dauversiere,
+that great servant of Mary, and noble protector of Montreal, who resided
+at La Fleche, of which place he was Lieutenant-General. We remained
+there a few days, and then set out for Paris. I had become in a manner
+necessary to Mlle. Mance, as she was not able to dress without
+assistance, and she willingly defrayed my expenses while we resided with
+her sister during our stay in Paris. M. Olier, superior of St. Sulpice,
+died two years before our arrival, and as she had great faith in his
+intercession, she requested the new superior to allow her to pray at the
+tomb of the deceased. She was refused the favor _then_, but was directed
+to call on the following Sunday, which she did not fail to do,
+accompanied by me. It gave us inexpressible joy to pray by the tomb of
+the dead saint, and to see the splendid chapel of St. Sulpice. But Mlle.
+Mance had more reason to rejoice than I, for, while kneeling in prayer,
+she suddenly recovered the use of her crippled arm, and was restored to
+perfect health, God being pleased to reward her _great_ faith by a
+_greater_ miracle. I went to Troyes on business of my own for a few
+days, leaving her to continue a novena alone. She wrote to me with her
+formerly withered hand, thereby proving beyond doubt that she was cured.
+The physicians declared that human science was useless in her case, and
+that the restoration of her arm was an undeniable miracle. During my
+stay at Troyes, I lodged with the religieuses of the Congregation, who
+entertained me with much kindness and charity. I explained to them my
+desire of procuring a few young girls, who would be willing to accompany
+me as teachers to Ville-Marie, and also that I would be glad to get one
+or two healthy persons to attend to our domestic work. My purpose was
+highly approved of by them, but I was assured it would be difficult to
+carry it into execution. Nor could I have succeeded without the special
+help of Divine Providence, in which I implicitly trusted, and my hope
+was never in vain. As soon as the purpose of my visit was known in
+Troyes, three of my old companions at once offered their services. These
+were Sisters Crolo, Chatel, and Raisin. The first named had asked to
+accompany me in 1652. M. Chatel, the father of the second, was Notary
+Apostolic, and on hearing my proposal to take his daughter to Canada (at
+her own desire), asked how we intended to earn a living in the New
+World. I replied that M. de Maisonneuve had given us a good _stable_ for
+a dwelling, that it was large, and would suit our purpose, and showed
+him the contract. 'That is all very well,' he said, 'but what are you
+going to _subsist_ on?' The only answer I could make was, that we should
+labor faithfully in the school, and that I could promise nothing to my
+companions, but pain of mind and body, with a mess of pottage. My reply
+brought tears to his eyes, for though he loved his daughter dearly, he
+loved religious sacrifices better. He did not give me a decisive answer
+for a few days, however, preferring to act slowly, and consult his
+friends on the matter. They advised him to place no obstacle to the work
+of God, as his daughter freely offered herself for the mission, and so
+the truly Christian father agreed to let her go. He courageously signed,
+in her presence, the contract by which he resigned the earthly future of
+his beloved child to the care of Margaret Bourgeois, a similar contract
+being drawn up for Sister Crolo."
+
+It is to be regretted that these contract papers have not been preserved
+in the archives of the community. As poor as Sister Bourgeois was, she
+did not wish to receive _money_ with either party, but M. Chatel would
+not permit his daughter to depart without providing her an abundant
+supply of clothing, and about two hundred livres in specie. He also gave
+her letters of credit, addressed to persons of distinction, who resided
+in the several places through which she must pass, so that, if she
+wished to return to Troyes, she might be able to procure the necessary
+funds. As to Sister Raisin, she was obliged to go to Paris to get her
+father's consent, flattering herself it would be easily obtained.
+Astonished at the zealous courage of these Christian heroines, a young
+student of Troyes determined to leave all for Christ, and go with them
+to Canada to teach the boys, as the Sisters intended to teach none but
+girls. He was attacked by a violent hemorrhage during the voyage, and
+died in the Sisters' house, two years after his arrival. He was known as
+Brother Louis, but was not the Brother Louis who transacted business for
+Sister Bourgeois in France at a later period.
+
+To return again to the manuscript. She says: "I and my three companions
+started from Troyes to Paris in an old worn-out conveyance, that we
+hired for our own use, but had not gone far before we were compelled to
+stop, as the owners of the _public_ carriages, who controlled the road,
+would not permit a private conveyance like ours to interfere with their
+traffic. We were therefore obliged to return to Troyes, where M. Chatel
+obtained for us permission to continue the journey. As we had to travel
+on Sunday, we requested the driver to stop at some village where we
+could assist at Mass. This he very disobligingly refused to do. We
+passed before a church pretty soon, however, and one of the wheels
+breaking, he stopped against his will, to mend it, and we assisted at
+the Holy Sacrifice while he worked at the broken wheel. On our arrival
+in Paris, M. Raisin would not permit his daughter to go to Canada, and
+stubbornly refused to see her; nor had she the courage to present
+herself before him. She could only prevail through the intercession of
+friends, and in this way was successful, as he finally gave his consent,
+a contract being ratified in her case also. I could not prevent his
+offering one thousand livres for her voyage, and, as I feared to
+disoblige him by a refusal, I compromised, and accepted one hundred
+crowns. However, this did not satisfy him, and he legally arranged to
+pay to the community an annuity of thirty-five livres, being the
+interest of the seven hundred livres I refused to accept. After his
+death, his son, a member of the Legislative Assembly, added to this an
+annuity of three hundred livres, interest on six thousand, which was
+donated for three yearly Masses, for the repose of his father's soul,
+which Masses are celebrated to this day on the 22d, 23d, and 24th of
+April; so charitable were these gentlemen to the embryo Congregation. In
+Paris we received an addition to our number, M. Blondel giving one of
+his nieces as a teacher for Ville-Marie. This young lady was the first
+person admitted to our community in 1659, and was named Sister St.
+Claire. There were now assembled eighteen young girls for the return
+voyage, four of whom were to remain at Quebec, the rest being bound for
+Montreal. We again hired wagons to make the journey from Paris to La
+Rochelle, and met with the same mishap as at Troyes, but finally arrived
+at our destination, where I had the happiness once more to meet Mlle.
+Mance, who was bringing with her three religieuses for the hospital of
+Montreal. On the eve of embarkation an obstacle quite unexpectedly
+presented itself. I had supposed that my companions and myself were to
+be taken on board gratuitously, such certainly being the intention of M.
+de Maisonneuve, the master of the ship had heard nothing of such an
+arrangement, however; at least he said so, and refused to take us,
+unless each one paid 175 livres for her passage, besides furnishing
+provisions, and as we had no money, we were on the point of being left
+behind. I fortunately thought of drawing a double letter of exchange on
+M. Raisin, which was accepted. We finally set sail and found that the
+commander, notwithstanding the trouble he had given us, was a very
+honest man. The vessel was very large and convenient, but had served for
+a floating hospital during the war, and the very timbers of it were
+infected with disease. Perhaps this was not the only cause of sickness,
+as we had a large number of passengers, among whom were two priests, M.
+le Maitre, and M. Vignal, both bound for the Montreal seminary. These
+holy men were afterwards murdered by the Indians, in cold blood. We took
+care to have the priests near us during the voyage, as pestilence soon
+broke out. Mlle. Mance and her religieuses were the first attacked, but
+after a few days several of the secular girls succumbed. Eight persons
+died of the plague, and would have been thrown into the sea, without the
+decency of a shroud, but for the thoughtful exertions of M. le Maitre,
+who constructed rough coffins on the spot, and took the precaution to
+throw overboard everything belonging to the dead. A young mother among
+the stricken left a nursing infant, which, with its father, was
+prostrated by the pestilence. The babe's life was despaired of, as no
+one was willing to take charge of it, and many advised that it be thrown
+into the sea alive. The cruel suggestion aroused my sympathy, and I
+offered to take the infant myself, much against the will of my
+companions, who were all sick. However, I succeeded in getting the
+little waif in my keeping. When we arrived in Quebec, its cries and
+horrible appearance caused us much annoyance, and as I had business to
+transact in Quebec, I was obliged to return it to the father, who was
+then well, promising to reclaim it before setting out for Montreal. That
+September, the cold season set in with unusual rigor, and the crew built
+fires in cabins along the shore, to keep themselves from freezing, and
+this man, with the babe in his arms, lying down among them, the poor
+little martyr rolled into the embers and was shockingly burned. However,
+when we arrived at Montreal it grew better, and in consequence of losing
+its mother so young, I procured a nurse to supply it with natural
+nourishment; a few days after it sickened, died, and went to rest in the
+bosom of God. We arrived at Montreal on the Feast of St. Michael, being
+exactly one year, day for day, and hour for hour, from the time of our
+departure."
+
+Sister Bourgeois and her companions immediately took possession of the
+stable which was given for school purposes by M. de Maisonneuve the
+previous year. It was built of stone, about twenty-five feet square, and
+had been for a long time a shelter for all kinds of animals. She had a
+chimney built on the floor prepared for the school-room, the Sisters
+cooking and eating there, when school was dismissed. The loft of the
+stable served for a dovecot and granary, and was reached by an outside
+ladder. This she arranged as a dormitory and a community-room. All
+things being now in working order, they began to receive boarders and
+day-pupils. One of the latter, Marie Barbier, who was afterwards called
+in religion Sister Mary of the Assumption, succeeded Sister Bourgeois as
+superior of the Congregation, and was the first member received in
+Ville-Marie. The school was formally opened on the Feast of St.
+Catherine, Nov. 25, 1659, and a secular society for young ladies was put
+in operation on the Feast of the Visitation the following year. This
+society has never been discontinued, and exists still in almost
+primitive fervor. In a short time the number of boarders and day-pupils
+became so considerable, that it was necessary to purchase a small house,
+in the vicinity of the lucky stable, from a man named St. Ange. As
+Sister Bourgeois burned with zeal to advance the glory of God in the New
+World, in addition to the cares inseparable from governing a young
+community, she undertook another labor of love, which eventually caused
+her the most bitter sorrow. We refer to the manuscripts: "Several young
+girls accompanied us from France, who were taken from the hospitals, and
+sent at the King's expense to assist in the colonization of Ville-Marie.
+While we were repairing the little house we purchased from St. Ange,
+another batch of these girls arrived, and as I knew they were intended
+to become mothers of families, I hastened to meet them as soon as they
+should land, in order to bring them to our new house, and detain them a
+short time, for instruction." The Sisters (we may as well so name them
+at once) had for some time importuned Sister Bourgeois to add another
+story to their dwelling, as it did not afford accommodation for both
+Sisters and pupils; but she objected on account of her love of poverty,
+humility, and mortification. However, the arrival of the strangers
+induced her to comply, and her hasty compliance was a source of lifelong
+regret, because, as she affirmed, she did not sufficiently consult the
+will of God and her ecclesiastical superior. In fact she never forgave
+herself this unintentional error of judgment, as she called it, and
+attributed to it all the accidents that subsequently befell her
+community.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+M. FRANCOIS DE LAVAL DE MONTMORENCI IS APPOINTED FIRST BISHOP OF
+CANADA--SISTER BOURGEOIS SUCCEEDS IN BUILDING THE CHURCH OF "NOTRE DAME
+DE BON SECOURS."
+
+
+In the year 1659 M. Francois de Laval de Montmorenci was appointed first
+bishop of Canada, having been hitherto known as the Abbe de Montigni.
+The famous Henri Marie Bondon, author of many ascetic works, succeeded
+him as arch-deacon of Evreux, M. de Laval having resigned in his favor.
+He received his appointment from the French King, but as the Sovereign
+Pontiff had not yet erected any portion of the Canadian church into the
+diocese, came at first in quality of Vicar Apostolic, consecrated with
+the title of Bishop of Petree. M. de Quelus, who had until then governed
+the Church in New France, subject to the authority of the Archbishop of
+Rouen, did not dispute the jurisdiction of Bishop Laval, but returned to
+France immediately, accompanied by his secretary, M. d'Allet, to inform
+his own Bishop of what had transpired in Canada. He never returned,
+however, and died in Paris, in 1680, in the Seminary of St. Sulpice. M.
+de Laval met Sister Bourgeois for the first time, during the voyage from
+France, and having conceived a very high opinion of her virtue, gave
+herself and companions permission to form in his diocese whatever
+religious establishments they should consider most conducive to the
+welfare of the country.
+
+Almighty God in His inscrutable wisdom had so arranged matters that the
+Institute of Sister Bourgeois should be born in a stable, like His own
+divine Son, the Sisters being much happier there than if they were
+lodged in a palace. As soon as circumstances permitted after her return,
+she took occasion to revisit the chapel she attempted to build before
+her departure, and found to her sorrow what she had foreseen, that the
+greatest part of the lumber was in a state of decay, and quite
+worthless. Yet, as she could not yield to despair, she collected from
+the debris sufficient material to build a sort of shed, to be used
+alternately as a chapel and a class-room until they could do better. The
+piety and fervor of the new teachers attracted the attention of the
+whole colony, and the schools in a short time became overcrowded, so
+that Sister Bourgeois was induced to undertake the erection of a
+building large enough to meet their wants. She had neither ground nor
+money, but Divine Providence provided both, as M. de Maisonneuve, whose
+devotion to the Blessed Virgin always prompted him to assist her, had
+already given a deed of the property they then occupied, and added to it
+fifty rods adjoining, with the clause that if the Congregation decided,
+in the future, to build on a more extended plan, for which the present
+site would not be suitable, the said fifty rods were to be deeded to the
+hospital, in the vicinity, all which was legally arranged in the month
+of February, 1658. M. Gabriel Souart, superior of the Seminary, donated
+another piece of ground, upon which the convent stands today. Many other
+gifts of real estate became also the property of Sister Bourgeois, and
+were chiefly in the suburbs of the city, which was at last becoming
+extensive. As soon as the plan for the building was completed every one
+hastened to offer assistance, as an educational institution was
+considered a public blessing, and it was evident that God inspired His
+faithful servant to undertake the work. The building was so arranged
+that one side should be occupied by the Sisters, the other being fitted
+up for the boarders and schools. It was not fully completed when Sister
+Bourgeois reflected that in the then unsettled state of things, and for
+the security of the institution, it would be necessary to obtain letters
+patent from the King. The reflection was a wise one, but to obtain the
+letters would expose her to much personal humiliation, and also to great
+dissipation and loss of time. At first it seemed possible to arrange
+matters by procuring the approbation of the home authorities, that is to
+say, of the Bishop and Governor-General. So she determined to set out
+for Quebec, to present her petition to these distinguished persons,
+hoping to have little difficulty in making them understand the utility
+of the establishment. Messrs. Souart and Perrot gave her letters of
+recommendation, and the inhabitants of Montreal, who knew the great
+virtues and talents she concealed beneath the veil of humility,
+assembled _en masse_ in the Seminary, to give to her petition the weight
+of their united signatures. They also sent by her an humble supplication
+to his majesty, or his representatives, entreating that the royal
+sanction be given to insure the success of the establishment. Each one
+separately signed his name to the document, and placed it in her hands.
+They were all the more eager to help as they had often been compelled to
+send their children to Quebec to the Ursulines, and the pressing need of
+a home institution was becoming more apparent each day. Full of
+confidence in God and His holy Mother, and furnished with these
+respectable documents, she finally decided on no half-way course, but
+set sail again for France, in the autumn of 1670, fearing neither
+danger, nor the inconveniences conveniences of a third sea-voyage, to
+obtain the succors she needed for others, more than for herself. What a
+sublime spectacle it was, to see an humble, unattended woman cross the
+great sea alone, and go in her simple attire, into the brilliant court
+of the Great King, Louis XIV., to treat of the interests of religion and
+the glory of God. Her success was as singular as her enterprise, and
+though the journey was long, and full of pain and fatigue (she did not
+return for two years), she felt abundantly repaid by the many advantages
+and lasting good it produced. On her arrival in Paris, her first visit
+was to the church of Notre Dame, to renew, before the altar of the
+Blessed Virgin, the consecration she had there made of herself, in 1646,
+in company of the Montreal Association. She implored the blessing of the
+Queen of Heaven, on herself, her fellow-laborers in the schools of
+Montreal, and her present undertaking, and then set to work to
+accomplish her end. She visited some of the old friends of M. de
+Maisonneuve, who were all persons of merit and high social position, and
+were known to have much influence at court, in order to induce them to
+procure her the favor of an interview with his majesty. These people had
+not at all forgotten her, and had several letters of recommendation in
+her favor. They knew the good she was capable of effecting, and made it
+a point of honor to assist her. The King was in due course of time
+informed of the matter, and seemed to be rather favorably inclined to
+grant her request, yet six weary months elapsed without his giving a
+decisive answer. Learning that his majesty was at Dunkirk in the May of
+1671, she repaired thither, to renew solicitations, and at last obtained
+the long-sought letters, which contained Catholic sentiments worthy of
+the great French monarch. Being authorized by the royal patent, she next
+tried to procure a new corps of volunteers, who would, like the first
+heroic band, generously renounce home, family, and country, without hope
+of ever returning, who would be willing to cross the great ocean, then
+but imperfectly known, and devote their future lives to the instruction
+of wild savages, as much as to the advancement of the French colonists,
+expecting also that the relentless Iroquois would repay their Christian
+love with the tomahawk or the scalping-knife, and in those days how
+often was the expectation verified. Yet these considerations were
+precisely what attracted a great number of talented young girls, fully
+capable of sustaining and perfecting the enterprise, and worthy to share
+with the holy Foundress the labor, the glory, and the success that
+awaited the Congregation in Ville-Marie. She procured her postulants in
+the towns that lie scattered between Troyes and Paris, and she as often
+travelled on foot carrying her little bundle of poor clothing, as she
+did in the public conveyances, that were disagreeable to her, because
+the roads were rough, and the companions she met were frequently
+dissolute libertines, although her modest exterior and edifying
+conversation frequently silenced their licentious discourses. In fact
+her travels were a sort of continuous mission, effecting good for the
+souls of her neighbor, and advancing her own spiritual perfection. At
+such times she refused all personal convenience, so great was her spirit
+of poverty, humility, and mortification, and she possessed these virtues
+in an eminent degree. Liberal and generous to others, when there was
+question of charity or the glory of God, to herself she was rigorous in
+the extreme. She truly possessed nothing, giving all the fruit of her
+labors to the poor. But Divine Providence never failed her in the hour
+of need.
+
+Once, during this visit, she met a gentleman in the streets of Paris,
+who suddenly stopped to ask if she knew a lady from Canada, named
+Margaret Bourgeois. "I am the person," she replied. Surprised at the
+unexpected rencontre, he placed a considerable sum of money in her hands
+(she had not wherewith to pay her night's-lodging at the time), which
+she refused to accept, not knowing his motive for doing so, but was soon
+relieved of her embarrassment, by his assuring her he was only repaying
+a charity she had done him in Ville-Marie, and that it afforded him
+great pleasure to be able to return her generosity, as he could well
+afford to do it at the time.
+
+Travelling thus, through the towns and villages like the Saviour of the
+world, He prevented her by the unction of His grace, and prepared
+beforehand faithful hearts, who were willing to enter the new society,
+and consecrate themselves to the service of God under her guidance. Six
+young persons responded to her call. Their names were Sisters Elizabeth,
+Genevieve, Constantine, Durant, Marianne, and Margaret. Filled with holy
+joy, and accompanied by her new companions, Sister Bourgeois went to
+cast herself at the feet of her Bishop, and offer him the fruit of her
+journeyings and prayers.
+
+M. de Laval was at that time in the college of Foreign Missions in
+Paris, not only in quality of Bishop of Petree, Vicar-Apostolic of
+Canada, as he had been up to that period, but also as the first Bishop
+of Quebec. For it was not until the year 1672 that the important
+question of erecting the church of Quebec into a titular Bishopric was
+at last happily decided. The prelate approved the Sister's persevering
+labors, bestowed the most ample benedictions on herself and her young
+recruits, and received their first religious consecration to the service
+of God and the Church. He placed no bounds to his favors, and renewed
+the general permission given before, to erect schools, and form any
+other religious establishment in his diocese that they should judge
+beneficial to the colony. Everything seemed to succeed with this holy
+woman, and she attributed all her past success, as well as what the
+future might develop, to the special protection of the Blessed Virgin.
+Her confidence in her good Mother was boundless, and she considered it
+an essential duty to depend on her in all things, and inspired her
+daughters with a similar devotion. She wished it to be perpetuated in
+the Institute, and desired that the name and livery of Mary might be
+distinctly traceable in their houses, their furniture, and their
+personal appearance forever.
+
+Having now obtained all that she desired in France she thought it full
+time to return to Canada, after a long though unavoidable absence.
+Before embarking, she felt it was a duty of Christian politeness to call
+on the distinguished people who had assisted her in procuring the
+letters patent, and thanking them for their many kindnesses. No person
+could be more punctilious than she in the duties of social etiquette
+that charity approved, and religion did not condemn. By a particular
+dispensation of Providence, her first visit was made to the house of M.
+Pierre Chevrier, Baron de Faucamp, a priest, and one of the first
+proprietors of the Isle of Montreal, who then resided at Paris. In the
+house of this gentleman she received another most singular mark of the
+Blessed Virgin's love and protection.
+
+M. de Faucamp had in his possession a small miraculous statue of the
+Mother of God, which he, conjointly with his brother, Louis le Pretre,
+had taken from among a number of precious relics, in their castle
+chapel. It had been specially venerated, and carefully preserved for
+more than a century. Their intention was to send it to Ville-Marie,
+where they hoped it would be more religiously taken care of than
+elsewhere, as that city was really the city of Mary, having been built
+in her honor, and consecrated to her service. While awaiting a favorable
+opportunity to send the statue to the New World, Sister Bourgeois
+fortunately presented herself. During the two days that M. Faucamp had
+it in his house he fell dangerously ill, the sickness proving to be a
+fatal attack of inflammation of the lungs, and the physicians despaired
+of his life. In this emergency he made a vow, while praying before the
+miraculous statue, that if Mary cured him, he would everywhere publish
+her praises, and do all in his power to build a chapel in her honor, for
+which he would donate thirty pistoles to commence a fund for the
+purpose, begging also in his simplicity that she, the Mother of God,
+would not go to Montreal, and leave one of her most devoted clients sick
+in France. Scarcely had he pronounced his vow before he was perfectly
+restored to health. The following day Sister Bourgeois called upon him,
+and he could not help recognizing the wonderful providence of God in her
+visit. He immediately gave her the statue and the money, with an
+authentic certificate of the miracle performed on himself the day
+before, and Sister was happier in the possession of these treasures,
+than if she had gained the wealth of the universe. Never, indeed, was
+human confidence better placed than on this occasion.
+
+They set sail soon after, and arrived safely at Quebec on the 13th of
+August, the same year. She sent her band of heroines direct to
+Ville-Marie, for which they had so often sighed during their
+journeyings, and the very name of which animated their zeal and fervor,
+but she herself was detained at Quebec for some time. It was necessary
+to have the letters patent registered by the local authorities so that
+she would be at liberty to put their contents in execution, when Divine
+Providence presented an occasion. Her desire was complied with as soon
+as known, the act of registration taking place on the 17th of October,
+1672, after which she set out for Ville-Marie to join her daughters, and
+labor anew in the service of God. Glorying in being the custodian of the
+miraculous statue, she hastened to relate its wonderful history to
+Messrs. Souart and Perrot, who authorized her to expose it for public
+veneration. She deposited it in the little wooden shed she had erected
+after her first return from France, expecting to be able to place it
+more honorably in the large chapel, that was to be built of stone, and
+decently ornamented. This chapel was to be a kind of station for the
+ordinary parish processions, and a place of pilgrimage for those who had
+a devotion to the most holy Virgin, when they wished to visit the statue
+in order to obtain spiritual or temporal blessings through Mary's
+intercession, such being the intention of Messrs. le Pretre and Faucamp,
+and of many other devout persons who had contributed towards its
+erection.
+
+Despite the sorrow and humiliations she had already experienced
+regarding this chapel, she set to work again with renewed energy to
+effect its completion, but in order to proceed with suitable solemnity,
+M. Souart ordered a solemn procession to be made to the place, on the
+29th of June, 1673, being the Feast of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul.
+A great concourse of people attended Vespers after the procession, and
+M. Souart, the celebrant, put a crucifix in the place destined for the
+altar, and the next day laid the corner-stone, in the name, and as the
+agent of M. de Faucamp. Sister Bourgeois labored indefatigably to
+procure and disburse the necessary funds, a portion of which she had
+received in France, as we have seen, the remainder being contributed in
+Ville-Marie. The Sisters themselves assisted generously out of their
+private funds, and others donated materials or labor which was
+equivalent. The interior decorations were quite elaborate, and in due
+course of time the church was finished to the satisfaction of every one.
+It was the first _stone_ church erected in Montreal, and was consecrated
+under the title of "Notre Dame de Bon-Secours." Mass was celebrated in
+it for the first time on the Feast of the Assumption, 1675, this day of
+Mary's glorious triumph being selected as its principal Festival. The
+work being thus happily completed, Sister Bourgeois, in the hope of
+making it contribute more effectually to the glory of God, requested the
+cure and church-warden of the parish to accept the new monument of piety
+for public use, and make it a perpetuity of the parish, in order to
+promote devotion to the Mother of God. The donation was of course
+accepted with gratitude, and confirmed by an ordinance of M. de Laval,
+dated November 6, 1678. Some years afterwards, by a new arrangement,
+dated January 17, 1700, La Fabrique gave the Sisters suitable lots for
+free sepulture, and the unrestricted use of the Chapel of the Infant
+Jesus, for their private devotional exercises, which act was approved
+and confirmed by M. de St. Vallier, the second Bishop of Quebec, during
+one of his pastoral visitations in 1719. This church of Bon-Secours
+served for many years as a convent chapel to the Hospitalieres of the
+Hotel-Dieu, when their hospital and convent was burned down in 1734, and
+when they were obliged to lodge their sick in the houses adjoining the
+church, until their re-establishment, which did not take place for three
+or four years.
+
+We learn from a letter of Sister Bourgeois, that these same religieuses
+had been previously burned out in 1695, but that their hospital escaped
+the fury of the flames at that time. They sought and found a refuge with
+the Sisters of the Congregation, after the second burning, issuing forth
+daily to serve the sick, and returning at night to discharge the
+reciprocal duties of charity, consequent upon two different communities
+residing in the same house, and unavoidably crowding each other, yet no
+violation of charity ever occurred, and long before the day of
+separation came, an enduring friendship founded on Christ had mutually
+existed between them. This famous chapel of Bon-Secours was burned, and
+reduced to ashes in 1754, as was also a portion of the city of Montreal.
+
+The war between France and England occurring about that time, the
+citizens neglected to rebuild Bon-Secours, and the capture of
+Ville-Marie by the English, which took place on the Feast of the
+Nativity of Mary, 1760, was perhaps justly attributed to public
+disorders and licentiousness (the colonists in many instances having
+lost their first fervor), and was also considered a just punishment for
+not having erected anew the once favored shrine of Mary. Canada having
+exchanged masters, and being under the dominion of the King of England,
+who was a Protestant ruler, the inhabitants of Montreal did not think
+the time favorable to rebuild the church, and it remained a ruin until
+1771. They repented of their inaction, however, and reproached
+themselves with cowardice, attributing to their neglect the
+extraordinary calamities that befell them. The city was scourged by two
+other general conflagrations, the first occurring on the 18th of May,
+1765, when in the short space of four hours, one hundred houses were
+consumed. The burning was so violent, that the flames leaped beyond the
+city limits, reaching out to the General Hospital, which was soon a mass
+of smoking cinders. The second occurred on the 11th of April, 1768, more
+than eighty of the best public buildings being destroyed, including the
+chapel and residence of the Sisters of the Congregation, also the chapel
+of our Lady of Victories, which was built on their grounds in 1711, the
+repaired ruins of which serve to this day for school purposes.
+
+Much suffering and misery was the result of these calamities, but what
+struck terror to the hearts of the entire community, more than any other
+scourge of God, was the insolent demand made by some British officers,
+for the land on which Bon-Secours, or rather its ruins, stood. They then
+thought seriously of repairing their fault, and a general assembly of
+the citizens of Montreal was called in June, 1771, at which it was
+unanimously decided that they must labor strenuously to rebuild the
+chapel. They at once appointed persons to draw the plans and superintend
+the work, and in less than eight days the foundation was dug, and
+everything was in readiness. On the 30th of the same month they
+inaugurated the building of the second temple with the same religious
+ceremonies that a hundred years before had called down the material
+benedictions of Mary Immaculate on the first cornerstone, or rather on
+those who laid it. The entire city turned out in procession, with an
+enthusiasm and splendor worthy the admiration of succeeding ages, the
+foundation-stones being put in place by the most distinguished men of
+Montreal. The first was laid directly under the sanctuary, by Etienne
+Montgolfier, Vicar-General of the diocese, with the following
+inscription: "This church is dedicated to the Great and All-powerful
+God, and the Blessed Mary of Good Help, with the title of her glorious
+Assumption." The second was laid under the grand entrance door, by Louis
+Jollivet, beneath which was placed the following scroll: "This church
+was built nearly a century ago, by the Venerable Sister Margaret
+Bourgeois, Foundress of the Congregation Sisters of this city, but
+having been burnt in 1754, the citizens of Ville-Marie, who have ever
+been the devoted clients of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on this day, June
+30, 1771, place the first stone for its re-establishment, on a much more
+extensive plan than the original design." The other stones were placed
+under different parts of the building, by persons of the highest rank,
+and under each was deposited a leaden plate, on which was engraven the
+name and rank of the depositor. In the midst of this general enthusiasm,
+there soon arose the vast and magnificent edifice that we behold to-day.
+Every one worked for it in some way or other, and believed it was an act
+of religious reparation to defray the expense. Sister Bourgeois and her
+daughters had contributed largely the first time, and their descendants
+would not be outdone in generosity on this occasion. They donated 600
+livres to "the rebuilding of the temple." The work was pressed forward
+with all diligence and zeal, and was completely finished in less than
+two years. On the 30th of June, 1773, it was solemnly blessed amid the
+acclamations of the entire people and Mass was celebrated in it ever
+after.
+
+But to return from this long digression. When Sister Bourgeois arrived
+at Ville-Marie in 1672, she realized the full responsibility of
+governing and providing for so many young aspirants to religion, and
+began to think seriously of giving some regular form to the community.
+Her second batch of postulants had already obtained in Paris the
+approbation of M. de Laval, who received their primary engagements, and
+she ardently desired that her first beloved companions should enjoy the
+same precious advantage, having labored with her faithfully for twelve
+years at Ville-Marie. She wrote on the subject to M. Bornieres,
+arch-deacon of Quebec, who represented M. de Laval in his absence, this
+prelate being still in France. The reply of the distinguished
+ecclesiastic, dated November 4, 1674, was:
+
+"MY DEAR SISTER,--I have received the letter in which you ask, 'Is it
+proper to receive now, _formally_, in your Congregation, the Sisters who
+first came with you to Canada, or will it be necessary to await the
+return of the bishop?' Although I am persuaded of the propriety of what
+you ask, nevertheless, it will be more prudent to await his return, as
+he has written to me regarding both you and your Congregation, for which
+he testifies much esteem. It will be best that he regulate everything
+himself, as he will certainly make his intentions known to you. I trust
+that all will be arranged satisfactorily, for the glory of God, the
+salvation of souls, and your own consolation, and shall offer every
+assistance in my power for the good work. I salute your esteemed
+daughters, and recommend myself to their prayers and yours."
+
+
+M. de Laval returned to Canada the following year. The Sisters were all
+of the same grade, no distinctions having been made; all wore a uniform
+dress, similar to that ordinarily worn by pious women of the middle
+class. The color was black, being the same in every respect as Sister
+Bourgeois herself wore on her first arrival at Ville-Marie, and which
+the Sisters continue to wear to this day. We will refer again to her
+Memoirs. She says:
+
+"In 1670, I found it necessary to undertake another journey to France,
+and had long felt inspired to make it. As I was suffering much from
+mental anxiety, I hoped that an interview with M. de Laval would afford
+me some solace. He was then only Vicar-Apostolic of Canada, but I had
+great confidence in his wisdom, and hoped he would impart to me the
+light necessary for governing our community. I was told that I should
+bring with me to France the King's letters, and endeavor to procure more
+postulants. For these purposes, I obtained the consent of the Sisters,
+and was furnished with many letters of recommendation, from the priests
+of the Quebec and Montreal Seminaries. I also had one from M. Perrot,
+Governor of Montreal, and successor of M. de Maisonneuve. The Governor,
+who was a Parisian, recommended me to his family there. I left Montreal
+accompanied by M. de Fenelon, who gave me a passage in his boat, to
+Quebec. He was returning to France on business, and wished to sail in
+the same ship with me. Father Fremi, a Jesuit, also embarked with us. On
+arriving at Quebec, I found myself very much indisposed, and was obliged
+to remain in the hospital a few days, as the ship was to depart when the
+wind became favorable. I requested M. de Fenelon to permit his servant
+to take charge of my box, which contained the papers above referred to,
+and of a little package of clothing, that constituted my entire baggage,
+and to place them safely on board. The captain politely consented, but
+his servant entirely forgot both myself and my baggage. Recovering from
+my indisposition in two or three days, I went on board without further
+precaution, but alas, found that I was minus the precious box, M. de
+Fenelon delayed a short time to find it, but all in vain. It was not
+forthcoming. As the vessel was obliged to sail with the wind, I wrote in
+haste to M. Dupuis, Major of the garrison of Montreal, who was in Quebec
+at the time, begging him to search for my box, and if he found it, to
+forward it to France, by any ship he might find convenient. I
+particularly requested him to send the papers, and to return the rest to
+our Sisters in Montreal. He fortunately found the box, and I received it
+in France shortly after. Behold me, then, embarked without clothing,
+without provisions, without money, without anything for the voyage.
+Worse still, I was the only female in the ship, but there were two good
+priests among the passengers, who gave me great consolation. I arranged
+a sack and a roll of cordage for my bed, on deck, with an improvised
+enclosure. This was my _chamber_ during my passage; which was not very
+long, however, as we arrived at La Rochelle in thirty-one days. I had
+not made a change of underclothing during the voyage, as I had nothing
+to make it with, except a piece of coarse canvas given me for a
+mattress. This I converted into a night-dress, but, like all the rest,
+it was lost. In this unpleasant condition I found myself at La Rochelle,
+which country was strange to me, and I was one hundred leagues from
+Paris. It was truly an embarrassing position, and I felt it so. It is
+true, one of the priests offered me a supply of money, as payment for
+some work that I and my companions had done for him during our first
+stay in Quebec, but as I knew I had money in my box when it would
+arrive, I refused his offer, saying I would be better pleased to receive
+it in Paris, where I should need it more. It is also true that I had
+lent 132 livres to a young man in Montreal, who had given a note for it,
+payable in Paris, and that I had forwarded this note to M. Blondel, who
+had hitherto transacted our business in France, but he died some time
+previous to my arrival, and I was left without resource, the note not
+having been paid, nor could it be found at the time. M. Fenelon was also
+short of funds, yet he contrived to lend me fifty livres, the greater
+part of which I used to pay my fare to Paris. With the balance I bought
+food, and an absolutely necessary change of clothing. The captain and
+the two priests managed to get me a comfortable seat in the stage, and
+also a good room at the inn, but I took my meals apart, although they
+invited me to dine with them."
+
+She at last arrived in the great city, and went directly to the church
+of Notre Dame, to renew the consecration of herself to God and His holy
+Mother, then visited the College of Foreign Missions, to receive her
+Bishop's blessing, and give him an account of her voyage, although she
+did not reveal her distress to him. The prelate received her with
+kindness, but as it was late, the visit was necessarily a short one, and
+she went away, almost dead with hunger and fatigue, to pass the night at
+the house of a poor woman, in the quarter of St. Sulpice. Next morning
+very early she went to the church, to perform her usual devotions, and
+after Mass a priest carried the Blessed Sacrament in procession to a
+sick person. She followed till they arrived at the door of the Seminary.
+Here Divine Providence again interposed in her favor, for one of the two
+priests who stood near the door said to his companion in a loud,
+distinct voice, "I have just received a letter from Canada, in which I
+am directed to pay one hundred livres to a person I do not know. Her
+name is Margaret Bourgeois." "That is my name," she said, turning
+quickly, "but, if the money is for me, I do not know from whom it
+comes." The good priest named the person who had written to him, and she
+instantly recognized the name of a valued friend, one of the priests in
+the Seminary at Quebec, who, not having funds to pay her before the
+embarkation, took care that the money should reach her safely in Paris.
+It was accordingly handed to her, and she went directly to pay the kind
+captain his fifty livres. Again this favored daughter of God adored His
+Divine Providence. She now confidently expected to receive her papers,
+and did receive them a few moments later. On opening the box, she took
+out her letters of recommendation, and, leaving a few at the Seminary,
+set out to find the relatives of Messrs. Perrot and de Maisonneuve. She
+first called at the address given in M. Perrot's letter. As her
+appearance was not very presentable, after a long, and not over-clean
+voyage, she met with a very cool reception. However, when her
+fashionable entertainers read the letter (the contents of which she did,
+not know), they soon changed contempt into respect, as M. Perrot had
+requested them to receive her as they would receive himself, assuring
+them that in Canada she was regarded as a little saint. She was
+consequently invited to dinner, which she gladly accepted, as she was
+much in need of it at the moment, but their ceremonious attentions did
+not agree with her spirit of mortification and humility, and she
+absolutely refused to remain over-night, although they pressed her quite
+warmly to do so. She next visited M. de Maisonneuve, arriving at a very
+late hour, as it was in the suburbs of the city. It is impossible to
+express the joy that this great servant of God experienced on seeing her
+again. He actually _ran_ to meet her and cordially offered the
+hospitality of a little house he had just erected in one corner of his
+garden, telling her that he had it made to look like an Indian cabin,
+expecting some one from Canada might call who would be pleased to see
+anything to remind them of home, and her visit fulfilled his
+presentiment. She gratefully accepted the kind offer, and lodged there
+during her stay in Paris. This tried and life-long friend then took
+charge of her affairs, and rendered her the most important services. A
+few days after, as they were talking about old times in Ville-Marie, he
+desired to show her some papers, and laying his hand by chance on a
+shelf of the library, took down a paper, which proved to be the
+_identical note for 132 livres_, that she had believed lost. After the
+death of M. Blondel, it had been placed for safe-keeping in the hands of
+M. de Maisonneuve. She received it very gratefully, of course, but not
+at all avariciously. Here the memoirs of Sister Bourgeois become
+irregular, in both dates and events, which were perhaps so crowded that
+she could not devote time to take note of them in the order of
+occurrence, so we will content ourselves by relating a few incidents of
+traditional report before again returning to the authentic manuscripts.
+At the time of her second return to Montreal, with the six new subjects
+that M. de Laval received in France, she found it necessary to secure
+the services of an honest, robust man, who would be willing to work for
+them, when necessary, during their travels. She accordingly made a
+contract with a man named Louis Frin, whom she also hoped to employ in
+teaching a boy's school in Montreal, in place of the young man that died
+after his arrival in Canada. This Louis Frin became afterwards Brother
+Charon, and eventually was known as Brother Louis. Her next care was to
+secure passages for her young charge of eleven girls, three of whom were
+her nieces. Six of this band were intended for the community, the
+remainder being destined to become the wives of as many colonists. On
+this occasion they set out from Paris by way of Normandy, taking a boat
+on the Seine as far as Rouen. Here they were compelled to remain one
+month, and as they were not rich, their funds were on the point of being
+exhausted, the expense of maintaining so many persons being very
+considerable. Madeline Senecal kept the purse, and found it necessary to
+warn Sister Bourgeois that she had not sufficient money to meet the
+current week's expenses. "You seem to distrust the Providence of God, my
+child," replied Sister, in a tone of rebuke, but immediately added in a
+pleasant manner, "Since it is evident that we must have a dinner of
+_some kind_, fear nothing, God will provide it himself." And God did
+provide it, for that same week, Louis Frin, who had remained in Paris
+with M. de Maisonneuve arranging some business matters, arrived at
+Rouen, bringing to each of the girls a draft for 200 livres, and also
+the means of purchasing a full supply of provisions, until their arrival
+at Quebec. Behold how God provides for those who trust in Him. Departing
+from Rouen, they arrived at Havre-de-Grace, one of the seaports of
+Normandy, and were obliged to wait fifteen days for the arrival of the
+ship that was to take them forever from home and country. During these
+unavoidable delays, Sister Bourgeois occupied both herself and them with
+the most fervent exercises of piety. Among others, they proposed a
+pilgrimage to the celebrated shrine of "Our Lady of Snows," to procure
+through _her_ intercession the favor of a successful voyage. This shrine
+was one of the most famous places of devotion to the Blessed Virgin in
+France. It was decided to make the pilgrimage on foot, and although they
+set out early in the morning, they did not arrive at the shrine until
+quite a late hour. Two priests resided here in a kind of monastery, one
+of whom had just concluded his morning Mass, the other being confined to
+his room for six weeks by sickness. When Sister told the first Father
+the object of their pilgrimage, he immediately repaired to his invalid
+brother priest, whom he found partially dressed and still fasting. Both
+returned to the church, and heard the confessions of the devoted young
+pilgrims. The sick Father, who had not been able to walk for a long time
+without the aid of a crutch, then said Mass without the least
+inconvenience. All fervently received Holy Communion from his hands, and
+_he was fully restored to health_. Two days after they set sail for
+Canada, Father Jean Baptiste le Fevre, who was destined for the Montreal
+Seminary, accompanying them on the voyage. The anchor was weighed, while
+all on deck with uncovered heads, implored the protection of Mary, Star
+of the Sea. The heroic young postulants, with Sister Bourgeois, formed a
+sort of travelling community, of which she was the head, and during the
+passage performed regular devotional exercises before the statue of Our
+Lady of Good Help. They were indeed under the protection of God and His
+holy Mother, for, although England and France were then at war, they
+carried in the ship no other, artillery than brave hearts and arms. When
+the voyage was about half made, the captain, who was constantly on the
+look-out, descried four English ships, which he calculated contained at
+least twenty-six pieces of cannon. They were making, as it seemed,
+direct head-way for them, and as he was totally unprepared for such an
+emergency, he called out to Sister Bourgeois, in accents of unfeigned
+terror: "We are lost, we are lost; betake yourselves to prayer, at once,
+you and your companions." But before his entreaty was ended, one-half of
+her companions had fainted. Strange to say, all on board, including the
+strongest men, turned to Sister Bourgeois for protection, feeling
+persuaded that her prayers only could save them from becoming the prey
+of the dreaded English. But her brave and holy spirit knew no fear. She
+was looking intently at the white statue of Notre Dame de Bon-Secours,
+and said, smiling, "If they do take us prisoners they will lead us to
+England or to Holland, and we shall find God there as well as here, and
+is not God everywhere?" Her wonderful tranquillity restored immediate
+confidence, and all knelt quietly in prayer. It being Sunday, Father le
+Fevre prepared calmly to celebrate Mass, although the English ships
+approached rapidly, and, wonderful to relate, in less than two hours,
+the foe had disappeared completely, so that the Holy Sacrifice was
+followed by the glorious _Te Deum_. Every one on board believed that
+this remarkable deliverance was the work of _Notre Dame de Bon-Secours_.
+They arrived without further accident at Quebec on the 13th of August,
+having been at sea just one month and eleven days. She had scarcely set
+foot on land, when an imprudent person informed her that the community
+in Montreal were in a state of starvation, and that their house was in a
+ruinous condition, to which she replied simply--"God's holy will be
+done--even if it falls to the ground, he can raise it again, when it
+pleases Him." She found the report unhappily verified, however, on
+arriving at Montreal, as the Sisters were absolutely destitute, yet she
+entertained no fears. Her confidence in God being unshaken, she could
+always look calmly and hopefully at the vicissitudes of this changeful
+passing life. The poor Sisters were exceedingly pained to have nothing
+better than _bread_ and _lard_ to offer her for dinner, but she assured
+them it was very acceptable to a hungry person, and directed Sister
+Genevieve, the cook, to prepare a good supper for the community. "What
+shall I prepare it with?" said the simple Sister, "_we have nothing in
+the house_." "Never distrust the Providence of God," was the
+answer,--"go to your kitchen, and you will find food." In fact, that
+very afternoon several persons came to visit them, bringing abundance of
+all kinds of provisions, so that the Sisters were lost in astonishment,
+and silently adored the providence of that God, who never abandons those
+that trust in Him.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+THE RULES OF THE CONGREGATION, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSIONS.
+
+
+After having formed and established her community at Ville-Marie, as we
+have seen, and provided suitable buildings and funds to sustain them in
+the exercise of their duties in a newly-settled country; having also
+secured and registered the letters patent that confirmed their right, as
+a legally authorized Congregation, she next turned her attention to
+three things, still necessary to the perfection of her Institute,
+namely, to procure a sufficient number of subjects, to provide for them
+approved rules, and to establish missions. At first it was not difficult
+to procure subjects, as they presented themselves from all parts, being
+attracted, not by temporal interests, or any selfish motive, but simply
+by the odor of the virtues of Sister Bourgeois and her first saintly
+companions. But she did not receive indifferently all that presented
+themselves. She was quite insensible to such advantages as high birth,
+riches, and the brilliancy of natural or acquired talents, which are
+sometimes more dangerous than useful, preferring that those she received
+should have good common sense, an unblemished character, and solid
+virtue, without which qualifications she received no one. If she did not
+exact from her subjects the most sublime perfection, she required at
+least that they should have a desire to acquire it in proportion as God
+was pleased to bestow it on them. Let us hear her own words on the
+subject, as found in a letter, in which with simplicity she first
+addresses the ever Blessed Virgin: "My good Mother, I ask from you
+neither wealth, nor honor, nor the pleasures of this life for our
+community. I only beg of you to obtain for me, that God may be well
+served in it, and that we may never receive proud or presumptuous
+subjects, who keep the world and its maxims in their hearts, who are
+scoffers and untruthful, and who do not study to reduce to practice the
+maxims of your Divine Son, maxims which He taught us from the pulpit of
+the Cross, and which you have observed with so much exactness." Then,
+addressing those who presented themselves for admission, she adds: "Yes,
+all who wish to be received into this community, must resolve to
+renounce not only the principles and maxims of the world, but must also
+resolve to renounce _themselves_, and overcome their bad habits and
+inclinations. They must try to sever the natural ties that bind them to
+friends and relatives, as _merely_ human attachments uselessly preoccupy
+the mind. I warn them that they will be employed in lowly occupations,
+which are painful to nature; that they will be sent on missions with a
+Sister who will be charged to contradict them in many things, and treat
+them like little children--in one word, to humble and mortify them on
+every occasion. I desire that they learn to obey promptly any one who
+may be appointed their superior; that they be poor in spirit; that their
+words, gestures, and whole deportment be neither frivolous nor
+dissipated, but that they act under all circumstances with modesty,
+reserve, and devotion; that they mortify their senses; avoid unnecessary
+conversation, and always endeavor to keep themselves in the presence of
+God." Such were the first lessons she gave her postulants, and she
+rigorously exacted the execution of them. Yet, notwithstanding these
+requirements, from which she never departed, she soon assembled a
+numerous community, that came up to her standard. We behold entering
+into the Congregation, from its very commencement, young girls of every
+state and condition of life, noble and simple, rich and poor, daughters
+of private citizens, merchants, mechanics, and even the savages, charity
+and humility making all _equal_, and as such they were received without
+distinction. It was truly a school of virtue and sanctity. Many members
+of the families of Lemoine and St. Ange entered; also the celebrated
+Marie Barbier of the Assumption and Sisters Dennis, Bourbo, Jousset,
+etc., more than forty being received in less than two years. We should
+also add the name of Jeanne Leber, who became afterwards the famous
+recluse, of whom more anon, with many others quite remarkable for
+sanctity from the beginning. Nor must we forget to mention Marie Theresa
+Gannensagouach, an Iroquois, who, after having held the office of school
+teacher at the mountain for thirteen years, died in the odor of
+sanctity, November 25, 1695, on that mission, where her epitaph may be
+seen to-day. Gannensagouach was not the only person of her tribe who
+became remarkable for virtue in the Sisters' school, and on whom the
+illustrious Foundress lavished care, labor, and money. Her particular
+desire was always the conversion of the Indians. This was the chief
+motive that induced her to bring young persons from France to Canada,
+representing to them the glory and merit of converting the Indians to
+the true Faith, for which sublime end they ought to sacrifice their
+lives, if necessary. She appointed two of her first faithful band to the
+Mission of the Mountain, near Ville-Marie, which was exclusively an
+Indian mission. At that time, it was a rather difficult task to go from
+the city to the mountain, as they had to pass through thick forests
+interspersed with marshes and wild savannahs, through which there was
+neither road nor track.
+
+A priest from the seminary devoted himself to the instruction of the
+savages, and the two missionary Sisters were obliged to lodge in bark
+cabins for a long time, as the Indians erected no better dwellings,
+until the time of M. Belmont, who had stone houses put up for them at
+his own expense. He also built the Fort that still exists, but the
+orchard and gardens were added at a later period. In 1692, the Sisters
+lodged in a little tower to the right of the entrance of the Fort, the
+tower at the left serving for a school and a bakery. The savages of this
+mission, after the death of Sister Bourgeois, were transported to
+Sault-au-Recollet, in 1731, and again in 1732 to the lake of the two
+mountains. These Indian missions, to which the Sisters were always
+devoted, and to this day continue to be devoted, have contributed
+largely to the spread of our holy Faith among the Indians along the St.
+Lawrence, and have produced much spiritual good. The holy Foundress
+supported at this mission several Iroquois girls, free of charge,
+forming them to habits of virtue, and inducing them to inspire their
+companions with similar sentiments. She also kept a certain number of
+these children of the forest among the boarders at Ville-Marie, one or
+two of whom afterwards became members of the Congregation, and were most
+useful on the mission schools. It was in compensation for these benefits
+to the state and to religion, and to refund in part the expense
+sustained by Sister Bourgeois and her community, that the King of
+France, in 1676, ordered an appropriation to be made by the Canadian
+Government, to give annually to the Sisters the sum of two or three
+thousand livres. The pension was punctually paid until the year 1756, at
+which time it was withdrawn, as Canada had passed under British rule,
+after an heroic but unsuccessful struggle against the English in 1670.
+However, the change of royal masters, and the suppression of many
+Catholic charities consequent upon it, did not lessen the love of the
+Sisters for the poor Indians. These daughters and followers of Christ
+continued to support the Indian missions at their _own expense_, as they
+do at the present day in many instances.
+
+Although the community was already quite numerous, and continued
+steadily to increase, yet the sainted woman at its head had not procured
+either rules or constitutions for its government. It is true, that she
+was a living rule, and model of the most sublime perfection, and that
+her fervent daughters made it a sacred duty to obey and imitate her; yet
+she felt even this was not sufficient. Though united in the practice of
+the most holy observances, they were still in a state of probation--as
+they made no vows, nor were they bound by solemn engagements. They
+lived, notwithstanding, in the strictest bonds of charity, laboring
+zealously for the glory of God, and their own spiritual perfection, each
+by the advice of her confessor making such private vows as her
+particular devotion inspired. But the Foundress saw plainly, that
+without written rules and customs, changes and innovations must
+gradually creep in, and eventually disturb or destroy the end of the
+Institute, so she set to work with her accustomed zeal to procure rules
+and constitutions, canonically authorized, for the security and
+perpetuity of the Congregation. Filled with these ideas, which were
+undoubtedly inspired by heaven, she went to Quebec to confer with M. de
+Laval. He approved of her design, and counselled her to return to
+France, and learn from personal observation the practices of the most
+fervent communities, selecting the rules of such as seemed conformable
+to the spirit of her Institute. Being thus advised by her Bishop,
+nothing could deter her from making the voyage. Indeed, she seemed
+insensible to pain, labor, or privation, on such occasions. Having
+acquainted her Sisters with his Lordship's decision, and given them
+directions and advice for their good government during her absence, she
+courageously embarked the third time, and was absent one whole year. She
+employed herself like the great St. Anthony, in collecting and selecting
+the holy rules that were given by persons eminent for piety and wisdom.
+She was specially attracted by the writings of St. Augustine, as they
+contained maxims and regulations replete with prudence and discretion.
+This saint quotes largely from the instructions left by St. Ambrose and
+other Fathers of the Church, addressed to the first Christian virgins,
+instructing them how to reduce to practice the evangelical counsels and
+maxims, and enlightening them on the observance of the three vows of
+poverty, chastity, and obedience. These writings recommend pre-eminently
+a love of silence and retreat from the world, charity among the Sisters,
+assiduity at work, pious reading, prayer, and the frequentation of the
+Sacraments, under the guidance of ecclesiastical superiors, with whom
+they were to share the glory and merit of instructing and edifying the
+faithful. Such was the spirit of the rule that Sister Bourgeois brought
+with her from France, to place in the hands of her Bishop and obtain his
+approbation of it. But during her absence, the spiritual government of
+Canada had been seriously changed. There was no longer a Bishop in the
+country, as M. de Laval, shortly before her return, became despondent
+under bodily infirmities, which were frequently so painful as to prevent
+his discharging the duties of his ministry as successfully as he
+desired; therefore he returned to France, for the purpose of tendering
+his resignation to the proper authorities, and demanding a successor.
+His solicitations for release from episcopal functions were very urgent,
+so that although he was highly esteemed in Paris for his many virtues
+and acknowledged ability and merit, his resignation was accepted, the
+King immediately appointing M. Jean Lacroix de St. Vallier his
+successor, who consequently became the second Bishop of Quebec. On
+Sister Bourgeois' arrival, therefore, she found no bishop to whom she
+could confide her rules, and took the resolution of putting them in
+execution _provisionally_, until a Bishop should be appointed for
+Canada, which appointment was not carried into effect for three years
+after, although M. de St. Vallier had been formally nominated by royal
+authority, as has been related. We find in her Memoirs of this voyage,
+the following--"In 1680, Mme. Perrot, wife of the Governor of Montreal,
+determined to return to France, for the benefit of her health, which was
+much impaired. Knowing her intention, and having obtained the consent of
+our Sisters, I offered to accompany her as travelling companion, and was
+accepted. My real desire, however, was to obtain rules for our
+Congregation. On arriving at la Rochelle I left Mme. Perrot, and went
+direct to Paris, as I felt quite sick after the voyage. The following
+day Brother Louis, who also chanced to be in Paris, invited me to his
+house, where I took a much needed rest for a few days, but another
+friend, M. de Turmenie, being informed of my illness, sent a sedan,
+carried by two stout men, to take me to his house, where I remained
+during an illness of fifteen days, being treated with as much kindness
+as if I had been his sister. When my health was reestablished I went to
+lodge with the 'Daughters of the Cross,' in the Rue St. Antoine. In this
+community I received light in many things relating to our holy rules and
+constitutions. Understanding from these good religieuses, that M. de St.
+Vallier was staying at the College of Foreign Missions, I went there to
+ask his blessing, as I felt in duty bound. But his Lordship did not
+approve of my proceedings, and told me quite curtly that I should not
+have made the voyage, nor seek rules for the community either, and he
+absolutely forbade me to take any new subjects from France on my
+return." However, as he was not very explicit in his speech regarding
+the rules, and as Sister Bourgeois was already furnished with two
+different formulas (one being received from M. Jandret, the other from
+the Daughters of the Cross), she did not in the least resent the
+humiliation, but quietly set to work to find other means of perfecting
+what was then in her possession. On leaving M. de St. Vallier, she went
+to the Convent of the Community of Miramion, so named from Mme. de
+Miramion, their Foundress, who was still living. Sister wished to confer
+with this illustrious woman on the subject of her rules, and to add or
+retrench, as the holy religieuse might suggest. But Mme. de Miramion,
+having been informed that M. de St. Vallier wished to give rules to the
+Congregation himself, in order not to displease the Bishop, she refused
+to take any part in the affair. While Sister Bourgeois patiently awaited
+the moment when her rules should be approved, she had a very heavy cross
+to bear. Almighty God appeared until then to have visibly protected all
+her enterprises. But now she was to pass through severe trials in order
+to perfect her virtue, trials which conduced more to her sanctification
+than all the voluntary pains and mortifications she inflicted on
+herself. Besides the sorrow she endured at being so unexpectedly
+repelled in the attempt to have her rules approved (a cross she endured
+for many years), she had, on her return to Montreal, to suffer the cruel
+anguish of seeing the fruit of all her past labors perish before her
+eyes in a few moments. The beloved home of her community took fire on
+the night of the 6th of December, 1683, and quicker than can be told,
+not only the house, but its poor furniture, and everything else it
+contained was consumed. The fire was so sudden and violent, that the
+Sisters were enveloped by smoke and flames in an instant, two of her
+best subjects being burned to death. These were Sister Genevieve, the
+assistant, and Sister Margaret Soumillard, a niece of the Foundress. The
+rest barely escaped with, their lives. Sister Bourgeois felt, more than
+any one else, the horrors of the accident, and a spirit less strong, and
+a heart less brave than hers, would have naturally yielded to despair.
+She sincerely regretted the death of her dearly loved Sisters, more for
+the loss the community must sustain for their untimely end, than because
+her own niece was one of the victims, and her tears were all the more
+bitter, as she judged herself to be the cause of the calamity.
+
+"It is a just punishment from heaven for my weakness," she said, "in
+having so far departed from the spirit of poverty, humility, and
+mortification in which I should always have lived, as to consent to the
+building of that great house. It were better to have continued living in
+the stable that was given us, and with which we should have been
+contented." It was her love of virtue, however, that made her speak
+thus, as the house was very far from being either great or magnificent.
+It was only a wooden edifice, and was too small and inconvenient for the
+many good works to which the Sisters applied themselves unceasingly. She
+soon perceived, notwithstanding all her sentiments of humility, that the
+building must go up again for the greater glory of God. Although then
+deprived of every temporal resource, with the blessing of God, and under
+the protection of His holy Mother, nothing seemed difficult. Obstacles
+only strengthened her faith and aroused her courage. She hoped against
+hope, and determined on the spot to put her hand to the work again,
+placing more confidence than ever in Jesus and _Mary_, to whom, as to a
+good mother, she always had recourse. Nor had she long to await the
+result of her confidence. Divine Providence stirred up the sympathies of
+the charitably-disposed, who gave her abundant means to build a large
+stone edifice, more solid and architectural than the former one. This
+second house remained intact until the great fire of 1763; and of the
+buildings afterwards added we shall soon have occasion to speak more
+fully. Sister was still laboring for the erection of the building, when
+M. de St. Vallier, having been consecrated in Paris, January, 1686, by
+M. de Laval, his predecessor, returned to Canada, accompanied by the
+latter prelate, who came back to end his days in the practice of the
+most sublime virtues of private life in the Seminary of Foreign Missions
+at Quebec. He always honored and esteemed Sister Bourgeois, and watched
+over her with singular interest. He died, as he had lived, a Saint, May
+6, 1708. M. de St. Vallier devoted himself to the affairs of his diocese
+without intermission, and it was in the hands of this new prelate that
+Sister placed the copy of her rules and constitutions. He esteemed the
+heroic woman and her community; he noticed and admired the constancy and
+courage with which they endured the inconveniences resulting from their
+recent calamity, and he gave them many marks of confidence and esteem
+but regarding the _institute_ and _rules_ of the Foundress, he then
+entertained views different from hers. Judging of things by the light of
+human prudence, he thought the community could never raise itself again
+to the position it occupied before the fire, and wishing to prevent a
+multiplicity of institutions in his diocese, he formed the design of
+uniting the _rising community_ to the _Ursulines_ at Quebec. These
+ladies had already taken steps to establish themselves at Ville-Marie,
+and there are still extant a few letters written on the subject. But M.
+d'Olier, superior of the Seminary, who knew better than any one, the
+merits of Sister Bourgeois, did not give them much hope of establishing
+a new mission. He received their request rather ungraciously, and took
+the liberty of making humble but strong representations to the Bishop on
+the subject. Sister Bourgeois also represented to him, firmly and
+respectfully, that the good she hoped to effect in the diocese, with the
+assistance of her daughters, was not at all compatible with the rules of
+another institute, especially of a cloistered one; that such a step
+would entirely destroy the views by which she felt herself inspired, and
+which she believed came directly from God; that she already had the
+approval of legitimate superiors, and that the ever Blessed Virgin, to
+whom she and her entire community were especially consecrated, had given
+them unequivocal marks that the establishment was agreeable to her. That
+besides their general intention of instructing children, they had bound
+themselves to labor unceasingly for the spiritual perfection of _poor_
+girls who desired to consecrate themselves to God, but who from lack of
+fortune could not do so, as the _cloistered_ orders invariably required
+their subjects to bring a moderate fortune for their maintenance. That
+one of her chief desires was to open the doors of the Congregation to
+persons of this description, and that, making no account of riches, she
+would rather receive _portionless_ a Sister who could not buy the
+necessary clothing, if she had a _true vocation_ and a _good will_, than
+a rich one who had not these qualifications. It was certainly her
+intention to receive the Congregation Sisters _free_, although the
+French King subsequently directed her to exact a dowry of at least 2000
+livres. However, she was permitted to relax somewhat in this matter,
+either in whole or in part, according to the dictates of prudence and
+the circumstances of the person. All these reasons seemed to make an
+impression on the mind of M. de St. Vallier, but he had other business
+on hand just then, being occupied with the founding of a General
+Hospital at Quebec, and an Ursuline establishment at Three Rivers. He
+was therefore not in a hurry to approve the constitutions of Sister
+Bourgeois, preferring to take time to examine them, and make the changes
+he thought necessary. Sister herself had a strong interior presentiment
+that never deceived her. She felt that God approved of her work, and
+therefore awaited, in patient silence, the moment marked by Divine
+Providence, for giving the approval she so earnestly desired. This
+moment came at last, after long years of painful suspense, and just two
+years before her happy death. She had then the consolation to see
+approved, and solemnly established forever in her institute, all that
+she had constantly and faithfully practised, by way of trial, since her
+last return from France. The solemn approbation was given by M. de St.
+Vallier, June 24, 1698, during his episcopal visitation at Ville-Marie,
+Sister Assumption being then superior. The holy Foundress had resigned
+her office of superior in 1693, desiring to be the first to set an
+example of profound humility, in obedience to the rules that she had
+spent a lifetime in bringing to perfection. But before her withdrawal
+from office, she had formed a great number of establishments in the
+diocese. We have already spoken of the Mission of the Mountain, which
+was the first, but not the only one made in the commencement. There were
+also those of la Chine, and Pointe-aux-Trembles at Montreal. As the
+population slowly and steadily increased, the suburbs enlarged, two new
+parishes being erected in 1670. Sister Bourgeois knew full well that
+these parishes could not afford even the necessary means of
+_subsistence_ for missionary Sisters, but she saw that much good could
+be accomplished, by sending Sisters there, and she sent them. In those
+days she made no provisional contracts for the Sisters who went on
+missions, but trusting entirely to the Providence of God, left their
+support in his hands. Very frequently the early missions were temporary
+arrangements, the Sisters going for a time to effect good, whereever
+good might be accomplished. In the missions established after her
+resignation and death, the Sisters who succeeded her were animated by
+the same spirit, and closely followed the same plan. Nothing is more
+admirable or edifying than the advice she gave the Sisters before
+sending them on missions. "Think, my child," she would say, "that you
+are going to collect the drops of blood that Jesus lost during his
+passion. Oh, how contented a Sister sent on the mission would be, if she
+realized that God himself _sent_ her and _accompanied_ her. If she
+reflected that she might and ought to testify the deepest gratitude to
+Him from whom she has received all, then she would find nothing
+difficult, and nothing tedious; she would, on the contrary, despise the
+world, suffer all kinds of torment, and even endure a shameful death,
+rather than neglect her charge." In fact, Sister Bourgeois set no bounds
+to her zeal for the spiritual welfare of Montreal. It was ever her
+uppermost thought. During her life, and before her constitutions were
+solemnly approved, her daughters were to be found in, every part of the
+diocese, laboring for the salvation of souls. Shortly after the arrival
+of M. de St. Vallier, he received a communication from Father Lamy--who
+was then pastor of the isle of Orleans--asking for a mission of the
+Sisters of the Congregation for his parish, and stating that he was not
+a stranger to the good they had effected in Montreal. The zealous
+prelate immediately wrote to Sister Bourgeois for two Sisters to found
+the mission. She was at the time laboring hard to re-establish her
+institute after the losses it sustained by the fire, and it did not seem
+prudent at such a time to undertake a new foundation, yet she did not
+hesitate a moment, Sisters Anne and Assumption being sent to make a
+trial, in the beginning of winter.
+
+They had unheard-of hardships to endure, but they persevered in the
+work, being protected by Divine Providence in a very singular manner,
+and finally the mission was established, and grew more prosperous day by
+day. In the following spring the Bishop formed another project, viz., an
+establishment in which he intended to educate and support a number of
+poor girls he had assembled from different parts of the colony,
+intending that said establishment should be maintained partly by
+charity, and partly by the labor of the inmates. He wished to confide
+the work to the care of the Congregation Sisters, as he saw daily proofs
+of their zeal in the Mission of the Holy Family, in the isle of Orleans.
+Sister Bourgeois accepted the duty with _reluctance_, as it did not
+appear to coincide with the spirit of her institute. However, rather
+than disoblige the Bishop, she sent Sister Assumption to Quebec, having
+sent Sister St. Ange to take her place. This Sister worked wonders in
+her new position, yet the ultimate success of the enterprise was
+doubtful and slow, so slow that it was suppressed the following year.
+The Bishop divided its labors between two communities, which division
+eventually gave birth to the General Hospital and the Congregation
+Mission at Quebec. His Lordship thought seriously of conferring with the
+sainted Foundress, about rules she brought from France, and wrote to her
+on the subject, requesting an early interview. She no sooner understood
+that her superior required her at Quebec, than she took the road, on
+_foot_, in the very depth of winter, being often obliged to go forward
+on her knees, now in the snow, now on the ice, and occasionally through
+tracts covered with water. This was her customary mode of travelling
+through Canada. Having at last arrived at her destination, after
+incredible suffering and dangers, we next find her carrying on her
+shoulders the different articles of furniture and utensils necessary for
+housekeeping, that were needed by Sister Assumption in the House of
+Providence, already described. Here was truly a mortified, humble, and
+penitential spirit, such as this fallen world seldom sees. We have
+before remarked that the House of Providence lasted but one year, after
+which it was changed into a mission. It was at first situated in the
+upper town, between the Hotel-Dieu and the Cathedral. But another trial
+awaited the foundation.
+
+The Sisters had hoped to be able to retain _peaceable_ possession of the
+ground purchased for the house, as the owners had come to an amicable
+arrangement, and they, the Sisters, were already in possession. But just
+then an individual appeared, who asserted that she had an old and valid
+lease of the property, which she was not disposed to set aside, and so
+the Sisters were compelled to leave the premises, and go once more to
+reside in an old stable. Writing of this event, the Foundress uses the
+following language: "I am rejoiced to hear that you again live in a
+stable, but at the same time I am pained to learn that your friends have
+testified displeasure at the occurrence. I have a great desire to live
+in charity with all the world, because God commands us to love our
+neighbor, and it is this desire that at present prevents me from
+contesting our claim." Nevertheless, she was obliged to attend to the
+matter in a _charitable_ way. The property was fairly purchased, and she
+had the title-deed in her possession, but perceiving that other
+interested parties also murmured about the sale, far from defending her
+rights, according to the letter of the law, she left the whole matter at
+the discretion of the _adverse_ party, saying pleasantly that she
+wished, at any cost, to preserve charity with her neighbor, and she also
+wished her neighbor to feel charitably disposed towards her. Her own
+words on the occasion are: "I am convinced this proceeding is an unjust
+one, but, as I understand, the contending party still objects. She will
+never forgive us for the supposed wrong we have done her. I cannot
+endure that we become even the _innocent_ cause of such angry
+resentment. So, intending to renounce all claim to the property, I went
+to cast myself at the feet of Mary, my mother, and on leaving the
+church, a person, to whom I had _not revealed our embarrassment_, met me
+and offered a sum of money equal to what the dissatisfied parties claim,
+and now the matter is quietly settled, and we are the owners." In 1692
+this site was exchanged for a much more extensive one in the lower town,
+which the community still occupies. It was purchased from Francis Hazur,
+a merchant of Quebec, and a devout Christian. In order to testify his
+esteem for the Foundress, and the confidence he had in her prayers and
+those of her community, he made a considerable reduction in the price of
+the property, preferring prayers for himself and his descendants to a
+paltry earthly advantage. He would not have been so considerate,
+however, if the sale had been made to other parties. Notwithstanding
+this visit of the heroic woman to Quebec, she did not succeed in
+receiving the approbation of her rules, and the matter still remained in
+suspense. Her next labor of Christian love was to erect a House of
+Providence in Montreal on the model of the one in Quebec. The Sisters
+took charge of it, and it lasted longer than the first. But in 1694,
+when she was no longer superior, the community resolved to abandon the
+establishment, as it had no other support than the scanty charity of the
+people, and even that was given coldly. Besides, the object proposed was
+not in accordance with the spirit of their society, and it could not be
+sustained without a miracle. Although it is quite certain that Sister
+Bourgeois established, many other _successful_ missions, it is
+impossible to give the dates of their foundation with accuracy, nor is
+this to be wondered at, when we consider the perilous condition of
+Canada during her life, whether we remember the bloody atrocities of the
+savages on the often defenceless colonists, or the fiercely contested
+wars between the French and English that demoralized the whole state of
+society north of the St. Lawrence, or the tremendously destructive fires
+that swept away whole cities in whirlwinds of flame, or the pestilences
+that filled so many wayside graves, and _not always with the dead_. She
+was an eye-witness of these woes, and what wonder is it if her memoirs
+at times lack regularity.
+
+We cannot close this chapter, however, without referring to the
+celebrated recluse, Jane Leber. This illustrious solitary had no sooner
+known Sister Bourgeois and her community, than she became devotedly
+attached to them, not only by a conformity of virtues, but also by their
+mutual devotion to the ever Blessed Mother of God. Yet she did not
+become a member of the Congregation, the Lord wishing to attach her to
+Himself in another way for His own glory. While awaiting some
+manifestation of the divine will, this holy girl avoided all exterior
+communication with the world, her only visits being those she made to
+the Sisters, by whose singular virtues she was much edified. Sister
+Bourgeois always received her with pleasure, in order to inspire her
+with a desire of greater perfection. During their interviews, these two
+children of grace conceived a lasting esteem and friendship for each
+other, from which Almighty God afterwards received great glory, and the
+Congregation _great advantage_, as we shall relate.
+
+Jane Leber had renounced even the most innocent amusements after the
+death of a beloved friend, Marie Charly, who died in Montreal. The pious
+girl was so sincerely attached to the holy deceased, that the world had
+then no more charms for her, and she thought only of imitating the
+virtues of her friend, or of surpassing them if she could. Accordingly
+she devoted herself to prayer, and the contemplation of the attributes
+of God, so perfectly that she renounced all intercourse with the world,
+with her nearest relations, and even with the immediate members of her
+family, and took the extraordinary resolution of condemning herself to
+_perpetual solitude_, which she had already observed for a long time in
+her father's house, and which was only to terminate _with her life_ in
+the house of the Congregation. This, indeed, was one of the wonderful
+effects of the Holy Spirit, which it is not permitted man to fathom.
+
+We have seen that in the Sisters' residence at Ville-Marie, there was no
+domestic church, and that Sister Bourgeois' limited means did not permit
+her to build one, a circumstance she sincerely regretted. In 1692,
+however, she thought seriously of taking the necessary steps to procure
+such a chapel, and the project was soon executed. It even paved the way
+for the erection of schools, and brought with it several other
+advantages to the Congregation. Jane Leber no sooner heard that the
+Sisters intended to build a chapel in honor of the Blessed Virgin, than
+she determined to fix her abode for life in their house. She was very
+rich, and proposed to pay nearly all the expenses of the edifice, on
+condition that they would reserve for her use a room near the sanctuary,
+where she might end her days, with the Blessed Sacrament always in view,
+which request was graciously acceded to, Sister Bourgeois being the
+first who made the concession, and afterwards signed the contract, dated
+August 4th, 1695, during the superiority of Sister Assumption. It was
+the holy Foundress who secured this acquisition, and who retained, in
+spite of herself, the greatest influence in the government of the
+Congregation. It was during Jane's total seclusion, and also during the
+life of Sister Bourgeois, that the pious recluse issued written orders
+for the decoration of the church, for the procuring of costly vases and
+other sacred ornaments, and it was owing to her great liberality that
+all things were in readiness for the celebration of holy Mass, on the
+Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, September 8th, 1695. This
+extraordinary woman rejoiced in the beauty and glory of the house of
+God, and only closed her eyes in death to the light of the earthly
+tabernacle, to open them in the better land, on the splendors of the new
+Jerusalem, described so wonderfully by St. John in the Apocalypse. On
+the day following the ceremony that inaugurated her seclusion for life,
+she gave directions for founding the perpetual adoration of the Blessed
+Sacrament, as it is still observed in the Congregation, and after the
+death of the Foundress she donated the necessary funds for rebuilding
+the boarding-schools according to the plan that Sister Bourgeois had
+explained to her. She also _endowed_ the new institution with royal
+munificence, and founded in perpetuity the _Community-Mass_, which has
+never ceased to be annually celebrated since her time. In one word, she
+unceasingly bestowed benefits on the community of her love. It may not
+be out of place here to enumerate a few of the many missions established
+by the holy Foundress. In her earlier archives we find the following
+names: "The Holy Family," in the isle of Orleans, Quebec,
+Chateau-richer, Pointe-aux-Trembles, l'Isle Royal, Champlain, La
+Prairie, and Boucherville.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL VIRTUES OF SISTER BOURGEOIS.
+
+
+After what has been already related, it might appear that the labors of
+Sister Bourgeois were happily ended by the establishment of her
+Congregation. She had a flourishing institute at Montreal, and a fervent
+and numerous community, that was well prepared to meet the future
+exigencies of the diocese, and to supply new missions (when such were
+needed) with holy and capable subjects. It is true there was still no
+properly authorized or approved rule, but she had the necessary
+formulas, which were strictly observed, while expecting the time
+appointed by Divine Providence for ecclesiastical approbation, and she
+felt _interiorly_ assured that this would come. She had given her
+daughters an example of the most heroic virtues, most of her actions
+being really of the heroic order, and such as might have been expected
+from a daughter of predestination. In every sense of the word, she had a
+truly great soul. In the routine of daily life, she was to her Sisters a
+perfect model. She gave them frequently instructions suitable to their
+strength, and proper to excite their zeal and fervor in the duty of a
+_community life_ to which they aspired. We will now see, or rather
+admire, her extraordinary love of suffering, which very few could
+imitate.
+
+The Lord gives a cross to every one of us. He spares none of His
+servants, and she had crosses of all sorts to endure, interiorly and
+exteriorly suffering the most intense pain of body and mind. The former
+she often inflicted on herself, the latter was appointed by Divine
+Providence, and of each she had a larger share than falls to the common
+lot. Without referring again to the long and painful voyages she
+undertook for the glory of God, or to the penitential and mortified life
+of which she made profession, it is well known that, like the Apostle,
+she constantly endured in soul and body the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
+Her food was always of the coarsest kind, and she selected invariably
+for herself whatever was disagreeable to the taste. In the matter of
+_eating_ she absolutely destroyed sensuality, either by using her food
+too hot or too cold, or spoiling its flavor by pouring water on it, or
+mixing it with ashes, or a certain bitter powder, with which she always
+kept herself supplied. She ate little, and drank less, using water but
+once a day, and never in sufficient quantity to allay her thirst, even
+in the hottest weather. She even managed to sit at her meals in a
+painful and mortified position, being careful to pass every moment of
+her life in the practice of mortification. She usually prayed prostrate
+on the ground. Her ordinary bed was the floor, with a block of wood for
+her pillow. She regarded it as a criminal indulgence, if sickness
+obliged her to use a mattrass or _straw_ pillow. Her sleep was short and
+broken, as she rose usually about midnight to pray for at least two
+hours, and during the intense cold of the most severe Canadian winters
+she never omitted this practice. She seemed to be _insensible_ to the
+biting frost, as she never approached the fire in the cold season, and
+endured the inconveniences of the other seasons with the same
+indifference to bodily comfort. She scourged her body with rude
+disciplines, and one cannot describe without a sensation of horror, the
+cap, bristling with sharp points, that she wore secretly on, her head
+night and day. The Sisters once accidentally saw this instrument of
+torture, and begged her to discontinue its use, but she smilingly told
+them, it caused her no more pain than a feather pillow should.
+
+On another occasion, having been implored by the Sisters to moderate the
+rigor of her austerities, in order to prolong her life for the sake of
+the community, she answered them by an instruction on the Christian's
+obligation of leading an austere and penitential life, and so pathetic
+were her words that the Sisters burned with a desire to imitate her
+example.
+
+At last her confessor was obliged to forbid such excessive austerities,
+and she submitted, so far as _exterior_ mortification went, but she
+practised _interior_ mortification more ardently than before. That is,
+she kept a stricter guard over her senses, thwarted more frequently her
+natural inclinations, and endeavored by every means in her power to keep
+herself always in the presence of God. But as if her divine Master made
+light of these penitential exercises, He sent her a more terrible trial
+than any she had yet endured.
+
+In the year 1689, the devil, jealous of the tranquillity with which she
+submitted to the decrees of Divine Providence, in the midst of crosses
+that seemed to multiply daily around her, gave her to understand by the
+pretended visions of another, that she was in a state of damnation, and
+at emnity with God. These awful words, or rather this frightful idea,
+made such an impression on her, that during four years she was not able
+to banish it from her imagination, being, however, less troubled at the
+apprehension of the pains of hell, than at the idea of being hated by
+God, whom she loved with her whole heart. During the long continuance of
+the temptation she multiplied her prayers, though prayer no longer
+consoled her, and her penances, though she felt a secret horror for
+them. Yet she blindly submitted to the guidance of her director, for
+whom, however, she felt more _aversion_ than _confidence_. Nothing
+consoled her. She had to be compelled to receive Holy Communion, of
+which she believed herself unworthy, and from which she abstained for a
+considerable time. Only those who have passed through a similar ordeal
+can judge of her state of mind at that time, or form any idea of what
+she suffered. But in order to be more explanatory, it will again be
+necessary to refer to the Memoirs.
+
+As has been already stated, on her second return from France she found
+herself surrounded by more than forty aspirants to the religious state,
+who led most humble and penitential lives yet though all were very
+_fervent_, all were not equally _strong_, either in body or mind, and
+the health of many among them visibly declined, so that it became
+necessary to set bounds to their austerities, especially as they were
+not yet under the guidance of an approved rule, which of its own nature
+would have prevented indiscreet excesses. A mitigation of penitential
+practices was therefore openly and undisguisedly advocated but Sister
+Bourgeois, all charitable and submissive as she was, did not relish
+these suggestions--fearing that a door would be opened to relaxation.
+She had already reproached herself bitterly for the consent reluctantly
+given to the building of the first _large_ house for the community, and,
+notwithstanding the lapse of years, she still regarded its erection as
+contrary to the spirit of poverty, humility, and mortification they
+would have preserved in the stable which had been the cradle of the
+Congregation.
+
+"The grand building brought in its train," she said, "drapery and
+mattresses--delicate food and fine furniture--and so many other fine
+things that there was no room left for holy poverty."
+
+Her apprehensions for the future were a species of martyrdom to her, and
+a difference of opinion was the commencement of all her mental anguish,
+as after that period we find her Memoirs filled with painful
+reflections. In 1677 a young person presented herself for admission, who
+was unfit for any duties except out-door employment, and Sister
+Bourgeois refused to receive her. The refusal, however, was contrary to
+the desire of any of the Sisters, although it was approved of by
+ecclesiastical superiors. The Foundress, writing of the circumstance,
+says: "From that time I think the Sisters lost confidence in me, and I
+lost the liberty of speaking of such matters to them."
+
+This was a sad position for a superior who believed God's work would
+suffer by a real or supposed lack of confidence. It will be remembered
+she was engaged for two entire years in the task of procuring new
+subjects, together with the _letters patent_ for the institute, and
+during that time the signal favors she received from both God and man
+gave her much consolation. But no sooner had she returned to Ville-Marie
+than she was replunged into sorrowful embarrassments, as she noticed
+that what _seemed to her_ to be relaxations had crept in. She attributed
+the fire of 1683, and the deaths of her two best subjects on that
+occasion, to her own sins, and overwhelmed with these ideas, her life
+became a sad and pensive one.
+
+She was also firmly persuaded (in her deep humility) that she was
+unworthy and incapable of governing the rising Congregation. So
+persuaded was she of it, that she frequently asked the Sisters to accept
+her resignation, but as they justly attributed her request to an
+over-scrupulous conscience, they refused to acquiesce. She then
+reproached herself with infidelity to her vocation in seeking to be
+released from the burden of superiority, as she had often promised
+Almighty God that, come what would, she should never abandon His work.
+Sometimes pride whispered that she was quite useful in the position she
+occupied. At other times she felt convinced that others could discharge
+the duty better. Always disquieted, always agitated, she knew not what
+to do. In this state of desolation, she lost confidence in her
+directors, who she supposed, did not understand her. The only
+consolation she experienced was an absolute submission to the orders of
+Divine Providence, and a firm confidence that God would at last arrange
+all things well for His greater glory. And so things were arranged,
+indeed, but in such a manner that this spouse of the Crucified had to
+drink to the dregs the saving chalice of affliction, and taste in her
+inmost soul all its bitterness.
+
+She had now labored for a quarter of a century in the exercise of all
+sorts of good works. Her body was lacerated by the rudest austerities.
+She was a martyr to mental anxiety, and had but one beacon-light during
+her long spiritual darkness, viz., the certainty that she loved God and
+was loved by Him. Nevertheless her chalice was not yet full. In 1689, on
+the night of November 3d, one of the Sisters remained up long after the
+others had retired to rest. Suddenly a Sister who had died about sixteen
+months before stood before her (as she affirmed), and said slowly and
+distinctly, "I am sent by God to warn the superior of this Congregation
+that she is in mortal sin," naming at the same time the person who was
+the cause of her guilt. The astonished listener related the apparition
+to Sister Bourgeois, who regarded it as the wanderings of a diseased
+imagination. But two months after, January 3d, 1690, the deceased again
+appearing to the same Sister, said, "The superior has not done what she
+ought to do; it is the last warning I can give her, for I am now going
+to Paradise," and so saying, disappeared. The visionary (for as such,
+only should she be regarded) went again to inform the Foundress of what
+had transpired, and at this second blow the poor superior succumbed,
+appearing to be indeed stricken by the anger of God. It seems strange
+that her strong mind could be deceived, even for a season. Perhaps her
+great age made her more susceptible to the influence of an asserted
+vision, than she would have been at an earlier period of life. To
+declare that she was at enmity with God, was to inflict a grievous wound
+on her heart, and this warning reduced her almost to a state of despair.
+She felt that she was a reproach among her Sisters. She dared not speak
+to them, and hardly raised her eyes before them. The Sacraments she
+regarded with extreme repugnance, believing that they had hitherto been
+useless to her, and that her receiving them now would be profanation. It
+happened, however, by the dispensation of God, that her director was a
+wise and skilful ascetic, who narrowly watched the operations of grace
+in her soul, and treated her accordingly, and as she blindly followed
+his directions during the time of trial, she daily sanctified herself
+more and more.
+
+It was at this precise period that M. de St. Vallier came to Montreal
+for the first time, and the humble Sister frankly acquainted him with
+her state of mind and its consequences, asking him very earnestly to
+appoint another Sister in her place, in order that things might work
+well and confidence be restored. However, the Bishop did not consent to
+her resignation then, hoping that her pain of mind would soon disappear.
+But on his return to Montreal, in 1693, he found matters still in the
+same state, and consented to a first election in the Congregation,
+presiding on the occasion himself. Sister Marie Barbier of the
+Assumption was elected superior, to the satisfaction of the whole
+community, and above all of Sister Bourgeois herself, who, being at last
+relieved of the responsibilities of superior, hoped soon to regain her
+long-lost peace of mind, and so it happened. For in January of the next
+year, 1694, being just four years from the time she was first warned of
+her eternal damnation, she felt a distinct conviction in her soul that
+she was fully reconciled with God. And all her pain of mind disappeared.
+This interior light, however, only determined her to labor still more
+earnestly for the glory of God and the maintenance of regular
+observances. She was a member of the council of the new superior, but
+the honor of the position caused her much disquiet, as she never ceased
+to assert that it was on account of her sins the former austerities of
+the house had partly fallen into disuse. The change of superiors had not
+in the least diminished the esteem of the Sisters for _her_, who had
+been so long their faithful mother in God, and they omitted no
+opportunity of testifying their esteem, which affectionate attention was
+doubtless agreeable to her kind heart. In order to tranquilize her mind,
+and on account of her great age, they judged it expedient to dispense
+her from attending at the public exercises of the community, leaving the
+infirmary entirely at her disposal, where she might occupy herself with
+some light work, as much for recreation as employment. She obeyed
+without reply, and it may not be uninteresting to hear what she thought
+of her _exile_, as she called it. The Memoir says:
+
+"Although charged, conjointly with my Sisters, to watch over the welfare
+of the house, I knew nothing of what passed in it. For four years I
+occupied myself with a little sewing, remaining all the time in the
+infirmary. I slept there, took my meals there, on account of my great
+age, they said, and that I might be a companion for Sister Crolo, who
+could no longer go to the refectory. I held no conversation with the
+Sisters, very rarely went to our chapel, as we of the infirmary could
+easily hear Mass from our apartment, it being so constructed as to open
+directly fronting the altar. Yet my former disquiet returned, and I knew
+not what to determine on, because I could not divest myself of the idea
+that God required greater perfection from the community than I saw
+practised in it. It is true they tried to console me by asserting that
+all was well, and that I might set my mind at rest. I answered them
+nothing, but I could not conceal from myself that relaxation existed,
+and that I was the cause of it. I suffered more in this perplexity of
+mind than I can ever explain." She sighed sadly during her stay in the
+infirmary, until it pleased God to let peace again dawn upon her soul,
+by imparting to her a spirit of sensible and tender devotion, and by
+permitting her to return to the ordinary way in living in her institute
+during the few remaining years of her life. On the night of July 5th,
+1697, as she was meditating on the means of repairing the faults of
+which she believed herself guilty, a _thought_, as distinct as a
+_voice_, told her she was the Jonas of the Congregation, and that like
+him, she deserved to be cast into the sea. To this interior voice she
+could only reply that she was willing to do all in her power to
+contribute to the glory of God, and do his will. Then the strange
+inspiration ceased, but on the following night it returned more strongly
+and vividly than at first, making her understand, like Samuel in the
+temple, that _God had spoken_; that it was time to renounce the ideal
+perfection which tormented her, and that a blind obedience to her
+directors was her only remedy. She therefore opened her heart to the
+confessor of the community, M. de Valens, and also to M. Caillen, pastor
+of Ville-Marie, who decided on sending her to her superior, there to
+disclose all the anxious thoughts that agitated her soul, and speak of
+whatever she conceived to be for the welfare of the Congregation. The
+docile Sister did as directed, and in order to give her useful and
+practical occupation, the superior told her to write what the Holy
+Spirit would inspire for the guidance of the institute she had so
+happily founded. These precious manuscripts are replete with lessons of
+divine wisdom, and it is from their pages her children still select the
+beautiful instructions and maxims that keep her spirit alive among them.
+Her heart being thus freed from its silent agony, she found herself at
+last completely delivered from the torture she had so long endured, her
+only desire, for the three remaining years of her life being to exhibit
+a model of the social and community virtues she had taught to others for
+more than 50 years. Nor was it only at this late period of her life she
+had resolved to resign the office of superior, for in 1680, before
+making her third voyage to France to procure rules for her institute,
+she had earnestly and tearfully asked the Sisters to elect another in
+her place, alleging her unfitness and unworthiness. What must have been
+her astonishment, to hear all exclaim as with one voice and without a
+moment's hesitation, that they had chosen _the Mother of God for their
+superior_, and _Foundress_; that they should ever regard _her_ as their
+_first_ Mother in time and in eternity, but begged Sister Bourgeois to
+continue her government under the protection of their common Mother, to
+whose love and service she and they were alike pledged. In consequence
+of this unanimous choice, the holy Foundress, prostrating herself with
+the whole community before the statue of the Blessed Virgin, addressed
+to her impromptu, the following prayer:--
+
+"O holy Virgin, behold this little band of your servants, who have
+consecrated themselves to the service of God under your protection, who
+wish to follow your example, as good children follow their earthly
+mother's, and who regard you as their cherished Foundress, and first
+Superior. We hope that the good God agrees with our election, and gives
+you the absolute government of this Congregation, which is your work. We
+have nothing to present to God, but we hope through your means, to
+obtain all the graces necessary for our salvation and the perfection of
+our state, _You_ know best what is necessary for us, and what we now ask
+is, that you will never refuse us your assistance. Help us by your all
+powerful intercession to receive the light of the Holy Spirit, that we
+may be enabled to labor efficaciously for the education and religious
+instruction of our pupils, according to our profession. But above all
+things we ask, dear Lady and Mother, that our successors and those who
+contribute to their spiritual advancement, may be of the number of the
+elect, so that in your glorious society we may all praise our good God
+during a happy eternity." It was therefore the Blessed Virgin who was
+elected first Superior of the Congregation. What a grand motive of Faith
+this afforded to the succeeding superiors, who, believing that they held
+the place of Mary herself, were all the more strictly bound to advance
+the spiritual perfection of their subjects, especially in the practice
+of holy obedience. It was only on _this condition_ that Sister Bourgeois
+consented to the desire of her daughters, that she should continue to
+govern them as assistant, their and her principal superior being the
+queen of Heaven. However, when she returned from France in 1684, as
+before stated, she again solicited the Sisters to elect a new superior,
+and so eager was her desire that the Community held one chapter for the
+purpose, in which nothing was decided, the suffrages being equally
+divided between two candidates, who were each remarkable for the most
+sublime virtue. That same night, while the matter was still pending, the
+fire broke out, and both Sisters perished in the flames. Seven years
+later, the Foundress brought up the matter again, as there was an
+excellent subject on the mission at Quebec, who was well calculated to
+discharge the duties of Superior. This was Sister Anne Verand, one of
+the first members, and the same who had ten years before commenced the
+mission of "The Holy Family" with Sister Assumption. All eyes were
+turned upon her as the new superior, but as she was then ill at Quebec,
+the community directed her to return home, hoping that her health would
+soon be re-established, and that she would then fill the position
+intended for her. She returned promptly, although in a dying condition,
+and went to receive the reward of her obedience and pious labors a few
+days after. By her unexpected death, all her plans were a second time
+upset. If these occurrences may not be reckoned among the marvellous or
+supernatural, they are at least very singular. For the next two years,
+the Sisters carefully abstained from commenting on these strange events
+before Sister Bourgeois, but she had no idea of desisting from her
+importunities, and in September, 1693, again assembled the community on
+the all-important subject of an election. Having previously obtained the
+consent of M. de St. Vallier, she publicly resigned her office in the
+manner required by the constitutions, although they were not yet
+canonically approved, and read with a strong clear voice, the following
+written declaration:
+
+"There is no longer any doubt that I am a great sinner, who has not been
+faithful to the sacred duty so lovingly confided to me. I deserve the
+pain of mind I suffer, because my criminal relaxations have extended
+even to you. I humbly ask your pardon, and beg the succor of your
+prayers. Remedy this state of things now, as much as may be, by changing
+the superior, and let her, whoever she may be, see that even the least
+rules are carefully observed, otherwise the members of the community
+will be no better than seculars leading Christian lives. Renew, then, in
+yourselves the spirit that you ought to have, that is, poverty,
+humility, obedience, and an entire abandonment of yourselves into the
+hands of God." It has been related already that Sister Assumption was
+elected superior in her stead. So it will not be necessary to revert
+again to the fact. It was by direction of this superior the Foundress
+wrote the beautiful instructions and maxims that have always been
+regarded as the richest inheritance of her spiritual children. Yet some
+of her instructions were not suited to every grade of intellect, the
+perfection they inculcated being so sublime that a few were frightened,
+and as timid and indiscreet souls are to be found everywhere, there was
+one in the young Congregation, who dared to say to Sister Bourgeois,
+that it was useless for her to try to establish such extraordinary
+perfection among the the Sisters as was suited to herself alone, and
+that being no longer superior, she was not answerable before God for the
+pretended relaxations of which she complained. This remark was stinging,
+and to the point.
+
+Yet the holy Foundress was not at all offended by it. It was for her a
+message sent from heaven, and she received it with unfeigned humility,
+determining to write nothing in future that could displease the lowliest
+of the Sisters. We quote from her manuscript on the occasion:
+
+"The members of our Congregation should live in the most perfect union,
+in imitation of the early Christians, under the direction of the Blessed
+Virgin. We should have but one heart and one soul in God, as without
+this concord we would not be truly a community. The Holy Spirit that
+animates us is a spirit of simplicity, poverty, disengagement from all
+things, and the most entire abandonment to God."
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+SISTER BOURGEOIS' HAPPY DEATH, AND THE WONDERS THAT FOLLOWED IT.
+
+
+The earthly mission of this sainted woman was now drawing to a close,
+and there only remained for her the task of procuring ecclesiastical
+confirmation of the rules of her institute. It will be remembered that
+she brought with her from France a formula of the rules drawn up by M.
+Jandret, and also those given her by "the Daughters of the Cross," but
+she had never arranged them systematically, so as to be able to present
+them in proper form to M. de St. Vallier, and to speak frankly, he did
+not appear to be in a hurry to approve of them, as _his_ views regarding
+the Congregation were for many years unsettled and wavering. But at
+last, the great Arbiter of all things solved the question, and his
+Lordship began to feel a strong inclination, or rather inspiration, to
+inquire more particularly into the nature of the rules, and judge for
+himself if they were suited to the community. He accordingly examined
+the formulas very carefully, and submitted them to to the judgment of
+other enlightened persons who were in his confidence. It appeared to
+each of the distinguished examiners that the _compilations_ and
+_memoirs_ of the revered Foundress, as also the _practices_ and _usages_
+of the Congregation as it then stood, were the real foundations of the
+rule under discussion. Therefore the worthy Bishop, in order to have it
+more in accordance with _his_ ideas, proposed to change it in nearly
+every particular. In fact, he proposed for their observance the rule of
+St. Augustine.
+
+The Sisters were panic-stricken, because if this proposition were
+carried into effect they would be transformed into cloistered
+religieuses, while they desired to be missionary Sisters, who could
+attend to the out-door needs of their respective parishes, according to
+their original designs and to the spiritual welfare of the people, under
+the direction of the pastors. This was a _fixed point_, and the
+distinctive characteristic of the Congregation as founded by Sister
+Bourgeois. It was next proposed by M. de St. Vallier, that the Sisters
+should make only simple vows. But as they had not made any vows in
+joining the community, the term, _simple vows_, of which some did not
+understand either the nature or the force, was another stumbling-block,
+and intimidated a few. It appears there were many unsatisfactory and
+protracted disputes on the subject, although the Sisters more than once
+made very humble remonstrances to the Bishop, and finding that the
+matter did not meet the prompt attention they thought it deserved, the
+Foundress determined to write a clear explanation to M. Troncon,
+Superior of St. Sulpice in Paris. Not that she intended or meant to set
+aside the authority of her Bishop, for whom she and her daughters
+entertained the highest esteem, but to receive from the distinguished
+Sulpician advice as to how she should act under such peculiar
+circumstances. M. Troncon was at the time performing the duties of an
+angel of peace, by the King's direction, and at the solicitations of the
+clergy of France, by amicably arranging the difficulties that had arisen
+between the celebrated M. de Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux, and M. de
+Fenelon, Archbishop of Cambray. He answered the communication of Sister
+Bourgeois with such sweetness and charity that the hearts of the Sisters
+were completely gained, and their minds enlightened, by the care and
+minuteness with which he explained the disputed points that caused them
+so much disquiet. They now clearly understood the nature of the
+engagements proposed to them, and no longer experienced unwillingness to
+enter into the views of their Bishop, who undertook a journey to
+Montreal, in June, 1698, for the express purpose of giving his episcopal
+sanction to the long-disputed rule. He admired the fervor of the new
+community, and was exceedingly edified when he found nothing to reform
+except a mitigation of austerities which were still rigorously practised
+by a great number. It was during this visit that he witnessed (for the
+first time) the extraordinary virtues of the famous recluse, Jane Leber.
+On the 24th of the month he called a general assembly of the
+Congregation, and proposed to them, with a few modifications, the same
+rules that were till then faithfully observed, and which Sister
+Bourgeois had the honor to place in his hands more than ten years
+before. The Sisters received their cherished rules and constitutions
+with enthusiasm, being now formally authorized by their Bishop, and
+these rules are still observed without the slightest alteration in the
+form in which they were that day presented to them, producing
+ever-increasing fruit and edification in the community.
+
+The formula of acceptance was as follows: "We accept with all possible
+respect and submission, the rules which have been given us by
+Monsigneur, the illustrious and Right Reverend Bishop of Quebec. After
+having diligently read and examined them, we judge them to be proper for
+the welfare of our community, and resolve to practice them with all
+possible exactness. In virtue of which acceptance we hereunto affix our
+names, on this 24th day of June, 1698." Then follow the signatures of
+Sister Assumption, superior, Sister St. Ange, assistant, Sister Lemoine,
+mistress of novices, Margaret Bourgeois, and others then assembled, to
+the number of twenty-five persons. It may not be inappropriate to say a
+few words in explanation of the austerities that were mitigated by the
+wise prelate, the _observance_ of which he and others considered too
+severe, and the _non-observance_ of which the mortified and penitential
+Foundress regarded as a relaxation. The Sisters, including the saintly
+woman who founded them, had accustomed themselves to sleep on straw
+mattresses, with _pillows_ of the same material, to wear none but low
+shoes; to make their simple dress without plaits, and as scant as
+convenience for working would allow; not to be ashamed of patches, no
+matter how numerous or inelegant; to eat only broken bread; in short to
+live in every respect like the poorest classes of society. These, and
+innumerable other practices of mortification, were constantly observed
+by the greater part of the community from the beginning. But in a severe
+climate like Canada, such rigors became _impossibilities_ after a time,
+and the Sisters were _obliged_ to mitigate them, in order to preserve
+health, without which they could not discharge the arduous functions of
+their institute. It was this _unavoidable_ relaxation that Sister
+Bourgeois regarded as a falling away from their first fervor. She had so
+long lived on the heights of Calvary that she could not endure to
+breathe a less crucified atmosphere; but in her Congregation, allowance
+had eventually to be made for less gifted souls. To return again to the
+rule. The act of profession of the simple vows was made with all
+possible solemnity, on the 25th of June, 1698, and was followed by a
+most touching exhortation from Monseigneur, exhorting them to persevere
+in the glorious work they had undertaken for the benefit of religion,
+and the salvation of souls. On the 1st of July following, the Sisters,
+in the presence of the Right Reverend Bishop, made their solemn vows for
+life, with as much more solemnity as the latter vows exceeded the
+former. All the ceremonies and authenticated acts, with the illustrious
+signatures attached to them, are carefully preserved in the archives of
+the community, and the flight of nearly two hundred years has only
+rendered them more sacred in the eyes of the ever young and vigorous
+Congregation that to-day fills the place of the glorious dead. Sister
+Bourgeois was overwhelmed with spiritual joy during the touching
+ceremonials at Montreal, that gave perpetuity and security to her
+institute. With the holy old man, Simeon, she might truly exclaim, "Now,
+Lord, let thy servant depart in peace, because mine eyes have seen" the
+fulfilment of my earthly desires, viz., the solemn approbation of her
+rules. She blessed God in her inmost soul, and humbly prostrating
+herself at the Bishop's feet, in presence of the Sisters, besought him
+with tears to grant her one more favor, which was to permit her to pass
+the few remaining days of her life in holy obedience, entirely depending
+on her Sisters, and that she might be in future exempted from _voting_
+at the community elections, as also from offices of authority. They
+acceded _unwillingly_ to this _last_ request of her unsurpassed
+humility, but on account of past labors, and her great age (she was
+seventy-eight years old), and out of respect for her extraordinary
+virtues, all her desires were complied with.
+
+Being thus freed at last from earthly cares, she became a model of
+regular observance. She told her director that for a long time she had
+asked God to send her nothing but humiliations and sufferings; that in
+His wrath He exempted her from these marks of His love, because, she
+said, when the occasion presents itself, I am _proud and immortified_,
+and I tremble at the inevitable approach of eternity.
+
+She seemed to be in pretty good health until the close of the year 1699,
+but on New Year's eve a change came, which proved to be the warning of
+the Angel of death. Sister St. Ange, having been confined to the
+infirmary for some time, had just received the last Sacraments, and
+appeared to be in her agony. The attendants ran to arouse the community,
+that they might assist the dying religieuse by their prayers, and have
+the consolation to witness the death of the just. A messenger came to
+Sister Bourgeois' room also, to apprise her of the expected death of her
+old and loved companion. She had ever loved all her children in God,
+with more than a mother's love, and cried out, "My God, why do you not
+take me, who am old and useless, rather than this dear Sister, who may
+yet render you great service." The victim had offered herself, and her
+sacrifice was accepted. The Sister in her agony recovered, and the
+venerated Foundress fell into a burning fever from which she _did not
+recover_.
+
+The previous year also she had a very severe attack of illness, from
+which she recovered as if by miracle. During her convalescence, she
+complained in a loving manner to the Sisters, that by their attentions
+and prayers they were prolonging the days of her exile, assuring them
+that she longed to be dissolved and be with Christ. Whether sick or
+well, she was a constant model of the most heroic and simple virtues.
+The great Apostle says: "That virtue is made perfect in infirmity." And
+if the Foundress of the Congregation did not entirely overcome the
+weakness of human nature, she constantly advanced in the holy paths of
+mortification, obedience, sacrifice of self, and submission to the will
+of God. She suffered the most intense bodily pains, which were at times
+so sharp and violent that she cried out in agony, but she never uttered
+a murmur or complaint. The attendant physician prescribed according to
+his skill, and she took his medicines regularly, although she felt
+convinced that neither human science, nor the affectionate care of the
+Sisters would be of any avail. She had a distinct presentiment that the
+hour of her dissolution was at hand, and oh, what exultant joy that
+knowledge gave her. She blessed God unceasingly in the greatest pain,
+and sang triumphant canticles on her death-bed, requesting the Sisters
+to sing them with her, and telling them that the divine harmonies of the
+city of God were audible to her at last. She literally burned with
+desire to go there, and be at rest forever, and the last twelve days she
+spent on earth in a seemingly unbroken agony, were the most jubilant of
+her life. The dark clouds of life were disappearing, and the silver
+lining of the other side was brightening the death-chamber of the dying
+saint. Yes, Margaret Bourgeois, the great and the lowly, the victor and
+the victim, literally thrilled with joy at the summons of the Eternal,
+and answered, "I come."
+
+On the morning of the twelfth day of her last illness, she received the
+holy Viaticum with unspeakable devotion, and immediately fell into a
+gentle agony, which lasted exactly three hours, corresponding to her
+Divine Redeemer's agony on the cross, then having modestly folded her
+hands on her bosom, she calmly surrendered her beautiful soul into the
+hands of its Creator, in the eightieth year of her age, January 12,
+1700.
+
+She had no sooner breathed her last sigh, than her face, which had long
+appeared care-worn and harrowed, as much by the mental sorrows she so
+long and bravely endured, as by the excessive pains of her last illness,
+began to beam with a celestial brightness, which undoubtedly announced
+the beatitude her soul was enjoying. Sister St. Ange, for whom the
+Foundress had offered her life, and who was then in perfect health, on
+witnessing the extraordinary prodigy, took the name of Sister of the
+Blessed Sacrament, which had been the community appellation of Sister
+Bourgeois during life.
+
+The bereaved Sisters desired to have the portrait of their dear deceased
+mother taken, before the tomb received her mortal remains. She looked
+very beautiful in death, so strangely beautiful that they resolved on
+having the likeness of the glorified deceased ever before their eyes.
+The work was confided to Pierre Leber, who was, however, but an
+indifferent artist, and was father of the celebrated recluse Jane Leber.
+He feared very much to undertake the painting, but nevertheless went to
+the convent and prepared himself by receiving Holy Communion in the
+Sisters' chapel. Almighty God was pleased to glorify His servant by a
+_second_ prodigy on this occasion, for the painter had no sooner taken
+his brush in hand, than he was seized with an excruciating vertigo and
+was compelled to desist. Nor would it have been possible for him to
+resume, but that he felt inspired to apply to his head a small portion
+of the hair of the deceased, upon doing which he was instantly cured,
+and completed the picture, which is to be seen still in a good state of
+preservation in the convent chapel.
+
+The news of her death had no sooner become public, than people flocked
+from all quarters to see the remains of the extraordinary woman, whom
+not only the voice of the common people, but also that of the highest
+authorities in Montreal, had ranked as a public benefactress. They were
+only prevented from invoking her as a saint by respect for the authority
+and voice of the Church, which had not yet spoken. An immense concourse
+of people, from city and country, came to procure some relics of her.
+They asked for scraps of her clothing, or of anything she had used in
+life, and as it was impossible to satisfy the demands of all, they
+applied to her sacred body medals, rosaries, scapulars, and such like
+articles of devotion. Several miraculous cures are related to have been
+worked by the use of these articles, and though we will not enter into a
+detail of them here, it requires no great effort of faith to believe
+them. We need only remember the fervor of her sanctity during life, and
+how often she was herself favored by miraculous proofs of the love of
+God.
+
+The hour appointed for the burial at last drew near, and the sacred body
+of this _child of peace_, became a subject of _contention_ between the
+Fathers of the seminary, and the Sisters of the Congregation, each
+declaring that they were the legitimate custodians of her precious
+remains. The Sisters desired naturally that the interment should take
+place in their own chapel. While the Fathers of the seminary declared
+that, living or dead, she belonged to the city of Montreal. and that
+they could not permit the Ville-Marie of her love to be deprived of such
+a treasure. However, M. de Olier, Grand Vicar of the diocese, decided
+the dispute, by ordaining that the _body_ should be interred in the
+parish church, but that the _heart of Margaret Bourgeois_ should be
+deposited in the Sisters' sanctuary, that its silent presence might
+preserve in their hearts the odor of her virtues, and it appears that
+with the reception of the sacred relic, the Lord bestowed on the
+community the spirit of their mother, which has never departed from
+them.
+
+The heart of the Foundress of the Congregation, that heart that had
+throbbed with a thousand hopes and fears for the glory of God, and the
+salvation of his redeemed children, lies enshrined in a silver reliquary
+in the convent chapel, awaiting the resurrection morning, when its
+life-pulses shall again return to waft it to its appointed place before
+the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom alone it lived, loved, and labored,
+during life. This sort of divided burial was not infrequent in Montreal.
+For, in 1693, on the death of Jean Mance, the pious Foundress of the
+Hotel-Dieu, a similar disposition of her remains took place, her body
+being interred under the parish church, while her heart was deposited
+with the religieuses of the hospital where it was consumed in the fire
+in 1695. Also in 1708, after the decease of Pierre Leber, one of the
+first benefactors of the general hospital of Montreal, _his body_ was
+interred in the hospital cemetery, and his _heart_ was taken to the
+Church of the Congregation Sisters, where his own sister, Jane Leber,
+the recluse, was still living. In consequence of the decision of M. de
+Olier, the body of the venerable Sister Bourgeois was buried beneath the
+parish church, the day following her decease, with such religious
+ceremonial and solemnity as Ville-Marie had never witnessed until that
+day.
+
+There was an immense funeral cortege, among the pall-bearers being
+Chevalier de Callieres, Governor-General of Canada, and Chevalier de
+Vaudreuil, Governor of Montreal, who, with other persons of rank and
+distinction thought it a religious duty to assist at the ceremony. All
+the priests and religieuses of the colony were present in the church of
+Montreal, and M. de Olier, himself an octogenarian, officiated. The body
+was interred under the entrance of the chapel of the Infant Jesus,
+commonly called the Sisters' chapel, the mother in life becoming the
+mother also in death, as her sepulture was truly a taking possession of
+the future burial-place of the Congregation, a deed of it being given to
+them three days after, dated January 17th, 1700. On the coffin-lid was
+placed the following inscription: "Here lies Venerable Sister Bourgeois,
+Foundress and first Superior of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre
+Dame, established in Montreal for the instruction of young girls; who
+departed this life on the 12th of January, 1700. _Requiescat in pace_."
+
+The heart of Sister Bourgeois was carefully embalmed, and respectfully
+enclosed in a leaden box--heart-shaped--having been purposely prepared
+to receive the sacred relic. It remained publicly exposed in the convent
+chapel for one month, during which time the people continued to come in
+crowds to apply objects of devotion to it, and also to obtain small
+pieces of the linen cloths ensanguined by the blood of the deceased at
+the time of taking the heart from the body. But these were distributed
+with much reserve. At the end of the month it was resolved to place the
+precious deposit in the niche prepared for it, this second ceremony
+being quite as solemn and imposing as the first. M. de Belmont
+officiated on the occasion, and during the requiem Mass the heart of the
+deceased was exposed on a catafalque in the middle aisle of the church,
+being covered by a soft white veil, the emblem of virginity. At the
+conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice, the prayers of the dead were solemly
+chanted, while the celebrant carried the cherished relic in his own
+hands to its final resting place, which was a kind of niche, cut in
+stone, and placed it in the middle of the long oriental panel of the
+choir, where the Sisters usually assembled to perform their religious
+exercises.
+
+There the heart of one of earth's noblest and purest daughters was
+deposited, with aspergings and incense, after which the opening was
+securely closed with a plate of lead, on which were engraven the
+following words:--
+
+  "The heart that is covered by this stone
+  Renounced the earth to live for God alone,
+  It had no other treasure than the band
+  Of Christian virgins, who at the command
+  Left home and country for a foreign land."
+
+  [Footnote: The above is a free translation
+  of the original French rhyme.]
+
+
+There the precious relic rested secure until the night of April 11th,
+1768, when both the chapel and house of the Sisters were consumed by
+fire, the devoted daughters of the Foundress finding it impossible to
+save their mother's heart. But who can judge of their astonishment on
+the following day, when, having come to search for it among the debris,
+they found the crisped heart in the hollow of the stone, and saw drops
+of _fresh blood_ trickling down the wall. It will be remembered that
+almost seventy years had then elapsed since the inhumation.
+
+The Sisters being amazed at what they had reason to regard as
+miraculous, sent at once for one of the seminary Fathers. M. Havard, who
+was confessor to the community, answered the call and bore witness to
+the fact. He respectfully gathered the sacred ashes, and its wonderfully
+preserved blood, enclosed both in a silver reliquary, and so it remains
+to this day, an indisputable evidence of the wonderful providence with
+which God watches over the children of his election. Several remarkable
+cures are attributed to the relics of Sister Bourgeois. Among others it
+is recorded that the porter of the Sulpician seminary was attacked with
+inflammation of the lungs, so suddenly that his life was despaired of,
+and death seemed inevitable. He had applied a rosary to the body of the
+venerable religieuse on the day of the interment, and now laid the
+rosary on his breast. The application produced instant recovery, and
+robust health. A lady of Ville-Marie, who for many years had suffered
+excruciating internal pains, without being able to obtain relief from
+the most skilful physicians, was perfectly cured on the application of a
+piece of linen saturated with the blood of Sister Bourgeois' heart, on
+the day of the embalming. But it will not be necessary to enter more
+fully into these details here, than to state that numerous and
+undeniable wonders have been effected by praying at her grave, as well
+as by the use of her relics. Although these facts have not as yet been
+rigorously examined, or juridically proved, yet her beautiful life is a
+monumental miracle, and the Congregation she so wondrously founded is
+still young, fresh, and strong after two centennials that have seen in
+their flight, fire, storm, and opposition, yet leave unscathed (as
+indestructible) the enduring labors of her saintly life. If she has not
+been solemnly canonized by the Church, whose judgment is respectfully
+awaited, she has been proclaimed Blessed by the unanimous voice of
+people of all grades of society, among whom she lived and labored.
+Therefore, while awaiting the hour in which it shall please God to
+manifest her glory, let us confine ourselves within the just bounds of
+religion, and suspending judgment, listen to a few short extracts from
+the eulogies that were universally paid to her memory by the most
+distinguished persons, then living in Canada, who were remarkable for
+high social position, and eminent piety, and were in some cases
+intimately acquainted with her.
+
+Perhaps no one knew her worth or extraordinary merit better than M. de
+Laval, who permitted her to found and spread her Institute in the
+diocese of Montreal, of which he was the first Bishop. At the time of
+her decease he was leading a humble, holy, _private_ life in the
+seminary of Quebec, and on hearing of her death, wrote to the Sisters in
+the following terms: "Sister Bourgeois was indeed a precious fruit, ripe
+for heaven. She was a model of edification during life, and in death
+serves for an example. She was very humble, and God conferred great
+graces upon her, which leads us to hope that she will soon enjoy the
+beatitude of the saints, and will, by her intercession, procure great
+graces for her community."
+
+M. de St. Vallier, on the occasion of her death, wrote: "We cannot help
+believing that God treated Sister Bourgeois as one of His dearest and
+most faithful servants, as she was replenished with a lively faith and
+ardent charity during life, both for God and her neighbor. I do not
+doubt that she is now enjoying the glory of the Blessed. But what has
+made the deepest impresssion on me regarding her, is the hidden and
+humble life she led after her retirement from the office of superior."
+
+M. de Maizerets, superior of the seminary at Quebec, renders her the
+following tribute: "I have always recognized Sister Bourgeois as a true
+servant of God, being filled with His spirit, and excelling in the
+virtues of humility, meekness, obedience to her superiors, and an entire
+abandonment to Divine Providence. She had a generous heart, capable of
+great enterprises, and I do not doubt that she has left to you, her
+daughters, her _mind_ as well as her _heart_. We have prayed here for
+the eternal repose of her soul, and I have also asked _her_ to pray for
+_me_."
+
+Rev. Father Bovart, superior of the Jesuits at Quebec, writes thus: "I
+do not think that Sister Bourgeois has need of our prayers. I have
+always felt the greatest veneration for her, and request you send me one
+of her relics. I do not ever remember to have met so holy a woman, as
+she possessed in an eminent degree the virtues of faith, hope, devotion,
+zeal, humility, and mortification. I esteem her happy in having died
+full of days and merit."
+
+The Mother of the Sacred Heart, superioress of the Hotel-Dieu at Quebec,
+in response to a letter of the Congregation Sisters, wrote: "We have not
+failed to pray for your dear and cherished mother, lately deceased,
+although I am persuaded she does not need our prayers."
+
+The Mother of the Incarnation, superioress of the general hospital says
+in a letter: "Sister Bourgeois was ripe for heaven, and earth has lost a
+great treasure in losing her. I pray you to obtain for us, from her
+Divine Spouse, her love of humility, poverty, abjection, and abandonment
+to the decrees of Providence, virtues that I particularly remarked in
+her."
+
+Mme. de Champigni, wife of the Governor of Quebec, bore testimony to the
+virtues of the deceased as follows: "Perhaps no one feels so afflicted
+as I, at the death of Sister Bourgeois. For you, her daughters, your
+consolation must be great indeed, knowing that you have a saint praying
+for your community, in heaven. I shall keep with religious respect the
+three beads of her rosary you were good enough to send me."
+
+But the renown of her virtues was not confined to Canada alone. There
+were in France also many distinguished persons who knew her merit, among
+others M. Gabriel Souart, who, as we have seen, was sent to Canada in
+1657, by M. Olier, and who returned to France in 1680, on account of
+failing health. This gentleman was an eye-witness of the labors of the
+illustrious dead, during the first struggling years of Montreal, and
+often spoke of the wonders she accomplished to M. de Turmenie the King's
+minister. Once, during the war between France and England, that raged so
+fiercely in the year 1688, these two gentlemen were conversing on the
+probable result of the bloody struggle. M. de Turmenie expressed his
+well-grounded fear that Canada would eventually fall into the hands of
+the English. M. Souart, on the contrary, said he did not fear the issue,
+as he had unbounded confidence in God, and the prayers of Sister
+Bourgeois, whom he familiarly styled the little St. Genevieve of Canada,
+and hoped through the efficacy of her prayers, that no evil would befall
+either the country or the Church. Canada was miraculously preserved at
+this time from the bristling guns of a formidable English fleet, as we
+read in history. M. de Turmenie wrote this conversation to the holy
+Foundress in a letter dated Paris, March 20th, 1691, and concluded with
+the following remark: "Your friend pronounced these words at my house a
+few days before his death. I do not relate them to you in order to
+excite your vanity, from which may God preserve you, but to let you know
+by his last words, the esteem and affection that holy man had for you."
+
+Nothing could be more glorious for the deceased than the eulogy of such
+a man as M. Souart, who was a holy priest, and singularly enlightened in
+the ways of God. Having been her director for a long time, he bore
+ocular testimony to her truly heroic life. Sister Bourgeois preserved
+the letter, because a portion of it related to the affairs of the
+community, of which the royal counsellor took special charge in Paris.
+But she took the precaution to efface the portion relating to herself,
+yet not so perfectly as to prevent its being deciphered. Such were the
+opinions entertained of her in France during her _life_, and as soon as
+intelligence of her _death_ reached the wise and holy persons who knew
+her at Troyes, Paris, and elsewhere, the most edifying and instructive
+letters were sent to her bereaved daughters, by the first vessel bound
+for Canada. Among other writers' names we find that of Mother Mary Paul
+de Blaigni, superioress of the Congregation at Troyes, which was really
+the cradle of Sister Bourgeois' sublime virtues.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+THE EXCELLENCE OF HER INSTITUTE, HER MAXIMS, INSTRUCTIONS, ETC.
+
+
+It does not seem sufficient in recording the life of this remarkable
+woman, to speak only of her public and exterior actions, leaving her
+interior dispositions and the religious perfection of her institute in
+the shade. The actions hitherto related are beyond the power of the
+greater number either to perform or imitate, as they would also be out
+of their sphere of usefulness. Therefore, without entering into her
+_spirit_, they would only serve as sterile or fruitless objects of
+admiration. Accordingly we see that not only did God ordain her to be
+the mother of a numerous posterity of Christian virgins, but also their
+_teacher_ and their _model_. It may be said of Sister Bourgeois, as of
+the Spouse in the Canticles, that she spread abroad the odor of her
+virtues, in order to leave a sure route of salvation and perfection to
+those who would follow in her train. Yet, all the glory of the king's
+daughter was within. There are many principles by which we may judge of
+the excellence and perfection of an institute or congregation. We may
+consider it in itself, as seen by the rules that govern it, and the
+sanctity and merits of its Foundress. We may compare it with other holy
+institutes to which _it_ may bear resemblance. We may regard the end
+proposed in its establishment, and the means by which to attain that
+end, or the model on which its members must be formed. Finally, we may
+examine the qualities and dispositions exacted from those who aspire to
+perfection in it, and by the application of such tests we can easily
+judge of the excellence of the Congregation of Notre Dame. A careful
+perusal of the rules complied by the Foundress will convince any one
+that prudence, charity, zeal, and the spirit of God dictated them. But
+to meditate on them with care, and reduce them to constant practice, is
+the precious stone mentioned in the gospel, for the purchase of which it
+is necessary to _sell_ all and _leave_ all. However, it must be
+confessed that, as perfect as the rule is, it does not reflect all the
+holy sentiments with which Sister Bourgeois was animated, as she always
+practised more than she prescribed for others. When, by a prudent and
+just condescension to the weakness of her children, the greater number
+of whom, despite their good will, _were not able_ to practise the
+austerities her zeal recommended, it was found necessary to soften this
+rigor the rejection of the old practices and penances was one of the
+most severe trials of her life. It was this condescension, as well as
+the consciousness of her unworthiness, that made her sigh to be
+discharged from the office of superior, and it was only her zeal for the
+glory of God that supported her under the trial. Her own words are: "It
+seems to me that God has made me sufficiently understand, by the
+thousand accidents that happened from time to time, as also by the
+interior warnings of divine grace, that he is not satisfied with us, and
+I confess that, through cowardice, I have departed from the path marked
+out for me, by Mary, our dear Mother, who has been the ever present,
+though invisible superior of this house. I do not wish to abuse the
+patience of God any longer, and shall endeavor that His will be
+accomplished, no matter what is the cost of my submission." It must not
+be forgotten that she regarded herself as the _assistant_ of the
+community. She never lost sight of the fact that the establishment of
+the Congregation was not her work, and that she was only a vile
+instrument in the hands of God. She believed firmly that the interior
+government of it would always be under the direction of the Blessed
+Virgin. Neither had she forgotten the divine favors she received in
+youth, which were, foreshadowings of what God required from her in
+after-life for His glory. She had always present to her mind the
+wonderful chain of circumstances that led her to Canada, there to
+establish devotion to the Queen of Heaven, and form young hearts on that
+exalted model. She frequently called to mind the promise of protection
+the Blessed Virgin gave her before coming to the New World, of the
+fulfilment of which she had frequent and sensible proofs. It is quite
+remarkable that, in the writings left by this humble and admirable
+woman, she does not make use of a single word that could lead one to
+believe she had _personally_ anything to do with the establishment of
+the Congregation, desiring, no doubt, that it should be directly
+attributed to the Queen of Angels, whom she wished to be recognized as
+its Foundress and first Mother. She was often heard to declare that her
+highest earthly ambition was to induce the Mother of God to conduct her
+community on the same plan that she conducted the rising Church, after
+the passion of the Redeemer, when she became the common Mother, refuge,
+and consolation of the afflicted disciples and their followers. On
+making a comparison between her institute and other religious orders,
+she expresses herself as follows:
+
+"The ever Blessed Virgin in prophetic spirit knew, from the very dawn of
+Christianity, that God would eventually establish communities in His
+Church, to engage the faithful to practise more perfectly, not only the
+commandments, but the evangelical counsels. It appears that this good
+Mother has manifested her designs, and extended her protection in a very
+special manner, in favor of the smallest and _least_ of all religious
+communities, viz., that established in Ville-Marie, which, in order to
+maintain the excellence of its origin, has gathered from other religious
+institutes their most perfect maxims."
+
+Acting on this principle the holy Foundress borrowed from the Chartreuse
+a love of solitude and silence, from St. Francis of Assissi the virtue
+of poverty, from St. Francis of Paul the love of humility, from the
+Carmelites the practise of penances and austerities, from St Francis de
+Sales the exercise of sweetness and charity as exemplified in the houses
+of the Visitation, from the Hospitalieres devotion to the poor and sick,
+and from the noble order of the Jesuits zeal for the salvation of souls.
+Her institute is remarkable for the charity and zeal by which its
+members are animated, their zeal being in a certain sense the spirit of
+the priesthood, which is _par excellence_ the order of Jesus Christ
+himself, who was the High Priest of the New Law. The Sisters of the
+Congregation are bound to co-operate with the pastors of the Church in
+the discharge of such duties of charity as come within the spirit of
+their rule, making, however, a specialty of instructing youth, to which
+Sister Bourgeois devoted all her energies from girlhood. Her zeal was
+indeed a consuming fire, for she had no sooner learned that there were
+pagan tribes to instruct and convert in the New World, than she sought
+means to go there to assist in their connversion.
+
+A thousand obstacles did not dishearten her. When there were no priests
+on board during the early voyages, she supplied their places as far as
+woman could, with the zeal of a St. Ambrose, frequently in her peculiar
+circumstances praying, with the dying and for the dead by land and sea.
+Christian or heathen, French or Indian, were alike to her; she assisted
+_all_, her modesty forming a beautiful rampart around her, that rendered
+her person sacred in positions where less divinely gifted women might
+fear to stand. Such were the particular and general views of this
+Christian heroine in the establishment of her Congregation, and such was
+the peculiar character of her institute. We give an extract from her
+writings on the subject: "As the devil is very careful to take a stand,
+and be on the look-out, at the beginning of all good works, knowing well
+that a fervent community is capable of effecting much good, sometimes
+even of arresting the anger of God, armed against sinners, let us fear
+that this arch-enemy, by his cunning and subtlety, may not seek to
+destroy our institute. Let us be careful that he does not withdraw from
+it the spirit of piety, simplicity, poverty, recollection, and
+mortification, interior and exterior, in order to introduce, under
+specious pretexts, the inevitable ruin of a soft, relaxed life."
+
+To avoid so dreadful a misfortune, behold the means of defence this good
+mother presents to her daughters:
+
+"The Blessed Virgin desired to continue the work of God upon earth, and
+we are pledged to assist her by laboring for the education of youth. The
+Blessed Virgin prayed for the accomplishment of the prophesies, and the
+deliverance of the holy souls, who in limbo awaited the coming of the
+Just One, and we are bound to make fervent prayer for the conversion of
+sinners, and the souls in purgatory. The Blessed Virgin entered the
+temple, at the age of three years, to perfect herself in that school of
+virtue; the daughters of the Congregation, in imitation of that act,
+consider themselves pupils of Mary during their novitiate. The Blessed
+Virgin was abstemious and mortified in her food, and in all the other
+necessaries of life; the Sisters should follow her example and mortify
+themselves in eating, drinking, sleeping, speaking, and clothing, using
+nothing but what is absolutely necessary, each one at the same time
+consulting her strength and constitution. The angel of God saluted Mary
+while she was at prayer; the Sisters should pray fervently for the
+graces necessary to enable them to discharge their duties properly, and
+that among their pupils Almighty God may sometimes select His spouses.
+
+"When the Blessed Virgin had given her consent to the angel, and had
+really become the Mother of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, she
+testified her gratitude to the Eternal Father, by promptly corresponding
+to the designs of His grace, and went to visit her cousin Elizabeth,
+that she might be an instrument in the sanctification of the precursor,
+and carry grace and salvation to the house of Zachary; it is necessary
+that on the missions the Sisters propose to themselves the
+sanctification of little children, and give edification to all classes
+of persons that they may be recognized as the true daughters of Mary.
+
+"When the days were accomplished that she should bring forth her Divine
+Child, the angels announced that blessed birth to lowly shepherds, as
+well as to high-born kings, and the Blessed Virgin received with equal
+affection the honors paid her Divine Son by the humble herdsman and the
+Oriental sages; so should the Sisters have an equal regard for the poor
+as well as for the rich, treating all alike, as the children of Mary.
+
+"The Blessed Virgin continued to dwell in her poor house at Nazareth in
+privacy and silence, until the calling of the Apostles, to whom she was
+a sort of mistress of novices by the charm of her virtues; the Sisters,
+before applying themselves to the instruction of externs, or the duties
+of the schools, should prepare for it, by the exercise of prayer, pious
+reading, mortification of the senses, and all other virtues proper to
+their state. The Blessed Virgin followed her Divine Son to the foot of
+the cross, like a good mother who _could not_ lose sight of him; the
+Sisters should always keep themselves as much as possible in the
+presence of God, in imitation of their glorious model."
+
+Although the rules of religious institutes are not intended for general
+reading, yet the following extracts are so simple and practical that we
+think their translation excusable:
+
+"_How we must bear with the defects of our neighbor_.--I am bound to
+believe that my faults and imperfections are greater than those of
+others, and that they have to do violence to themselves in order to bear
+with my shortcomings; therefore it is my duty to be patient with them,
+in imitation of God, who is patient with all, who supports all, and
+endures all, notwithstanding our many defects, and the disproportion
+that exists between us and Him.
+
+"_On fidelity in little things_.--Our good God is contented with little
+virtues, if they are the result of our love for Him, and he knows how to
+increase them in our souls if they are performed with purity of
+intention. It is necessary, then, that I try to do everything for His
+love, and for _that alone_.
+
+"_On death_,--'It is appointed for man once to die, and after that the
+judgment.' This thought should oblige me to live always in the state in
+which I wish to be found when the last moment shall arrive. Then, death
+may come suddenly, but not _unprovidedly_. My resignation will be much
+easier, the thought of the last hour sweeter, and the inevitable
+consequences less to be feared.
+
+"_On Raillery_.--We sometimes wish to make our conversation appear
+witty, and we succeed, _perhaps at the expense of charity_, by using
+expressions of raillery, jest, or mockery, without perceiving that we
+give pain to our neighbor. A person addicted to this vice receives as
+much prejudice from it as the one who is the object of it, and a
+frequent use of unkind raillery stains the brilliancy of the baptismal
+robe, which we are bound to bring unspotted before the judgment-seat of
+God, and loosens the bonds of charity that should hold together all
+Christian communities.
+
+"_On respect in the House of God_.--A church where the Blessed Sacrament
+is preserved, is the place where God most readily receives our prayers,
+and where he has promised to answer them. But that promise is a
+_contract_ between our Father in heaven and ourselves, for the due
+performance of which He exacts certain conditions on our part. These are
+chiefly respect and devotion. Without these conditions we pray in vain,
+as God will not hear us. We lack respect for the presence of God when we
+act with levity in church, or use indecent postures, and we lack
+devotion when we pray with precipitation, without attention, or in a
+manner that indicates we have only attended through a meaningless
+formality.
+
+"_On Christian humility_.--It is good for us at times to reflect on the
+_greatness_ and the _lowliness_ of the Virgin Mother of God. She was by
+her privileges and virtues infinitely exalted above all creatures, yet
+far from preferring herself to others, she regarded herself as the last
+of all. 'The Lord hath regarded the humility of His handmaid.' We would
+be both blind and culpable if we preferred ourselves to any one, either
+for talent, science, personal attraction, or any other cause whatever,
+because self-love often blinds us, and we do not see ourselves as others
+see us."
+
+The _omitted_ portions of her rule are filled with similar beautiful
+sentiments. But, as an instance of her peculiar spirit of confidence, we
+quote the following prayer:
+
+"O eternal and all powerful God, I have not the humility that I ought to
+have, but my extreme misery constrains me to acknowledge that I am the
+most abject of all your creatures, because being tainted by _original_
+sin I am, in a certain sense, lower than the brute creation, and on
+account of my _actual_ sins, I deserve to be cast into hell. The
+confidence I desire to have in prayer, but do not possess, I expect from
+your bounty and mercy, because you have given your only Son to redeem us
+by His precious blood, and I would rather lose a thousand lives than
+fail to believe the truth of His words. Grant me this grace, my God; it
+is my strength and my confidence. As to the perseverance I should have
+in prayer, the consideration of the many graces I have received from you
+oblige me to testify my gratitude to the last hour of my life, and on
+through eternity. For, if I have the happiness of being admitted after
+death into the company of the blessed, I shall persevere in prayer, if
+you so permit, and unceasingly implore your mercy for the community. I
+ask neither wealth, nor honors, nor pleasures of this life; I only ask
+that your holy will may be fully accomplished, and that we may follow
+the road you have pointed out to us, and which the Blessed Virgin
+herself has so faithfully trodden. I earnestly beg that every member of
+our community, and those who shall succeed them, as also those who
+contribute to their spiritual advancement, may be of the number of the
+predestined. I believe, dear Lord, that my demand is just, and I make it
+in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, of Mary, His holy mother, of her
+glorious spouse, St. Joseph, and of all the blessed inhabitants of the
+celestial court."
+
+We will conclude this chapter by giving an outline of the funeral
+oration pronounced by M. de Belmont, Superior of the Montreal seminary,
+at the sepulture of Sister Bourgeois' heart. The orator took for his
+text the words of St. Paul, "Be ye imitators of me, as I also am of
+Jesus Christ," and then reminded the Sisters, that although nature
+exacts many tears for the death of those we love, tears which religion
+does not condemn, provided they are kept within reasonable bounds, and
+sanctified by prayer and sacrifice, yet it was fitting, at the
+inhumation of the heart of their Foundress, to terminate the duties both
+of nature and piety regarding her they all equally mourned.
+
+"You have lost her visible presence," he said, "yet, being the
+custodians of her heart, you should revive within you her spirit, by
+reproducing in your lives the virtues of which she has given so many
+examples. It is for this special purpose God has permitted the division
+of her mortal remains, because He wills that both her _heart_ and
+_spirit_ shall be _your treasure_, and she was never more truly your
+superior and model, than when during life she strove to imitate Jesus
+Christ."
+
+He made an ingenious allusion to her love of the cross, by comparing the
+virtues for which she was most remarkable with the emblem of man's
+redemption. "Her humility," he said, "was the _foot_ of the cross, which
+had a deep foundation in the earth, and solidified her other virtues,
+while poverty and mortification were the _arms_ of the cross, and
+embraced a great number of holy and pious practices." He then
+felicitated the Sisters on the glory of their mother, and promised they
+should partake of it, according to the words of our Lord addressed to
+His apostles before his passion; "You who have remained with me in my
+temptations," etc. "Even so does your venerable mother address you from
+heaven my dear Sisters," he said, "'you who have been faithful to
+humilations, and sufferings, which is the only heritage I leave you on
+earth, be faithful to the end, and you shall partake of my present
+glory.' And she further addresses you in the words of the Gospel, 'I
+have begotten you in Jesus Christ.' 'It is I,' your departed mother
+continues to say, 'who have assembled you as a company of Christian
+Amazons, ready to battle with the enemy of your salvation, not only in
+the cloister, but amid the tumult of the world.' Labor faithfully,
+therefore, in your glorious vocation, because you are the children of a
+saint. Do honor to your mother, walk in her footsteps, and perpetuate
+her earthly labors. This is an assured means by which to please your
+celestial Spouse, and participate with her in the glory and merit of the
+apostolic ministry."
+
+It was not difficult for him to eulogize the courage of Sister
+Bourgeois, which had certainly been marvellous, and far above what is
+common to her sex, the two wings that carried her onward and upward
+being _faith_ and _confidence_ in God. He said her faith resembled that
+of Abraham, because like him, she heard the voice of God saying, "Leave
+thy country and thy kindred, and I will make thee the mother of a
+numerous posterity, and of a chosen nation." Imitating the patriarch she
+did not hesitate a moment, but came to the New World, poor and
+unprotected well knowing that He who inspired the design was powerful
+enough to give success to the undertaking. "You, my dear Sisters, are
+the children of Mary's faithful client," continued the speaker, "you are
+the first fruits of the new people of God, of whom she was the spiritual
+mother." He concluded his discourse, as he had commenced it, by
+commending his auditors to the care of their good mother, praying that
+she would obtain for them by her intercession, a love of the Holy Cross,
+a great zeal for the salvation of souls, and an unbounded confidence in
+God, which is the source of all true courage.
+
+"Every time you assemble in this place," he said, "to perform your
+religious exercises, raise your eyes to her heart, the sanctuary of so
+many virtues, and formerly the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. Imagine
+you hear her addressing to you these last words of the Apostle:
+
+"My children, my joy, and my crown, persevere in the spirit of fervor,
+take care to advance in perfection, and procure the sanctification of
+all confided to your care, so that, having been on earth united by the
+bonds of charity, and the other virtues proper to our state, we may not
+be separated in Heaven."
+
+Such, as we have given them in this chapter, are a few of the pious
+maxims and admonitions by which Sister Bourgeois endeavored to lead her
+spiritual daughters in the paths of perfection, always proposing to them
+the example of Mary and inspiring them with the most sublime views of
+faith, in order to keep them constantly in the presence of God. But we
+refrain from multiplying extracts, as her spiritual writings, maxims,
+and reflections would require a separate volume to do them justice, and
+we earnestly hope that such a volume may be forthcoming at no distant
+day, as it would prove a lasting benefit to any religious community, so
+practical, so simple, and yet so sublime are the workings of Sister
+Bourgeois' mind, having been directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+A RECAPITULATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE LIFE OF SISTER
+BOURGEOIS.
+
+
+On reading this life, one cannot help being struck with wonder and
+admiration, at the great work Sister Bourgeois undertook and
+accomplished. We behold a simple country girl forming the then
+astonishing project of going to Canada, in the hope of founding a city
+bearing the name of Mary, there to teach religion and morality to
+persons of her own sex. What seemingly insurmountable obstacles
+presented themselves to her view. She must undertake a voyage of many
+thousand leagues, must traverse immense and unknown seas, must expect to
+live in the wilds of primeval forests, exposed to the fury of cruel
+savages, who unceasingly attacked the weak ramparts of Ville-Marie. And
+what means did she possess to surmount these difficulties? Had she
+credit? Had she any available human support? Was she high-born or
+powerful? Had she wealth at her disposal? To all these questions we must
+answer, no. Her hopes of success centered only in an unbounded
+confidence in the providence of God. Young Margaret possessed the
+strength of soul and resolution necessary for great designs, the noble
+intrepidity that rises superior to danger, the firmness that obstacles
+cannot shake, the fertile and ingenious mind always equal to the
+occasion, and a sublime spirit of piety and devotion that was useful
+everywhere. While she felt herself in a manner pushed towards Canada,
+she prayed unceasingly, consulted spiritual directors, listened
+respectfully to the voice of her superiors, and listened _interiorly_ to
+the voice of heaven. Nothing could arrest or retard her progress, and
+she fearlessly set out for the new New World that claimed her zeal. At
+the age of ten she gathered around her little children to form them to
+virtues. At a later period she was to establish a religious Congregation
+in the Church, whose members should aspire to the highest sanctity.
+Scarcely had the vessel on which she embarked set sail, than her zeal
+was called into active service. She induced the entire ship's crew to
+unite in daily prayer and pious reading. Several soldiers falling sick,
+she nursed them with sisterly charity, eight of them dying in her arms.
+Arriving at her destination, she finds no home ready to receive her, and
+takes up her dwelling in a _stable_, which is for her a happy omen, as
+it resembles the stable of Bethlehem. There she opens school; from
+thence she daily departs to perform innumerable good works. But the
+harvest ripens quickly, and the laborers are few. Overflowing with zeal
+she again traverses the broad sea in search of help, and leads back many
+generous volunteers. Again she returns to procure letters patent for the
+consolidation of her establishment. In the court of a king, in the
+centre of a camp, she solicits the favor and obtains it. On returning to
+the city of her love, she resolves on securing ecclesiastical
+approbation for the rules of her institute, and for this purpose travels
+on foot through blinding snowstorms. A hundred times would she have
+crossed the continent rather than fail to accomplish the will of God,
+and her courageous zeal was eventually blessed by heaven, a crowd of
+devoted young girls ranging themselves under her standard.
+
+The capital and provinces were alike eager to obtain a foundation of her
+Sisters, and in a few years all Canada experienced the happy effects of
+her institute, which for nearly two centuries has not ceased to spread
+about the odor of sanctity and the knowledge of our holy religion. Being
+at all times desirous to do good, she established temporarily a House of
+Providence, for virtuous poor girls, where they might be saved from the
+snares of a treacherous world. Placing her confidence in God more than
+in man, she undertook to build a plain, substantial house, to serve the
+triple purpose of convent, boarding and day-school, and though at the
+start she had neither money nor credit, the building was completed. At
+another time she was inspired to build a church, and the church was
+built. Travelling in Paris she was reduced to extreme poverty, and
+heaven sent a man from the depth of a Canadian forest to pay her an
+almost forgotten debt. An establishment of her daughters was demanded
+for Quebec, and she permitted them to go and live; in a stable _pro
+tem_., until better accommodations were offered. The intended property
+at Quebec having been unjustly contested, she relinquished her rights,
+and an unknown hand gave her sufficient money to make a clear purchase.
+But not only was her _confidence in God_ most remarkable; she possessed
+all other virtues in an eminent degree. In youth she made a vow of
+chastity, and preserved that beautiful virtue amidst many dangerous
+occasions, compelling a regiment of soldiers to respect her, although
+she was frequently the only woman on board. Yet of all her personal
+virtues none was more extraordinary than her spirit of mortification.
+She seemed to live for the express purpose of afflicting her body, using
+her food always too hot or too cold, mixing ashes with her drink,
+sitting at meals in a painful position, sleeping on the bare earth with
+a wooden plank for her pillow, and taking little sleep at that. She
+never approached the fire in winter, and frequently made use of
+disciplines, hair-shirts, and a frightful crown of thorns, that she
+concealed on her head. How truly she hated her flesh such severe
+penances as these prove. When summoned to Quebec by her bishop, she made
+the journey on foot, through ice and snow, often wading across Canadian
+swamps. When she undertook a foundation she carried the furniture on her
+own shoulders, saying with Solomon: "I do not ask for the community
+either wealth, honors, or the pleasures of this life." Of her holy
+resignation also we have many striking instances. When all was ready to
+build the church of Bon Secours, knowing that nothing could be more
+useful to the young colony than such a work, and that unnecessary delays
+would ruin the material, yet when ecclesiastical superiors forbade her
+to continue, she instantly obeyed, without murmur or reply. The Bishop
+refusing for many years to approve her rule, which was nevertheless an
+epitome of divine wisdom, she ceased importuning, and silently awaited
+the time appointed by Divine Providence. In one short hour she lost by
+fire her convent, and everything it contained, the bodies of two dear
+Sisters being consumed in the flames. Yet her resignation triumphed over
+fire and death. For several years she experienced the most frightful
+interior desolation, neither prayers, reflections, communions, nor
+spiritual advice affording her the least relief. Yet in silent
+submission she drank the chalice to the dregs, without one atom of human
+consolation.
+
+What afflicted her most daring this ordeal was not the fear of hell, to
+which she believed herself condemned; no, it was lest she should be
+reduced to the horrible alternative of hating God, whom she wished to
+love in _time_, if she could not in _eternity_. Humility was another of
+her characteristic virtues, for, after she had solidly established her
+institute, and formed the Sisters in her spirit, her chief desire was to
+be exempted from all honorable functions in the community, to become the
+last and least in the holy obedience. They complied reluctantly with her
+desires in such matters during the remaining years of her saintly life,
+but all respected her, and remembered with gratitude how much they owed
+her. She herself recalled only her sins and infidelities. Such shining
+virtues were the result of her extraordinary devotion to the Mother of
+God, to whose service she had consecrated herself from childhood, and to
+whose glorified earthly actions she had united her own. Believing that
+Magdalen and Martha were the great models of religious life, she
+regarded Mary Immaculate as _their Mistress_, and loved to represent her
+instructing young virgins, and assisting to form the Church of Jesus
+Christ. She came to Canada for the express purpose of living in a city
+named after Mary--Ville-Marie. She called her Congregation Notre
+Dame--Our Lady--and wished that everything connected with it should bear
+the name of _Mary_. But the Queen of Heaven did not allow herself to be
+outdone in generosity. The statue shone with celestial light before the
+eyes of young Margaret at Troyes. On the Feast of the Assumption this
+privileged soul saw in the Holy Host an infant a thousand times more
+beautiful than the children of men, looking love into her eyes. In a
+dream she saw as distinctly as in life one of Mary's most devoted
+clients, M. de Maisonneuve, and finally the Blessed Virgin assured her
+_personally_ of protection by the solemn words, "Go to Canada. I will
+never abandon you." If charity is the queen of virtues, Sister Bourgeois
+practised it to heroism. In girlhood she courageously put on her
+father's burial-shroud with her own hands, which charitable office for
+the poor became afterward a favorite duty of her life. Being informed
+that a few reckless libertines were leading off a young girl to make her
+the victim of their debaucheries, she followed them with a crucifix in
+her hands, and despite their menaces to kill her, heroically snatched
+from them their prey. A soldier once being benumbed with cold, she gave
+him her only mattress; another received her bed, and two other
+unfortunates her comforters, her own couch in consequence being the cold
+ground. A Sister having fallen into her agony, the holy Foundress, who
+was far advanced in years, cried out to God: "Take _me_, O Lord, I am
+old and _useless_. This young Sister may yet render you great service."
+The noble sacrifice was accepted, the Sister in her agony recovering,
+while the Foundress was stricken unto death--a victim of the most heroic
+charity. We need not be astonished at the extraordinary brightness of
+her face after death, nor at the wonderful cures effected by touching
+her body, nor at the red blood that trickled from the burned relic of
+her heart. All is possible, all is easy to _charity_.
+
+This rapid glance at the life of Sister Bourgeois proves that the name
+of so uncommon a woman deserves to be better known in the history of the
+Church, because she has been one of its most beautiful ornaments. Such
+names as those of Montcalm, and of Montgomery, are of less value in the
+sight of God, than the Christian heroine's title of "The St. Genevieve
+of Canada." And we may well say of her with the prophet, "The Lord is
+admirable in his saints." _Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis_.
+
+
+
+
+CONCLUSION
+
+
+Besides what has been related in the preceding chapters, Sister
+Bourgeois wrote of several other events, both public and private, that
+occurred some before and some after her arrival in Canada. We will
+relate a few, in order to give a more correct idea of the state of
+things in the isle of Montreal, when she undertook to establish her
+community there. She says, it was then a vast, impenetrable forest,
+inhabited only by a great number of savages, who unceasingly attacked
+the French colonists, to prevent their establishment in the country, and
+as the settlers were then few in number, many of them fell beneath the
+bloody tomahawks of the relentless Iroquois. In fact it was extremely
+difficult to induce any one to leave the mother country for the New
+World, knowing what their fate would be when they reached Ville-Marie,
+if some measures were not taken to secure life and property. The general
+depression was so great that matters remained unchanged for _several
+years_, during which time the colonists were literally at the mercy of
+wild savages, to whom mercy was unknown. They lay treacherously
+concealed in the woods, and sallied forth with hatchet and tomahawk on
+their murderous rampage, when least expected, to pillage and burn the
+houses and then massacre the inhabitants. In those days it was
+impossible to labor singly in the fields. The tillers of the soil were
+obliged to work in groups, with a gun in one hand, and a scythe or spade
+in the other, often at the peril of their lives. These intrepid French
+Catholics had left peaceful, happy homes, and the blessings of a
+Christian government, for no other purpose than to convert wild Indians,
+who were absolutely under the dominion of the devil, and to spread
+abroad the glorious Faith over the prairies, and by the lakeshores of
+this vast continent. Most assuredly their names are emblazoned on the
+martyr-roll of heaven. It matters little if ungrateful men have
+forgotten _them_, and lauded the makers of mowing-machines, the
+inventors of steam-boats, the patented proprietors of the telegraph, the
+torpedo, the needle-gun, the steam engine, the sewing-machine, etc. All
+these things being of the earth earthy, shall pass away; nay, may become
+the civilized (?) instruments of driving the enlightened nations of the
+nineteenth century back into degraded barbarism. Have we not an
+undeniable proof of this in the uprising of the masses today (July,
+1877) in their might and wrath, who, believing they have been in many
+instances, and for long years, the unrequited starving tools of
+unprincipled _un-Christ-like Christian_ masters, have stood before the
+fiery breath of the steam-engine and said: "Thus far shalt thou go, and
+no farther;" have torn up the iron railroad tracks of a proud commercial
+country, and startled the world by the verification of Gamaliel's
+warning: "If these things be not of God, they will perish,"
+
+The truth is that the toil, devotion and blood of the early French
+settlers of Canada have produced an imperishable work in the propagation
+of the Faith, and the conversion of the Indians. In Canada these poor
+people become Christian, peaceful, and civilized; at least there exist
+very few exceptions in the country north of the Great Lakes. And this
+living, indestructible monument of the martyr's love is the work of
+Catholic France, and her noble sons and daughters. It became, therefore
+a matter of necessity at the time either to _abandon_ the young colony,
+or to _save it at all hazards_. M de Maisonneuve determined on the
+_latter_ course for the glory of God, the salvation of souls, the honor
+of France, and the _love of the Virgin Mary_. In 1652 he returned to his
+native land for soldiers to garrison and protect Ville-Marie, feeling
+confident that if a sufficient number could be induced to volunteer, the
+safety and prosperity of Canada would be secured. This gentleman had
+himself frequently escaped the fury of the savages miraculously. On one
+occasion, he was seized by a party of Iroquois, who were in the act of
+choking him to death, but having by a violent effort disengaged himself
+momentarily from their grasp, he blew out the brains of the chief with a
+pistol he fortunately had in his possession. The sight of their
+mutilated fallen leader, and the _smell_ of _gunpowder_, scattered the
+balance of the red men, and set the Governor free. Shortly after his
+departure, a band of nearly two hundred Iroquois presented themselves
+before the little fort of Ville-Marie, in order to lay siege to it. They
+knew beforehand that French arms and gunpowder were rather formidable
+opponents, especially if they should happen to meet another de
+Maisonneuve, and, as usual, had recourse to concealment. They formed
+their ambuscade in a ditch which they dug on the very ground that now
+forms the garden of the Congregation convent. There they lay hid,
+reconnoitering the strength of the place, and having matured their
+plans, commenced hurlling stones and shooting poisoned arrows against
+the fort, which contained only the small number of sixteen or seventeen
+men capable of bearing arms. This little troop, commanded by M. Closse,
+sustained the siege with undaunted bravery. The combat lasted an entire
+day, and one after another the savages sunk in death, pierced by a
+French bullet. The survivors went off at night, full of rage and shame,
+having succeeded in inflicting no other injury than the firing of an
+out-house belonging to M. d'Ailbout. During the long combat, M. Closse
+lost only one man, who was killed by an accidental discharge of a
+cannon.
+
+M. Brisac, an officer of the French army, was not so fortunate, however.
+He had determined to draw off and attack a second body of savages who
+had come to the assistance of the first party, but the wily Indians met
+stratagem by stratagem, and succeeded in deceiving him on the route.
+Seeing that they _must_ perish, as their enemies were ten times as
+numerous as they, the French resolved to sell their lives as dearly as
+possible. They erected a circular barricade of stones, and entrenched
+themselves within it, firing at random on the furious savages, who
+howled for their blood. The Iroquois fought like incarnate demons, and
+every stone they flung with unerring precision shattered a white man's
+skull. Like the Spartan three hundred, this brave French band determined
+not to be _taken alive_, so the living supplied the places of their
+fallen comrades until only five or six men remained. But the Indians at
+last effected an entrance within the barricade, and killed the survivors
+with the most | horrible cruelties. M. Brisac, the brave commander, was
+reserved by the savages to die last, that they might torture him at
+their ease, yet while he was able to speak, he never ceased exhorting
+his men to die like Christians. The constancy of the devoted band
+astonished the Iroquois, who could not refrain from expressing their
+admiration of the white man's constancy. The death of such heroic
+Christians is as much to be admired as that of the early martyrs,
+because like them they combatted and suffered for religion and the glory
+of God. Sister Bourgeois relates that during the first eight or nine
+years of the existence of the colony, they could not succeed in raising
+healthy children, all of them dying at a very tender age, as much on
+account of the rigorous climate, as of the privations and sufferings
+which were endured by their mothers, who, being all natives of sunny
+France, had enjoyed, at least in a moderate way, the good things of this
+life. In Canada, during these early days, they lacked nearly everything,
+except good will and an undying love of the Catholic Faith, bequeathed
+to them by their sainted forefathers. It may be also, that Almighty God
+wished to to take to Himself these precious children, as the first
+fruits of the New World. The first girl that arrived at maturity in the
+country was Jane Loisel. She became a pupil of Sister Bourgeois, to
+whose care she was confided at the age of four, and remained in the
+Sister's school to her eighteenth year, when she married John Beauchamp.
+It appears that theirs was the first Canadian marriage in Montreal. The
+first boy who escaped an early grave was John Desroches, and the first
+native of Montreal who consecrated herself to God in the Congregation
+was Marie Barbier, who became Superior after Sister Bourgeois'
+resignation. She was a very holy religieuse, and imbibed the spirit of
+her Foundress, subjecting herself to such frightful penances that a
+dangerous cancer formed in her body, of which, after years of intense
+suffering, she was miraculously cured. The venerable Foundress also
+leaves the following record of a few of the Indian girls she took under
+her protection:
+
+"In 1656, a young Iroquois mother had a little girl about nine months
+old, which she neglected shamefully, and treated with brutal violence. I
+endeavored to get the poor little sufferer from her, in order to raise
+it a Christian, M. Souard assisting me to secure it. So after giving the
+savage mother many presents, she at last consented to place the child in
+my care. But as I was on the eve of my first voyage back to France, I
+gave it in charge to Margaret Picard during my absence. As soon as I set
+sail the mother retracted, and tried in every possible way to get the
+child back without our knowledge. Once, while the little one and her
+vigilant nurse were out taking exercise, the Iroquois woman suddenly
+appeared, and endeavored with violence to snatch away the terrified
+infant. But she was disappointed; the child clung convulsively to her
+French mother, as she called her, and the savage departed, vowing to
+seize her another time, and then take revenge for the child's
+preference. In order to prevent a catastrophe, the Sisters hid the
+child, and the Iroquois eventually gave up the search. This little
+Indian was baptized and named Mary when she attained her fourth year, M.
+de Maisonneuve and Mlle. Closse being her sponsors. She was the first
+Iroquois baptized in the colony, and died two years after. I also raised
+a little Algonquin girl, and an infant Illinois, but both died at the
+age of nine. We received at a later period, another Algonquin, aged
+nineteen, who expressed an ardent desire to live with our Sisters. She
+was admitted on trial, and for a long time was faithful to all the
+practices of piety in use among us, however contrary they were to her
+inclinations, or to her Indian proclivities. She died shortly after her
+baptism, having given great edification to the Sisters. One of the first
+Canadian members of the Institute, was an Iroquois who had been educated
+at the Mission of the Mountain. She was received into the community as
+soon as she arrived at the proper age, and died happily, after laboring
+twelve years in the mission school where she was instrumental in
+effecting much good among her own people."
+
+As Sister Bourgeois took a singular pleasure in recounting these Indian
+conquests, we do not consider it out of place to revert to them here,
+and might add many others, but will conclude by relating a remarkable
+event that occurred in her time. The father of Mary Teresa
+Gannensagouach, who had been admitted a member of the Congregation, as
+was mentioned in the fourth chapter, became a Christian, and worshipped
+the true God with all the ardor of his poetic Indian nature. Many a time
+did the forests of the island re-echo with his recitations of the holy
+rosary, and he had the happiness to see his son also follow his example,
+by receiving the saving waters of Baptism. The graceless son, however,
+soon forgot his baptismal vows, and returned to his former licentious
+mode of life. Falling in with a depraved party of his tribe, who had
+taken the war-path against the peaceful Christian Indians, he assisted
+in a murderous attack on his native village. The fiends were unhappily
+successful in their carnival of blood, and each reeking warrior selected
+his wretched victim among the few survivors to lead him off to a distant
+encampment and there torture him slowly to death. Young Gannensagouach
+dragged _his_ captive through forest and swamp with brutal violence; but
+at last growing tired of listening to the sufferer's groans, commanded
+him to kneel for his death-blow. He did so, and for the first time since
+his capture, raised his eyes to the face of the would-be murderer. Both
+were paralyzed with horror--for he gazed upon his apostate son. "Father,
+forgive him, he knows not what he does," cried the agonized parent, and
+his prayer was heard. The arm that held the uplifted tomahawk fell
+powerless by the young man's side, and from that hour the _apostate_
+became a _penitent_. The good old Indian died a peaceful Christian
+death, a few years later, and to this day, a rude stone cross with an
+appropriate epitaph, marks his last resting-place.
+
+May my soul also die the death of the just.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+NOTE.
+
+
+Happily, during the interval that elapsed between the writing and the
+publication of this book, the process of canonizing Venerable Sister
+Bourgeois has been commenced, and splendid ecclesiastical services were
+held in the spring of 1879 in the city of Montreal, in unison with the
+canonical proceedings. The canonization of this saintly woman will give
+to the church in America, a _second_ acknowledged _intercessor_ in
+heaven, St. Rose of Lima being the _first_, and will procure new
+triumphs for the Faith in "the land of the West," where such triumphs
+are numerous and marvellous. THE AUTHORESS.
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The title of Chapter IX in the original reads:
+  "THE RULES OF THE CONGREGATION, AND ESTAB-
+  MENT OF MISSIONS."
+The missing characters have been restored in this text.]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret
+Bourgeois, by Anon.
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SISTER MARGARET BOURGEOIS ***
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