Saint Marguerite d'Youville
Saint Marguerite d'Youville (15 October 1701 – 23 December 1771), born Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais, was a Canadian religious sister and the founder of the Grey Nuns (Sisters of Charity of Montreal) in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Known as the "Mother of Universal Charity," she established the General Hospital of Montreal in 1753, caring for the poor, sick, and marginalized, including orphans and Indigenous peoples. Despite personal hardships, including an abusive marriage and financial struggles, she transformed the failing hospital into a beacon of charity, earning widespread admiration. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1990, she became the first native-born Canadian saint, with her feast day celebrated on October 16 in the Catholic Church.
Born in Varennes, Quebec, Marguerite faced early widowhood and poverty, which deepened her compassion for the destitute. In 1737, she founded the Grey Nuns, an uncloistered order dedicated to serving the needy, inspired by her devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the French school of spirituality. Her innovative approach to charity, including taking over the bankrupt hospital, defied social norms and ecclesiastical resistance. Her legacy endures through the Grey Nuns’ continued work across Canada and beyond, and her relics at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré draw pilgrims seeking her intercession for widows, difficult marriages, and poverty.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Marguerite d'Youville
| Saint Marguerite d'Youville | |
| Feast Day | October 16 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Widows, Difficult marriages, Poverty |
| Birthplace | Varennes, Quebec, Canada |
| Death Place | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada |
Biography
Birth
Marguerite d'Youville was born on 15 October 1701 in Varennes, Quebec, Canada, then part of New France. The eldest of six children of Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais, a military officer, and Marie-Renée Gaultier, she was baptized the same day at the parish church of Saint-François-Xavier. Her family, of modest means, lived in a close-knit colonial community, where Marguerite’s early exposure to the hardships of New France shaped her empathy for the poor. Her father’s death when she was seven plunged the family into financial difficulty, foreshadowing her lifelong commitment to helping the disadvantaged.
Growing up in Varennes, a small settlement near Montreal, Marguerite received a basic education from her mother and later from the Ursuline nuns in Quebec City, where she boarded for two years. This education, rare for girls in colonial Canada, instilled discipline and a strong Catholic faith, influenced by the Diocese of Quebec. Her early resilience and piety laid the groundwork for her future role as a pioneer of charitable work in New France.
Early Life
Marguerite’s early life was marked by adversity and responsibility. After her father’s death in 1708, her mother struggled to support the family, relying on aid from relatives. At age 11, Marguerite studied at the Ursuline monastery in Quebec City, learning reading, writing, and religion, which equipped her for leadership. Returning to Varennes, she helped raise her siblings, developing practical skills in household management. In 1722, at age 20, she married François d’Youville, a fur trader, in an arranged marriage at Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal. The marriage was unhappy, marked by François’ infidelity and illegal liquor trading, which brought social stigma.
Widowed in 1730 with two surviving sons, Marguerite faced poverty and debt from her husband’s failed ventures. Her experiences as a widow and mother deepened her faith, leading her to a spiritual turning point in 1737 when she and four companions dedicated themselves to serving the poor. Guided by Jesuit spirituality and the example of Saint Vincent de Paul, she began informal charitable work in Montreal, laying the foundation for the Grey Nuns and her lifelong mission.
Occupation
Before founding the Grey Nuns, Marguerite worked as a seamstress and caregiver in Montreal to support her children after her husband’s death. Her skills in nursing and charity emerged as she tended to neighbors and the poor, earning her the nickname “Mother of the Poor.” In 1737, she began organizing aid for the destitute, including food, clothing, and shelter, while raising her sons, both of whom later became priests. Her early work involved visiting the sick and teaching catechism, reflecting her commitment to practical charity.
In 1747, Marguerite was invited by the Sulpician order to manage the failing General Hospital of Montreal, which she transformed into a refuge for the poor, elderly, and orphans. Under her leadership, the hospital became a center of care, staffed by her fledgling Grey Nuns. She also established a needlework shop and bakery to fund the hospital, showcasing her resourcefulness. Her work extended to Indigenous communities and smallpox victims, making her a pivotal figure in Montreal’s social welfare system.
Vocation
Marguerite’s vocation was rooted in her vision of an uncloistered religious community dedicated to charity, inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary’s compassion. In 1737, she founded the Grey Nuns (Sisters of Charity of Montreal) with four women, taking informal vows to serve the poor. Despite initial resistance from colonial authorities and the Diocese of Quebec, who questioned her unconventional approach, she persevered, gaining approval from King Louis XV in 1753. Her leadership formalized the Grey Nuns as a congregation in 1755, with Marguerite as its first superior.
Her apostolic mission focused on “universal charity,” serving all in need regardless of status. She expanded the General Hospital’s services, trained sisters in nursing, and established missions across New France. Facing challenges like the 1760 British conquest, she negotiated to protect her order’s work, ensuring its survival. Her sons’ ordinations as priests in the Diocese of Quebec further tied her family to the Church, and her order’s legacy continues globally.
Death
Saint Marguerite d'Youville met her end peacefully in old age on 23 December 1771 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, at age 70, after a prolonged illness. In her final years, she continued overseeing the General Hospital and mentoring her Grey Nuns, despite declining health. Tradition holds that she predicted her death, calmly preparing her sisters for the transition and entrusting the hospital’s future to them. Her passing was mourned by Montreal’s poor, who saw her as their protector, and by the Catholic Church, which recognized her sanctity.
Her body was laid to rest at the General Hospital, and her relics were later transferred to the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, where they remain a pilgrimage site. The Grey Nuns preserved her writings, including letters and spiritual reflections, which testify to her humility and charity. Her death marked the end of a life dedicated to the marginalized, but her legacy endures through her order and her canonization as Canada’s first native-born saint.
Significant events
- Founded the Grey Nuns (Sisters of Charity of Montreal) in 1737.
- Took over management of the General Hospital of Montreal in 1747.
- Received royal approval from King Louis XV for the Grey Nuns in 1753.
- Formalized the Grey Nuns as a congregation in 1755.
- Navigated the British conquest of New France in 1760 to protect her order’s mission.
Significant locations
Legend
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Parishes
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Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Marguerite d'Youville as a Servant of God began in 1890 in the Archdiocese of Montreal, where she lived and worked. The diocesan investigation, led by the Archbishop of Montreal, examined her life, writings, and charitable works, particularly her founding of the Grey Nuns and her transformation of the General Hospital. Her reputation for holiness, evidenced by her care for the poor and perseverance through adversity, prompted the diocese to submit her cause to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, initiating her path to sainthood.
Venerable
Marguerite was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII on 28 April 1955, recognizing her life of heroic virtue. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints reviewed her extensive contributions, including her innovative approach to charity and her resilience during the British conquest. Her dedication to the poor and her leadership of the Grey Nuns were deemed exemplary, advancing her cause without requiring a miracle at this stage.
Beatification
She was beatified on 3 May 1959 by Pope John XXIII in Vatican City after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of a young girl from leukemia in Quebec. The girl, diagnosed with terminal leukemia, recovered inexplicably after prayers to Marguerite, a cure verified by medical experts and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. This miracle allowed her to be called “Blessed” and permitted veneration in Canada and by the Grey Nuns.
Canonization
Marguerite was canonized on 9 December 1990 by Pope John Paul II in Vatican City following a second miracle, the healing of a woman from a brain tumor in Montreal. The woman, facing a terminal prognosis, recovered fully after invoking Marguerite’s intercession, a cure deemed medically inexplicable. Her canonization declared her a saint, extending her veneration to the universal Catholic Church and establishing her feast day on October 16, recognizing her as Canada’s first native-born saint.
Miracles
Miracle for beatification
The miracle for Marguerite d'Youville’s beatification involved the healing of a young girl in Quebec from leukemia in the 1950s. Diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia, the girl’s condition was deemed terminal by doctors. Her family and community prayed for Marguerite’s intercession, placing relics near her bedside. Within days, the girl’s symptoms vanished, and subsequent tests confirmed a complete recovery, baffling medical experts. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints, after rigorous investigation, including medical testimony, declared this healing miraculous, leading to her beatification by Pope John XXIII on 3 May 1959.
This miracle resonated with Marguerite’s legacy of caring for the sick, as she had nursed countless patients at the General Hospital. The healing strengthened devotion to her in Montreal, particularly among the Grey Nuns, who saw it as a testament to her intercessory power. The event also highlighted her role as a protector of the vulnerable, aligning with her patronage of widows and the poor.
Miracle for canonization
The second miracle, leading to Marguerite’s canonization, was the healing of a woman in Montreal from a brain tumor in the 1980s. Facing a terminal diagnosis with no hope of recovery, the woman’s family invoked Marguerite’s intercession through prayers and a novena. Remarkably, the tumor disappeared, and follow-up tests confirmed a complete recovery, deemed inexplicable by medical professionals. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints verified the miracle, leading to her canonization by Pope John Paul II on 9 December 1990.
This miracle underscored Marguerite’s enduring spiritual influence in Canada, particularly in Montreal, where her Grey Nuns continued her mission. The healing, tied to her care for the afflicted, reinforced her reputation as a compassionate intercessor. Her canonization Mass, attended by Canadian pilgrims, celebrated her as a model of charity and resilience.
Other notable miracles
- No additional miracles have been officially authenticated by the Catholic Church for Saint Marguerite d'Youville beyond those for her beatification and canonization.
Patronage
Saint Marguerite d'Youville is the patron saint of widows, difficult marriages, and poverty. Her patronage reflects her personal experiences as a widow, her endurance through an abusive marriage, and her lifelong dedication to serving the poor and marginalized in New France.
Feast day
Her feast day is celebrated on October 16 in the Catholic Church, commemorating her birth and her contributions to charity and healthcare in Canada.
Veneration
Saint Marguerite d'Youville is venerated through prayers, novenas, and pilgrimages to her relics at the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec, Canada. The basilica, a major pilgrimage site, houses her relics, drawing devotees seeking her intercession for family struggles, poverty, and health. The Grey Nuns Motherhouse in Montreal and the General Hospital she founded also serve as centers of devotion, preserving her legacy of universal charity.
She is depicted in artworks like a 1771 portrait by Antoine Plamondon, showing her in a grey habit with a cross, symbolizing her role as founder of the Grey Nuns. Her life inspired biographies such as Marie-Claire Daveluy’s Marguerite d’Youville: Foundress of the Grey Nuns (1962). The Grey Nuns’ archives and the Marguerite d’Youville Museum in Montreal preserve her letters and relics, influencing Quebec’s religious culture, with annual feast day celebrations fostering devotion in the Archdiocese of Montreal.
Books
Written about the saint
- Marguerite d’Youville: Foundress of the Grey Nuns by Marie-Claire Daveluy
- Mother of Universal Charity: Marguerite d’Youville by Albertine Ferland-Angers
Written by the saint
- No complete books by Saint Marguerite d'Youville survive, but her letters and spiritual reflections are preserved in the archives of the Grey Nuns, published in works like Letters of Mother Marguerite d’Youville (1975).
External links
- Saint Marguerite d’Youville - CatholicSaints.Info
- Saint Marguerite d’Youville - Catholic Online
- Saint Marguerite d’Youville - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops
- Marguerite d’Youville (1701-1771) - Vatican Biography