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32X
1
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6
LIFE
OF
j^DE D'YOUVILLE.
ii
-^•"f^mn-mmm^^fmrn
■^
Entered according to Act of Parliament of Canada, in
the year 189A by the Sisters of Charity (Grey ^uns),
Montreal, at the Department of Agriculture.
N
"W ^
'■' '■■■•"r
H.I..., ....,,,■
VRUVl'DYOUVlLl.K
tundali'ice dcs Sa^urs dc Lu'liarit)' d(> Villeniarie.
nee le \h Ortobre IZOl.dpcedee le 26 Ui-ci-nibrc 1771.
I HPT OuCl'rtst lii- l..'i)<-:iiiiu-valS)
(>Min(lit'«v of ihi' Srvv-iiiiimorv alViHeiimnr ^>Ji)nUfrtl-.)
r,i-:, >.' "...*i-Oi .IW IWj:^'^ 1771-
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VRUVKWYOUVILI.K
foii'i.iiri'M' dcs ScKiirs de laLliaritc (](' Villeniane,
nee le \l> ()( lobre 1701, decrdep le j5 D(*ceml)pi' 1771.
MAHY ^lAKGAHKT D'yorVilLIl.K
1 ncf' ihilifidt lip Lajdnmciai«i
(''HinrllTR.i of the Six'v -lu.iinrrv Ht Villiiniinr tMonlifiil-.l
IVnu hv ".;."'\70l ili^' IW V.V"" I7V1.
LIFE
OF TUB
VENE-IABLE M.-M. OUFROST DE LAJEMMERAIS,
M'D'You villi:,
KOUNDRKSS
OF TllK SISTKHS OF CIIAHn Y
(CAr.l,KI) (JKKY NUNS)
oy MONTIIKAL. CANADA.
IIY
liKv. I), s. KAMSAV. i.ATK Kkcioroi- Sr. Hkoe's. So. Shiki.ds,
AM) UiMtvi, Dkan ok St. Aioan,
rorXTV OK InrilHAM, KXUI.AM..
I'UrXTKl) AT THE (JKKY MTXXKUY,
GUY .STllKKT, MoXTUKAI-
1896.
IMPRIMA TVR:
Marianopoli, die 24' Mail, 1896.
+ EDUARDUS CAR., Arch, Marianopol.
PREFACE.
To write the life of a venerable servant
of God, foundress of a religious commu-
nity, would be, under all circumstances, a
grateful task; but it was peculiarly so to
me when asked some months ago. by
^de cl'Youville's ^pirituid daughters — the
Grey Nuns of Montre.d — to undertake, for
the first time in English, an edition of
the life of their foundress.
Several interesting biographies of M''*"
d'Youville have already been written in
French. Her son the Abbe Dufrost, P. P.,
of Boucherville, left us a life of his
mother ; even originally this must have
been somewhat fragmentary, and, more-
over, a portion of it has unfortunately
been lost.
The next Life of M**^ d'Youville was
-r.-
11
PREFACE.
written early in the present century
by the Abbe Satin, priest of the vSeminary
of St. Sulpice, for years chaplain to the
Grey Nuns, and who so enjoyed the
opportunity of frequently conversing with
sisters who had been the companions of
M*'*' d'Youville, and had received from her
their training in religious life.
These two biographies have remained
in manuscript; but, in 1P52, an able
writer — who although anonymous, is so
well known that there can be no indiscre-
tion in naming him, the Abbe Faillon,
P. S.S. — published a very complete and,
indeed, elaborate life of this venerable
servant of ( lod.
My first thought was to translate this
work into English ; however, the reverend
ladies seemed to prefer that it should be
rewritten rather than translated.
In fulfilling their wish, — although the
present Life is considerably shorter than
the one published ii:« 1852, — I have en-
PREFACE.
Ill
deavored, as far as lay in my power, to
omit, substantially speaking, no circum-
stance or event connected with the life of
this venerable servant of God, recorded
by previous writers.
Those desirous of further information
respecting M*'*" d'Youville's Breton ances-
tors would do well to consult Count de
Palys' little work, printed at Rennes, in
1894.
In conclusion, I would refer my readers
to the Appendix, for which they and I
have to thank one of the reverend sisters.
It contains a highly graphic description
of the charitable and heroic succour afford-
ed by the Grey Nuns and other religious
communities to the victims of the Irish
famine of 1847, whom the consequent
terrible epidemic followed to (Canada.
It includes, also, cm interesting account
of the rece It development of the commu-
nity founded by M''" d'Youville.
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LIFE
OK TIIK
VENERABLE M.-M. DUFROST DE LAJEMMERAIS,
M'D'YOUVILLE,
FOUNDRESS
OF THE Grey Nuns of Canada.
chaptp:r 1.
Early life of M<i<' d'Youville. — God makes known to her
that she is called to form a new Institute and to restore
the General Hospital of Villemarie.
W d'Youville, — Miiry-Mjirj»aret Duf'rost (k-
Lujeniiuerais, — the sii))ject of this l)lo<i'raphical
sketch, wan horn at Vareniies. V^ereheres Count\ .
•
Canada, on Octolier 1"). 1701. Her father, a
gentleman of 15rittan\ . cadet of the family
Dufroist de Lajemmeraisor La (Jesmerais, ])arish
of Medreac, diocese of St. Malo (now of Rennes).
1
^MB
2
MFK OF M"'-: I) VOUVILLE.
after serving for some time as midshipman at
Rochefort, was in 1687 appointed * ensign to
a regiment engaged in a campaign against the
Iroquois of New France, now called Canada.
The young Frenchman soon fought his way
to a lieutenancy, and won honorable mention
in a letter from the Marchioness of Vaudreuil to
the Minister of Marine. She savs : " M. do
Lajemmerais has served with distinction in the
war against the Iroquois, many times running
the risk of being taken prisoner and ))urned
alive bv those barbarians. "
«
De Lajemmerais having thus gsiined distinc-
tion as a soldier, iiui -ried, January l!S, 1701,
Mary, daughter of Rene (iranthier de Varennes,
afterwards Governor of Three Rivers, and
granddaughter of a former Governor, Peter
Boucher de Boucherville. He died eight years
later, lea ring to his widow the care of six
children, — three boys, the two eldest of whom,
Charles and Joseph, she succeeded in educating
for the priesthood, and who became respectively
parish priests of Vercheres and of La Saintc
Famille in the Island of Orleans; the third,
Christopher, entered the army as ensign.
« Mde d'Youville, by Count de Palys, Vice Presi-
dent of the Archeological society of lUe-et-Villaine.
Printed by J. Plihon et L. Herv6, Rennes, 1894.
LIFE OF M^K D YOUVILLE.
is runiniiii'
lid ))iirned
ivers, und
iior, Peter
as ensiiiu.
and died, in the winter of 1735, of liardsliip
and fatigue, at Fort Maurepas on Lake Win-
nipeg, — and three daiighter.s, Mary -Margaret,
the subject of this biography ; Mary Louise,
who married Ignatius Ganielin ; and Mary-
(nemence who married Peter Gamelin —
Maugras. All three ladies were blessed with
sons and other descendants who entered the
ranks of the Canadian clergy. M^'^ Ganielin-
Maugras was the great-grandmother of a dis-
tinguished and much beloved prelate, the
late Mgr. Tache. Archbishop of St. Boniface,
Manitoba.
Divine Providence designed Mary-Margaret
to be foundress of an institution for the care of
tl
le
po<
)r
and the better to fit her for such a
vocation, made her from her infancy pass
through the crucible of suffering and trial.
Her father, like most of the other French
uentl
emeu <
)f th
le Dcrn
1
)d wl
lo came as settlers
to Canada, brought little with him but his
sword and a stout heart. Promoted, in 1 TO-'), to
the rank of captain, M. de Lajennnerais' salary
aft'orded him, no dou])t, a competency during
life; but on his death, in 1708, his widow and
.six children, of whom Mtirv-Margaret. then in
her seventh year, was the eldest, were left
almost destitute.
Although the Marquis of Vaudreuil, Governor
LIFE OF MDB D VOUVILLE.
General, and the Intendant, M. Raudot, inter-
ested themselves in their l)ehalf, it was only
some time afterwards that M''*^ de Lsijemmerais
obtained a pension of fifty crowns, the ordinary
grant from the King to officers' widows.
Besides the sympathy shown the family in
their distress by snch high officials as the
Governor and the Intendant, other friends came
to their aid; and thus M''® de Lajemmeraiswas
enabled to place Mary-Margaret, then ek'ven
years old, sis a pupil in the convent of the
Ursuline Nuns of Quebec, * where she spent
two years and made her first communion.
On her return home, the young lady proved
by her diligence in assisting her mother in all
domestic cares, how nmch she had profited by
her convent traininu".
* " One of the most distinguished of our pupils of
that period was Mile. Dufrost de Lajemmerais. She came
to us in her eleventh year— gentle, religious, candid and
intelligent — and soon won the sympathy of all. Never
losing a moment herself, if she noticed among her compa-
nions less assiduity, she would say to herself: 'These
young ladies are better off than I am,— I have no father,
and ray poor mother waits with anxiety my return home, *
and redoubled her activity and application to study.
After remaining two years with us, Mile,
de Lajemmerais returned to her home, where her mother
needed, more than ever, that angel of consolation. "
Annala of the Urauline Nun8 of Quebec, page 176,
VoL II
LIFE (»K M'>'" I) VOUVIIJ-K.
Her t'ligafiiiijLi iMjinnors, accompaiiiod liy tin
ail' of tlioiijilitt'uliioss and intidligencc bovoml
her vears, a ('(U'tain a})titii(le tor hou.seliold
maiiairemeiit, [)erre('t oltedience to her mothei's
w'ishe^i. all these gTxxl (jualities .sweetened the
daily trials and anxieties her mother expe-
rienced in l)rin<iinp: u|) and edneating her
[ildreii,
Marv-Mar<raret, thoiiirh herself so voii
nj
SLMMned I'.lreadv like a second mother to her
brothers and sister
II
er a
iVect
n)n uaine(
their c iitidenee; her prudence and a certain
dignity which was natural to her, their respect ;
she coiisoled then) in all the troubles — real or
imaginary — which live little pe()])le li\ing
under the same roof arc; sure to create foi' one
another.
(lod designed her to he instruniental in I'cn-
dering |>ic!ty attractive to peo])le of the world,
and endowed her with those exterior uraces of
mind ;ind person which win esteem and affection.
(rod's time had not yet come, an<l M"'" de
fj-ijemmerais. like most other young })eo])le of
her age jjnd station, was delighte<l with tln>
attention given her, and. althouiih alwavs
modest in dress and deportment, showed
herself anxious to please.
Several gentlemen of the best families wei'e
6
LIFE OF M»K U YOUVILLJ:.
among her admirers, and — humanly npeaking
— it waH likely she would soon make a matri-
monial alliance desiral)le tV( ni a Avorldly })( int
of view, when a change took i)lace in her
prospects by her mother's becoming engaged to,
and, soon afterwards, marrying M. T. Sullivan,
or Silvain, an Irish gentleman and a widower
without fortune, and already encund)ered with
a numerous family. However, as we see from
the Marquis of Vaudreuil's correspondence with
the French Minister, M. Silvain was afterwards
useful to the family by assisting in the main-
tenance and education of his step-children. In
carrying out this ol)ject, h'i even deprived
himself of some of the necessaries of life.
In 1722, the subject of this biogra])hy
espoused a gentleman of Montreal, possessed of
some fortune, M. Francis-Magdalen d'Youville.
They were married in the parish church of
Montreal, on August 12th, by M. Priat, ])i iest
of the Seminary of St. Sulpice, and Vicar
General to the Bishop of Quebec.
If good looks and other exterior gifts could
secure joy here below, it Avould have l)een
difficult to find a happier union, for M. d'You-
ville was, as regards outward advantages, in
nowdse inferior to his bride, being considered
one of the handsomest men of his time.
LIFE OF M»K I) YOUVII.I.E,
ke a nuvtri-
rldly pii^t
ace in l^u'
engaged to,
T. Sullivan,
I a wieioNver
nbered with
Nve Hee from
nulenceAvitU
i« afterwards
in the niiiin-
cliiidren. In
•en deprived
ot'liie.
,is hiograidiy
1, possessed of
LMi d'YouviUe.
•ish elnirt'li of
Priat, priest
ee, and Vicar
lor gifts could
Id liave been
tor M. d'You-
advantages, in
niv>- considered
is time.
n
k
:.. .';
But the marriage which .seemed to promi.se
M''^ d'YouviUe worldly hajjpiuess, was, on the
contrary, the he^inning of such crossen and
(sulferings as soon entirely detached her fiom
worldly vanities, and served to prepare her as
the instrument of God's designs.
She had now to hid farewell to the i)aternal
(lwellin<i' at Varennes, and to take uj) her ahode
with her mother-in-law at Montreal, lleie
worrviiiii; times awaited her. Old aue had
rendered that ladv so irritable that visitors
were practically excluded from the house. M*'*'
d'Youville's life was as solitarv as that of the
cloister, a continual tete-a-tete with a peevish
and ca])riciouH mother-in-law not tending to
enliven it.
The old ladv died at the end of a few vears
and left a ccmsiderahle Ibrtune. Her daughter-
in-law could now h()j)e for hai)pier days, but in
this she was disappointed, for her husband soini
scjuandered in auuisenients, not only his own
fortune, but her's also, so that she was obliged
to have recourse to painful manual labor for the
support of the family. In addition to this,
M. d'YouviUe was cold in character, and showed
no more concern for the distress he had brought
on his wife, or the bodily infirmities to which
he saw she was sul)jected, than if she had been
a mere stranger.
■m
T ■» TV
. J iiii fP "
,,,,.,.-. OF M"' d'YOI'VII^^'^"
8
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li'nn. . , i,.,,,,U()r (Viviiu- Vn>-
vi.lcMuv. tlu. ,m.n,. U. - H 1,^ ^^ ^^^^^ .^ ^^,
l,e fouu.l only in iM'" ^'";;;;:,; , ,,.„, ,„....t is
MU.I .•.n.v.nml. Mt MM. ,,,.t,.ru.i.K.a U>
,.„„s,,l„ti.m .uul supp. . .. ^^^^^, ^_^
,o„ou,»v ti.e v»n. .na^nn^ "1
^'"i: *r";;ra: oit. a s,,ivu.i.. >
,,„a ,,Um.U.,1 t., be 1.0. ^u^^ ,^^,^. ^,,^.
,,„,.k to «l,i.U «l.e ^^■"^7"'"\vYonvilU. ai«>l
of i)leiiv.».Y- »"" ■'"'1""
This event «l..el. -"'« "'V _ ._^^^,^,^^.
,le,.ea a reliel. ca..«e.l ^ \ ,_^,^,,^,,,d.
,.,,.i«,. For years, the .neutum
l.IFK f)K M"K l> V<»UVn,I,K.
9
out ^vi^s St)
\ Aw lessen
,^>rtS tl)NVi»»"*^^
aivinePvo-
Univiunl U»^'
)p\uesH vs to
lu.w ssvcet is
\ii\stor.oi\ l>v
nuirv'KHl \itV.
,us of }ivace.
alouc is *mv
etenniiH'il ti>
^V()v\^l. '.hhI to
Sul\)ic'iaii.i<»^*^
oni l>roviaoiu-e
(,u tbo thoviiN
,)iit to tiov ttio
YouvilU' ctitnl
,n\v a tVw (lays.
"ouviUo intiHisi
oVliev liusl)aiHl
name )M'<)uy:lit tearn to her eves. A lieart so
full of tenderness ainl <:enerosity is to l>e
admired.
M. (T Yon ville's death left her Imrdened witli
ji considerable debt and thi? care of iier two
littk; boys, the snrvivors of live <'hihiren, — a
sixth was born after her hnsbaml's (h'ath, })iit
lived oni\' a short time.
In the midst of this (h'solation and poverty
to wliich she was riMhietMl bv (Jod's will, M"'*'
<rYouville was apprised of her vocation as il
by divine inspii-ation. Her director, .M, de
Lescoat, said one day to her: " (Jhih). be; con-
doled, for (lod calls you to ii <^reat work, and to
raise nj) a fallinj^- honse. "
That work was the establishment of the
Sisters of ('harit\', sijx'e called the Gre\ Xiins,
the falling house, the (reneral Hospital of V^il-
lemarie, now Montreal.
On hearing these words, M''" d'Youville's
sold was iilled with a nnirvelloiis grace. This
was the beginning of her especial lifelong devo-
,tion towards the person of the Etkhnal Fathkr,
iWho watches continuallv over the least of His
jreatures, and who is called in the inspired
rords of St. Paul, •' The Father of mercies ami
the God of all consolation." Together with
"ihis singular inspiration and as a part of it, she
felt her heart glow^ing with all a mother's love
"f
.,.'«
10
LIFE OF MDK D YOUVILLE.
for the poor, which her own sorrows {Uiil
(lesoUitioii seemed oiilv to heijiiiteii. These
were the meuns by which divine Providence
drew her tenderly hut lorcihlv towards her
destined work.
jyjiie d'Youville ])ei»;an her hihor of h)ve 1)\
taking up a snuill ])usiness, hopinjr tlius to assure
the means of educatinii' her Ikjvs and of succour-
ing the \Hnn\ Several influential merchants of
the town came to the assistance of the hjnelv
widow; her little trade, with (Jod's l)lessing, so
increased that she was ena))led to pay off her
liusl)and's debts, and, at the same time, to satisfy
her own ])urning love for the poor. These things
she jiccom])lished without neglecting the care
of her two sons, who were, at this time,
receiving an education which fitted them
eventually for the priesthood. *
She
arose eac
h d{
IV at an earlv iiour to assist
at the Divine Sacrifice — the most inclement
weather never interru})ting this devotion — and
each afternoon, so far as her different occupa-
•" M. Joseph-Francois d'Youville, ordained in 1747 ;
became parish priest of Saint-Ours in 1750 ; and died in
1778, in his 5'lth year.
M. Cliarles-Magdalen d'Youville-Dufrost, ordained in
1752 ; was parish priest of Pointo-Levis from 1766 to 1774 ;
named Vicar General in 1775; became parish priest of
Boucherville in 1790 ; and died there in his 60th "year.
I.IFK OF M""-: I) VOIJVILLE.
11
tions permitted, she endeavored to spend
.•some time before the Blessed Sacriunent.
She visited the poor in their sickness. *
and even went, at the advice of M. de Lescoat,
to the General Hospital, that she might mend
the clothes of the infirm, who were reduced
to a state of wretchedness, misery and dirt,
that excited g^Mieral cinupassioii. This was
the institution which M. de Lescoat had in
view, when he said to M'''^ d'Youville that God
designed she should raise up a falling house.
M^ de Lescoat died in 1733. M"" d'Youville
lost in him the confessor who had been for seven
years her si)ii-itual guide. She chose astlirector,
M. Noi in.int du Faradon, Superior of the Semin-
arv of St. Sulpice. whom God, no doubt,
inspired to manifest to Mis handmaid His divine
will, and who by position, at the same tiiue, was
a tit instrument to assist M*'*" d'Youville in the
accom])lishnient there of. As Superior of the
Semintiry, this able and excellent priest was.
*'j'-oJJij-i<t^ Rector of the parish of Notre-Dame,
and representative of the Seigniors of the
Island of Montreal, besides being, by tne
15ishop's appointment. Vicar General.
* M. Charles d'Youville-DufVost, her son, says of her:
" It was with edification that she was seen at this time,
begging from door to door for the burial of criminals."
Manuscript Life of Af<'< d' YouvUle by her son Charles.
n
a^i^mm
12 uyv. OF M- 1VY...IVII...K.
1.1 foM more nnxiouw
No one. therefore, -^f J^ ^^"^^ ,,,,,^.1 fo.'
that an -«*'*»*'''". f"'"rul vi-.-riate
Hhouia not fuU to t\.e gvov.nd.
ected tov
vicariate
CIIAlTKii II.
Foundation and decline of the General Hospital. — M'''
d'Youville and her companions rent a house to receive
the poor of both sexes. — Persecutions to which these
ladies are subjected. —The Governor of Montreal and
others petition against M. Normant's conduct as Vicar
General respecting the General Hospital.
TIk' (k'neral Ilos])ital of Montreal was
t'omulod in U')',)4, bv tlirtH' devout laynien.
MM. (Miuron. LeBerand Fr('<Hn. witli the view
to promote (Jod's glorv l)V establishing a (joni-
Huinitv ol llos])itallers tor the serviee ot the
;poo)' and infirm.
At its inception, this work appeared to
tloni'ish; hut althoujih (h)uhtlesslv heirun from
the |)urest motives of charity, it
ac
ked
in
essential condition to success; tor. as M. Bour
loise
trnl
v said
The estahlisnmeiit in the
(Mnirch of a new institute' is not a frivolous
or common undertaking', and. couseijuently
y^ Lin: OK M»« i.-voi;vii.i.E. ^
Ti,ue 8l.o«oa "' hM ^^ ^^, ,o„„n«nit.v
this .-..n.lition ««- v,u.t ., ^^^,^.^.
"■>'' "^^'"f ^■" i",r\ .- -^ "- -'"•"^>-.
,, ,. „.ea, ^""V,""';, ." The interests "f
imveviitivc to v'-'"- "' '
,nau..«e,..ent ^^^^ j;,; „„t aoubt
]VI.Normimt,l.U M <u ^^^^^^^
t,u«t M* a-YouviUe «ab tl.t
aivh.o Proviaeuco for th.s en ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^
The Ijetter to prev-ave *>« ''" ,,^i^„t ,lireetov
,« « trhaofher eonstauey th^F u^^ ^^^ ^.^.^.
-* ''-■• -^^^"m, fi :, LV Tha,muu-Lasoun.e.
tUe <la»ghte. ot a .^^ ^^ „„^^„„
.(■YouvUle vec,K. e he t ,^ ^^^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^
'•*■ l"'''^"'' ;" „ ■ eaiu the odov of sanctity
Le^oat who h. a.u ^ ^^^^.^
to aseevtum (.od >> '"'•';, fi„ished, the;
tion. These \no»<> exeicibts ^
, thP ooor, Mde d'YouviUe ha
, Besidef. her eare »' "«: ^ ,^ jhe contratern.tj-
LIFE OF M'»« I) VOL'VILLE.
V)
lis Spirit fov
hlstlUH'C
tlutt
e ooiuiuvnnty
f whom were
I the cjiViH'ity
e •lutevests ot
,ke, and it Nvas
U uiulev better
one elu)Hen by
)r tlie woviv «^"*^
prudent direetov
the poor to live
.,ertsity. The iirst
Uauuuir-Lasoviree
phvsu'iuii. ^>i
ioiii in u n^>ve^^'»
I'e tombofM.de
. odor of sanctity,
.ecting tUeir voca-
ls finished, they
t, Mde d'YouviUe had. |
J the confraternity ol %
:,.ttor of postulant-
e8 1738,' 1741, 1747;.
called upon M. Nornumt; he spoke to them (>!'
the luippiness of those Avho ministered to the
Saviour in the i)erson of His poor. M**'' d'You-
ville, deeplv moved hv his words, resolved to
/ I « *
devote herself thenceforward to this holy
work. — M"^ Thaunun* remainin«>'. for the pre-
sent, undecided.
Two other yonng ladies, M"*" Demers and
M"« Cusson, now joined AP' d'Youville. M"^'
Thaunnn- then decided to do likewise. The
four ladies rented a house and bejran by receiv-
ing four or five poor people, which number
shortlv rose to ten. This be2;inninii' wjis nuide
October oO, 173(S. On entering their humble
dwcllinii' thev knelt at the foot of a little
*-- ft
statue of Our Ladv," and M''*' d'Youville. in
the name of herself and her companions begged
that Holy Mother of the poor to bless theii'
little societv and their undertakiiiir.
ft *
She ])ronounced these words in a firm tone,
without any visible nuirk of emotion, as was
also the case with M"'' Demers; butM'"' Cusson
[and Thaumur could not restrain their tears.
That very day M. Normant exhorted them
to patience, telling them how nuich they would
* This beautiful statuette in brass is religiously
)reserved by the reverend sisters in their convent, in
^Montreal.
"■?* »
%.-
k'
16
LIFE OF M">: I) YOUVILLE.
have to suffer in tlie liolv work tliev In
undertiiken for God's poor. Such an exhort
tion WHS all the more necessary, as a stroi
opposition was already formed against them
the town, and was on the eve of bursting for
in a very painful nu\nuer.
The following day, the Feast of All-Saini
as they left the house on their way to tl
parish church, they were surrounded by j
angry crowd jeering at them in abusive hi
guage, and even pelting them with stones. 'J
this unjust and outrageous behavior the j)io
ladies replied only by gentleness and ])atienc
But their charitable meekness had not tl
effect of putting an end to the disorders, — i
one seeming to take their part, even some
M^® d'Youville's own relatives declaring thef
selves in favor of their persecutors.
Worse still, the most mischievous ealumn|
were invented and circulated against them,
their traducers going so far as to assert tl]
in contempt both of the ecclesiastical law il
of the King's ordinances, these ladies A
intoxicating liquor to the Indians, Jind e|
made use of it themselves.
Strange to say, these absurd calumnies ^^
the origin of their being called *' Les S(
Grises." The Sisters of Charitv in France
in some towns, been called
Soeurs Gri
SSB==^
ILI-K.
mmmm
^v()vk tbey luul
Uu'li -an exhovta-
wuvy,
art a rttroiVri:
1 a«2;ainrtt them m
onjuvsthiji- tbrtii
,artt of AU-^i^n^t^-
theiv way to tlio
hivvouiuUhI by an
ni in abusive lan-
m witli rttones. To
jebaviov tbe piou^
enertsanap'^^i^"^''-
cnesrt bad uot tbe
tlie disordevrt, — in)
part, even some ot
ves decbaving tbem-
secutors.
.chievous calumnies
ted against tbem,-
u- as to assert tbat,
3c\esiastical biw and
, tbese ladies sobl
' Indiana, and even
ft
)surd calumnies were
. called ^' Le« ^«^^"';
Parity in France bad.
lied •' Soeurs Gnses
1
MFK OK M"^: I) VOUVILLK.
I
M
l)c('aiisc ol' tlicir grey costume ; but the word
•• gris " has two meanings: ///v.'// and fip^// :
and in the hitter iniravoral)h^ sense it was tirst
applied to our good nuns, Tliey humbly ac-
cepted the name, and have made it honored
and esteemed.
These accusations became so public that they
I'eached the ears of the (rovernor (jreneral, M.
(le Heauharnois; they were so vigorously main-
tained and generally believed that a Recollet
(or Franciscan ) Kathei- went so far as to turn
M''*' (I'Vouville jiiul bei- c(mi])anions away from
the jiltar, a ste[) a (Jatholic ])riest is justified
in taking only towards ])ublic and scandalous
sinners.
Hut this was not all : a ])etiti()n. signed by
the Oovernor of Montreal, by eight oHicers and
twenty civilians, was sent to the Ministei' in
France, complaining that M. Noruuint. as Vicar
(leneral, would uot allow the lios])itallers to
recruit their members, so that at the extinc-
tion of this brotherhood, tbe gentlemen of the
Seminary, as Seignors, might give ])ossession
of the (Jeneral Hospital to M''*" (rVouville and
her compjinions.
The petition went on to say. that to ])revent
the execution of such a design on the part of
the Seminary, the Brothers of the Christian
schools should be induced to incorporate the
n
IS
LIFE OK M""-- l> VorVILLK.
lio.spitiillci'M with tlioiusclvcs, iind hy this
luesuiH, Hsive tlie latter from extinction. Tliis
wii« an ini])rat'ti('al)k' schonu', and one that t\u*
Christian Brothers couhl never have cai'ried
out, — the object of their institnte not hein^- the
care of hospitals, ))nt of schools. The fear, how-
ever, that the Seniinarv might take i)ossession
of the hospital and hand it over to M''*' (TYou-
ville, was the canse of this incoherent petition
and of the ill-treatment to which she and her
companions were subjected.
CIIAITKH III.
Death of Mil"' CuHson. — Various ti'ials permitted by di-
vine Providence to prepare M'i<' d'Youville and her
companions for the work to which they are called.
Notliiiiti" (lisliosivtoiied 1)\ the iiniuiositv
.shown them, M'"'" (rYoiiville and her connjan-
ions conrageously and devotedly hent everv
ener<!;\ to what thev believed wat< the will oi"
God.
During the nine succeeding years, — that is
till 1747, the year in which the aduiinistia-
tors oi" the (leneral Hospital asked her to take
charge of" it, fcniporan'h/, — food and clothing for
the poor were obtained out of their earnings
at sewing; and to pndong their hours of labor,
earlv dawn saw them at dailv mass in the
parish church, no matter how inclement the
weather. Nearlv three vears of this severe life
told at last upon M'**^' Cusson : she contracte<l
j)neumonia and died, after a lingering illness,
2(1
I.IFi; (•!■• M'": II Vnr VIF.Li:.
Fel). 20, 1741. Ill Ikm- dcatli. as in her lilr ol
I'crvor iind |)!iti(MU*('. she jiavc "irciit tMlili<'ati<)n
to Ikm' ('()ni|)aiiions.
M'''' (I'Voii villi' was thus loft with oiilv two
associates, M"'" Thaiiiinir-liasoiircc and M"'"
Deniors. and this hc^an a scries of trials that
were to test M'''" d' Voiivilli' and lit her tor her
vocation.
M. Xorinant fell ill. and lay lin<ierinji" be-
tween life and death. He was their aiiide and
j)rotector. the mainstay of their undertakinfi".
llis intlnence, /etil and direction were indis-
pensahle in tlie aj)i)r()achin<i- strn«>gle ajiainst
their united adversaries. There was no one
to replace him, and the lahoi- and sacrilices ol"
vears would he lost. All seemed dark and
•
hopeless.
In this disti'essing' crisis, M'"'' d'V uville put
hei" entire confidence, as in former trials,, in
the Father of pity. i)romisin,ii' to <iet from France
a ])ainting- of the Eteknai. Fatiikk, and to ])urn
a candle before the lilessed Sacrament each \ear
on the Feast of the Presentatioji of Our Lady.
The prjiyers of the three supplicants were at
lenjith answered, and M. Normant recovered.
M^'^'d'Youville herself was then stricken with
Iment of the knee, and for si.\ oi* seven
an ai
\ears.
— d
uriuii: w
hich
pe
rio(
1 tl
iree new mem-
bers joined the little connnunity,— she wa;
LIl'K <»K M'"' l> VdUVIM.K.
21
crippU'd and siilVcrcd cNcnu'intin;:' pain. Sin*
could not h'avf lici- clniir; she had to ln'
(•arric'd to hear nians. or wlicn slic went out on
hnsini'ss. Tlirct' suruTons trt'ati'd lici- in vain ;
pi'iiyers and piljxrinia^cs ))rou,ulit no itdii'l";
.slic \>as pronounced incnralilo. Hut tlio hand ol
(Jod
was \vi
til 1
IV V
n
I' SU(
hU'nl
y and t'(nnp
k'tc-
Iv restored h(>r to health without an\ human
affeiu'\
Anotlier cross loUowed almost immediatidy.
DurinjLi' the nijiht ol" .lanuary -JO, 174'). a lire
l)r()ke out and made such headway that tlie
unfortunate innuites were unal)le to save anv-
«
thin<i'; they harely esca)>ed with theii" lives
jind the i'ew articles ot" clothinu' thev could
liurriedlv lav their hands upon. In the midst
« « 1
of this calamity, M'''' d' Youville's calmness did
not forsake her; her first care was to remove
her companions and her poor out of danger;
and more anxious for the interests ol' others
than for her own, she took every precaution to
prevent the flames from spreading to the neigh-
xnnn
ir hou
ses.
It
was a
toucl
unu' siii'
htt
o hello
hi
this tender mother, surrounded by her nnfoi-
tunate poor, half-naked, harefooted, homeless
and lieli)less, in the hitter cold of the deep
winter snow. Thev turned to her, and hesouirht
1^2 I'^'i' iiof to ahandon them ; she gathered them
about her and consoled them with the assurance
•>9
fJFK OF M"K I) VOUVILLK.
tliiit t'viM' and iihvavM. to tlic t'lid of her lilt',
.she would love jmd care tor them 5111(1 treat them
an her own children, in .spite olall her vijj^il-
ance, one life waw lost, — that of a ])o()r insane
|L!;irl who went hack to «!;et her sa/n>(s, and per-
ished in the llames.
Alas! a di.saster that should have touched a
chord of pity in the hardest hearts, .seemed
only to awaken old prejudices amon^' the spec-
tators. An angry moh surrounded them, jeerin^j^-
and shoutin<i' that this calamity was (Jod's
judgment upon them for their crimes, and
espe(ually tor selling drink to the Indians.
These cruel words and the sight of her hou.se
in tlanujs .sank the conviction dee]) in M'*'"
d'Youville's heart that in God alone could she
find consolation, in Him alone should she tiust.
to Him alone nuist she turn for help and pro-
tection to achieve her end. She liftetl u]) her
heart to adore His wise and inscrutable ways,
and accepted this latest calamity as a monition
to riise to higher and greater perfection. Up to
the wr<!sent,tlie sisters had retained posses.sion of
tlicii own goods and belonging.s. and had put in
('(mnnon merely their earnings. God now seemed
to .strip them of their all, to bring them, for t' e
future, to the ])ractice of holy poverty and the
life in common of the earlv Christians. There,
in the light of the last embers of the ruin.
I
I.II'K (>K M"^ l» VnlJVII.U:.
2:1
hvv VilV.
bI
cat tlieui
^B
KM" vi^il-
^1
{)]' 'nisano
j^B
and \H'»'-
3
touclu'd sv
'''•'*'*fflB
!S. se(.'ni<^'<^
"' ^Hft
.• tho rt\)«-H'-
3
lu, jei'vin^'
was (lodV
iiiR's, aiul
udiiuis.
:'a
[' her liovisi'
e couUl slu'
I she trust,
p and pro-
t'ted up her
table ways.
s a uionition
tion. Upt*'
possession ol
d bad put in
no^v seemed
tbeui, for t' e
cvty and tbe
ians. Tbere.
of tbe ruiu.
.M'''(l" YuiiN iMc tunird lo li(»r coMipaiiions: "We
liave lived in too iiiiirb casi'," she said. " per-
haps \\r liavc liceii too loud of carthlx coiid'orts ;
for the luture. we shall live in coinMion and
more pool
Iv
These words went honu' to the hearts ^A' all ;
they wei'e the e.\])ression ol'a lon^iuii' each one
had lelt lor a life ol" holiness and po\erty; and
on that eventful ni^lit. hy the ashes of theii-
home, the In'roie resolution was taken, and
iliatel
On Keh
o,
immediately put into exiMMition. \)\\ I'eh. 'Jiu
.\1. Normant drew up the act of renouncement,
and the six mem lu-rs signed it. It is still kept
in the arehivc^s of the hospital ; it is the basis
ol" this now prosperous community, and is
siuned by each sister on makinji" her |)rofessioii.
It registers the ])r()mise to leave the wo)-ld.
to devote life, time and toil to the eare of the
poor, to transfer to them all worldly ])ossessions.
and to livi^ in ties of charity and obedience
under a common I'ule.
M. Foil blanche, a rich merchant of the town,
l)rovi(le(l them with a house at once; otlier
charitahle persons nave them beds aud what
furniture was uruently needed, and the Semi
nary supjjlied tlieni with food for upwards of
ifift
een 111011 ilis
As this house was too small foi" the com-
munity and the pool', they moved into another,
ES
2±
LiFK OF M'>'' I) voir villi:.
which t\w\ rented for three vears. M. IJo's-
hei'tlieh)t (h' Beaiieoiirt. the (rovenioi' of Mont-
real, who had alwavs heen o])|)()sed to their
institntion,then deeickMl to take this same lionse
lor his residence. J5v an act oi' violence and
iniustice. he ordered them to leave, alleuini:
as an excnse that it was hetter adapted tor a
(rovernor's residence than tor a h()S|)ital. and
threatened to call ont the troops if thev hesi-
tated. Thev were powerless to resist, and left
the house, acce])ting a teniporarv shelter from a
zealous lady. M''** de Lacorne. Thev finally
settled in a house near the parish church of
Notre-Danie. whence thev were to move into
the (leneral Hospital. While in this house.
M*''" d'Youville had an attack of so severe an
illness that her life was des])aired of; and. as
I i)ious wri
ter 1
uis
it it, the communitv was
(I
(let«.r d<ti(]ts dv sn mine, — half a palm from
luin. l?ut (lod. in answer to the earnest ])rayer
of th(
poor
ai
id of the sisters, restored her
partially to health, — her complete recovery
did not take place until a later date.
mt-
Ueiv
ouso
for ;»
, iim\
(\ loVt
Voin a
\\n\\\y
o into
llOUSi".
ere an
ind. as
II
from
)rayer
1 ber
\H
'('overv
CHAPTER IV.
The authorities place Mde d'Youville iemporarily in
charge of the General Hospital.
While jVP*' (rYouville and her e()iii])ani()ns
labored (iiider so inaiiv diifieultieH in carrviim
out tli'iir holy vocation, M. Norniant was usinjr
his intluence to increase their field of useful-
ness, l)v obtainin«i' for them the direction of the
(ieneral Hospital. He had, on several occasions,
explained to the (K)vernor (General and the
Inteiidant. hcv: much jiood would thereby
accrue to the people of Mont'eal. However.
pow^r^'ul inlbiences were at >M)rk aj.i;ai!ist such
an arrarig' nicnt. as we see from the ' Mrrespond-
ence which took i)lace on the subject between
the (Jovernor (Ieneral and the Intendant on
one side.jind the Frencli Ministeron tlu' other.
The reasons «iiven by M. Nornumt had their
weiiiht with the latter; but. to weaken their
■Hi
2G
IJKE OF MDK 1) YOUVILLE.
effect, M. Noriiijiiit was accused of cli8sua(liii,ii'
youii";' men from joining the comnumitv of the
General Hospital. He could not, indeed, have
acted otherwise. Mgr. Dos({uet, bishop of Quebec
from 1 733 to 1730, had prohibited the brother-
liood receiving new meml)ers, l)ecause inca])able
either of imparting the religious spirit to their
novices, or of providing them even necessary
su))sistence. This prohibition had not been
cancelled hy his successor, the late Mgr. de
I'Aube-Riviere, who died on the 20th of Jul}'.
1740. after an episcopate of only eight months.
Hence the Governor iind the Intendant wrote
to the Minister that it would be preferable to
await the arrival of the new bishop, Mgr. de
Pontbriand. Yet, even after the iirrivtil of this
prelate, — consecrated April 9, 1741, — years
were to elapse })efore any definite step would
be talven with reference to the hospital.
It would only weary our readers were we
to attempt a narrative of the different schemes
proposed, or to endeavor to trace the tedious
correspondence to which this matter gave rise.
At a time when steamers^ and locomotives
were unknown, nnd the roads for a great part
of the year all but iuipass;il)le, a journey from
Montreal to (Jui'bec was a serious undertaking ;
while a reference to V^ersailles meant, at least,
a delay of five or six months ; and such, it seems,
LIFE OK Ml'^: I) VOUVILLE.
27
r gave rise.
lijid frequently to he made, as the King* and
his Minister look a verv aetive interest in tl
le
(question whether it was advisahle to found a
new eoniniunitv of nuns in Canada.
In the meantime, the condition of the (
fen-
eral Hospital went from had to worse. The
nu:nher of the hrothers was reduced to two —
so aged as to he quite unfit foi* the care of the foui-
])oor inmates supposed to he in their (duirge.
In the spring of 1747. the Minister, writing
to the new hislio]). Mgr. de Ponthriand, says:
" In the present situation of the hospital it
hecomes each day more ])ressing that step.'
taken to prevent its entire ruin.
De
as soon as
Marciuis de Lajonijuiere (the lately a]>pointe(l
(
rON'ernor
G
enera
1)
arrives in
tl
le colouN
I
trust, in conjunction with iiim and M. IIoc(|uart
(the Intendant). you may he ahlc to devise a
scheme whu'h
will
ol)taiu the roval consent.
M. de Beauharnois learned soon afterwards
that the shi|) on which M. de liajoiKiuierc
sailed for r.iiiada had hceu captui't'd hy the
English, and the \\v\\ ( Joxcriior made prisoner.
He, the I)isiio[). and the 1 iitendaiil. m)W accep't-
* LouLs XV. feared that if a fommunity of nuns were
established in Canada whicli sht)uld not be .self-support-
ing, the royal purse-.string.s might have to l)e unloosed
in its behalf.
•2S
LTKK OF >!i>K DYOIJVILLE.
0(1 the liospi tailors' rosigimtion, teiidored two
yoai'H ])ot()i'o,[iii(l, on tlio 27tli of August, 1747,
oft'orod M''*^ d'Youvillo tehquynrriii/ tho admin-
istration of the hospital, with the promise,
however, that if she accepted, they would use
their intluonco with tho King to have the in-
stitution placed pernumently in her and her
companions' charge.
In Jiis agreement it was stipulated that
M''*" d ..viip ille was to receive and account for
tho revoii <js of the hospital; the repairs
judged necessary by experts, in presence of the
King's attorney, were to be made; and she,
her companions, their poor, and the two aged
l)rothers, left to theii' care, should be provided
for out of tho revenues of the hospital, or at the
l)ublic expense.
Tho buildings of tho hospital had fallen into
so dilapidated a condition, that thirteen years
previous to this, in 17^)4, when the Hotel-Dieu
was dostroved b\' lire, tho Governor General
and the Intondant had concluded it would cost
too nuicli to repair them for the reception of
the religious and their sick, thus left without
a shelter ; and that, as a question of economy,
it would be better to hire houses in the town
for this purpose. Since that date, the buildings
had been allowed still further to deteriorate.
To give an idea of their condition, we may
LIFE OF MOK n YOUVILLE.
2t)
^vll
Ite.
lav
mention that for the repair of the windows,
twelve liundred panes of ghiss were required.
These extensive repairs completed, our little
community and their poor took possession on
the 7th of October, 1747.
The names of the associates at that time
were Demoiselles Thaiunur, Demers, Rainville,
Laforme and Veronneau. M**® d'Youville was
also accompanied by M"** Despins* who had
lived with her as a boarder for nine years.
M^® d'Youville was, however, so infirm that
she had to be carried to her new (hvellin;i" in
a cart.
Up to this time, the General n()S})ital, improp-
erly so called, had sheltered only men; it
now became a refuge for both sexes, and in
the ver}' first year was able to receive, besides
old people, invalid soldiers, the insane, incur-
ables, orphans and abjindoned children.
Another aim of M''*^ d'Youville's large-
hearted charitv was the reformation of fallen
«
women.
M. Deat, a zealous member of the Seminarv.
and parish priest of Montreal, had already, in
1744, applied to the French Minister in behalf
of those unhappy women; but war, witli its
* This lady eventually joined the community, and
succeeded Mii»' d'Youville as Superior.
r^VJIiLM
80
T-IKE (IK MDK 1) VorVlM-K.
Mttendjint expenses, had prevented anytbin<r
being done, except what the zeal of the elergv
and the vigihmee ot'tlie police conhl accomplish.
]y[dc d'Youville had twelve rooms in the upper
pari of the hospital prejjared for this purpose.
These rooms were called " Jericho," the name
of ji house formerly built by the Seminary for
the same object.
The threats and menaces to which this ^•oo(l
work subjected her did not in anv wav diminish
iier zeal. Amoni*' other instances of her intre-
pidity, her son relates that a soldier enraged
.it ii))ding the unhappy victim of his passions
taken from him, went to the hospital armed
with a pistol, with the intention of shooting
M*^'^ d'Youville. One of the community hastily
warned the good mother of her danger, begging
her to seek safety in Hight ; but, instead, M'*^
d'Youville went to meet the intending assassin,
whom her unassuming yet courageous air so
completely intimidated, that he retired with-
out saying a word.*
To support these difterent good works, M'*''
d'Youville and her companions labored unre-
mittinglv with their needle. The fruit of their
industry, added to the revenue of the house and
* Manuscript life of Mi*c d'Youville, by her son, Rev.
C. Dufrost.
LIKK OF Nf'"-' I) VOUVILLE.
31
the alms ori'haritahle IrieiidM, .sufficed tor dailv
expenses.
M. Deat, parish [)iiest, l)r()ii}iht contrihiitioiis
to defray the expenses of '' Jerieho, " and lien-
eroiis assistance was given to the hospital, not
only by the })eople of Montreal, formerly so
hostile, and now a 1 together favorable to M"'''
d'Yonville, bnt )>y the surrounding parishes ot
Laprairie, Longueuil, Vareniies, Vercheres. etc.
All these alms ■NI'''" d'Yonville devoted to the
support of the \hk)Y; but, as she had been placed
in charge of outlying farms — the property of
the hos])ital, — she was oldiged to contract a
debt in order to restore ruined buildings, to
procure necessary implements and eftect other
equally indispensal)le improvements.
This little company, living together the more
easily and surely to practice the divine counsels,
could not as vet be entitled a religious connnu-
nity, for it had not received ecclesiastical rec-
ognition. Nevertheless, its associates were,
from the very beginning, models of religious
life.
M. Satin, P. 8. S., chaplain to the Grey Nuns
from 181,S to 1S30. thus
spe
iiks of M*'*^ d'Yon-
ville and her companions in the days before
their institute had received e])iscopal sanction :
"" There was nothing in their dress, in spite of
its extreme simplicity Ijoth in form and mate-
m^^mmmmmmmmmmm
32
LIFE OF M"K I) VOrVILLE.
rial, that diHtinguislied them from ordinary
Hecuhu* pers(ms, except that each one wore n
cincture, and that the art of the coijfeur was
unknown ; the hair, so as to neither nourish
vanity nor attract ohservation, wns cut short."
All that regarded every dav life, such as the
hours of rising and retiring to rest, the ohserv-
ance of silence, vocal and mental prayer, rejul-
ing and other spiritual exercises, — the common
table, the service of the poor, was regulated
with precision. In their intercourse with one
another, these ladies were cordial, deferential
and courteous; towards strangers, considerate
and kind. In the dilhcult matter of paying
visits, the associates aHowed tliemselves to be
guided entirelv bv the i)rudent counsels oi'
her, more mother than superior, to whom they
yielded implicit obedience. They exercised
continual humility of the heart and mortifica-
tion of the senses, the root and source of the
highest virtue. A holy enudation in the path
of religious perfection produced that childlike
and candid simplicity which banishes affecta-
tion, peculiarity of view and egotism, as well
as all prying investigation into the motives or
conduct of others. The esteem in which these
ladies held poverty, obedience and chastity was
such, that they had privately bound themselves
by vow to the strict ol)sery{ince of these virtues.
T-IFF ny M•>^ D VOI^VFI.I.K.
• J.)
Such oxci'llcnt (]is])().siti()n.s were ke])t aiiM'
iiiul iO('i'i\o(l ii (lailv iiiciotisi' l)V tVccjiuMit rc-
tii'iits, lidi'Iitv to spiritual exeirisos and the
daily prai'tice of virtue. Their exemphirv lives,
and ahove all. their eharital)le devotion to the
.serviee of the poor — their e.speeial vocation —
were the causes which led to the consideration
and res[)ect now universall\ felt for M''*' d'You-
ville and her companions.
CIIAPTKH \'.
Harsh and unjust treatment of Mii<' d'Youville by M.
Bigot. — Ordinance published at Montreal uniting its
Hospital to that of Quebec. — M'' ' d'Youville and
others petition against the ordinance.
The iin])()rtiiii(^t' of tlu'so im(k'rt:»kiii<is and
iinproveiiients, the growth of the h(>s])itiil from
the increase in niiniher both of associati's and
of the pool", and the debt wliieh liad accunni-
hited previons to M'''' (rYomiUes entering in
eharsAe. cansed ••'reat ahirni to tlie aiitliorities in
(Jana(hi and at the Conrt.
The Canadian administration had unck'rgone
a change: M. de Lajoncpiiere. «el free l>v the
English, was on the point ot ai riving in the
colony; M. Bigot had sncceeded M. H(H'(juart
ill the oifice of InteiKhmt.
The French minister liad already written
(Feb. 12, 174<S) to the Intemhtnt that it was.
no doubt, desira))le to save the Montreal Hos-
LIKK nv MDH |) VOUVILLE.
35
L'OIU'
tlu'
tlu'
UilVt
was,
[os-
l)itsil iVoin niiii,j\iHl tlial M''" d' Youvillc sceiued
to siu'coimI in its ji(liiiinistiath)ii ; yet His Maj-
esty could nott'onsiMjt to tlio cstahlishiuont of
a new order of nuns in Canada.
On his arrival, M. Higot liad visited the
hospital and had (expressed satisfaction with
all he saw ; l)iit, some time afterwards, he (|uite
altered his tone and seemed anxious to quarrel
with M'''' d' Youville. In IToO, he wrote to her
in harsh terms, Hndinj^ fault with the way in,
which the inmates of " Jericho" were treated,
and orderinj^' her to receive no more (»f them
without his sj)ecial permission. The rude ex-
pressions of his letter were only the prelude
to violent and unjust proceed in;j;s.
To meet the views of the Court regarding
new comnuinities in Canada, and fit the sanu?
time to gratify the lihertines of Montreal, M.
Bigot ' had uiiide \\\) his mind to expel M''^'
d'Youville and her companions from the hos-
pital.
According to the wish of the Court, it hjid
l)een proposed to unite the General IIos|)ital of
Quehec to the TIotel-Dieu of that ntv < ud
'■* This gentleman was styled in official letters : the
King's counsellor, Minister of .justice, police, finance
and naval affairs for the colony. He was afterwards
recalled to France and imprisoned in the Bastille for
malversation.
MFK OF M»« I) YorVII.LK.
the hoHpital of wliicili M"^" d'YouN ilU' was in
cluirj^c to the Hotel-Dieii of Montreal. How-
ever, tlie liirthop in liiw endeavor to Hafe«iuar<l
the conununitieH already estahlislied, and
eoniplv. at tlie name time, with the dewire ot
the Court, nought a middle eoiirse in the fusion
of the hoHpital of Montreal with the one in
Quehee.
M. Normant, hearing the turn aflairs were
taking, forwarded to the Bishop, the (Jovernor
(Jeneral and the Intendunt, a i)etition signed
by M''^' d'Youville and her compuiiions, expos-
ing the irreparable iujurv which tlie proposed
arrangement would cause to the jxxn'of Mou'
real, lor whom the hos])ital had been bui
and that the pious intention ol' the founders
and of those who had contributed to its su])])ort,
would therebv be frustrated. The petition tei--
mim\ted with the assurance that the petitioners
would in three vears. ifthev were left in chari>e,
pay the debt due by the hospital.
On reading the petition. Mgr. de Poutbriaud
seemed nuich moved and ])romised to nuike
known to the Minister the reasons si't forth
therein in tavoi" ol' the hospital.
To the Bishop, it was past human hope that
^jde (PYouvilU' would be able to continue her
undertakiu!
ni!
ler
g; yet lie uses these words in Avrit-
If (iod calls vou to this work, 1
MFK OF M'" l» VOUVIIJ-K
«l<) not (l()ul*t He will ci'uwn voiir oH'orts wiUi
.siuresH."
It HiuMiis tlijit tlic n(>\v (l()V('iH(>i- (JeiuMitl, M.
(if li;ij()n((ni(^rt>, took oiilv a jmHsivt' piirt in
tht'Ho |)r()('ecMliii<i;s ; he was u Mtninj^iT in the
>1(
Ml
il
'inall
i>v r
M
coiojiv and was mtiniMK'iMi pnncii
Bigots opinion, and the latter had made np
his mind tlnit the Montreal Hospital and its
iwennes shonld he handed over to the IIosj)ital
ofi^i
I'oee
The Kieneh i\linistei''s reply sanctioned M.
Bigot's project to the extent of redncing the
Montreal Hospital to the ibo'ingof an inlirm-
ar\ . with nnns from (^U(d>ec in charge. The
fiCtter closes with these words: "• His Majestv
anthorizes yon to accomplish this nnion (ol'the
hos))itals) without rnrther instructions, after
you liaNe conferred upon it with the Bishop of
(,)ue))ec/" (FiCtterof June 14, I Toil.) This was
not the expected authorization to sell the build-
ings and possessions of the General l[()S])ital
and hand the proceeds to the (Quebec com-
munity.
The letter to the Bishop of (Quebec was less
explicit: '"If the (Quebec Hospital sidHces not
for all the sick in the colony, the Montreal
Hospital may be reduced to an infirmary, in
care of two or three iinns from (Quebec." These
words were at once construed in their widest
38
LIFE OF M«K D YOUVILLE.
sense and the suppression of the Montreal Hos-
pital was decreed. An ordinance to this effect
was signed on October 15, 1750, but to prevent
any appeal to France, it was not proclaimed
until the last boat of the year had sailed. On
November 23, 1750, the public crier published
it in the streets of Montreal with the beating of
drums. It de(;reed that all the property mov-
al)le and immovable of the General Hospital
of Montreal should be transferred to the Re-
ligious of the hospital in Quebec. These latter
had the privilege of selling the buildings at
Montreal and the moval)les of too little value
to trausport to Quel)ec.
That morning, M''*' d'Youville had gone to
make some purchases at the market. As she
returned she heard her name repeated several
times in a loud voice by the public crier. She
listened, and her ears caught the words of the
ordinance. It was a heavy blow, and seeuied
to shatter in an instant all her h()])es, to over-
throw the work dearest to her heart and which
had cost the labor aud sacrifices of years. Yet
M^^^ d'Youville received this painful announce-
ment with the sanut composed demeanor, the
same interior submission which she had shown
in her many past trials. She gave remai'kable
evidence of this same s])irit when the bailiff, a
few hours later, came to serve (m her and her
LIFE OK M""- I) YOUVILLE.
39
■ the
'ined
bvev-
liii'h
Yet
Iniee-
the
liown
1ft; a
her
compjinion.s tlie King's prohihition to uuike
further iiuproveinents or repairs in the hos-
pital.
The citizens did not show the like patience
and niurnnu'ed hnidlv iiuainst ^he authorities —
civil and ecclesiasti< 1. The Vicar General
wrote to the Bishop : " The ordinance has
caused much connnotion here, not onlv hecause
of the heating of drums with Avhich it was
announced, but still more hy the murmurs, dis-
content and even abusive hmguage to which it
has given rise. . .an evil way, (me must admit,
of defending a good cause."
Two petitions against the execution of the
ordinance were iiow ])re])ared by M. Normant ;
one was signed by iVP' d'Youville and her com-
])anions, the otlier l)y the principal citizens of
Montreal, the Governor. M. de Longueuil, the
priests of the Seminary, the King's lieutenant,
the Major, officers and magistrates. ex])ressing
the injustice done to the poor ])y removing the
hospital Ijuilt for their use. and to its founders
and benefactors by frustrating the good work
for wiiich they had contribute*!. The ])etitions
went on to' show the illeualit\ . nav, the ver\
• • • •
nullity of the ordinance, as <)i)|)ose(l to the prom-
ise Louis XIV. had made iu llV.I'J. two years
before the estaldishment of the h()si»ital : tluit
it should be permanent in Montreal, and that
40
LIFE OF Mi>K 1) YOUVILLE.
it could not be converted into any other pious
work than that contemplated at tlie time of its
foundation.
M''*' d'Youville was herself the bearer of the
petitions, undertaking the journey to Quebec —
a distance of 180 miles — at a verv inclement
season of the year. She was favorably received
l)y the (Jrovernor General, who iv .owledged
that he had signed the ordinance in deference
to the opinion of the Intendant, and without,
at the moment, foreseeing the injustice done
the poor of Montreal. He wrote, soon after-
wards, in this tenor, to the French minister.
M. Bigot, however, remained unmoved, conse-
([uently the ordinance of October had to be put
in force, and, on January 10, 1751, M*^*^ d'You-
ville was asked to render an account of her
administration. M. Bigot took occasion to treat
her with both harshness and injustice, blaming
her for increasing the number of poor in the
hospital. He declined to accept her accounts,
and ordered her to sow the crops on the farms
])elonging to the hosi)ital before handing them
over to the Religious of Quebec. — crops she
would not harvest.
M^^ d'Youville replied in an able and well-
reasoned letter to the Intendant. Her words
did not produce any impression o\\ M. Bigot.
In this answer obstinately he maintained the
LIFE OF MHK I) VOUVILLE.
ii
lilts,
irui«
hem
she
•ell-
)rds
[got.
the
mijiist position lie ha<l taken up, and positively
refused to accept her accounts. '^
M'*'' d'Youville wrote to the Hish
op.
M
IS
Lordship replied that he could not interfere in
the financial question ; and, as to the union
with the hospital of Quebec, that he had for
divers rensons been obliged to consent to it.
lie advised M''*' d'Youville's ap])ealin«i' to the
King, and held out to her the hope that His
Majesty might reverse the Quebec ordinance,
if put in possession of the real facts of the case.
At the same time, he blamed her for the
expenses incurred by the repairs, and insisted
on the sowing of the crops before resigning the
farms to the Quebec communitv.
While this correspondence was going on, M
<!<'
d'Y(
ilh
d he
r conn
ith
f
ouv
their moveable goods — at least those which
were worth the expense of transportation —
packed up and desi)atched to Quebec.
God permitted that these kind servants of
the poor should drink of the bitter cup of hu-
miliation and disappointment to the verv
dregs. But the time ai)])roached when their
])atient perseverance in a holy cause and humble
dependence on divine Providence were to be
rewarded.
■■■i
CHAPTER VI.
M*'e d'Youville and her companions favored by the
Court. — The King's Letters patent. — Constructions
and improvements. — General good will manifested
by the assistance she receives from all classes.
The Court of France had, for some time, re-
mained silent. M. Bigot, failing to receive a
confirmation of his ordinance, wrote to ask
jy[de d'Youville to remain in charge of the
hospital till the King's reply should be re-
ceived, adding : " I make this proposal in as
nmch as the phm may be agreeable to you."
On the 2nd of July, 17-51, n message was
received by the Goverrior General and the
Intendant, commanding that the sale of the
hospital should be suspended, and pointing out
that the government at Quebec had, in the
ordinance of the loth of October of the preced-
ing year, gone beyond the King's wishes.
This favorable change was brought about by
the intervention of M. Couturier, Superior Ge-
neral of St. Sulpice, in Paris. As Seigneur of
LIFK OF M'»K I) VOUVILLE.
4:J
the island of Montreal, he judged it liis duty to
maintain the General Hospital. The Seniinarv
in coneeding land for the institution had stipu-
lated that in the event of the hospital heing
closed, the grounds and huildings should revert
to the Seminarv or he hought hv the sueces-
sors of the Hospitallers. In point of fact, all
had come back into the j)ossession of the Semi-
nary since 1747. In an interview with the
King, whose contidence he enjoyed in a high
degree, M. Couturier gave every assurance of
the discharge of the debt due by the hospital.
A roval decree, dated May I'J, 1752, annulled
the Quebec ordinance of October lo, 1750, and
ordered the Governor General and the Intend-
ant to confer with M**** d'Youville about the
hospital. Finally the King's Letters patent,
dated from Versailles, June o, 175o, enjoin:
"That M^'® d'Youville and her companions
shall replace the Hospitaller Brothers in the
charge and direction of the General Hospital ol
Montreal,, and in the enjoyment of all the rights
and privileges which had been granted to the
brotherhood by the King's Letters ])atent,
dated April 15, 1()94 :
'' That the ladies administering to the hos-
pital shall be twelve in number, amongst whom
the different offices of the house shnll, under
the Bishop's authority, be distributed; and that
■»i^w"
"*^pi
u
LIKK OF M"K I) VorVH.Ll':
new subjects shall he nj)i)n)ve(l l)y him hefore
their julinission ; thnt the juliuinistrjitors shall
retain the right to their own property :
" Thjit they shall receive from the Bishop a
rule of life; and in health and in sickness they
shall he supported at the expense of the house."
This latter clause was inserted at the request
of M'**' d'Youville, in op])osition to the views
of several persons in authority who proposed
that the funds destined for the support of the
ladies administering to the hospital, and those
for the poor, should he kept separate. M*^*"
d'Youville preferred there should he no such
separation, which she feared might, in the
future, cause a too great zeal for the increase
of the comniunitv's means, to the detriment
of the poor.
The General Hospitsil. thus secured to M''"'
d'Youville by a permanent title, was situated
outside the walls of Montreal, on a promontory
l)ouiided on the south side bv the St. Law-
rence, and on the nortli by the brook St. Peter.
Years before the Grey Nuns moved from this
site, in 1871, to their present locatiim — be-
tween St. Catherine and Dorchester Streets —
the busiest and most commercial portion of
the modern city had grown up around them,
invading the stillness of the cloister with din
of industry, the clang of the hammer and the
LII'K OF M'"-: I) VOUVILLE.
4.j
noise of machinery ; while, on the nver side,
the forest of tall masts and smoking funnels of
a great transatlantic fleet of merchant ships
seemed to overshadow them.'
But at the time we speak of, the thirteen
acres of land, or thereabouts, granted bv the
Seminary in IG.S(S and 1692 as a site for an
hospital — although a church and a monastery
had l)een erected thereon — were still unen-
closed and exposed to all the inconyeniences
arising from proximate neighborhood to a town;
for between the monastery and the southwest
* Transatlantic travellers, arriving at Montreal, step
from the Allan Line steamers upon ground, which, al-
though outside the wall built higher up by Mdi; d'You-
ville, so as to avoid the danger of inundation, belonged
to the site of the old General Hospital. The offices of
Messrs. Allan Brothers stand, however, within what was
M*ic d'Youville's enclosure.
The following streets — McGill, d'Youville, Normant
and St. Peter —intersect the land which was, in 1688 and
1692, granted by the gentlemen of the Seminary for the
purpose of a General Hospital.
The old gate-way, demolished to make room for St.
Peter Street — a continuation of the ancient street of the
same name — stood close to St. Ann's market on its south
side. The new St. Peter Street, in line, or nearly so,
with the old, but much wider, passes over the ground
on which stood the gate-way, as aforesaid; also the
" avant-cour ^^ front court, church and convent garden
in its rear.
4G
LIFE UF M"E I) i'OUVII.LK.
ern extroniitv of thi' niinpart.s, the distanci.'
was that ot* onlv a tew minutes walk.
y[do (VYoiivillo felt the full necessity of an
enclosure, hut was also ])ainfully aware of her
present state of destitution arisin»i- from the
previous improvements. She ho})ed for assist-
ance from the Man^uis Duquesne. M. de La-
jonquiere's successor as (iovernor General, who
manifested great esteem for the connnunity
and its foundress. She was not disa])pointed ;
the Governor espoused her cause and used his
iuHuence in her favor. Every one contril)uted ;
the workmen furnished the skilled labor:
others aided in carting and the roiigher work :
and M*'*' d'Youville and her sisters carried
stones and mortar. A wall o,(')0() feet in length
was begun in May, 1704, and finished within
four years.
Amongst the generous contributors were the
Governor General, Mgr. de Pontbriand and
M. Norman t.
M''*' d'Youville then enlarged the hospital b\'
l)uilding a new wing, and the church became
the centre of the structure; to the church she
added asanctuarv. Soon after, she was enabled
to construct a bakery and other small outbuild-
ings. The blessing of (fod on AF^' d'Youville
and her work was made dailv more and more
manifest.
CHAPTER VII.
The Bishop visits the General Hospital. — He establishes
Mdo d'Youville and her companions as a religious
Community. — Their Rule.— Dress. — Assistant and
Novice-Mistress.
While this fiood work was in ])r()gress, M<2,'i'.
de Poiitbrinnd ninde. his pastoral visit to the
house, that by a soUmiui aet of epi.seojjal aii"
thority he niiglit form M*'*' d'Youville and her
assoeiates into a religious conimunity.
His Lordshi}) ratified her position of superior ;
deereed there should he an assistant-superior;
and ordained the establislnuent of a eoniniunity
room for the exclusive use of the sisters, and ot
a single confessor, exce])t at the Emher days.
The rule M. Norniant had given M^'^" d'You-
ville and her associates in IT-i-j. in conformitv
to which they had lived ever since, received
at the same timep eiscopal sanction.
48
I. IKK OK M'""' I) VOIJVII.U:.
It lijul l)0(Mi written on three wheets of pnper :
tlie first contained the eniiiijieinents contriicted
in (h'votin^' themselves to the service of tlie
|)()or; the second hiid (h)\vn the details of
eacii day's oecnpations; and the third related
to spiritnal exercises and the virtnes to he
practised in the state of life which they had
cMnhraced.
As this rule had i)r<)ved snIHcient in the past,
not only tor the general jiiiidance of the coni-
munity, hut also for the personal sanctilication
of its inenihers; and as the Bishop judjied that
any devel()[)nient thereof, snital)le to all the
circumstances that miuht arise in the future,
could only he [)rudently made when time and
experience had demonstrated its desirahility,
he commanded that the rule, as it stood, should
he literally ohsei'ved ; and. to this ett'ect. placed
his seal on the documejit containin>i' it.
Some time })revious M'*'" d'Youville. at the
advice oi' M. Nornuint. had devised a costunu'
to he adopted hy the community which she
now pi'esented to the Bishop for his approval.
This modest hidjit received his innnediate sanc-
tion. It consisted of a <iray camlet gown fast-
ened hy a cincture of hlack cloth; a hlack
merino domino covered tlie head and shoul-
ders; a simple cap of hlack gauz" shaded the
face, under which was a hand of white nuislin:
LIl-'K ni" .M"i; I) Voirvil.LK.
49
the
iiuc
val.
luiic-
iist-
ju'k
loiil-
tlic
;Uu:
a riiiji and a cross of silver coinpleted tlie ordi-
nar\ costmnc. Vov chiiirli and out-door wear,
a hlack ci\\w and hood of light material were
added, which were suhstitnted hy a cloak and
bonnet of gray cloth for winter.
(lod had provided a • novice-mistress. A
young lady, seventeen years old, of good edu-
cation, Theresa Lem()ini'-I)esi)ins, had, while
i\r'*' d' Youville and her companions occupied a
small house within the walls of the town, come
to live with them as a hoarder. She had no
wish to hind herself h\ vow. or even to assist
«
in taking care of the poor, for whom she even
felt a secret repugnance; she only desired to
lead a retired and religious life, and to benefit
by the edifying e.vample she knew she would
continual Iv have before her eves. Latterlv.
however, M"*' Des[)ins had felt an attraction to
join the communit\ in which she had so lonu
dwelt. She communicated her tlesire to M.
Normant. but said she would not become a
sister till a novice-mistress would be named.
M. Normant i)romised her that the day she
entered there should be oiu'. When the day
came, what ^vas her surprise to find herseli'
installed in this position I It was one she did
not covet. — which she had only desired to see
filled for her own spiritual guidance. Floh
.')(!
rji'i; OK ^r'>^ d voiivir.i.K.
obedience, however, left no elioiee ])Ut to accept
the charge which had heen aUotted to her.
About tlie Haiiie time, Sister Mary Thaimmr-
Lasoiirce, the (ir«t of M''"'(r Youvilh^'H aHHO(!iates
and who had fijiven lier verv efl'ectiial aid in
huildiiijj,' II)) her work for thi^ [toor, was named
asHintant.
Si.ster Despins nia(k' an excellent novice-
miHtress. She retained this important oifice
until 1771, when, at M*'"' d'Yonville'H death,
she was unanimouslv elected to succeed her us
superior.
The Bishoi)'s visit was on June l-'), 17'')'').
The solenni taking;' of the habit was deferred
till the feast of St. Louis — then of obligation in
Canada — which occui's on the 2511) of Aujnist.
That day was also the feast of M. Normant's
patron saint.
To this excellent [)riest, the Guardian Angel
of the nascent comnnniity through so many
trying years, and whom Mgr. de Pontbriand
had recently appointed ecclesiastical superior,
as well as in his capacity of Vicar General, it
belonged toofiiciate ou this touching occasion
Tho cerenKmy took place in the coi-mr aity-
room. The ritual employed was < »se(l by
M. Normant, and is the same still i. use.
That morning, as the nuns walked ^'rom
their convent to the [)arish church of Notre-
iiur-
iitos
1 in
iikhI
'H'Ai-
iVn'V
atli,
ir UM
rred
n in
Lnt\s
ngel
lany
iantl
I'ior,
i\, it
on.
lity-
ibv
rom
)tre-
m^
«VI
mm
PBICE .U'HABIT.
//"■■ /'
.' :'iiri
//,■ .■/
////;-.< r,\t'/f','/// ///,//'// ,/,■ /r
/(f lll.^/l//i/ ,
/ i>f/-./, /:■/// ,.',■ //,'///•, ;ii/ ,/ .Ji'.sus- Uirii^l
ifiin.- /,/
/■'
'///,■ i/i\< /\iia'rr.
/
<>ur
/.■
•r/'/r
LIFE i)r vi»'!- i> •iia'vii.i,ii-
\
Dame, thov ii'.<;i; \\U\\ a ^nuitv welcmiH' from
(I
It'
Kn\)
(• Wfio ftJh
il.
W
llV.
(•[•«i\V(lP(l
the >(Vo«.^ts ,f<) Kot :t ;4iiiMf!^».^ «'i {i«*;.si' Ijriivt'jw-
A tcjifler i'<u-!sr;^ ''''ju;. uiu.-i h:rve {ilii'ii M '''
srVouvillo ^t l<tvn!.2' 'li'uit ijh (his iill-;ius|>iriuii>^
ilii\"; bur rt.s. ;j. \vi))i!.iv vvritt-«' it'll- as: •'Si.f
her >Uipt ill t hiiHks^;-n'ui;j; ti' ' rod; i>\ i'»'«lo('biinu
[km- iidrlit
l!
d I.
'ii\.;\ve*i
KU'iin Hi u\> .MTviii- una ?»x r(Hi\.;\ve*i
•/unl in t!.*^ lu^fj'.ni •"t.<i v\ liiv ilniifslo whuh Iff
[tihl ciille.! ^a:t. Tift 'iJirit' aii^'nn-. -{>c.»k'iti!, n!
jjioiis <]i,sj! 1 t^., /I r,i «joT iii^tw in'i' t<» .•xjtit tl''>
i<s>.!^T. in:.ti !vs tvv ,-. .:■'.'!■ ;'t.JU.sidet'ti{'u)ii 'mujui;-
ihi'iti:' >•(• iiun u«.* .fti- ^i'ih sav: ji' tho^^-
l^ei'^iOlib h,'l! '•:»:? hii oMi' ..; S,''"'' i-Jf :>-?-J>'t i(tl"'
!,.•!• ^huu UiiU ■>! •^■m: 'in^ .: ;..-.:. -it .• i i'"\sai'd
!irn Wal'Hi
111
1
iiai I «i\(it,»'
:»;».!
tut
fl.
H>ni\ :\i'\i:v the I'idH^j,*'- vi-i! Ui t
U;
UOS'irtM! .. id V.
<!)-'\ssc(! !i<'V as
.rj; 1 ( t
M"' .r
! 'US 111.
'>-iU
;u!
ilnrr'rn-
"I
i : /I'll )i
r-ft..
' ''//»fy'/i
^;ap•.n•l<'r *>!
t.'.til
i(i u;
MIUI VC'll5!irK«Ml ni •!;■- !<"■- V , (1
II.
t;h( ! til I'! If n
T
= ']
jjM'i; '. (' (ii
Ills n;nii
entfv
L()0<!
iiC
,n(
rt.'!i(.i!":»"ri
•)\ i»^'t
!>i<
ib,!'u i\
't;l -i! V
M..
:•■:«
I
l)V
•i'»l:tal:'"!l , !l.^!>.^ vi t 'U .!i ■
IMllt'S hV tilt' Df'M't' !t't-. ' ii llJlt >■>•<- ;|* (
B-
^**Mv
,ip-M.-<V,,..V
LIFK UF >!'>•• 1) VUUVII.LE.
51
Dame, tbey met with a hearty weh'onie tVoiii
the people who tilled windows and crowded
the streets to get a <ilini|)se ot these henetac-
tors of the imfortiniate.
A tender t'eelinu' ot iov must have lilled M'"'
d'Youville's loving heart on this all-ans])i('ions
(hiy ; hut as a worthy writer tells us: "'She
rejoieed as the saints rejoice, by pouring out
her soul in thanksgiving to (rod ; by i"e(h)ubling
her fidelity in His service and hy renewed
zeul in the i'ullilment of the duties to which He
had called her." The same author, speaking ol
her gratitude to benefactors, continues: ''Her
pious disposition did not allow her to omit the
least marks of delicate consideration towards
them; so that we ma\' tndv sav: if those
persons had had no other object in assisting
her than that of gaining a tem])oraI reward,
thev would have been suilicientlv repaid b\
such warm and unr.lterable gratitude."
Soon after the liishop's visit to the (kmeral
Hospital, in » "iting to AP'*' (rVouville. he ad-
dressed her as ' Si(/>f''rlriirr </rs ih'iiioisclirs dc la
(Viariti'' Superior of tiie Ladies of ('harity.
and remarked in his letter that: " lie is sure
the ])ublic will a])|)rove of this nanu'. " How-
ever, the generality of peojjle th(jught dilVer-
ently, and, as if by acclamation, named these
good ladies by the moie affectionate e])ithet of
52
LIFE OK Mi>i- DYOUVILLK.
Sisters of Charity, or still more fjiiniliarly —
because of their simple attire — " (irey Nuns."
The King's Letters patent speak of M''*'
d'Youville and her companions as secular per-
sons, in order that they might continue in
the possession and enjoyment of their })ro])-
erty, and limit the nuinl)er of the associates
to twelve. This latter clause the Court insert-
ed in its own defence, as, under certain con-
ditions, the King had promised each of these
ladies a life pension of 2-")0 francs yearly ;
hut these stipulations only affected them in
regard to civil ohligations, for M''*' d'Youville
and her companions had already, in 17o7, taken
the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Mgr. de Poutbriand, in forming them into a
relisiious comniunitv of nuns, solemnlv ratified
these conditions. -
Each associate at her profession gave up her
property to the ])oor, by signing an act empow-
ering the superior to deal with it, for this
purpose, as she judged best. No account Avas to
be rendered to the sister, who thus absolutely
renounced all her worldly goods.
It was foreseen that the limited number ot
twelve associates would not alwa\'s suffice. The
Bishop provided that the number should in-
crease as circumstances and the development
of the community rendered it advisable.
ll
)-
;S
t-
11-
S«.'
}' 1
ill
lie
I'll
ed
10 r
»w-
lis
to
lb-
o\
he
in-
'11 1
CHAPTER A^IT.
M"i«' d'Youville's appearance and character.
It may not be inappropriate to l)rieHy por-
tray M*'*" d'Youville as «lie appeared at tlii.s
epoch.
In stature, M''*^ d'Youville was a hove the
ordinary height; her features were eoniely
and of perfect east; her complexion was dee]),
rich and finely colored, her glance keen and full
of expression, and she passed for one of the most
striking women of her day ; while her grave,
modest and refined demeanor lent her a dii»-
nitv that commanded deference. To these ex-
terior advantages were united the rarest qual-
ities of heart and mind. The Ablie de I'lsle-
Dieu commented on her uncommon gifts in a
letter to Mgr. de Pontl)riand. Iler judgment
was extremelv practical; she easilv i>;ave wa\'
to sound reasoning. She was prone to refiec-
tion rather than to speech. Her tender, gener-
ous heart overtlowed with svmpathv for the
54
LIFE OF M^K I) YOUVILLE.
sorrows of others, but her virile luiiid kept
this wjirinth of nature free from wesikness und
jiUowed her to be stern and severe when cir-
cumstances required it. It was a matter of
surprise to find her inspire at once l)oth love
and fear. Her pietv sought out the practice of
perfect devotion, yet avoided affectation and
austerity.
God designed her to be in the church of the
young colony, a mother to the afflicted and the
abandoned She was the strong woman of the
Bible who opens her hands to the needy and
stretches out her arms to the poor. Her trials
had strengthened her spirit and she brought to
her work a power of will and a zeal and devo-
tion that heroic souls alone are capaljle of
experiencing.
This woman, fitted by nature and education
to shine in society, devoted herself unflinching-
ly to the service of the poor, and so assiduously
that her labors were often protracted far into
the night.
One day as she was l)usied, in very hum])le
attire, making caudles, the Intendant came to
pay a visit to the convent. A sister, seeing
this high official approach, hastened to Avarn
M^^ d'Youville, so that she might have time to
change her toilet. She judged, however, it was
better to see the Intendant at once rather than
LIFK OF M'"-; D VOUVILLE.
•)•)
to
irn
to
as
keep liim waiting; so she appeared just as she
was, gracefully excusing herself by saying that
had M<uhsi('ar C [ntendani given notice of his
visit, she would have taken care to he l)etter
prepared; nevertheless, she could receive his
conunands just as well in her working dress as
if more carefully attired.
"It was our greatest hap])iness" said the
sisters who had lived with M^'^" d'Youville, as
quoted 1)V M. Satin, "to surround M*'*^ d'You-
ville and listen to her words." On one occa-
sion as they gathered about her, she pointed to
Sister Coutlee and said in a tone of conviction
that drew the attention of all present: '"■ Sister
Coutlee will remain the last — she will survive
you all.'" This prediction was literally accom-
plished, as she outlived all the sisters then in
the community.*
'' But we should not think," continues M.
Satin, "that the charm of M''^' d'Youville's
conversation or the expansive afi'ection she
exhibited towards the sisters diminished, in
the least, her attention to their spiritual ad-
vancement or interfered with her solicitude in
maintaining order and reguhirity in the com-
niunitv."
« Sister Coutlee was third superior, succeeding Moth-
er Lemoine-Despins in 1792 ; she lived till 1821.
lan
CHAPTKR IX.
M(l« d'Youville's devotion to the poor. — Her divers
works of charity. — She succors English soldiers.—
Different means adopted to increase their income.
When M''^ (rYi)Uville took cliui'gi* of the
Geuerjil Hospital she declined to continue tlie
little school, — one of the works of the Hos])i-
tiiller Brothers, — so that slie and her associates
might be ni(n*e free to devote all their energies
to the care of the poor, " I was hungrv and
von gave nie to eat : I was thirstv and >"on gave
uie to drink: I was a stranger and yon took
nie in ; naked and you clothed me; sick, and
you visited me : I was in prison, and you came
to me. Amen, I say to you, as long as you did
it to one of these my least l)rethren, you did it
to um.'' St. Matthew, XXV. 35,36, iO. '
These words of our divine Lord had sunk
deep into her heart ; and by her lively faith
in His guidance she was ever ready, with a zeal
which seemed to set the rules of mere hununi
T.iri'. OK M'""- I) VOL'VILLE.
Ot
I
It
eal
Liau
prudouci! at (Iclianco, to accept for the uiit'or-
timate evei'v woi'k that presented itfselt'.
IJesiiU's the poor received on her (irst assinn-
ing cliai'iie of the hospital, or so(,n afterwards,
eoni])risin<i' men. women, chihh'en, insane and
penitents, she considered it a part of her su-
hlime mission to weh'ome those who siilfcM'cd
from any sickness, the nature of which ju'e-
vented them enterin;;" the Ilotel-Dieii, such
a8 epileptics, lepers, those atllicted with cancer
and the like. When, in 1 T-')'), small-pox broke
out, connuittin,!!' terrible ravages among the
Indians and spreading to Montn^al and the
IIotel-Dieu was uiud)le to accept all who sought
admission, she offered to receive women snffer-
in<>; from this disease.
On hearing this, Mgr. de Pontbriand wrote
to hei' on the 2)l\u\ of September : '" In a time
of sickness it is well to aid in good works which
may not be strictlv within one's own si)here of
action; lam, therefore, glad to ex])ress my
approval of your having received the poor
women suffering froni small-pox. "
About this time also, the num))er of wounded
soldiers had so increased that, to accomodate
them, tlie nuns of the ITotel-Dieu Avere con-
strained to give uj) their dormitory and, finally,
even their church, after removing the Blessed
Sacrament, At M. Bigot's request, in ITob, M***'
:)8
i-ii'H or M'": i> vnr\ 11,1,1;.
d' V()ii\illi' lilti'd ii|) ii lin\i;c' room lor tlir rccfj)-
tion ol' the Kii,L;lisli prisoiUTs. Tliis room wns
citUcd Siilh (Its Aii(//<ii.s, Mii^lisliiiiciis ward,
and was dcNotcd to llus lairposc up lo. and lor
sDiiU' time al'tiT, the coikiucsI .
TIh^si' prisoiuTs N\ (Tf lodu'cd at tlic Kinj.
»• s
I'Xlieiisi', !)iit the I'lill aiuoimt of His Majesty's
iminiru'ciicc iiovci' risuduMl the coiivont. M.
Hi<i()t profited of tlie depreciation of tlie ciir-
I'eiicy to make a IbrtuiKi not only ont of M'"''
d'Yon\iih' and hei- sisters, hut. als<j. hy his
dishonest inanipnhition of moneys sent IVoni
Franee to snhsidi/e tlie Indians. A eonsider-
ahle h)ss thus aeerned to the hospital. l*ro\i-
sions, owinji to the depreciated currency, rose
to ral»uh)us j)ri('es. However, in sj)ite ol' thest'
and other dilHculties. the sisters continued
tlieir woriv of charity witii unabated zeal.
When the hospital was conlided to them the
revenues consisted of about 4')(l iii'iDois* and a
lixed rent from France of S(H) li\ res; but this
sum had. for tweutv vears. been under seizure
to pay the debt of the Il()S})itallei' Hrothei's;
while, in 1740, there were j)()or (Miou<>h in the
house to consume 1,800 //////oAv of wheat yearly .
She succeeded. durin<i' the lirst few vears of
her administration, in raisin<>' the receipts t<»
20,000 livres. Still, the e.\i)en(liture exceeded
* A minot contains a little more than a l>iishel.
I.IFK i»r Mi'i, I) VOL'VII.LK
V.)
this siiiti li\ ii third, iiiid otlicr humus hnd t
()
he (h'visi'd to hrmu'
tl
10 iiu'onio noaror
tl
ic
c\l)C'ii(littir(
lit!
()
uv iiK'iins \v
as to invito hidios to ivsi(h' in
thi' house as Itoarch'i's. The hiji'h cstooni i)i whicli
M''*' (rVouxillc was now liohl, hor in^^ratiat-
inji' niaJincMs aiul tlu' doli('a<'V witli wliich she
oxorc'isod the charitv that roigiu'd su|)ronu> in
luM' characti'i' (juicklv drow nianv hulics to Iut
convent, w Iumc tlu> ahsence ol' worhllv ruios. a
L!;oodl\ circle ol" IVii'iuls aiul the consolations ot
reli«j;ion awaited them." Anu)ng then» were
M"*' Lanoiu'. M''*' de IJeaiijen, M'''' do Lacovno,
i\r''' de Lothiniere-liaronde, M*''' de Liiiuei'v,
M^''" de W'Tcheres, M''*' Sennoiiville, the Baron-
ess of Longueuil, M"*' de Repentignv ; also,
sonu' of M'"' dVouville's relatives: M"'' iW
Bleurv, M'''' de \"incennes, her mother M''" Sil-
vain, and her sisters Mary Louise and Marv
(Jlenience de Ijajennnerais. Several ot" these
remained in the convent until their death.
M''"" d'Youville, alter e.\i)ressing the sorrow
of assist in <i' at the death-bed of the last nanu'd
of her sisters, writ<'s: '• Mv sister. M''*' Mauiiras,
was I'oi' (ifteen days almost continually in
agony, without losin,ii' speech or consciousness;
my consolation is, that her death was that of
the predestined."
M''^ d'Youville leceived also several English
CI)
MFK OK M'>'': I) VorNII.I.K
Indies, lor lun* charitv iiii»(U' m»» exception of
|»er.s()ns oi* of luilioiKilitv. Tlie indies issisti'd
lier not onlv l»\ the nuAinents tliev niiide, Imt
also l)v \vorl\inji lor tlu' poor. She writes. " We
have hei'<', as a hoarder, the widow iA' j\I. de
IMianeuf, an old hidy ot'over ei^ht v yeais. who
fasts and Jihstains on all the days of precept
and works tor the sup|)oit of the poor as if she
were one of the sisters."
M''"' (rV^ouville and her associates took up
everv hranch of needle-work and their earn-
ings were the i>rin('ipal soni'ce of rexcnne to the
convent. She never refused anv sort of lahor.
however disagreeahle ; so that it hecanie a say-
in<i' when any thing ditHcult had to he done :
•' Take it to the Grey Nnns." They supplied
clothes, tents, etc., etc., to the troops, reali/ing.
previous to the cone juest, from this source alone,
hetween 20,(100 and :;0,000 livresa year. The
King's store keejjer, noting that it was jjrofit-
ahle to eni])loy the sisters, sent also large ordei's
to the convent. This, with what was sujjplied
to private parties, hrought in from 1 '),000 to
20,000 annually, — and once even as much as
^)0,000 livres; and the alms she received
amounted in one year to 27,000 livres.
She worked, too, for the merchants, making
clothes for the Indians and onniments for their
chiefs which could he exchan<»ed for furs. The
MFK OF >!'"• I) V()i;\ II.I.K.
(I
ion of
ic, )>iit
, •• Wo
M. dv
s. who
^ if slu'
Dok llj)
I- curu-
.' to llu-
f liilx)!'.
V i\ stiv-
t» (lone :
u|)l)rKMl
ali/iii^'.
' aloiu'.
'V
n
IC
rolit-
orders
Hn
ilieil
.000 to
hiK
h nt
cH-eiveii
|in
i»r
ilk in ^
their
The
nieriihtnit.s ordiiuii'ilv rmnished the niuttM'ijiI
out of whicli dresses were niach' iind oiMuiinent-
ed. IMie lialls set apart tor the exercises of
the eoninuinity were sometimes (iUed witli
pieces of (doth, printed calico, cahimanco. etc.
When the mendiants were obliged to h'ave
lor the West and the sisters were hard-pressed,
every one in the honse who conld assist will-
in<ily lent a helpii'.<i' hand, and their labors
were ol'ten prolopiicd far into the ninht.
'l\w\ also V. orked for the clinrches, M. Pon-
cin. a priest of the Seminary, taunht the sisters
to m{d\e altar-br(nids and wax candles, and
these industries still exist in tb«' hospital.
M'''(r Yonville's spii'it of enterprise indnced
her to continne projects undertaken by the
Hospitallers, and nnder her manajivmcnt they
realized a substantial income tor the conN«uit.
She hon<iht tobacco in the leal" and pre|)are(l it
lor the market; she sold lime, buildin*;' stone,
sand, barred ho()[)s and similar ai'ticles. Noth-
ing was nej.'lecte(l that mi<iht turn to the ])rofit
of her poor. She had cattle gi"a/ing in hei-
Helds; an ice-honse. a yard and outbnildiniis
were let by her; a boat beloniL!,inu' to the
comnumitN served as a fei*r\ and brouiiht in
numy a penny.
Though M'*'' d'Yonville was prudent and
economical, nothing was more foreign to her
i;
()2
LIFE OF M"': D YOUVILLE.
gunerou« heart tliiui sordid methods. She held
it a eheerful duty to ])ay each one his (hie, and
to render the emphnees more contented and to
attach tliem to the community, she was Aont.
at certain times, to make them liandsomc
presents.
It is not usual for social economists to setdv
within cloister walls the solution of modern
labor problems ; but we are of a mind that those
who strive towards Christian ])erfection and
who put into })ractice the counsels of the
Divine Master, are not the least ai)t to teach
the world how to attain that peac(^ and iiood-
w^iil which lie came to establish anu)n<:- men
and which are the fruit of Tlis spirit.
CHAPTEJJ X.
Mci.'d'Youville's kindneHs to English soldiers.
Ill 17.")7. M''"(ry(,uviiK. learned that :in En-
glish soldier iiained John had been captured
'>y the Indian allies of France, and fearing that,
according to the ciMiel custom of these savaues.
le might he burned al
ive, succeeded in ran-
soming him lor two hundred livr
es.
.Toh
11 was full oi" oratitude and I
very faithful servant in the hospital, act
)ccame a
infiri
II
mil" Jis
IS
narian to tlie sick and
patron vmic. (which th
wounded English,
ic archives of the
eonvent — sumciently explicit in most other
respects— do not give us.) sounding strange to
French ears. 1
le
(John the Enulisl
was dubbed Jni,i F Atujl
fits.
.tl
iiiian. ) and so it was uitli
orner
CI
|)risoners, each had /" J//////n"v added to 1
II;
iristian name
SoiiH
!ttl
ot
tl
H'se .soldiers afterwards bee
settlers, and this is said to account foi- th
uue
c con-
i'A
lAVK OF Mi>K D VOUVILLE.
siderublc iiuinl)or ot'iyanudiiins, who in our own
(lay, rejoice in the name of L<f/H/I(>is.
The foHowinp, year, M''^' d'Yonville received
a little Irish <»irl onlv a few months old. named
O'Fluherty, whom one of the priests of the
Seminary, M de Lavaliniere, had rescued with
her mother from the Indians. When discover-
ed they were already hound to a post and the
Indians had prepared to fire the pile. The
iiood priest succeeded hy prayers, entreaties
and
nromises m savin<»;
th
eir
1
ive
d
UKl ]])
liavinu' them "'iven over to his care. The little
,11
1
w
e(
111 cat
ed in
th
e con veil
t, be
came a
Grey Nun, and lived till 1824.
Several oi' the English soldiers who had re-
I'overed from their wounds entered the service
of the community. /Vt one time there were
Ww m the hos])ital and twenty-two workinj:'
on the farms at Point St. Charles and Chamblv.
At this epoch skirmishes were frecpient be-
tween bands oi' French and English soldiers,
each accompanied by their Indian allies.
Sometimes parties of Englishmen, pursued
by the French and the hostile Indians, — these
latter desirous above all things of taking their
enemies alive in order to torture them, — f.iund
themselves hemmed in by the walls of the
town on the one side, and the St. Lawrence on
the other. Their onlv salvation, then, was to
LIFE OF >roE I) YOUVILLK.
65
take refuge within the convent. Its doors were
never known to have ])een closed against them ;
they invarial)ly met with a friendly reception
from the nuns, whose mission w^as charitv to all
men. not taking into account difterences of na-
tionalitx . It was not enouirh to admit them —
that would have heen of little use — it was more
necessary to conceal them. As the house was
likelv to he searched l)v the enemv in i)ursuit.
\|<i.- d'Youville had the poor fugitives hidden
in the vaults of the church. There the sisters
su])plied them with all they required and at-
tendeil to their wants till a favorable moment
could he found to secure their escape. To
avoid the danger of these poor soldiers being
recognized as they passed through the l!()S])ital
or its grounds, the stratagem was i-esorted
to of carefully wra])j)ing them in the hoods
and long gray cloaks which the sisters wear
out-doors in cold weather. The disguise proved
a comi)lete success. One dav. however, as thev
L • ' ft.
were thus conchu'ting several English soldiers
to their jjlace ol' (Concealment in the vaults,
an Indian ally ol" the Frencli, — a small-j)()X
patient in the ward through which they were
passing, — altliougii nearly bUnd li'om the
violence of tlie disease, discovered, it is said
l»y the acuteness ol' his sense of smell, that
they were not nuns, as their a[)pearan('e would
GO
LIFE or M'>'': 1) VOUVrLLE.
iiidicato.but Eimlisli soldiers. Filled with fiirv.
the Indian warrior, in s])ite of his weak con-
dition., songht des])erately to rise from bed and
throw himself u])OJi his enemies, — and, indeed,
had he not been held down by the sisters, he
might have sncceeded in doing it.
On another occasion, a vonng English soldier
pnrsned bv an Indian took refuge within the
walls of the convent. The Indian continuing to
follow him, he ran up a stair which led to the
conimunitv room where M''*^ d'Youville was
working at a tent. She sees the young English-
man enter and suspects at once from the agita-
tion depicted on his face that he is Heeing for
his life. In a Hash she lifts the immense tent
in her arms, motions the soldier to throw him-
self on the tloor and hastily spreads it over
him. Hardlv has she done so, when an Indian
fren/ied with rage and tomahawk in hand
rushes into the room. M*'*^ d'Youville with
admirable presence of mind silently points to
an open door leading in an opposite direction.
Thinking the fugitive had escaped by that way,
he darts through the door, down the stairs,
along the passage and rushes wildly on till he
is outside the convent. The vouni>; Enulish-
man's life was saved. Wt\ shall see in another
chapter how eftectively he proved his gratitude
to M*'*^ d'Youville and the convent.
fiirv.
«
. coii-
[1 aiul
(Iced,
rs, he
:)l(lier
11 the
iiig to
[o the
■2 was
isi'lish-
agita-
11 g for
le tent
,• hiin-
t over
Indian
hand
: with
11 ts to
eetion.
t way,
stairs,
till he
nulish-
nother
titude
CriAPTKR XI.
Famine caused by the war. — Bavrels of flour found in
the convent refectory. — The English invest Montreal.
— The hospital saved at the prayer of the soldier who
had been succored by Mil'' d'Youvillc— Death of His
Lordship Mgr. de Pontbriand and of M. Normant.
The war witli Knuland wliieh had vaued
since 17'")4 and obliged nearly all ahle-hodied
Canadians to hecoine scddiers, hrought ai)ont.
a few years latei-, so serious a famine that, at
one time, the price of wheat in Montrj'al rose
to forty francs of ])ai)ei' money, or twenty-four
francs in specie, ])er tuiuof.
In ordei' that the poor might not sulfer, the
sisters allowed themselves wheaten bread only
at one meal a da v. In this trvin«»; state of alVairs,
all eyes were tnrnedto the Reverend Mother."
She lost nothinu'of hei- usual conhdencc : she
exhibited unHauuinii' con raue and knew liow to
» Life of Mil'- .I'Youville, by M. Satin.
w^
68
LIFE OF M'>i': D YOUVILT.E.
infuse it into the hearts of her eompjiiiions. One
(liiv that they had no Ijread and no means of
pinvhasing- any, the nuns, on entering the r*^-
rectory, found, to their unspeakable surprise,
several l)arrels of fine wheaten Hour. To (|uote
the words of a relia])le writer:* "As they did
not know, or even suspect, whence this assist-
ance could come by iiny natural means, they
hjoked upon it, and very justly, as a miraculous
intervention of divine Providence. " This is
the evidence rendered after M^'*' d'Youville's
death by several of the eldest and most prudent
of her companions who had been eye-witnesses
of the event: Sister Desj)ins, who succeeded
M''^ d'Youville as superior. Sister Thaunuu'-
Lasource, sissistant, and Sister Hainviile. In-
deed, when we consider tl:e peculiar circum-
stances — the nundjer of peoph' always moving
about a crowded hospital, etc., — it was morally
imp()ssil)le thai any one could (uirry barrels of
tlour to such a house, ))ring them into the inte-
rior of the building, and above all, into the
refectory of the connnunitv. unperceived, or
at least without its being afterwards discover-
a])le who was the author of this bounty. How-
ever, neither tlie nuns nor the other inmates
of the hospital, nm- the priests of the Seminary,
(who might more than any one else be suspect-
« Life of M'i'' d'Youville, Villemarie, 1852.
I
■rw
One
illH O
rprise
I qiioti
«y
did
assist-
. tl
ie\
d
U'UlOllS
n
lis IS
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rude lit
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iiorally
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I««M— «M
wammmmmmmi^^er'^
LIFK OF M"^- 1) VUUVILLK
(*.!»
0(1 ol' tliis act of chiii'itv) ever know how it was
a,o('()ni|)lislio(l. M. Satin, ono ot'tlio lattoi', spoak-
inii" of" this ovont in his Lit'o of M''*' d' VonviHo,
writton si\t\ voars aftorwards, troats of the
ovent as miracnlous.
Wo aro now apin'oachin*!;' th<' ron(jn<Nst of
('anathi hv tho Kni-iish. (^nohoc, as ovorv onci
knows, was takon in tho antnnm of IT-V.), and
Montroal ('ai)itnlato(l ahont a voar hitor. Tho
(hiy hotoro this hittor ovont took phico. throt?
Kniilish arniios mot ontsi(k' tho walls. (lonoral
Amhorst, coniniandor-in-chiof, who had ap-
proaohod iVoni tho wost and had ])itoho<l his
tont on a rising" lironinl * coniniandinu tho town,
obsoi'Nod tho snhstantial wall ot" tho (lonoral
Hospital, and mistaking it for a militarv ramparl
oommandod his artillorv to placo thomsolvosin
position tor its immodiato dostrnotion. Dnring'
this aotion a yonnu' soldior rushod from tho
ranks and boldly a[)[)roa('hod tho (Jonoral,
implorinji' him not to firo on tho snpposod
* On this rising ground ji wall fencing off the grounds
of the Grand Seminai'y from Sherbrooke-street contains
a marble slab with the following inscription:
" This Tablet is erected to commemorate the encamp-
ment, near this site, of the British army under Major-
General Sir Jeffrey Amherst, 'and the closing event of
the conquest of Cape Breton and Canada, by the surren-
der of Montreal, and with it, ' La Nouvelle France.' "
September 8, 1760.
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LIFK OF M"^• I) VOUV[LLK.
stronjiliold, \vhi(;h, he said, was a religious
house where he and his comrades had not onlv
lieen sheltered, hut treated with tiie j^reatest
kindness. General Amherst ordered (ive or six
of his officers, of whom several could speak
renc
h, to
)rocee(
I at
once
to th(
e suoDoseu in-
trenchment and ascertain the truth or fals '-
hood of the soldier's tale.
M''*' d'Vouville welcomed thesi> uentlemen
with her usual courtes\ . conducted them
throujih the hosj)ital. and even into the com-
munitv room where refreshments were ])re-
pared for their reception. Tlie officers, after
l)artakin<i of the hospitality offered them, went
awav, as a Canadian writei- tells u?
filled
th respect I'or M'"'" (rVouville and her com-
W.1
uuuutv
The followiiiu: dav, Septembei" S. 17()0, the
Manpiis de Vaudreuil. seeinii' Mtnitreal sur-
rounded hv a formidable armv and havinir no
adecpiate means of resistance, in order to avoid
needless bloodshed and destruction of ])ro])erty.
wisely a«rreed to a capitulation, by which Can-
ada passed from the rule of the French Kinj:
to that of the English Monarch.
The veneral>le bishop. Mgr. de Pontbriand.
did not live to behold the consunnnation oi'
events which might have seemed to presage
the total ruin of his diocese and adopted country.
LIFK OF M"^: I) VOUVILLE
JlU-
mm.
In of
itrv.
Tlie \ ear provioufs. he had l)eeii driven l>v the
rongli h)gi(' of the eannon hall from liis pahiee
at (iuel)ee, and had seen his eathedral re(hi('ed
to ashes hv the hondjs of an invading arniv.
After these cahunities. His Lordsliip songlit a
retreat in the resicUMiee of the Snipicians ad-
joining the })arish chnrch of Montreal, where,
far from his native land and weighed down l)y
sorrow and anxietv, vet surronnded hv the con-
solations of religion and those that the warm-
est and most respectful friendshi]) could hestow,
he hreathed out liis sotd to Clod on the Sth oi'
J
nne
ITC.O.
A few months j)revious to the fall of (^uid)cc.
tlie sisters lost theii* venerable foumler. Sinci'
17')-), M. Noruiant. owing to l)odily iiitirinities,
had heen unahle to direct the <'()mmunity. and
the late Hishoj) had named M. MontgoHicr to
fnltil this duty. M. Normant's death took place
on
the hStliof June. I 7-V.I. His remain
s were
interred under the choii" of the parish (rhurch.
The sisters, as a mnrk of lilial aft'ection. uavc
to h
us ol)se<(uies a pomp lii
thert
o unknown ni
Canada. His remembrance is still kept alive
in the comnuinity hy the observance of his
patronal feast which occurs on August liotli,
d bv one of the sisters alwavs bearinu' his
an
reveied name
I
CHAPTER XII.
The conquest of Canada by the English which at first
appears disastrous proves eventually beneficial.
The cojK^uest of the coiiiitrv hv the Knjilish
seeiuc'.l 11 terriljle disastei' to the good ( ■auadian
])eople. For those who remained in Cana(hu it
was a .severe bU)\v to see many of the best and
noblest families and indivichials (kdermine, at
no matter what sacrifiec. to leave the land of
their adoption rather tlian snbmit to foreiii'n
-rather than exehaime their allejiianci'
rnk'
from the Bourbons to the Guelphs. Thev natu-
rally feared that the English (Jovernment
wouhl al>olish the French language and laws,
and nught even burden the Catholies witii
sucli disabilities as woidd eventually extinguish
the faith. Tlie lo.ss of so uiiuiy relatives and
friends achled to the l)itternuss of these i)ainful
forebodings.
LIFE OF MiK 1) YOUVILLE.
M^** d'Youville, at this time, writes to si
friend : " It is a great alHiction for iis to sei'
this unhappy eonntrv l)econun«i- more and more
abandoned. All the good citi' iis are depart-
ing. On cverv side there are larevvells to rela-
tives, friends and henefaetors, witii no h()])e
of ever seeing them again. Nothing can he
sadder. Each dav hrinjrs new sacrifices."
She writes of another on the eve of hei-
leavinu' Canadii : '* We lose her for ever. It is
several days since I went to see her or her
family. I shall not call till I know she has
embarked, for I feel unable to sa\ adieu. When
she is gone, I will do my best to console her
father and mother, her brothers and sisters;
but I fear her departure will be a terril)le
grief to the family. I must stop, — my tears
blind me." •
She writes to one of the benefactors of tlie
liospital : '" As I have not the courage, on the
eve of vour departure, to call and wish vou
farewell and thank you, allow me to express in
writing not only my own gratitude but that
of our comnnuiitv towards vou. We can never
forget vour kindness and charity ; nor shall we
omit to offer our humble prayers to God for
vour safety. I trust vou will write to us and
uive us the address of your new abode."
To (me of her nieces she writes: '"Let
us
wm
74
LIFE OF .Mi>^- I) VOUVILLK,
not Speak oi' the sadness of ])arting, l)nt rather
let us la))()r to meet in paradise where oiir
union will be forever. All our sisters send
you thousands of jiood wishes. Sister Despins.
especially, has just come in her large-hearted
way to heji' I may not forget to send -you hers.
The ladies, also, wish to he kindlv remem-
hered. "
To the Al)h»' de Tlsle Dieu she writes: "■ Pray
to God for me that 1 may have the strenLitii to
hear all these crosses with resignation and to
turn them to the best account. Thev are, in-
deed, manv — the loss of our Kinir, our countrv,
our goods, ami worse than all, the danger to
which our holy religion is now expose<l. "
It was not strange that a chinigo of rule,
which under (lods providence, proved event-
ually so Ijenelicial to Canada, should have been
unwelcome to the colonists, or that they
should have so uuich dreaded becoming sub-
jects of (Ireat Britain. Thev had before their
eyes the sufferings of the Irish people. They
could not forget — the event was then compara-
tively recent — how the treaty of Limerick,
for which the honor of the British Crown had
been j)ledge(l. was shamefully broken; how
King William's royal promise to protect Irish
Catholics in the liberties they had enjoyed
under the vStuarts iuid been violated; h(>w, in
LIFK OF M""-- I) VOUVILLE.
<•)
spite of soloimi troiitv. the Irirth inid heeii driv-
en from tlieir own ])arli;imeiit, mihI in tiieir
absL.iee, the penal eo(h' and other unjnst stat-
utes ])assed l)v wliich theii- i)roperty was. in
sonie eases, eonfiseated. in others, rendered
totally insecure: how industry had been an-
niiiilated. religion ])r()serihed. tlie I'lhieation of
their children proiiihited. These were facts
wincli. at the time ol' the con<|uest. could not
he easily ovt'ilookcd. and which had l)een made
ohvious hy tlu' numhcr of li'ish Catholics who
continually souj^ht refnu'e in France from the
])ersecution tliey were snhjccted to in their
native land.
The FiULilish. however, did not treat Canada
as they had treated Ireland. On the contrary,
justice and lairness marked the ))()licy of the
iJritish (rovernment toward the con(|uei'e(l
colony.
When once convinced of the sincerity of
FiUiiland's comluct. the (Jamulians accepted the
situation and pledged fealty to the Enjilish
thr(»ne. '• Fear God and honor the Kin,u"was
the olden nitjxim of these devoted (diildren of
the Church, and events were soon to pro\'c
them faithful to it. in 177'). the Anu'rican
colonies revolted against the Mothei" ('ountry.
and s[)ent every temptation and inducement
to incite the Canadians to join them. The
^ip
7.6
LIFE OF MnK 1) YOUVILLK.
groat Beujumin Franklin discovL'red, after
lonji; months of intrigne, that hin nioHt Hubtle
endcaA'ors to hri})e or charm were impotent
against the inflnence and anthority that the
Canadian clergy bronght to bear on the popn-
lation. Allegiance to England was maintained
unshaken. Where lilandishments failed, force
was resorted to and the conquest of Canada
determined upon by the very men whose motto
was Freedom and Liljerty. History tells us
how the Canadian people followed the advice of
their clergy and stood firm in their allegiance ;
how thev enlisted in the armv and navy of
England and jissisted in repelling the invaders.
When the Heur-de-lise standards ceased to
Hoat from the turrets and towers of Canada,
when the Hag of Old P]ngland met the gaze of
the French colonists manv a heart was touched
with fear for the faith that was dearer to them
than even France and the French tongue. But
the wavsof God are wonderful. What seemed
to human foresight to be the omen of danger,
perhaps of persecution, proved to be deliver-
ance and salvation. A dire epoch befell France.
The Reign of Terror stalked from one end of
the land to the other; torch and sword did
sinister work ; religion and social order lay
under a dark and blood v shroud. Horrors sue-
LIFE OF >ff"; I) VOUVILLK.
77
ceeded upon liorror.s. — all vvms alMHiiinatioii
and desolation.
Had the (yaiiadiaiis not heon cut ofV tVom
France, thov would not have escaped a share of
the pitiful misfortunes that convulsed tht^ mo-
ther country. As it was. thev enioved tran-
(juillitv and prosperity. It does not enter into
the scope of our biography to dise'uss the con-
ciliatory measures a(lo])ted l>y the English in
their treatment of Canada; we |)refer citing
the following extract from the sermon pro-
nounced at the funeral of Mgr. liriand, in 1704.
expressing the sentiments of the Canadian
pe()))le at this time : "" It seemed vain to ex[)ect
that our conquerors who were strangers to our
country, our language, our laws, our customs
and our faith, could give to Canada what it lost
hy changing allegiance. Generoiis nation I thou
hast taught us heyond ])()ssihility of douht that
our fears were groundless. Tudustrious nation I
thou hast made our land teem with the riches
locked u]) in its hosom. Henevolent nation I
thou givest daily new proof of kindness to our
Canada. No, no, ye are not the enemies of
those whom your laws protect, nor of oui* faith
which you have respected I We ask you to
forget our early mistrust : oui- people had not
\ (.
t 1
earned
to 1
Know vou.
CIIAPTKH Xlir.
Poverty of the colony after the conquest. — Md«' d'You-
ville undertakes the care of foundlings. — A miracu-
lous incident.
" From 11 f^pii'ituiil point of view, " M'*'' d' You-
villo tells lis in oiio ot'hor letters," the ('on(|uest
has not heeu detriniental to Canada, as th
British Government wiselv avoids any direct
intert'erenee with religion; hut in things tem-
poral there is mneh snlt'ering. The English
neither hnrt us nor help us. It is hai'd to find
a living. Money is extremely scarce and we
cannot earn anvthing. . . /Phere is now no
work to be done and the [)oor ai'e more numer-
ous than ever. We wish to help them hut have
not the means. 1 trust divine Providence may
come to our aid. "
A war of six or seven vears duration had
impoverished (Canada ; a great many ot" the
L
1,1 TK nr \\uv. I) VdlVII.I.K
79
IK'St
i th
lireet
toiu-
lish
Uml
1 wc
n«>
uncM-
havo
niiiv
\vm\
)[' the
NVL'iiltliv class Id"! the ('i>I()n\ ; and tluassist-
{inco roniicrlv iri'aiitcd l)\' tlic Krciirli Kinu
was at an imkI. TIius. tlu' rovt'iincs of tlic coii-
vt'ut, wliicli holorc tlic t'oiKiucst had boon sixtv
thousand liviTs. had laUen to nine thousand.
Thf othcM" j'ldigions conniuinitics also snll'ci'cd
to SMch an I'xtcMit that the nnns ol" tln' Ilotid-
Diou had rcsolvod to k'avo Cainida. The sisters
at Laval were I'eadv t<! rcceise thcni. and a
rich merchant. M. llcrx . had oft'crcd to |)a\ tin*
cxpen.ses of removal to France. M. Montirolller,
as Vicar-General, superior of the Seminary
and of the dill'erent comnumities of nuns at
Montreal, and as Seignior, did not wish to lose
a h()d\' of I'eligious so usid'ul to the colony,
and explained to them the uood they miuht
(h) hy remaininii:. His advice tlecided them
not to abandon the post to whicdi (Jod seeme«l
to have called them. In these unha]»])y straits,
M*'*' d' Vouville's si)irit ol' /eal and charity ap-
})eared rathei" to increase than to diminish.
What at })resent distressed her more than all
olse, was the total absence of that cai'e formerly
bestowed on foundliuiis or abandom'd <'hildren.
Up to a comparatividy recent date, the Seign-
iors, as head functionaries ha\ inu' the li^ht to
administer Justice m their respective ^I'luii-
iories, ^vere ol)liged to provide for the siqjport
of foundlings ; I)ut since lG'.t4, when jurisdiction
so
MKK OK M'"-: I) VOUVILLE.
oviM* tilt* Islimd of Moiiti'cal had l)t*eii aHHiiiiicd
l)V tln' Krt'iu'li (howii. tlu' latter had made
j»r<)vi.si<>n lor those iiiiroi'tiiimtcs. At'tor the
couijiK'st, howovt'i', the Kiijiilisli Kinji did not
led inclined to accept this char;:^e, espei'ially as
the social demoralization and extreme misery
•
into which u portion of the ])opuIation had snnk
(lin'nii'' the wai
th
had
nwicli increased
tl
le nuin-
her of ahandoned children. M''"' d' Voiiville's
compassionate heart was rent at the thoiijiht
that these little helpless ones shonld he nejj;-
lected, and she had lon<i' felt an earnest desire
to l)ecome their i)rotectress. One winter dav
as she crossed over the brook which Howed
past the walls of the convent, she perceived to
her horror the hodv of a fro/en infant Ivin}"' on
the snow, — the knife with which it had been
mnrdered still sticking in the throat, and its
little hands raised as if imploring Heaven's
vengeance on so teri'ible a crime.
Moved bv this tonching spectacle, M'''d'Yon-
ville felt that is was crnelty on her part not
to snccoi' tiiese helpless and abandoned bal)es.
When it became evident that the Enulish
Government would not burden itself with this
task. M''" d'Youville consulted M. MontgolHer
and her com])anions, and though beset In-
countless difficulties, she determined to under-
take this crowning work of charitv.
»'"r
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LIKE OF M"K I) VOUVILLE.
SI
At the vary coiuinonceinent of the work
M**" d' Yoiiville received ji small subsidy. M.
Montgolfier npplied (Septeiiilier, 17(»0,) to Gen-
eral Ga«j;e, then Governor of Montreal, for his
j(pi)r()val and assistance in earryinji' out this
work. That olHcial not onh' readilv accorded
the former, but even granted the ctmvent all
fines exacted for any infracticm of the laws.
These courts were merelv courts-martial, and
were soon afterwards su])erseded by civil tribu-
nals. Under the latter, the fines were no longer
allotted to the convent, nor was any other
provision made by which pu])lic aid might be
given to this important work. Thus, the Grey
Nuns are, it is said, the first persons in Amer-
ica, to undertake without any remuneration,
this (merous, and hunuinly speaking, ungrateful
ministration.
Two months before her death, M'"'' d'You-
ville wrote to the Governor General, Sir Guv
Carleton, then in England: " Fearing to be
unable, from want of resources, to continue this
good work (care of the foundlings), I beg you
will do me the honor of using your inMuence
in its behalf, with His Majesty, to o))tain a
grant for the sui)port of those little unfortunates.
You can easily imagine, Sir, what cruelties may
be committed by persons wishing to bury their
«hame with their children. 1 am sure thi^s
82
LIFK Ol" MI>^■ I) VnrV I FJ.E.
consideration alon(? luiist maki' a deep im-
pression on a heart sol'iill of pitv and so chari-
table as yours.* 1 h<^pe von will not rei'use me
this tjivor."
The Eniilish (lovernment declined, however,
to grant any assistance.
A P'rench writer remarks: '' (iod. without
doubt, permitted that it should be so, in order
thtit it miirht be impossible to alli-ibule to
liuman jiinencv the continuance of a work of
which He willed llimsell'to be the S!)le sui)porl.
It is certain, at least, that il' M''" (rVouville
undertook the cl)ar_ii'e. ii". over and above the
other works in whicii she was enuaiicd. she
never once refused a IbuiuUing. . .and edu-
cated them till they weiv old enoujih to
earn their liviuii:, it was because of her con-
fidence in that ever merciful Father, Who, she
believed, hud ins])ii'ed her to undei'take this
work, and Who she believed would not allow
it to perish." +
The followinii' incident will sIk)W how well
founded was her confidence :
One of the nurses to whom a dollar of her
wages was yet due, applied for payment to M'''
d'Youville, at the time in the company of one
* Sir Guy Carleton was highly esteemed by the
Cana'^ians.
t Life of M'l'' d'Youville, Villemarie, 1852, page 192.
MFK (>K M'": I) VOL'VILLK.
S3
his
e
n
lu'V
OIU'
of till' sisters. M'"'' (T Yoiivilk' knew si le liiid oiiiv
that one dolhii' renuiining, yet thon^ht she \v;is
bound in jnstiee to juiy what wasdue the nurse.
Puttinji- her hand int(^ her jxx'ket to pull out
the i'e((uire(l sum, what was not her surprise to
find several other dollars besides, whieh she felt
eonvineed no human hand had [)hice(l there. A
dee]) sentiment of i^ratitude followed the first
f'eelini!: of astonishment, and a renewed eonfi-
denee in (joiTs overruliuir providence.
M'^'^d'Youville. past all doubt, uu't with e\-
traordinarv difficulties in carry inji' out so many
<diaritable works, and tliouiih a lai'ire sum of
mone\ due to her in France vet remained
unpaid.* and thoULih. as we shall see in the
followinu' cha])ter, fire I'educed the (leueral
nos])ital to a heap of ashes, she never once
refused to Uxkv an unfortunate little waif. Be-
fore the end of 1 7()2, she had already received
thirty-five; and up to the present time, the
Grev Nuns have succored considerablv over
thirtv thousand foundlin'''s.+
* Life of M>l' cl'Youville, Villemarie, 1852, page 197
and following.
t Up to April 13, 1895, the number of foundlings
received in the Grey Nunnery of Montreal amounted
to 30, 248.
CHAPTER XIV.
The General Hospital destroyed by fire. — What furni-
ture was saved from the destructive element carried
off by robbers. — The community and poor say the Te
Deum. M"l<' d'Youville's prediction that the General
Hospital will not be again destroyed by fire.
Ill tilt' hist chapter wc alluded to the fire
which on May IS, 17r)-3. after hm-iiing a coii-
siderahle portion of the town, reached the
General Hospital and reduced it, its clinrch and
siirroundiiiji' buildings to ashes.
It was al)oiit two o'clock of the afternoon
when the lire broke out in a building on the
corner of St. Francis-Xavier and St. Sacrament
Streets. The wind was liijili and the neighbor-
ing houses were soon in a blaze. — The fire
spread along St. Paul Street till it reached
St. Peter Street which, as our readers are
aware, led to the gate-way of the Hospital.
When the first alarm reached the convent.
M'*^ d'Yoiiville, in her anxietyto render what
LIFE OF M^E I) YOUVILLE.
85
lOOll
i\\v
unit
tirc
lied
arc
itiil.
kcnt,
wliiit
assistance she could despatched the sisters
and all who could he mustered to help extin-
«^uish the llames, or at least to aid in saving;
the good- and hehnigiings of the victims. In
giving an account of what luid occurred, she
wrote : " The fire broke out about ten arpents
(upwards of a (juarter of a mile) from the con-
vent, and we were fully two arpents (about
four hundred feet) from the nearest houses
of the town. Besides, I felt sure God would
preserve an hospital, the home of the poor.
Thus, seeing no need to take any extraordinary
])recautions, I sent to the scene of danger all
who I thought could render any assistance, —
both men and women.''
While, in obedience to M*'*' d'Youville's
wishes, these willing helpers were wholly
taken up in this work of charity, the flames
made continual headwav. Suddenly, what was
their horror when a shout went up from the
crowd that the General Hospital was in danger.
I5y this time probably a hundred houses were
al)laze. The breeze, (piickened by the intense
heat, had become a gale, and carried the sparks
far to leeward, where thev fell on the drv
cedar shingles of the convent and church. The
sisters hurried back to the hospital, but reached
it onlv in time to see the roof one sheet of fire.
It was too late to make anv eftbrt to extin-
86
LIFE OF M^E D YOUVILLE.
}»ui.sli the tiaine.s, so they set to work to carry
out all that could he saved t'roiu the couHa-
j»Tation. Several persons eauie with carts, under
pretence of assistinji' them ; this was a mere
artifice — thev were rohhers who made oft' with
forty londs of linen, l^eds and other furniture
that were never recovered. The other chattels
were carried from the burning house by the
sisters and the poor; but the spot selected in
the hurrv and excitement of the moment to
deposit them being the lee-side and too near
the hospital, they were in great part destroyed
in spite of all the attempts made to save them.
In referring to this afterwards, M''*' d'You-
ville writes: "'The greater part of what we
had was placed on the lee-side and there con-
sumed. A large bale of good clothing and
more than twentv chests were burned not far
from the door."
To M**^' d'Youville's great joy, however,
among the objects saved were the picture of
the Eternal Fatheu, which had been lirought
from France at the time of M. Normnnt's illness,
and the little brass statue of Our Lady, of which
we have already made mention in speaking
of M*^® d'Youville's early Avork for the poor.
It was M. de Feligonde, chaplain of the com-
munity, aided by one of the sisters, who
LIFE OK M"*: I) VOUVILLE.
s:
Hucceeded hi reHCiiing the picture .so deur to
iW« d'Youville.
A nun who acted as sacristan was tohl ))\
■
M*'" d'Youville to carrv the church linen to a
«
certain phice. but carried it to another where
it was l)urned. The poor sister was inconsohihle
over the loss, attributing it chiellv to her own
disobedience, tor, had she removed it to the
place indicated, it would have been saved.
M'*" d'Youville says in one of her letters:
'' It blew a gale, so that in less than two hours
upwards of a hundred houses in the town
were destroyed In an extremely short
time, our convent as well as all the buildings
on Pointe a Callieres * and those behind our
* This point or piece of land, jutting out into the
river is of a triangular form, the apex being to the east
or down stream, the base towards the site cf the old
General Hospital ; the St. Lawrence bounding it on the
south and the brook St. Peter on the north, forming
each a side of the triangle.
It was here Champlain landed in 1611 and gave it the
name of Place Royale, and here M. de Maisonneuve
built a fort in 1642, sufficiently spacious to shelter himself
and the whole of his little colony. They lived there, in
perfect harmony, for eleven years.
This is also the spot on which the Holy Sacrifice was
first celebrated by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus.
The fort being demolished some years afterwards,
M. de Callidres, named Governor of Montreal in 1684,
chose it as the site of his residence.
On the same point of land stood the large square stone
building once a Custom-House, and, more to the south-
S8
1,1 1'K or M'>K I) voirviLi.K.
•garden were destroyed ; ho tluit on all (lie iin-
niense piece of land tliere remained only our
mill and uranarv. Had it been anticipated
that the fire would si)re!id ho tar, we could have
saved the jireater porticm of our l)elongings;
but the distance was so great that we thought
ourselves in naletv. We have los*^ our furni-
ture, clothing, linen and beds. I feel sure we
have not saved the twelfth part of what we
had. What escaped belongs principally to the
church. God has ho permitted it — may His
holy name be praised."
Indeed, the building and its furniture were
(juite secondary objects. Tlie moment there had
been an appearance of danger, M''*' d'Youville's
attention was coni])letely occupied in having
the infirm poor and the little foundlings car-
ried to a place of safety within the enclosure.
M''" d'Youville seeing all these poor people, of
whom she was the guardian, and herself and
the nuns suddenly deprived of a shelter, must
have felt deeply anxious about the future ; but
she had learned to put entire confidence in
God, and repeated the words of holy Jol) : '*• The
west, the fine modern edifice, with its tower, now used
for that purpose. The open space in front of the former,
has of late received the old name, PJace Royale instead
of that of Custom-House Square by which it was known
for so many years.
mmmmmm
Wi
wm
m^
INCKNLIt: DK I. II'."P|TAI, CKNl'.HAI,
Miv r/i/ii/i/.'' ///>//.' fi//// /.'.I /iii/rr I'f !r (|i dill i' i/r/itii/.r /imir
it//irn/<r IMIJ (/]■ /// //n/rr t/// 1/ i>ic/i/ f/r /Nu/y f//;iii//rr
[
um »jr >i"K ft'vouvif.i.K.
hV'
Lorttv;:»vo Hjut the Loi\l !.. U taken ovvhv; u.^
it halh j)leaK<iil the hhvd >m> it is dutm : U\e^mu\
}ii) the nunnM)!' thr Loni ' * Hh< llioii ii!vir»Ml
tlie honu'U'K-^ out'.- to ju.»i fur in .suyia;^ ti-t'
Tk I)ki .h nu thvii' k..ov ~ K\ rii!ntk«>jiviiij-' lu?
thU IK? w VI. Vita I ion. ()iih«;uM>.r thi" ivMjtu-it.
j?u>v(nn«Mii (u-ii'ci M'lit : *" ^'<'^ ,/'' /' '■ ilh»" •/'•^
7/> Dfiims ' ■' Vt\s. Dl .-^Hv 'iV Dciini}- tor ;-oii.
iiidciMl ! '"I'-r) iimi.'Mii;t.t«'l . i •'<■«>'! h' tt 'uii£ Ucv-
xeif. rtlio l(r*'i Mil hiM- kM'.M'>>. ;in.l jnim-tl. h<'r /cc.mI
Jiiothor, her si^stiM's .lud the- jhmh- m: j>^l„'^il!>i
v<>eie IVour 'wf k^-i-s*- ■ *■« ,i-»!'v* •-•-'■',> ■■jii 11**::*^
veuinrkuhU VvriS.- ' 'S'-^ li'^ • *:^^ :"^/' '"JOv-
!»;:(:'; our h;'U;<f wiM (!<*v..r .i-r v ;>»-» *^: -■Jv- I-* 1
by hrc,"
This pnuliotion ii:js, ;:!> t.. Utc j-n-^^^vt i^^i»»
htiiui woiiderl'iill i li'ihlUMl.
'^ Job, eh. V. 24-
k*- -.
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M
LFFK OF MRK ]) \'0\JVUA.E.
89
y^-
Lord ^Mve and the Loiri hath takoii away; as
it hath plca.sed the Lord so it is done : hlessed
l)e the name of the Lord."* She then invited
the homeless ones to join her in sayinj:' the
Tk Dkum on their knees in thanksgiving for
this new visitation. On hearing tliis reqnest,
one of the sisters carried away hy a natnral
movement cried out : *' Otd, jc fe)i d'wal dr-s
Te Dennis ! '' Yes. I'll sav Te Dennis for vou,
indeed! Then immediately recollecting her-
self, she fell on her knees, and joined lier good
mother, her sisters and the [)oo;* in praig'ng
God. Nature had struggled for a moment, hut
grace trium])hed.
At the end of the prayer, M'''' d'Youville
rose from her knees and pronounced these
remarkahle words: '' My children, take cour-
age; our house will never again he destroyed
l)y fire."
This prediction has. up to tlie present time,
heen wonderfully fullilled.
* Job, ch. V. 24.
CHAPTER XV.
The Grey Nuns cand their poor kindly received at the
H6tel-Dieu. — The General Hospital rebuilt. — Liberal
aid given by the Seminary and others. — The citizens
of London subscribe. — Striking examples of God's
providence.
The afternoon was now well advaneed, and
]y[de d'Youville had vet to find .shelter for over
a hundred houseless people,* some of them
very infirm. '
After consulting the sisters it was decid-
ed to occupy the house and other liuildings at
Point St. Charles. They were about to carry
out this resolution when their kind superior,
M. Montgolfier, appeared on the scene. That
good Father had jirranged with the Daughters
of St. Joseph for their reception at the Hotel-
Dieu, and M. de Feligonde, their chaplain, was
to accompany them.
• The community numbered at this time 119 persons.
LIFE OF M""-' I) VOUVILLE.
Ill
Ah this long and motley procession passed
tlirouiii-li the streets it met with the utmost
compassion from the people. Some were even
seen to weep at the sight of so much misery.
When this homeless tlock reached the Hotel-
Dien, then situated on St. Paul Street, they
were received — we need hardlv sav — with
uftectionate sympathy ))y the Daughters of St.
Joseph. jVP*^ d'Youville and her conipanions
were lodged in the infirmary, and the poor in
the Salle Kovale.
The night that followed such a dav of fatigue
and excitement was far from ])eing a peaceful
one. Upwards of fifty barrels of gun powder
are said to have exploded in the town, and,
unfortunately, several persons were killed and
others wounded. M^*^ d'Youville writes: ''On
hearing these exjjlosions we thought (jur last
hour had come. Indeed, 1 look on it as prov-
idential that the whole town was not de-
stroyed."
The night KUed with so manv alarms wore
at last to morning, and the nuns rose early
that they might have the consolation of recei^ •
inix their dear Lord in the llolv Sacrament of
the altar.
Although the Sisters of St. Joseph were
themselves much crippled in means, they pro-
vided for their unexpected guests at their own
U2
LIFE OK M»K n VOUVILLE
expense till the Sisters of the Congregation of
Notre-Dame and the Seminary of St. Siilpice
eould organize assistance. The conmninity was
divided into several gronps : the sisters and a
nnmber of the poor — all the women and some
men — remained in the Ilotel-Dien; the other
old and infirm men were lodged some in the
lumse at Point St. Charles and some in the
granary. Of those who occupied the Hotel-
Dieu, M. Satin in his Life of M*"- d'Youville
savs: " Thev remained in the Hotel-Dieu for
the space of about seven months. They had
what was barely necessary, and that was all
they wished for. Far from desiring comfort,
they rejoiced in the thousand privations which
uave them greater libertv of heart and mind
and rendered union with God the easier."
These dispositions which are ever so agree-
able to God were ru)t without their reward.
What we are going to relate is so singular that
one cannot help perceiving an invisible hand
extended to protect the community. After the
fire, a barrel about two-thirds full of common
wine was found in one of the vaults. Not only
had it received no damage, but the (quality was
judged nnich improved. During their stay at
the Hotel-Dieu M^'*' d'Youville had it drawn as
necessity required. The .barrel soon became
so empty that the stream ran to the thinness
LIFE OF MOK D VOUVILLK.
!»:;
of a straw. The si.ster whoso duty it was to
draw tlio wiiu* int'ornied tho Superior, and iii-
((iiirod whether she slioiihl contiiiiie. "(Jontimie,
witliout
ceasiiiu" was the answer, and slie (
lid
eoutinue as usual (hii'ing tlie space of two
months and a halt', that is from the last day
of 8e[)tenil)er till I)ec:emher 1-jth, when they
left the llotel-Dien.
In s})ite of the poverty of the eountry at this
time, espeeially at Montreal where the lire had
impoverished a jireat niiiny families, the people
did what thev conld to rebuild an institution
w
liicli
1 iu)W enjoyed the greatest pubhe sym-
pathy. Handsome subscriptions were sent from
London. Even the })()or Indians of (Jauuhna-
wagti and Lake of Two Mountains ofl'ered trink-
ets of silver, blankets, knives and, indeed,
evervthiuir thev could afford.
15efore the winter set in, that ])oi'tioii of the
house intended for the infirm men was com-
pleted, and with two sisters to take care of
them, they took up their abode in the new hos-
pital on the 2ord of Sei)tember, ITG").
M'*'" d'Youville pressed the work forward
with her customary energy. She writes m
ITOG : " After much ])ain and anxiety, we were
able in December to take possession of a i)art
of our new" house: the comnuuiity, the poor
of both sexes, the foundlintrs and the boarders.
94
LIFE OF Mi'K I) VOUVILLK.
f
Wo have been very much aided by the geii-
tleinen of St. Sulpice."
The reinaijiing hiiihliiig.s were not complet-
ed till 1707. The new church waw solemnh
«
blessed on the 30th of August of that year.
The following incident we record in M. Sa-
tin's own words: " One day, two of the sisters
went to M'*** d'Youville's room on particular
business. After a few moments she said to
them: " I have a dollar which I wish to dis[)ose
of as 1 do not like to carrv monev." Searching
in her pocket, she drew forth not o//^, as she
expected, but a handful of dollars; and instinct-
ively, as it seemed, examining the other
pocket, she took out a second handful of dollars
and laid them on the table with the first.
Overcome by emotion, M"^ d'Youville raised
her eyes to heaven and joining her hands cried
out: " ^l/« .' inoii Dien, je 81118 une niis^rahle ! ''
My God ! how unworthy I am !
\:-
m^ -I
:-4 Si
if<
4
'«;s^jSte*:V^^',
J;^^^''
f '*«S
'.«.^-''
'>'?i.'^,'5%J^
Wo hfiTo
■i't'
■ mich uidfHi hy tlie geu-
; (g buikiiugs were not coinpift-
rii« new church w:w Ho)euii»l,y
, ,. i;u JOdi of Augnst of that .year.
^,... Mlowijtig incid«ji$t W4j mrord in M. Sa-
' ^ tWtt words: '' Due day, two «(* the>idters
;fc to M'^* d'YoiivHIe'jj Tcw^n da jmrticviliir
. ;4me»8. After a few immwiitrfs rth«i said to
Uijm : " I liave a dollar which I vvkh tc» di.Mpoye
t as 1 do not J) kf Ui mvry money." Seuvohiiig
m her pocket, she drew forth not one, hm she
expected, bijtii htindful of doUarj^; and instiuct-
ivety, m it seemed, exaniiniug the otlier
po<rketv nhc took out a i>=ecoiKl handfid of doihu'!<
ai^d laid them on the table with the urst.
^ivercouie by emotirm. M^*'' d'Youvjlle raised
her eyes to heaven utid joii\int>; her hanils ei ie<l
out : *^ Ah 1 in<m DieUy jn mm nne nm^nt^^ifi ! ''
My Gods how unworthy I am!
/-.cciSTANCt. MiHAruii' ;:r
<m1
iil^^^fttSfeS4*^S»
// . h'iii'iii,- if, '.■///, r ,;,,'!i/n.u- ,/,,■/■.■/> //i :,■/■,■ ,•.■,■■,•,//.:• ■/;//,/
I ///ril.'t'Wi','/,' '■/'//'//!.■ ,/v/'./. /// /W/// /'/.// ,/■ -V' v'.v.'.' /li/iVfu/ i/r
/ ,/7ir/r' i/lt ii' tin il <r/l/lir
"^■■rw— ^ ■ II
(JHAPTKH XVr.
M<ie (I'Youville acquires the Seigniory of Chfl,teauguay
on which she builds a grist mill. She constructs a large
two-story house at Point St. Charles. —Account of
the different buildings at Isle St. Bernard, etc.—
The income of the General Hospital was, an
we have shown, ureatlv diminished bv the
con([uest. The emigration I'nrther reduced the
value of landed property, especially the great
estates which had been granted by the kings
of France under a noble tenure. It was one of
the conditions of the treatv that the estates of
those Caiuidians who refused to r^ecome British
subjects were to be disposed of within eighteen
months, or else Avere to be confiscated bv the
English Crown.
^jde d' Youville had already in the year of the
cession conceived the project of permanently
tMi
MFK OK M"" I) VOUVILLK.
i'lidowinji' her work tor tht* poor l)y the pui'-
chase of .some ol' thin lauded j)roperty at the
reduced |)rice tor whieh it was theu selliufi'.
We are uuule aware of her views hv a h'tter
wliich .slie wrote ou Jauuary 2, I7l»5. to M.
Moutfioitier theu iu Krauce.
The estate whieli tiuallv atlra(tted M'''
d'Youville's atteutiou was the Sei^uiorv of
(;hate;>u.i:;uay, situated about tweuty miles froui
iMoutreal, ou the south shore of the St. Law-
reuce at Lake St. Louis. This uoble estate
coutaius a frontage of six miles ou the river hy
uiue uiiles in depth. It had been ori^iujdly
granted, iu 1(>7«), to M. Lemoiue de Lougueuil.
one of whose sous bore the name of Chateau-
guay, and, in 17(M), was sold to the family Ro-
butel de Lanoue. At the time of whieh we
w^rite, this seigniory had become the property
of M"'' de Lanoue bv a deed of ce.ssiou from her
brother who had returned to France.
This hidy was one of M^'" d'Youville's board-
ers. She offered her tlie 'istate on verv easv
terms: a certain auu)unt t'> be paid iu casli and
a life rent wliich M"" d-j Lanoue only wished
to receive in so far as it was necessary for her
support.
In order to raise the sum required for this
purchase, M''^ d'Youville obtained from the
King's representative, General Murray, per-
MKK or M'"^- l> VOCVII.LK.
\n
d
Hi
mission todisposi' ofa snnill sci^^niorv iind soiiu'
other liinds at Cliamldy iKdonuinj:' to tlic hos-
pital .
Howe VIM*, heloi'c the purcdiaso of the St»i«in-
iorv of (yhateau'iiiax coiihl he eomoU'ted hv
the sij^iiatiii'e ol'the |>arties. the hospital was
Imnied to the ;:roimd, Mav IS. I TCi'), "iid M'"''
d'Youville and her eoiminmitv were reihiced
to extreme (h'stitiition. Nevertheless, she con-
sidered hersidritound hv liei* promise. and trnst-
inji' to divine l*r(>videnee lor the Inllilment of
these engagements, on the Sth o!" .Inne. just
ei«iliteen da vs after the lire, she si^ined the deed
hy whieh the Seiiiiiiory of Chateangnuy and the
Isles a la l*aix in the »St. Lawrence weie ae-
qnired foi" her eonnnnnity and whieh have since
heen a source of considerahle revenue for the
(Jeneral Hospital.
It is true that this extensive estate possessed
no actual income, — it was little (dsi; than a
irreat unsettled and unhroken foi'est, and. in-
deed, renniined for some years, in spite of its
jireat prospective advantages, only acause of
outlay jind dilHculty.
To meet this new hurden. M'"'' d'Youville
entered on the work of im[)i'ovement and set-
tlement with her hahitual zeal and enerjrv.
She visited the estate fre([nently in all seasons,
and, {ilthouj»;h nearlv seventv \ears of ajie.
'n
98
LIKK OK MOK T) rOUVILTJ:.
pei'foruRul these laborious journeys in a sleigh
or a roui»h two-wheeled eart.
At that time, we need hardly say, there
were feAV tenants. The Manor-house,* a small
building elose to the water's edge, on the Isle
St. Bernard, was situated ))etween the location
of the ])resent convent and the (luay where
steamers now stop. Behind this little mansion,
she constructed, to su[)|)lements()me other build-
ings already eret^ted, a -^tone l)arn still in use.
To meet the re([uirements of the law, near
the small chateau was a wind-mill + where the
grain of the tenants was ground into tiour. The
latter was covered, in l(S()'j, with a dome-like
roof and remains a not unsiuhtlv relic of the
past.
One of A'F*' d'Youville's most im[)ortant im-
provements was the erection of a new grist-
mill for the use of her tenants; as they had
settled on the mainland, and the numor and
wind-mill, as we have seen, were on an island,
access Avas diificult for carts loaded with grain.
Fortunately, there existed excellent water-
power on the mainland of the seigniory. A
wooded and rocky promontory abont a mile
' The Manor-house built in wood measured 20x50 feet.
t Probably built soon after the proclamation of the
ordinance of July 4, 1686, obliging all seigniors to erect
mills within a year.
LIFE OF MDE d'yOUVILLE.
99
A
from the pronent village of Chriteauguay, where
a good Htreani, since called the river Chateau-
guay, ruiiH over a bed of boulders was admira-
bly adapted to become the site of a water-mill.
The stream at the place where it was necessary
to construct a dam was nearly four hundred feet
wide, ])ut the favorable nature of the ground
made the task of building it, considering the
magnitude of the undertaking, comparatively
an easv one.
The first thing was to clear the primeval
forest, and so great was the zeal of the sister
who directed the work that she insisted on
cutting down with her own hands Lhe first
tree, after the repeated invocation *' () (U'ti.i'
f/rr" to implore the divine assistance on what
must have appeared to these poor nuns so vast
an enterprise. A canal two hundred feet long
had next to be cut across the ])romontory to
receive the water ra^i'dd to a high level bv the
dam, to ccmduct it to r.be mill, and thence, when
it had acompusiied its work, (!arry it to the
lower reach of the stream below. The miil it-
self was solidly built of stone Ik sides tl.v, ji,iist-
mill, which the seignior was In' law obliged to
establish for his tenants, the nuns constructed
a saw-mill and added o:her industrial estab-
lishments.
The seigniory under thj nun^:' wise adminis-
100
LIFK OF M»K D YOUVILLE.
trjition,* increased rapidly in population. The
Hour mill was soon in eonstant demand to
grind the grain produced from the well-culti-
vated fields, and with the other industries,
became, in course of time, a source of consider-
able revenue to the General Hospital.
The mill Iniilt 1)y M^« d'Youville in 17G9.
stood till 18o*), when it was found necessary
to construct a new one. The engineer consult-
ed for the purpose was of the ()[)inion that no
better site could be found, although the couii-
try was then all cleared and surveyed, than
the forest lot selected three quarters of a cen-
turv before bv iVP'^ d'Youville. The new mill
was therefore l)uilt on the old site.
In IS-')!"), another grist-mill was constructed
higher up the stream, on the opposite bank,
and the old one was sold and subsequently con-
verted into an axe factory. It was burned some
years later, but the solid walls of masonry still
stand erect. Its line dimensi(ms, the striking-
spot ornamented by stately elm trees on which
it stands, the rush of broken waters no longer
retained bv dam or dike, give to the erstwhile
■'■■ It has often been remarked that whenever religious
are the lords of the manor, settlement takes place
rapidly, and the condition of the tenants is better than
that of those living under lay lords or superiors. (Vide :
"The Monastery " by Sir Walter Scott, and works by
other authors.)
LIFE OF Mr>K D YOUVILLE.
101
grist-mill, — especially as seen bv the travel-
ler from the high-way whieh follows the oppo-
site l)ank of the river. — a most pietures([iie
appearance.
To show how indefatigable were M'*'' d'You-
ville's labors for her conniuniitv' and the poor,
we may mention that she built al^ont this
time a large two-story stone house at Point
St. Charles for the Lil)orers on the farms of the
hospital and to })e used as a summer residence
for the iHins and other inmates of the convent.
But to return to the Isle St. Bernard and its
more recent liistorv. Three vears after M''''
dYouville's death, in 1774, a convent in stone
was erected ; it was rebuilt on the s:ime foun-
<lation in IcSol, and repaired in 1881, when a
beautiful chaj)el was also added. On the hill
behind stands a sunnner-house surmounted by
a jiiuantic crucilix.* From this summer-house
lile
* In 1832, the cholera was raging in Canada. R. P. Gre-
nier, then the parish priest of Chateauguay, ordered
public prayers and the erection of crosses in different
places in the parish to obtain the cessation of the epi-
demic. The sisters were among the first to comply with
the injunction.
The plain wooden cross of 1832 was replaced in 1854 by
the crucifix known to have surmounted the main altar
of the first parish Church in Montreal, and at the inau-
guration of which M'lt' d'Youville had assisted to im-
plore the cure of the infirmity (a sore knee), of which
mention has been made in this Life. The present crucifix
was placed in its stead in 1893.
102
TJKK OK MDK J) YOUVILLE.
there is an extensive view of ])otli shores of
the St. Lawrence, comprising a heantiful and
now well-settled country with its many towns,
villages and spires.
Adjoining the convent are neat farm build-
ings to garner the crops of the fertile fields
which the sisters have succeeded in putting
under culvation.
A little "'•■ llier uway is the presbytery or
priest's housr iho abode of a resident chaplain.
These wonderful results indicate that the
blessing of God has ])een with iVr'^ d'Youville
and her companions, that the holy work of
charity in which they are engaged, their spirit
of prayer, their mortified lives and self-denying
frugality in order to give to the poor, have
pierced the skies.
If one glass of water given in God's name is
not to be without its reward, how much more
must not the self-immolation of our good nuns
draw down God's blessing cm their work.
CHAPTER XVI r.
M»le d'Youville's virtues as described by M. S.atin.
M. Satin in his interesting Life of AP'" d'You-
ville say« : '' It was only a heart penetrated by
the niaxiniH of religion and formed in the
school of the Divine Master that could present
us with this picture of the most ardent zeal, the
tenderest and most generous aifection and per-
fect forgetfulness of self. None could better
appreciate M^'*' d'Youville's virtues than her
companions who had them constantly before
their eyes. But, although all the Christian
virtues were the object of her endeavors, nev-
ertheless, as in the case of other holy persons,
there were certain virtues she cherished in a
more remarkable degree and for the })ractice
of which she felt a greater attraction. Thus, it
was renuirked in this saintly woman how the
most critical and desperate circumstances
seemed only to revive and increase her confi-
104
LIFE OF M^K I) vnuviLLE.
(leiico ill God. This reliance had its source
in i'aitli so lively as to be exclusive of all,
even the slightest, doul)t or ap[)reheiisioii. In
moments of diflicultv she trusted calnilv and
with conhdence in God's providence ever at-
tentive to the requirements of His children.
" This perfect abandonment to Providence
produced a(lmiral)le sii))mission to whatever it
plejised God to ordain or to permit, however
contrary to her natural inclinations. Her favor-
ite 1 lax • was to submit to God in all advers-
ity. She dwelt ever on the retiection : ' It is
Gods ^ U; , ^ must sulmiit with a docile
heart.' '
"Not only the inmates of the convent, but
also all those who had occasion to meet her
were charmed with her courteousness and the
afl'abilitv of her manner.
*' Her charity made no exception of persons;
nevertheless, it was in behalf of the poor, whom
she had taken as her portion, that it was mani-
fested in an especial nuiniier. Besides taking
her share with her sisters in the daih' service
of the wards, like a tender mother towards her
children she visited the poor individuallv,
sympathized with the sufferings of the infirm,
and had always words of consolaticm to offer
them.
a
This charity w\as the more Jidmirable f(
)V
LITK OF ,M>"-- I) VOUVILLE.
[O'l
l<i-
Ijeiiiii' iiiiitod to perftH't piiticnt'e. Slie Ixtro
rohiills iiiul nideiR'ss without heedinji' tluMii or
she t'oinid excuse tor theui.
'■• When any of the sisters had recourse to hei*
in their tr()u))les, it was always Avith the tendei*-
est affection tluit she endeavored to console
them.
"The novices were to her as her own chil-
dren; she showed them on every occasion the
w'armest affection, and encouraged them in the
}>ractice of those virtues which belong- to the
state of life they had chosen.
•• M''"' (VYouville had nothing more at heart
than to maintain in her community the hne
and practice of ])()verty. Her food did not differ
in anything from that of her sisters and of
the poor. In dress she was as little exacting
as the others and wore patched clothes. Eveiy-
thing in the sisters' rooms, even to the least
article of furniture, spoke of poverty and the
al)solute renouncement of bodily ease and
condbrt."
Her whole life was one of trials and crosses.
We can thus explain her special devotion lor
the feasts of the Holy Cross, which like that of
the Sacred Heart, called forth her tenderest
emotions. These feasts are still celebrated in
the church of the community with the greatest
solenniity and devotion.
' CHAPTER XX.
Mtl<; d'Youville's illness and death. — Her last words. —
Remarkable appearances. — General belief in her
sanctity. — Process of canonization begun at Rome in
1890.
In the Jill til inn of 1771 M''*' (T You vi lie's
health begun to visibly decline. She was then
in her seventv-iirst vear. In Novenil)er, she
Avas so weak as to be unable to leave her room,
and although she still continued to direct the
afVairs of the community, her sisters ol)served
that her speech was somewhat affected.
Their worst fears were realized, when on
December Dth, M*''' d' Youville had a paralytic
stroke which deprived her of speech and of
the power of moving.
Under the care of her physician and of an
experienced nurse, ((me of the good sisters from
the Hotel-Dieu.) she rallied so as to be abh^ to
make her confession, and even — supported by
her sisters — to take a few steps in her bed-
room. She was again able, although with difti-
li
MKK (ir Ml"- i> VI )(• villi:.
107
cultv, to convorse with tliosc* aroimd her. 'I'lic
ever proroiind iift'ectiuii of the conmumitv lor
their Reverend Mother seemed to iiid'ease at
the Siid prospeet ol" so soon h)sinii" lier. Tiiev
were nneeMsinj;' in their ]»rayers and to om*
another they whispered tea rCnl ly :" If (lod
wonhl deinn to k;ave her to ns. even in hei'
present state, what a pleasnre it wonhl he to
nurse and take eare of one so heh)ved!" Hut
(rod in His wis(h)ni liad di'creed otlierwise. On
the thirteenth of tlie same month M*'"' d'You-
ville had a second stroke which k'ft her, foi'
some time (piite unconscious. She recovei-cd
fron) this hitter attack suihciently to speak to
her sisters. She said : •* It is Clod's will, dear
sisters, we nuist suhmit."
Shortly afterwards she made her confession
and received the Holy V'iaticum.
The same day she made her will in which
she reji'ulated, that in case of need, her sons
shouhl be provided for hv heinu' received into
the hospital. *
T'he final attack vnmo on D(M'cmlter 2:^»rd.
an
)m
to
)y
ffi-
«• Her elder son, some yeav.s afterwards, resigned Jiis
parisli and .spent the rest uf his life in the hospital
where he died, in 1778.
Her younger son, without becoming a resident in the
hospital, preserved the most friendly relations with the
nuns, frequently visited the eonvent and took a sjjecitil
pleasure in conducting the community devotions.
1 08
LIFK OF M'"' I) VOUVILT.K.
wluMi siin'()iiii(kul 1)V hor sisters, slio |)OiU'(>fiill\
violded licr soul to Ood. Her last words to
tlnMii were pronouiu'ed in a tone nevoi' to he
loi'«i()tten : " Dear sisters, he alwavs laitlil'ul to
the (hities of tlie state of life which you liave
end)raeed. walk in the path of re;jiidarity.
ohedienee and uiortilieatiou ; — hut. a])ove all.
let the most perfect union ever rei«;n anion}:;
you.
It was at lialf-|)ast eij^ht in the eveninu that
M''" d'Youville hreathed her last.
Ahont that same iu)ur. M. Jean Delisle di'
Licailleterie, well known in Montreal as a man
of learninji' and a scientist, was walking near
the wall of the town on the St. Lawrence side,
when suddenly lookinji' in the direction of the
(Jeneral Hospital he ohserved in the sky a))ove
that Inulding a luminous and regularly formed
cross. Sur])rised at the sight of so wonderful a
phenomenon, he called out to one of his friends
to look in the same direction, and thev were
hoth convinced of the reality ot this remark-
al)le ap})arition. Neither of them had heard
of M''^' d'Vonville's death, as it was not made
])uhlic until the next day. On perceiving this
extraordinary sisi'n, M. Delisle exclaimed: ''Ah!
ft t _ /
what else has hefallen these poor Grey Nuns, —
is this a token of joy or of sorrow?" Several
persons in the St. Lawrence suburb also saw
lis
id
■ft'ife
-■•^■^
•('
-'^^'"
n."
I,!t
Ul.t,.
• [»t»JU'l■i*lill^
t>l to G<kI. Hur ittBt wonlH to
urimitM^'^tl in »i Umv i»ever to bo
li^ar MMttM-jt, be ulvvrty.^rHithfiil to
\i& tHixU'i of Ut'« which ypu h«ve
«« in th«r |mtlj <if Ti^jtakrity* '
nuu'ti fi< ivtion ; — i)b ; v f tiU.
jK't'feot iMiloJV «*vyir wijjfu ;imong
M'
iifjbril Hiiiiic hour, M, Jeiui J>(?liHl'^' 'l«
Lir;tiil«jr.iirle, \yt*ll knovvu in M(»»tr<"ai(isa mat)
oi' Icv.fcriiing' uikI a scientist- wan wnlkin^js- neivr
tiie wull oi'tlic* town on iKe St. .fiUKreimv ,Hide,'
M'h«»B Huddeidv imkm^ ui tht» dirwctioji of iho
Genoi'rtl HoHpitallie ub.servofl ii) tho wky abovt*
that buildin": u liuniiuMiH Hjul rc2:nlu^H^ foi'iued
i'ror^^ Suin.r; : <! at Uu^ sight ui" so womleiiVU a.,
phti.;iii., . , ,.. le cnlleti onl to oot^ fit hit* triv^ndi*
to }o!L)k iH itie ijiwu** dirtH'tiou, ami ritey wee<*
iMith. vniijivJiKiul of th» v^^ait* ;; ,4 Vns rt^murlv-^
lil^le apparitioiiv X«Htb^t v*f ^t<mi had heHtxl
of M'** d'T?»i|;vitie'>^ deatiir» ixfi it >viis iiut mixdt^
l■■^h]h■ \mtn the uf-Kt «'■ ' »u piT^'eiviiig Ihi.s
exiv;iordifiury ;44i:!U.^. i^;: : iu-e:vclaiuied: ''Ab^
n'liatolf^e has? btvikl 1^'tv »l ■f^^t fjoor. Grey Nuiis^-- -
is this ti token of tov > sorrow?" Beveral
'^icrsona ia th^ S>t. I^u^ttmc*^ suburb uloo aav,'
J.
</
,/i- / i'/'ri-<-,!/'i I ./ </■ '.' "tilt fi/i, ,//',■•: •"..
,/ ■ ..•.11,11
miwpi:
LIFE OF MDK D YOUVILLE.
100
the liuniiiouH cross, so thiit the t'oUowiiig (hiv
when M''" d'Youville's death was known to the
piihlie, this phenomenon became the general
topic of conversation.
Another remarkable occurrence took place
the same dav at Chateau jru ,\ A vounj>- man
of twentv-one who was accustomed to accom-
pany M*'*' d'Youville on her journeys to and
from the seigniory, and had continued to do so
until the time of her illness, on the dav of her
death went as usual to feed the cattle. Alone,
and l)eing under no control, he was doing it in
a Avasteful manner, when he heard M'^*' d' You-
ville's voice exclaiming, '• Do not waste the
hay! " Much surprised, as we may well believe,
he searched the barn and saw no one. When
he returned to the house he iuipdred if M''*'
d'Youville had arrived. Such a question sur-
prised everyone and brought forth the excla-
mation from all that M*^^ d'Youville was not in
a state of health to make her coming even
possible. The remarkable occurrence dee])ly
impressed the minds of those who were en-
trusted with the patrimon\ of tlie poor, ami
was accepted as a lesson to practice economy in
the discharge of their duties.
The obsecpiies took place on Decendjcr 2r)th,
M. Montgolfier officiated at the solemn Mass of
Requiem, and the remains Avere conve\ed to
110
LIFE OF M^E YOUVILLE.
the vault of the convent church amid the tears
and the regrets of her bereaved children.*
It is related that the great concourse of
people who thronged to M*^^ d' Youville's funeral
showed more inclination to invoke the departed
one than to pray for her. The popular judgment
thenceforward proclaimed her a saint ; bi''" '>ver
a century elapsed before the Church, in i890,
bestowed upon her the title of Venerable.
Some years previous to this, His Grace, the
Archbishop of Montreal, had decided to begin
the ordinary process of inquiry as to the rep-
utation of sanctity, virtues and miracles of
this servant of God. It was sent to Rome,
together with the supplicatory letters of many
Bishops and other illustrious personages, ec-
clesiastical and civil, with the result that His
Holiness Pope Leo XIII. decreed (April 28,
1890,) the introduction of the process for M"'*'
d' Youville's canimization.
In concluding this Life, the editor, although
feeling painfully his deficiency in the eloquence
and learning such a subject denumds, neverthe-
less consoles himself with the reflection that at
(») These preeioup remains now repose in the vault of
the church of the Grey Nunnery on Dorchester Street.
7
LIFE OF M^K 1) VOUVILLE
111
least he lia.s s])are(l no care or diligence as was
in his power to )>estow in the preparation of
this little work, which has ))een to him a labor
of love. He W(>ul(l fain add his prayers to
those of M'"'" (I' Yoiiville's spiritual offspring, and
of the faithful in general, that our Venerable
Servant of Go(' niav soon be raised to the altars
of the Catholic Church, and thus that she niav
become our recognized advocate in Heaven.
End.
APPENDIX.
Special ward for Irish orphan girls. Work of the sisters
during the year of the ship fever 1847-48. — Progress of
the community since 1840. — Missions. — Special men-
tion of those in Manitoba and Northwest Territories. —
Mode of travelling in that country until late years.—
The Land of the Red Cross. — The new Grey Nunnery.
— Houses founded at St. Hyacinth, Ottawa and Que-
bec— General statistics.
The noble work l)eguii }>y M'''' (rYouville
and productive of so much good to religion uiid
to society when she was called to her reward,
has continued up to the present time to extend
its sphere of usefulness,
• Mention of some of the services it has
rendered may be interesting to cmr rea(Un's.
In 1823, at the re([uest of the gentleuien of
the Seminary of St. Sulpice, a special ward
was opened for the reception of Irish orphan
114
AIM'EXDIX.
girls
This good work was continued in the
Grey Nunnery until ISIG, when St. Patrick's
Orphan Asylum of Montreal was founded and
given in charge to the Grey Nuns. Reverend
Sister Forbes, whose niemorv is still cherished
in the hearts of all those who had the advan-
tage of knowing her, ])ut especially among the
Irish Catholics of Montreal, was the first Sister
appointed to care for these motherless children.
She was then in her tw^entieth year, and
endowed with all the (puilities which could
endear her to them. After fifteen yedrs of
devoted labor in this ward she was elected
Mistress of Novices, ])ut the dear orphans had
ahvays the foremost place in her aftectionate
heart. In 18'33, the devoted mother again
gladly accepted the direction, of the asylum,
and spent there tlie last twenty-four years of
her life, remaininu- until within a few davs of
her death, in 1877, in the midst of her loved
and loving family of orphans.
Passing over several years of good and faith-
ful service, we reach 1847, the year of the
ship fever. An anonymous writer gives the
following account of the part taken by the
Grey Nuns during this dire epidemic as related
to him mmi voce ])y one of the sisters.
The horrors of that period, caused by the
Al'TENOlX.
ll.J
IViglitt'iil fiunine and the terri])le plajiiie wliicli
followed mid made Ireland desolate, can never
be forgotten. The beautiful green fields of that
ordinarily fertile country this year refused food
to the population. Death in its most frightful
form stalked through the land, and thousands
died in their cabins or lay uncoilined on the
roadside. Hundreds and thousands of others
tied across the sea to seek on a foreign shore
that peace, plenty and happiness denied them
in the land of their forefathers. They turned
their eyes toward America, the Eldorado of
their fondest hopes, and bright was the picture
which their imagination drew of a life in the
Western World. Alas! they carried with them
the germs of the contagious disease ; many died
on shipboard and were buried in the ocean's
depths, where the foamy l>illows alone sang
their funeral dirge ; others landed on the shores
of Canada only to succuml) to the malady.
On the 17th of June, 1847, the news reached
the Grey Nunnery that hundreds were dying
unaided and unattended on the shores at Point
St. Charles. Tlie Superior, at this time the
Venerable Sister Elizabeth Forbes, in religion
Sister McMuUen,* of Clengarry, believing there
*• A sister of Sister Forbes, mentioned in connection
with the Irish orphans.
lU)
AIM'EXDIX.
must be truth in the report, sent tor Sister
Sainte-Croix to acconipjiny her, and visitinji'
tlie locality without further delav, found to her
astonishment and sorrow that for once report
fell short of the truth. xVcting promptly and
decisively, she collected all the facts and sent
them in the form of a report to the Emigrant
Agent, requesting power to act so as to amelior-
ate the fate of the unfortunate Irish immi-
grants. Consent was at once given, and she was
authorized to act as she thought best, and to
hire as many men and women as she deemed
necessary to aid in the no))le work ; these assist-
ants would be paid In' the Department upon
attestation by the sisters.
All preliminaries settled. Sister McMullen
retraced her steps homeward with a heavy
heart, for, like Abraham of old, she had gath-
ered the fagots .and prepared the funeral pile, —
the victims alone were wanting.
It was the hour of recreation. The sisters, old
and young, were gathered in the conuiumity-
room, the conversation was aninuited, and, from
time to time, peals of laughter issued from one
group or another. The Superior entered and
the sisters arose to receive her, Hiiving taken
her seat in the circle, she said after ji short
pause : " Sisters, I have seen a sight to-day
that I shall never forget. 1 went to Point St.
Al'l'KNDIX.
117
Charles and found hundreds of siek and dvinj.'-
huddled to«i:ether. The stench emanatin<i' from
them is too ^reat for even the strongest eon-
stitution. The atmosphere is im])re<»nated with
it, and tlie air filled with the groans of the
sufferers. Death is there in its most appalling
aspeet. Those who thus ery aloud in their
agony are strangers, hut their hands are out-
stretched for relief. Sisters, the plague is con-
tagious." Here the Venerahle Superior burst
into tears and with a hroUen voice continued :
"In sending vou there 1 am siiiiiing xour
death warrant, hut you are free to accei)t or
to refuse." . ,
There was a pause of a few seconds during
which each sister saw herself once more kneel-
ing in imagination before the Altar steps, again
hearkening to the Bishop's solemn warning
before she pronounced the irrevocable vows :
" Have you coitsldered aHentlrel// and rejiccted
Herioudy on the step you are now going to take ?
That, from this time forth, your life nmst be
one of .sacrifice, even of dc<if/i, if the glory of
God or the good of your neighbor re(|uires it?"
"Yes, My Lord; and 1 am willing to under-
take the task with God's help."
Such were the words once uttered by ea<'h of
those who now were called on to prove their
fidelity. There was no hesitation, no demur.
118
AlTENDiX.
All arose and stood heforo their Superior. The
same exelairiation fell from their li])s: " I am
readv ! "
Sister MeMulleii knew the courage of her
sj)iritual daughters, as M**" d'Youville knew
that of her companions. Eight of the willing
number were chosen, and the following morning
they cheerfully departed to fulfil the task allot-
ted to them.
On arriving at Point St. Charles, three large
sheds from one hundred and fiftv to two hundred
feet lonj? and fortv or fiftv feet wide met their
view. The little hand of volunteers dispersed
among the sheds with the persons whom they
had engaged to assist in the work of mercy.
AVhat a sight before them ! " I nearly fainted "
said one of the sisters, relating her emotions on
that eventful day, " when I approached the
entrance of this sepulchre. The stench suffocated
me. I saw a number of beings with distorted
features and discolored bodies lying heaped
together on the ground looking like so nnmy
cor])ses. I knew not what to do. I could not
advance without treading on one or another of
the helpless creatures in my way. While in
this perplexity, I was recalled to action by
seeing the frantic efforts of a poor man trying
to extricate himself from annmg the prostrate
crowd, his features expressing at the same time
AI'I'KNDIX.
11'.)
all intonsity of horror. SU'|)[)iii<i" with \)vv-
(Uiution, placiiifi' lirst one foot and then tlin
other whore a space ('(aild l)c foiiiid, I iua!ia<:;iMl
to <^et near tlie ))atitMit, wlio, exhausted at'tei*
the ell'orts made to eall our attention, now lay
l)aek pillowed on — Dear (lod what a sijrht! —
two discolored corj)ses in a state of deconipo'-
sition. We set to work (|uickly. Clearin<!:a small
passage, we first carried out the dead iKxlioH,
and then, after strewinj^- the Hoor with straw,
we replaced thereon the living who soon had
to he removed in their turn."
In the open space hetween the sheds, hiy the
inanimate forms ol men, women and children,
once the personification of health and heaut}',
witli h)viiig and ardent hearts, now destined
to fill a nameless gmve. More sick immigrants
arrived from dav to dav ; new sheds had to he
erected. These tem])orary hospitals stood side
hy side, each containing ahout one hundred
and twenty common cots, or rather plank hoxes
littered with straw, in which the poor fever-
stricken victims fre(|uently lay down to rise no
more. Kleveii hundred human heings tossed
and writhed in agony, at the same time, on these
hard couches. The hearse could hardly suffice
to carry oft' the dead. The number of sisters, in
creas^ed till none save the principal officers, the
superannuated and those absolutely necessary
120
Ari'KNDIX.
to maintain the ^ood ordiT of tlu- cstaMisli-
nicnt, remained at the (irri'v Nunnorv. The
ardor ol' the sisterhood continnod iinahated,
and, until the 24th of thi* month (.him>). no
sister had heen absent from the muster-roll.
On this eventful mornin«i. two voun«r sisters
could no louf^'er I'ise at the sound of tlie matin
hell. The plajiue had ehosen its first victims,
and more followed houih aftei. until tliirtv la\
at the point of ileath. The professed nuns of
the establishment, numherin-f onlv fortv, could
• • • '
not sullice to superintend their institution,
tend their sick sisters, and assist at the sheds.
There were at this time twentv novices who
eagerlv rei^uested to he allowed to till up the
vacancies in the ranks. Their otter was accei)ted
and side by side with the professed sisters did
they toil and trium|)h, — for what else is death
when it <iives the martyr's crown ? FV'ars were
entertained for the safetv of the convent, fears
that increased still more when seven sisters
were called to receive their reward.
Overcome bv fatiiiue and with achinj;' hearts
the remaining ones saw themselves obliged
to withdraw for a few weeks from the s'^em
where the voice of sympathy and the I )i
charitv were so <i;reatlv needed. It was i heir
great relief that they ))eheld the good vSisters
of Providence take their place at the bedside
AIM'KN'OIX.
121
of tlie Hiilloring and (lyiii«i;. Sliortlv af'tci', thu
devoted velit^ioiiH of the Ilotel-Dieii obtained
the ])enni.ssioii of the hiMhop to leave their
eh)i.ster walln and assint in tlie "j^ood work.
Mean\vhiU^ the Venerahle Mgr. Hourget.
tlie })riestH of the Seniinarv, the JeHuits and
Hever.il otlier nieniherH of tlu? clergy, who from
the firHt (hiVH, had heen unrelenting in their
etl'orts to afford help and comfort to the pool'
exiles, continued their heroic ministrations.
Many were the grateful souls who carried with
them bevond the grave the reuRMnbrsince of
their generous })enefactors, not a few of whom
soon followed to receive the crown reserved
for martvrs of charitv. Survivors recall to this
day with feelings of love and gratitude the
draught doubly refreshing because held to
their parched lips by the consecrated hand ot
a bishoj) or by that of a devoted priest so
wortliN of the name of Father.
The Grev Nuns also cherish the most heart-
felt recollections of the good offices of the kind
Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame.
Kept away by the nature of their occupation
from the scene of contagion, these good ladies
otherwise evinced most effective sympathy to
all. ^
In the month of Se[)tember the Grey Nuns
resumed their heroic task at the sheds. Thev
II
122
Ai'PKXDIX.
continued their charitalde labors not onl ,
(luring the year 1(S47-4(S, hut silso later on
when the cholera replaced the typhus.
After the Cross came the Crown. The num-
ber oF postulants to the reliiiious Hie so in-
creased during this same yeai* (184(S,) that the
nu)tto of the nunnery was verilied : In hoc
HI f J no V lures.
Among the arrangements lor ))etter at-
tendance ui)on the unfortunate victims of the
typhus was the classing of men, women and
children in different sheds. Children were
counted bv hundreds, the i»reater nmnber as vet
free from the malady, but exposed to contagion
and liable to be stricken down from da\ to dav.
There were gathered together the iidant taken
from its dead mother's breast, or from the arms
of some older one trying in vain to still its
cries, the creeping baby shrieking for the father
and mother who would nevcjrmore lespond to
that call, and older ones sobbing and frantical-
ly trying to escape in search of the })arents
already beneath the sod. This scene in the
children's shed was ])eyond description. Their
wailing was heard far ami wide, adding a new
pang to the agony of the expiring father or
mother.
Ilis Lordship. Bishop Bourget, later endeav-
ored to find liomes for the unfortunate waifs.
APPENDIX.
123
All appeal was made to the country people, who
faithful to the voice of their Pastor, came from
all the surrounding parishes of the diocese, and
each family adopted one or more of the little
strangers.
Eight Grey Nuns, among whom is the pres-
ent Superior General, are still living of the
thirty who caught the typhus at the sheds
and were at death's door.
The memory of these events which furnish
one of the most touching episodes in the history
of the city of Montreal will pass away with
the actors of the sad drama. All that now
remains to attest the fact, is a little plot of
ground at Point Saint Charles, on which has
been raised a monument formed of an immense
bowlder taken from the bed of the St. Law-
rence, and bearing the following inscription : —
TO PRESERVE FROM DESECRATION THE REMAINS OF
6,000 IMMIGRANTS WHO DIED OF SHIP FEVER
A. D. 1847-48, THIS STONE IS ERECTED BY
THE WORKMEN OF MESSRS. PETO BRASSEY AND BETES
EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE VICTORIA
BRIDGE, A. D. 1859.
As previously ol)served, the increase in num-
l)er of aspirants for admissi(ni into the commu-
124
APPENDIX.
nity did not become notable until after the
first century of its existence had elapsed, and
under circumstances which, humanly speaking,
should have retarded its progress ; that is, after
missions had been established abroad, and after
the work of the sisters during the trying period
of pestilence and death as related above.
As explanation, to a certain extent, of the
slow increase during so many years, it may be
stated, that up to 1840, owing to the tenor
of the Letters patent limiting the number of
the conununity, and for other cogent reasons,
the ecclesiastical superiors had decided that
the number of professed sisters should not
exceed thirty at any given time. This pro-
hibition having been cancelled in the year
1840, subjects could be freely admitted, and
the community thereby enabled to respond to
calls for branch houses.
Fiftv-eiii'ht of these have l)een established
since 1840. Of this num1)er, three are now
distinct houses no longer connected with the
Grey Nunnery of Montreal. Others have been
discontinued at different periods.
We shall here mention the establishments at
the present time subject to the Superior Gen-
eral at Montreal, and the works accomplished
therein.
APPENDIX.
125
Province of Quebec.
In Montreal : The Mother-House and novi-
tiate, 3 hospitals with dispensaries, 2 homes
for the poor, 7 orphan asylums, 2 workrooms
where plain sewing is taught, 1 foundling asy-
lum, 2 homes for girls out of situation and a
night refuge attached to one of them, 1 institu-
tion for blind children, 5 infjmts' schools. -
Homes for the poor and orphan asylums at
St. Benoit, Longueuil, Varennes, St. Jean d'l-
berville and Chamblv.
Schools at St. Benoit, Chateauguay and Cote-
des-Neiges; infants' schools at Longueuil, St.
Jean d' Iberville and St. Jerome ; 1 hospital at
St. Jean d' Iberville.
Province of Manitoba and N. W. Territories.
In the town of St. Boniface : The Vicarial
House and novitiate, 2 academies ; 2 industrial
schools for Indian i '.Idren ; I hospital; 1 or-
phan asyluui; 1 home for aged and infirm
women.
Schools are established in the following par-
ishes and missions: St. Fran^ois-Xavier, St.
Norbert. Ste. Anne des Chenes, St. Jean-Bap-
tiste, St. Albert, Lac Labiche, Isle a la Crosse,
Athabaska and Providence, (Mackenzie.)
126
APPENDIX.
There are hospitals jit Calgary, St. Albert and
Edmonton ; and industrial schools for Indian
children at Qu'Appelle and Dunbow.
United States.
Ohio. In Toledo : 1 hospital, 1 orphan asylum
and 1 school.
Massachusetts. In Salem : 2 orphan asylums
and 1 school. In Lawrence: 1 orphan asylum,
1 hospital and dispensary. In Boston: Working
Girls' Home. In Worcester : 1 orphan asylum
and 1 houie for the poor.
In Cambridge : 1 hos})ital for incurables.
New Jersey. In Morristown : 1 hospital.
Minnesota. In Minneapolis : 1 school and
1 orphan asylum.
North Dakota. In Fort Totten : 1 industrial
school for Indian children.
In all these dift'erent missions visits are made
to the sick and poor at their homes and assist-
ance given to the needy. The Sisters also keep
night watches with the sick and lay out the
dead.
Special interest is attached to the first found-
ed of the above establishments — that of St.
Bonifiice, Red River or Selkirk settlement, now
the Province of Manitoba, as well as to those
APPENDIX.
127
which sprang up, in after years, throughout
the Great Lone Land.
In the early clays of M^'^ d'Youville's hibor
for the poor, she was, as we related, aided by
the merchants of the Northwest who furnished
work for her community. These benefits were
not forgotten, and the annals (/f the Grej*
Nunnery reveal that at a very early period,
the sisters — without the slightest foretoken
of the '"Spread of their work in the future — took
pleasure in the prospect of an esta])lishment
in the Pays d'tn hmd. In 1844, by opening a
house of their order at St. Bonifiice, — which
was to be subsequently followed by many
others in the Northwest, — M''^ d'Youville's
spiritual daughters have in some manner
repaid the good offices of tliose early traders.
Very different then was the mode of travel-
ling in that region from what it is now. The
trip is at present an agreeable one, accom-
plished in sixty hours in luxurious cars offering
every accomodation.
When four Grey Nuns departed, on April 24,
1844, they embarked at Lachine, nine miles
from Montreal, in birch canoes for a long and
perilous journey of two months. The greater
part of it had to l)e performed in the frail
canoes. When the party reached rapids or other
obstructions to navigation, the sturdy oars-men
128
APPENDIX.
shouldered the canoes and the baggage, the
sisters foHowing behind. These breaks are
called portaijefi, and over sixty of them had to
be made. One of the sisters also had to be
carried a considerable portion of the way, for,
slipping as she disembjirked from one of the
•canoes, she so seriously injured her ankle that
she suffered torture during the remainder of
the journey and was lame the rest of her life.
It was not until June 21st, that the sisters
rejiched St. Boniface where they were wel-
comed with joy by Mgr. Provencher, Bishop of
the place, and at whose solicitation they had
come to undertake the education of youth and
to attend to the works of charity pertaining to
their vocation, as circumstances would require.
It is remarkable that AP® d'Youville's uncle,
M. de la Verandrye, in 1738, the same year
that his niece began her work for the poor at
Montreal, in one of his expeditions through the
North-West passed by the very spot where
the Grey Nuns' first convent is now situated
in St. Boniface.
This two-story wooden building one hundred
feet by forty-five, was, owing to divers disap-
pointments and accidents, slowly constructed.
Begun in 1845, it was still far from being com-
pleted when the sisters moved into it, in 1847.
Up to that time their accomodations had been
ArrKNDix.
120
very (scanty. They occupied, for a few nioiitlis,
an old stone building cemented with clay,
through which the rain made wide openings.
Obliged to seek new quarters, they moved to
rooms adjoining the vestry of the cathedral,
whence, as from their previous residence, they
repaired, twice a day, to apartments in the
l)asement of the bishop's house, where they
had opened schools for children of both sexes
very shortly after their arrival. The boys
remained under the sisters until 1854.
Various works of /education and charity in-
trusted to the direction of the Grey Nuns have
grown and prospered. The small apartments
which witnessed their early beginnings have
given place to spacious convents and a hospital
fitted with all modern conveniences. These,
together with the other Iniildings set apart for
the works alreadv mentioned, form an inter-
esting group surrounding the first convent.
This latter is situated on the eastern bank of
the Red River, and l)ecame at a later date a
Vicarial House. It outlasted all the other
edifices reared l)y Mgr. Provencher, the saintly
founder, first missionary and first bishop of St.
Boniface, who went to his reward in 1858.
The cathedral and residence he had left behind
him were wiped out by fire Decendjer 14, 1860.
Upon his worthy successor, Mgr.. Tache,
130
APPENDIX.
devolved the task of rel)iiilding the cathedral
and epiweopal residence, while the sisters bore
their share of the })iirden in erecting the
several establishments of education and charity
committed to their charge.
It was on June 22, 1894, that Archbishop
Tache went to reap the reward of his labors.
It is needless to say that so irreparable a loss
threw the whole country into mourning; but
the sorrow was nowhere so keenly felt as at
St. Boniface.
Not foreseeing the calamity awaiting them,
everyone had been busy for weeks past making
preparations for the celebration of the Grey
Nuns' golden jubilee at St. Bonifaiie, to take
place on the 21st. Alas! the scene had changed,
— grief in all its intensity, took the place of
joy. Never to be forgotten are those days of
June, 1894.
As already stated, several branch houses
have been established in the North-West, Each
of these has a local superior subject to the
Superior Vicar residing at St. Boniface, who,
in turn, owes allegiance to the Mother General
at Montreal.
Extracts of letters from the sisters of those
later establishments will convev an ideaof what
they experienced before reaching their destina-
tion. We quote from letters written in 18^8 :
Ari'ENDlX.
lai
" Our journey from Montroal was by land
and water. Owing to a tew mishaps, it took a
week to reacli St. Paul, Minnesota. There a
numerous earavan from Fort Garrv* awaited
us. Neitlier bed nor l)oard was to he found on
our way; we pureliased water-proof spreads
and blankets to repose on, impermeable bags
for our elothing, and a supply of baeon, hard
l)iscuit, tea, sugar and butter. When we joined
our conductors we were assigned an anti(iuated
cart on large high wheels without a scrap of
iron on or about them, odd in a.p[)earance, ))ut
well adapted to the roads that had to be trav-
ersed where bogs, miry grounds and streamlets
abound. In this, we and our belongings were
drawn l)v an ox.
For weeks, and more frequently for months,
we travelled through vast prairies of high
grass undulating in the Ijreeze like the waves
of a sea, as far as the eye could reach. There
were streams to be forded and oftentimes a
river barred our onward path. These were not
always fordable, and with no bridge nor l)oat at
hand, means had to be devised for reaching the
opposite bank. In some cases, the men con-
structed rafts on which we and our bau'gage
were carried across; at other times cart-wheels
were taken off, fastened together and covered
* Now the city of Winnipeg.
132
Ari'KNDIX.
with (I tjirpuiilin, fbriniiig a bout which could
he towed IVoin ])ank to ])}ink.
" 111 fine weather our caravan jog:ged on-
wards, and ill time we learned to enjoy it. We
halted at noon and at sunwet, except when a
better site for encampment for the ni<2;ht could
be reached further on.
" The oxen were then let loose to graze,
search was made for fuel, the kettle put on to
))oil, and the meal partaken of. After the even-
ing repast prayers were said, the tents pitched,
and the waterproof si)reads thrown on mother
earth. On this couch, wrapped in our blankets,
we sle])t as best we could until the next morn-
ing, when at an early hour, the summons to rise
was given. The tent once lowered, morning
prayers were offered up, and the men went in
search of the oxen left free during the night,
the fire was rekindled and breakfast prepared.
As soon as the meal was over, the dishes washed
tind the fire carefully extinguished, we mount-
ed, and our caravan began another day's jour-
ney. On, on we went through boundless
solitudes whose silence was interrupted only
l)y the song of the birds, the chirping of the
locusts, the murmur of the breeze, the rustling
of the leaves, the creaking of the cart-wheels,
the call or shout of the drivers urging on some
weary or stubborn oxen.
APPENDIX.
133
"Such is life on the [jniirios wIk'm tlio sun
Hhinos. liut wlion tlio tcinpost rujios, and with
tlie wind hh)wiiii;\ the lightniiij:; liiisliiiig, tlio
thuiidLM' pearnij^ and tlic I'aiii ptniriii;^- in
torrents, a halt is ni!i(h' on the prairie or in
wihl woods, nn(U'i' a simple tent whieh everv
gust of wind thri'atens to hlow away, and no
other bed than the wet ground, pleasure is no
longer u reality.
' " In one instance, however, these rain-storms
would he welcome, it was when the dry grass
aftbi'ded no security against the ra})id advance
of prairie (ires, so awful to behold rushing to
meet or to [)ursue travellers. For want of
other means another lire is started to the lee-
ward ; but this is not always considered safe.
" Further cause of anxietv is the possibility
of meeting hostile Indians and of sharinu the
fate of so many others at their hands.
" At all times and in all ^veathers, we are
followed, surrounded and literally devoured
by the most voracious creatures in creation.
They swarm about in daylight, they revel
during twilight, increase in boldness undei-
cover of night, when, with peculiar eifnmt-
ery, they "sound their own trumpet." I allude
to the mosquitoes, those venomous gnats
whose stings subject their victims to the most
unbearable torture."
134
Ari'KNinx.
Sisters travelling to tlie most remote points,
siicli as Atlinl)iisi\a and McKenzie River, alter
having s})ent thi-ee months as described above,
have to pass another month in Hat open boats
before reaching their destination.
On their arrival al'ter a long and tiresome
jonrnev, — of which nianv details are omitted
in the foregoing lines, — they are glad to take
possession of the humble dwelling ])repared
for them, and feel great [)leasnre in being
sni'i'ounded by the })0()r Indians wbose speech
they cannot understand it is true, but in
whose everv feature a heartv welcome can be
read. These first manifestations of good will
are an encouragement to accept every privation
and suffering in view of bettering the condition
of these unhappy tribes.
If the greeting was everywhere most cordial
among the roaming children of the plains, it
must be ascribed to but one cause. The Indians
had learned long since to look upon the
Oblate Fathers as their most sincere and most
disinterested friends. They it was who had
brought them the priceless boon of faith and
expected nothing in return save a docile accept-
ance of their teachings and the putting into
practice of the lessons imparted.
What wonder then, if, when they had an-
nounced the coming of helpers in their apostolic
APPEXDIX.
1 "^
liilxn's, and w ho, in a special way. wore to care
Tor tlicir littU» oiioh, tlicv should hi' ready to
receive iis with opiMi arms, lor the Indians ai-e
all fondness for their oll'sprinj:."
Kor tlie most pai't, children who are to he
instructed share the narrow lod^inu's of the
sisters and ))art!d\e of their teachers' meaure
pittance which is almost invariahly fish. Sisters
still in those remote missions have never dnr-
in<;' a lapse of twenty-nine years tasted hread.
After workinti' hard (li'.rin<i' the dav thev, for a
time, had only Ijufialo rohes to repose on at
iii^'ht.
Peo[)le unae(niainted with tiie Indian mis-
sions would lind it dillicult to form an ideii of
the hardships to he endured and of the degree
of self-denial to he practised. In their inuiost
heart the sisters enjoy the hundred-fold prom-
ised here helow to those who forsake all to
follow the call of the Divine Master.
When their health fails, or when they other-
wise hecome unfit for their task, if ahle to
undertake the journey homeward the sisters
are recalled and gladly welcomed ))y the
mothers and sisters whose sympathy and
affection had constantly followed them; hut
never can these sisters foriret the former scene
of their lahors and sufferings; the}' ever anx-
iously await tidings of what is going on there,
12
136
APPENDIX.
as they had erstwhile in that far distant land
looked forward to thp arrival of the yearly ex-
press from the home and the friends they had
left behind them.
A lapse of sometimes twenty, thirty or more
years between the departure and return of
these sisters had wrought many changes. It
was a source of gratification to see how their
community had increased in nundjer, — but
Heaven had asserted its rights, and many
former companions were missing. These were
" not lost but only gone before," w^iile another
painfully noticed loss could not be retrieved.
Few w^ere the ruins that remained of the
dear <^ld General Hospital hallowed by the
virtues of so many devoted souls, since its
foundation in 1604, Init especially dear to the
Grey Nuns for its having been successively the
abode of their Venerable Foundress, her com-
panions and their followers, for one hundred
and twenty -four years.
Although clinging fondly to the home alive
with so numy precious memories, nevertheless,
for reasons — some of which are already men-
tioned in this work — the Grey Nuns finally
became convinced that the further occupancy
of the convent could be but of short duration.
Search was made for a spacious location in a
salubrious part of the city, on which to erect a
APPENDIX.
137
building of greater proportions than those of
the ohl hospital. The choice fell on '' The
land of the Red Cross." so called for its having
been the scene of tragical events to which we
shall refer. This property comprised twelve
acres bounded hy four of the principal streets
of the city : Guy, Dorchester, St. Matthew and
St. Catherine.
One hundred and fifty years ago, this part of
the Island, from the summit of the Mountain
to the pebbly shore of the St. Lawrence, was
a thickly wooded forest. Where Dorchester
Street is to-day, there was then a narrow path
worn by the passers-by from Lachine, St. Lau-
rent and neighboring settlements. It bore,
however, the high sounding title of the
King's Highway. Here and there, at irregular
distances, a few farms bordered on this prim-
itive thoroughfare. At the point where Guy
Street crosses Dorchester, lived an honest
farmer, Jean Favre and his wife, Marie-Anne
Bastien. Being an industrious couple, they
were supposed to have realized a good sum
from the produce of their prosperous farm,
which sum, in all probability, they hoarded
awav in some corner of their dwelling.
On the spot where now stand the iron gates
at the entrance of the avenue leading to the
Convent Church, was a small house occupied l)y
138
APPENDIX.
a petty farmer named Belisle. The demon of
covetousness had taken hold of his soul and the
unfortunate man brooded constantly over his
neighbor's supposed wealth and resolved to be-
come i ts possessor.
One evening in the month of May, 1752,
when the sun had .^unk behind the mountain
and the last echoes of the AiKjehis bell liad
ceased to vibrate on the air, a stealthy form,
lured on by the evil one, glided through the
falling darkness towards the dwelling of Favre.
Suspecting no evil, the honest man sat quietly
smoking near the hearth whence a brisk fire
cast a mellow light through the room, showing
the table with its two places set for the evening
meal. Rising, the farmer took from his pocket
a key, opened a cupboard near hand, drew
forth a small well filled sack and added to its
contents the proceeds of the day's sale. Through
the open shutter, Belisle, knife in hand,
watched from without Favre's every move-
ment. He broke into the dwellini? and drawing
a pistol from his belt shot down the old man
and finished him with the knife. The wife,
terrified by the report, rushed in from an ad-
joining room and was at once attacked by the
murderer; he plunged the knife repeatedly
into her breast and crushed in her skull with
the blow of a spade which he found near by.
'f
APPEN'DIX.
139
The disappearance of the old couple uave rise
to surmises. Search was made and the h()rril)le
crime discovered. Suspicion rested on Belisle ;
he was arrested, tried and convicted. The fol-
lowing copy of the '^ Requintoire da Prnrvreur
da Roi^'' dated June 6, 1752, shows that the
terrible punishment of breaking alive was then
in force under the French regime in Canada.
Belisle was condemned to " torture ordinary
and extraordinary, " then to be broken alive
on a scaffold erected in the market-place (the
present Place R ovale) of the city.
This awful sentence was carried out to the
letter. Belisle's body was buried in Guy Street
and the Red Cross erected to mark the spot, as
is fully described in the following historically
valuable document :
Extract from the Requisition of the Ki)tg\s
Attorney.
" I require in the name of the King that
Jean-Baptiste Goyer lit Belisle be arraigned
and convicted of having wilfully and feloni-
ously killed the said Jean Favre by a pistol
shot and several stabs with a knife, and of
having likewise killed the said Marie-Anne
Bastien, wife of the said Favre, with a sj)a(le
and a' knife; and of having stolen the money
that was in their house ; in punishment where-
I
140
APPENDIX.
of that he he coiideiiine'^l to have his arms,
legs, thighs and back bone broken, at the iiour
of noon, on a scaffokl which shall be erected for
that pnrpose in the market-place of this city :
then, on a rack, his face turned towards the
sky, he be left to die. The said Jean-Baptiste
Goyer dit Belisle, having been previously put
to torture ordinary and extraordinary, his dead
body shall be carried by the executioner to the
highway which lies near the house lately occu-
pied by the said Jean Favre and his wife. The
goods and chattels of the said Jean-Baptiste
Goyer dit Belisle shall be confiscated to the
King, or for the benefit of those who may have
a right to them, the sum of three hundred
livres fine being previously set apart, in case
that coniiscation may not be made for the
benefit of His Majesty.
" Given at Montreal, this sixth day of June,
1752.
( S'ujiied)
a
FOUCHER."
On this ground stands the present Grey Nun-
nery, a vast structure built of stone with three
stories, basement and attic. Only a portion of
it was ready for occupation when the commu-
nity iind the poor took possession.
As related in this work, M^® d'Youville took
APPENDIX.
141
charge of the General Hospital on the Tth of
October, 1747. One hundred and twenty-four
vears later, — on the 7th of October, 1871, —
her precious remains were conveyed to the new
convent as if to take possession of it likewise,
The cortege was formed of her spiritual daugh-
ters and their poor.
In the first instance, M''*^' d'Youville found
five poor invalids in a most wretched condition ;
in the second, as many as five hundred invalids,
orphans and foundlings followed her precious
remains to a home where everv comfort was in
store for them. When, in 1771, the death of
]y[de d'Youville cast a dark cloud of gloom over
the convent, seventeen grief-stricken sisters
accompanied her remains to their resting-place ;
in 1871, two hundred and fourteen with liai)py
hearts escorted the same to the new home
which they >vere to briuhten. One hundred
and ten had, since the foundation, taken their
departure with the hope of meeting the Ven-
erable Mother awaiting them above.
From 1871 to 1878, the present comnnmity-
room was used as a chapel. But with the help
of a kind Providence, a long felt deficiency
was su]jplied and a further portion of the build-
ing fitted tor occupation. A wing still remains
unbuilt for want of funds.
In the centre of this building that measures
142
APPENDIX.
five hundred and forty-four feet on Dorchester
Street, a fine church is erected, the entrance
thereto being; at a distance of two hundred feet
from tlie street. The handsome fa9ade meas-
ures seventv-six feet and its heio:ht from the
ground to the extremity of the cross on the
spire is two hundred and twenty-six feet.
The church is in the Roman stvle of archi-
tecture of the middle a";es and tastefully deco-
rated. The marble altars, rich paintings and
fine organ, are for the greater part, gifts from
jicnerous friends of the institution.
A door to the right of the yestibule leads to
the portion of the building occupied by the
sisters; another on the opposite side, to the
apartments and wards for the poor and other
inmates.
The main entrances to the institution are on
Guv and St. Matthew Streets.
The convent is among the favorite phices of
interest tt) tourists and it is from tlie note-book
of tme of them that we get the following account
of a visit recently paid the Grey Nunnery. Our
friendly visitor describes the reception room,
the halls and spacious corridors and continues :
" I was shown into the large pharmacy where
several sisters were busied among their phials,
Iwttles and boxes. Adjoining it is the dentist's
department. This same corridor contains a suite
ArrEXDix.
143
of upiirtiiieiits devoted to a variety of skillful
and artistic work. In one room is done the
illumination of cards, mementoes, addresses;
here, also, we noticed some exijuisite hair-
work ; the chains, Howers and landscapes in
natural hair give proof of great ingenuity and
ability. Workers in wax occupy another room
and display i.s made of many beautiful speci-
mens of their handicraft. The next door opens
upon a printing ofhce. Even the cloister
recognizes the necessity of the press! The sis-
ters do only what printing is required for the
wants of the community.
" ' Miscidt utile dnlcl ' I reflected aloud.
^'"'Comment Monnieiir?' in(i[uired the nun
conducting our party.
" ' The useful and the agreealile go hand in
hand in your convent,' I answered.
" ' yes, and here is further proof of it,' she
said as she ushered us into a room filled with
splendid draperies and church vestments in
silk or velvet, all heavy with rich embroideries
in gold.
" In another corridor we were shown the
candle-works and tapers of all sizes for use in
the church service. Long ago, no doubt, the
good nuns made the candles for the use of the
community, — but that was long ago, before the
days of petroleum, and then of gas, and now
144
APPEXniX.
of electricity. Whsit changeH ! What surprises
since the foinidiiig of this institution ! Yet the
one great thing remains unchanged, and will
remain so, — the necessity of mortilication and
self-denial, and the love of the Cross: If oinj
man v'ill come after me, let hiui denij hiiihse/f, and
take iq) liin cross and follow me.
"My reflections were interrupted ])y our
entry into the shoe-shop and an adjoining room
where knitting-machines were running.
" ' Instead of going higher, I shall now con-
duct you to the lower Hat' said our guide.
" Proceeding downwards, I glanced at the
large wash-room, with its rows of monster roll-
ing tubs, mangle, wringer, etc., all in motion, as
the whir of the steam gave notice. The vapory
atmosphere made me soon turn away, and fol-
lowing my leader into another hall, I saw on
each side, the apartments occupied by the older
orphan boys. Rows of cots in their snowy dra-
pery filled the dormitory, which was a model
of neatness and of order. The measured tread
of little feet drew my attention to the opposite
side, and the door thrown open, showed a large
room in w^hich some sixty -five or seventy bo^s
were undergoing military drill. The young-
sters seemed to enjoy it, and willingly obeyed
every order of the young man who w^as putting
them through the exercises. At a sign from
Al'PKNDIX.
11. J
the sister, tlie young regiment tbrnied a single
(lie on ])oth sides of the room and saluted us
with a well-sung chorus in three parts. As we
turned to go, the little fellows raised their caps
with perfect grace, and then gave us the mili-
tary salute. I never saw a finer set of l»ovs
ranging from nine to twelve years of age.
*"• ' What an extensive huilding' I exclaimed,
as, hall after hall, crossiiig each other, puzzled
my vision — a veritable lal)yrinth.
" ' Do not fear,' was the laughing assurance
of our guide; ' we'll liud the way out again.'
""Turning aside, she pointed out the finely
laid out grounds of the convent, and then ush-
ered me into the Bahii-hoijK Wtiv<l. Some firty
or sixt}^ little fellows, from eighteen m<mths
to seven years of age, were gamlioliug al)()ut
their play-room. Some of the younger ones
were yet peram])ulating on all fours, others
rocking on wooden horses, l)ut all filled the
air with the lusty shouts that characterize this
stage of manhood. The sisters seemed not at
all incommoded by the noise of the youngsters,
thouii'li there was a veritable babel of sounds,
and to the remark I made in allusion thereof,
they smiled and said it was play hour, and
unless the little folks became unreasonably
boisterous, tliev v/ere left unchecked. * ^ Iiave
only to give a sign for silence ' said the sister,
14()
AIM'KN'DIX.
'mikI my litlk' troop ohcv.' In jiroof oi' which,
[)hiciii<i' herself so iis to he seen hy all, she
raised her hand, phieed a Hnjjjer on her lips,
and lo! as if ))y nnij2,ie, every little fellow
stood as still iis a statue, with fin<;er on mouth.
It was a surpi'ising sight. The next moment,
at a given signal, the statues heeame all life,
and the h!d)el of noise hurst foi'th with re-
newed vigor. Thanking the sisters, we moved
o)i from hall to hall, till we reached a succes-
sion of dormitories appertaining to the men's
ward. Ascending we were adndtted to the fine
church, which })ears the name of The Holy
Cross. Here I admired the l)eautiful white
marhle altars with their rows of statuary, and
the paintings which decorated the walls. A
sister was performing a fugue on the organ
which is a very tine one. Its rich sounds and
full pedal hass lilled the whole edifice, while
the soft notes sounded like musical whispers in
the distance. Treading lightly down the aisles
oi the edilice, I examined the massive iron
columns on their hase of solid gray cut stone.
There is a plainness and yet a richness in that
kind of interior work which 1 [)refer to the
hrilliant coloring seen in too great a proportion
of churches.
" Passing through the vestihnle with its
doors of solid oak. we turned into a large
ArrKxnrx.
II
corridor, iiimiiKlaled witli tlu' ravH of tlic niid-
diiv .siMi. To our liiilit. iis \\v proceeded on-
wiirdn, was the Hpacioiis iiiliriuarv tor tlie old
men, then came tlie ward which they }2;eneraily
occupy. Among over eighty invalids slieltered
ill tiiis ward, there are 8])ccimeus of almost all
kinds of sulleriug humanitv. Althouuh stvled
the 'old men's ward' it grieved me to see
there, young men reduced to a life of inaction,
using rolling chairs to replace the limbs unable
to support them. These occupants of rolling-
chairs were busily engaged in games of chess,
dominos, or cards, while the lovers of the
"weed" were in an adjoining smoking-room
pulTuig away like so many engines.
"■A higher story of the building is occupied
bv boai'ders who desire (uiiet with facilities
for assisting at church ceremonies. There are
bed-rooms, a large dining-room, a s])acious
drawing-room, etc., exclusively for their use.
" Still going upwards, I was agreeably sur-
prised at the beautiful view from the windows
on both sides of the wing. Facing Dorchester
Street, the eye roved over a considerable
extent of the St. Lawrence spanned by its
gigantic ))ridge, the verdant shores on the o[)i)o-
site side, pretty country villages and towns,
steamers and boats of many kinds speeding
with the current downwards towards Quebec
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148
APPENDIX.
or spinning rapidly into port. The pretty
St. Helen's Island was plainly visible. It was
at one time a military post; it is now a park.
"Turning from outdoor contemplation, our
cicerone pointed out rooms in all directions
whose occupants were either bedridden, aged
or harmless old women in their second infancy.
Entering the large ward, crowded with in-
mates, were old and young busily chatting,
laughing and singing. Here again the varied
phases of human ills were manifest — the lame,
the blind, the paralytic, etc., occupying chairs
of every variety. Many drawn up by the
windows were busily plying their knitting-
needles raid enjoying the view.
" On each side of the flats are tribunes or
galleries, where the inmates of the wards
can assist at all the services going on in the
church. Leaving this apartment, we proceeded
down the old women's reception hall and thence
stepped out on their spacious gallery. Oh, what
a glorious sight! The vast building stood forth
in all its splendid proportions, with out-houses
and accessories, seated as it were in the midst
of verdure and Howers. The beautiful mountain
rose up in the rear, its sides dotted with rich
chateaux of various architecture.
'' ' I am going to take you still higher up, to
the orphan girls' apartments' said our kind
APPENDIX.
140
guide. We were shown through school-rooms,
the refectory and a hirge dormitory, with beds
of all sizes, from those for girls of twelve or
fourteen years, to the tinv cots for little ones
hardly over their second summer. Precision,
order and cleanliness rein-ned everywhere. The
curtains, coverlets, etc., were all snowy white.
The floors, devoid of paint, were as yellow
as gold, and the stained ones shone like glass.
The rooms I had just gone through were va-
cant, hut a busy hum and singing were signs
that their ordinary inmates were in the vicin-
ity. A door was opened and I entered the
recreation-room, a spacious apartment ])eauti-
fully lighted up by windows on three sides,
while the view from the end opposite was
a i)erfect panorama. Among the hundred chil-
dren we met here, some twenty little ones
from seven to ten years, were gaily dancing
round a May-pole, winding and unwinding the
colored riblxnis with uraceful dexterity. Quite
a number of little toddlers were occupied in a
game of ,7>v(/>, each one trying to seize her
neigh))or's doll, or mount a rocking-horse. The
ribbons of the May-pole hung loose — the dance
was ended. The elder girls formed into rows,
and keeping time with their own voices, went
through a graceful calisthenic exercise. I left
the room pondering over the gaiety reigning
150
APPENDIX.
throughout the whole establishment. I had to
acknowledge that, after all, convents were not
prisons.
" My reflections were still running on, when
I was recalled to myself by the announcement
that we were entering the Creche (Nursery).
" I could hardly realize that from fifty to
sixty cribs were before me, many among them
having an occupant. I suppose I must, manlike,
have formed very erroneous ideas of a nursery,
for I expected a perfect squall owing to the
number. I happened to give utterance to this
thought and war answered by a sister who
remarked ' there is a lull in the storm but let
one start a cry, every one of the others will
soon join in.'
" Retracing my steps after having seen the
greater part of the establishment, I again found
mvself at the entrance door which I had crossed
nearly three hours previous. I stood for a mo-
ment to look at the Red Cross pointed out to
me through a side window, then with thanks to
the Sister for her kindness, and begging her to
accept an alms for the establishment, I crossed
the threshold and passed out into the rush and
bustle of the world bearing with me a truly
pleasant impression of my visit to the Grey
Nunnerv."
APPENDIX.
lol
Three flouriHliiiig coniinunities of Grey Nuns,
situated respectively in St. Hyacinth, P. Q,,
Ottawa, Out., and Quebec, rejoice in tracinj;
back their origin to the House founded by M*^**
d'Youville, •■' :\ continue to foster the ijpirit of
their Venerable Foundress. Although inde-
pendent of the Grey Nunnery of Montreal, and
organized under separate administrations with
full control of their several interests and in-
ternal managenient, they pursue their lal)or
of love in perfect union of heart Avith the
Mother-House, and, with the divine blessing,
co-operate most effectually in the accomplish-
ittten'C of the same nolile object. From huml)le
beginnings, and with no other reliance than
Providence, they have increased in numbers
and prospered l)eyond the most sanguine expec-
tations of their founders. In response to numer-
ous appeals, they liave l)ranched out in several
localities, and in these new centres thcv render
to religion and society most important services
by the charitable and educational establish-
ments placed under their charge.
The Hotel-Dieu of St. Hyacinth, P. Q. , was
founded in 1840. Since that time, missions
have been established in the following h)cali-
ties, all of which remain sul)ject to the Gener-d
Superior at St. Hyacinth.
152
APPENDIX.
In the Province op Quebec.
Homes and industri.n,! houses for the poor
and orphans at St. Hyacinth, Sorel, Marieville,
Sherbrooke, Fariihani and St. Denis.
In the United States: 2 homes for poor
invalids and orphans at Lewiston, Me., 1 hos-
pital, 1 orphan asylum and infants' scliool at
Manchester, N. H.
The Hotel-Dieu of Nicole t, P. Q., was also
founded in 1886, by four sisters from St. Hya-
cinth. It is, however, independent of the
latter. This rising comnuniity has established
1 hospital and 1 school, for the Ijenefit of the
Indians of the Blood Reserve at MacLeod, N. W.
Territory.
The Convent of the Grey Nuns of Ottawa was
founded in 1845. The following are its depend-
ent estal>lishments :
In the Province of Ontario.
At Ottawa: Young Ladies' Literary In-
stitute; 12 parochial schools; 2 homes for the
poor; 2 orphan asylums; 1 foundling asylum.
At Pembroke : 1 boarding school ; 1 parochial
school and 1 h(jspital ; parochial schools in
Eganville, Orleans,- Embrun, Hawkesbury and
Casselman.
mm
APPExVDIX.
153
In the Province op Quebec.
Parochial sch Ah at Aylnier, Monte hello,
Buckingham, Hull, Maniwaki, Point (iratinesiu,
St. Fran^'ois-du-Lac and Pointe du Lac; hoard-
ing schools at Aylnier, St. Fran(;ois-du-La(^ and
Pointe du Lac; 1 home for the poor at St.
FranCj'ois-du-Lac.
In the United States.
New York. At Buftalo: 1 hoarding school
and 2 parochial schools. At Plattshurg: 1 hoard-
ing school and 1 parochial school. At Ogdens-
hurg : 2 parochial schools, 1 hospital and 1
orphan asylum.
Massachusetts. At Lowell : 2 parochial schools.
At Haverhill : 1 parochial school.
The Convent of the Grey Nuns of Quehec,
was founded in 184U. The following are its
dependent hranches:
In the Province op Quebec.
At Quehec : 1 home for aged and infirm
women ; 1 orphan asylum ; 1 boarding and
day school for little Ijoys; parochial scliools
and 1 infants' school. At Rimouski : 1 iiome for
the poor, \ orphan asylum, 1 ])oarding and day-
school. Hospitals and homes for the poor at St.
Thomas de Montmagny, Labrador (Pointe aux
154
APPENDIX.
Esquiinaiix), St. Fordinancl de Halifax. Board-
ing and day-schools at Cacouna, d'EschanihaMlt.
Somerset, Carleton (Baie des Chaleurs), St.
Nicholas, St. Joseph de la Beauce, Malhaie,
St. Anseluie, St. Charles de Bellechasse, St.
Alexandre, Cap Rouge and Cap St. Ignace.
Asylums for the insane at Beauport and St.
Ferdinand de Halifax.
At Charlotte town, P. E. I. 1 hospital.
At Fall River, Mass. U. S. 1 hospital and
1 orphan asylum.
In the present year (1895) the numher of
professed Grey Nuns is lo53. The charitahle
and educational establishments conunitted to
their care, number 130.
In the former 0,860 poor inmates are pro-
vided for, and in the latter 21,594 children are
instructed.
End.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
Page.
Early life of M^f d'Yoiiville. — God makes known
lo her that she is called to form a new Instilnle
and lo restore the General Hospital of Villemarie. I
CHAPTER II.
Fonndation and decline of the General Hospital. —
\Ide d'Yoiiville and her companions rent a house
lo receive the pooi' of both sexes. — Persecutions
to which these ladies are subjected. — The .
Governor of Montreal and others petition against
M. Normant's conduct as Vicar General, respect-
ing the General Hospital 13
CHAPTER III.
Death of M'le Gnsson. — Various trials permitted
by Divine Providence to prepare M^® d'Youville ,
and her companions for the work to which they
are called 19
CHAPTER IV.
The authorities place M^e d'Youville temporarily
in charge of the General Hospital 25
■MP
mimtF
mm
156
CONTENTS.
CIIAPTEH V.
Haij^li and unjust liealmentol" M''^' d'YoMvillo by
M. Bigot. — Or(liuauc«i published al Muulival
uniting its llospilal to that of Qncbi'c. — M«»o
rrYcuvilb; and others petition against the onli-
uanco ;U
ClIAl'TER VI.
M''*' d'Yonville and hei* companions favored by
the Court. — 'Ihe King's Letters patent. — Con-
structions and improvements. — General good
will manifesied in the assistaiu-e she rec;'iv<'s
from all classes 42
CHAPTER VLI.
I
The Bishop visits the General llospilal. — He
establishes M^'^d' Yonvilh'and herconiiianionsas
a religious community. — Their Rule. — Dress.
— Assistant and Novice-Mistress
4/
CHAPTER VIII.
Mde d'Youville's appearance and character 53
CHAPTER IX.
Mde d'Y'ouville's devotion to the poor. — Her di-
vers works of charily. — She succors English
soldiers. — Different means adopted to increase
their income 56
CONTENTS.
157
ClIAl'TEU X.
Mdo d'Youville's kindiicss to English soltliers G3
CIIAl'TER XI.
Famino caused by the war. — Bairels of flour
found in llie conviMit n.'i'eclory. — The Kuglisli
invest Mjntroal. — Tiio iios[»ilal saved at the
prayer of a soldier who had been succored by
MJe d'Youville. — Death of His Lordship Mgr.
de Ponlbriand and of M. Norniant G7
CHAPTER XII.
The conquest of Ganaila by the English which
at first appeared disastrous, proved eventually
beneficial .... 12
CHAPTER XIII.
Poverty of the colony after the conquest. — M'^"
d'Youville undertakes the care of foundlings.
— A miraculous incident 78
CHAPTER XIV.
The General Hospital destroyed by lire. — Wliat
fui'nitui'e was saved fi'oni the destructive element
carried off by robbers. — The conmiunily and
poor say the Te Deuni. — M^'® d'Youville's jire-
diction that the General Hospital will not be
again destroyed by fire 84
mr^'im
w^
158
CUNTENTS.
CIIAPTKK XV.
Tlu' (Iroy Ntins and iIkmi' podr UiiifUy reroived al
tli(! IIoli'l Dicii. — TIk! (iciicral Hospital rclmill.
— Liberal aid given by llu; Seminary and nlbers.
— Tlie citizens of London snbscribe. — Striking
exanj[»les of God's piovidenee 90
CIIAPTEU XVI.
Mile d'Youvillo acquires the Seigniory of CliAteau-
gnay, on vvbicli she bnilds a grist mill. — She
conslrncts a large two-story house at Point St.
Ciiarles. — Account of the ditl'erent buildings at
Isle SI. Bernard, etc 05
CIIAPTEU XVII.
Mde d'Youville's virtues as described by M. Satin... 103
CHAPTER XVIII.
\Ido d'Youville's illn(>ss and death. — Her last
words. — Remarkable; appearances. — General
belief in her sanctity. — Process of canonization
begun at Rome in 1800 lOG
Appendix 113
95