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 1 
 
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 N^OTHEI^ Q^ 
 
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 ims ri.Ex>aK of our i.ove 
 
MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE, 
 
 Houndres.s. 
 
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 M'n'riKK i»i: \a .wi-imtk 
 
 ,>Nil TMK 
 
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 i*-; 
 
 Hiiriii of ilic (\,!njii,i,,ity 
 
 3I3TERS OF VtlSEEICQRDE 
 
 l-i-lM-lHOf-* 
 
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 " ■■til. r iij-it <•(,.■./„,.,/„, 
 
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 MONTHtAt . 
 
 ^iONTHKAi 
 
 '(i iN VIUl I ,. , tv,,- \\y^y >|i-.j.f-. 
 
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 ■'. iir.R uM : \ N.\Tiv in- 
 
//^6. 
 
 MOTHKR 1)E LA NATIVITE 
 
 AND THE 
 
 Origin of tlie Communitj 
 
 OF Tin 
 
 SISTERS OP MISERICORDE 
 
 184tt.l©9« 
 
 
 ^-— ^^^T'"'^ (Matt. v. 7.) 
 
 y h^/rw**- '"" ""^ >"<:rcifuli for they 
 . <^ ^nall obtain mercy. ' 
 
 MONTREAL, 
 
 MONTREAL 
 
 PlilNTUNu OfFIi.K of THK Issfl 
 
 ri'Tiox Fui: Deaf Mutes 
 
 1898 
 
It! • / 
 
 2 7 V 1 5 
 
 Imprimatur 
 
 ►J< PAULUS, Archiep. Marianapolitanus. 
 
 MoNTKEAL, June 25th, 1898. 
 
MOST F r^V. PAUL HRUCHKSI, 
 
 Secon.l Archliisliop of Montre.i!. 
 
 Kta. LAFRte « lAVCHGNl 
 
'11 
 
 f! 
 
 fi: 
 
I 
 
 5 ^ ^ _4^ ^^^_ .^k- ^ -'i _ T -^ 
 
 -T-*^— "^X^ .^X^_ "sir-* ^ 
 
 £ -T" ■■";^'^-' 
 
 ^i:?C^S§^g| 
 
 
 "T- 
 
 AUTHOR'S PREFACE 
 
 [^"N Januarv IGth, 1898, feast of the 
 "i ITolv Name of Jc^us, the Sisters of 
 
 Miserioonlc* «rratofiillv celebrated 
 the Fiftieth Aiiiiivcivary of their found- 
 ion. 
 
 Many friends of the Commnnit}*, both 
 among the clergy and lait\% had eagerly assembled 
 to lake part in the joy of thei^e Angels of cliarity, 
 and, united in tlie same sanctuary, at the foot of 
 the same altar, to offer up to heaven tlie incense of 
 their gratitude for the rtast and tlieir fervent sup- 
 plications for tlie future of the Community. In the 
 morning, Dom Antoine, Mitreil A)»l)Ot of tlie Trap- 
 pist Fathers of Oka, ofh-red the Holy Sacrifice, and 
 in the evening, His (nlrace Archhis^liop Bruchesi of 
 
1 
 
 .'( 
 
 1 1 
 
 VI 
 
 AUTHOR S PREFACE 
 
 11 
 
 ' 1 
 
 u 
 
 Hi 
 I 
 
 Montreal, before giving solemn Benediction of the 
 Blessed Sacrament, delivered an address that drew 
 tears from the eyes of all jtresent. 
 
 After a touching reference to the merciful good- 
 ness of our Saviour in regard to fallen women, — the 
 woman of Samaria, the woman found in adultery, 
 
 St. Mary Magdelenc, His Grace continued : 
 
 — " This work of goodness and mercy of Jesus is 
 " being carried on throughout the ages and has 
 
 " been accomplished here for fifty years past 
 
 " If you only knew, my dear brethren, all the good 
 " that is done in this house ; if j-ou only knew all 
 " the sorrows, all the misfortunes, all the anguish 
 " which have found a refuge and relief byneath 
 " this blessed roof during the past fifty years ! 
 
 " If you only knew with what self-sacrifice, what 
 " discretion, what scrupulous reserve charity is 
 " exercised here ! If you only knew 'W niany 
 " families owe to this house the preservation of their 
 " honor in the eyes of the world ! No, no, the 
 " miracles of grace worked within these walls are 
 " unknown. Xot only do unfortunate young girls 
 " find here a refuge from shame and despair but 
 " they also recover the friendship of God and learn 
 " to practise the most beautiful virtues. — Elsewhere, 
 " the good accomplished is se- n ; here, it is hidden 
 " and must remain hidden ! Behold the peculiar 
 
"I* 
 
 AUTHOR S PREFACE 
 
 VII 
 
 , what 
 
 y i« 
 
 11) any 
 
 their 
 
 , the 
 
 s are 
 
 tjirls 
 
 • hut 
 
 learn 
 
 here, 
 
 iihlen 
 
 euliur 
 
 " merit of the Sisters of this Community ! Behold 
 " the special characteristic of their Institute." 
 
 These words inspired and have sustained the idea 
 of this work, and they would, if needed, justify 
 it. Our desire has heen to make known and cause 
 to he duly appreciated a Communit}-, which like 
 many others, is a native born child of our own City, 
 and which, in spite of the obscurity wherein from 
 the nature of its labors, it must abide, has never 
 ceased, during half a century, to deserve well of 
 the Church and of societv in Canada. If we must 
 refrain from making known to the public, the many 
 " miracles of goodness and grace" which have been 
 worked in the shade and mystery of this solitude, 
 and which will be revealed in all their splendor only 
 beyond the limits of time, the hand of piety may, 
 it seems to us, at least gather up the crumbs that 
 fall from the continual feast given to God bv holv 
 souls, and it is well to save the 0-agmeivts of the 
 living bread of good example, lest they perish 
 without profit. Our task has been an easy and 
 consoling one, avc had oidy to relate events in their 
 order. May we have succeeded in doing so with 
 simplicity, according to our desire. The sitectacle 
 of a woman of lunnble rank without other arms 
 than her faith and her charity, struggling against 
 the dilHculties that nature most dreads : — jiovcrty, 
 
VIII 
 
 author's preface 
 
 I . 
 
 contradictions, mockiiig ami sarcastic irony, natural 
 loatliintj^ and all kinds of ^uttering ; and on tlie 
 other liand, God ntemplating the seemingly un- 
 equal contest, and sending help in season, and finally 
 rewarding and crowning the virtue which hoped in 
 llini alone ; — is moving enough hy itself to dispel the 
 thought, had it come to our mind, of seeking to 
 endjcllish it by borrowed ornaments. 
 
 We have not been able to defend ourself from 
 lively emotion in jn'oportion as the existence of 
 Mother de la Nativite and her tirst companions, so 
 complete and so great in its humility, has been un- 
 folded before our eyes and we cannot dissemble 
 that we have felt the desire of sharing our feelings 
 with all the friends and benefactors of " La Miseri- 
 corde." To them this book is specially addressed. 
 May they be pleased to receive it as a feeble 
 manilestation of a gratitude that can never be fully 
 expressed. 
 
 On reading the biographical sketch consecrated 
 to the memory of this pious foundress, and the 
 painful beginnings of her work, the relation of the 
 sacrifices of the early religious, the slow but pro- 
 gressive development of the Community during the 
 period closed by this Jubilee year, they will, we 
 know, bless God for having inspired them with the 
 desire and the will of making su^h a noble use of 
 
AUTHORS PREFACE 
 
 IX 
 
 their wealtli, and hy associiiting tlieni in the work 
 of His mercy on eartli, given them tlie sweet 
 assurance of sharing one day in His promise : 
 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall ol)tain 
 mercy." 
 
 Lastly, we are happy to add a new page to the 
 annals of the religious Communities of Canada and 
 of the charitable works of " Ville-Marie." Spring- 
 ing up at the liour marked by Providence to answer 
 the needs that the increasing population of a great 
 city daily multiplies, tliey have all worked with 
 zeal and prudence and rapidly won and merited the 
 admiration and gratitude of Christian souls.— A 
 city may well be proud, when after having engraved 
 on the frontispiece of her religious history the name 
 of the Venerable Marguerite Bourgeois and the 
 Congregation of Notre Dame, and inscribed in her 
 annals in the course of vears, the names of 
 Venerable Mother d'Youville and the Grcv nuns, 
 Motlier Gamelin and the Sis+rs of rrovidence. 
 Mother Mario-Rose and her daughters,— she can add 
 on the last page, with Mother Marie-Anne and the 
 Sisters of St. Aim, the name of Mother de la Nati- 
 vite and the Sisters of Misericorde. But God forbid 
 that wo should draw vanity from the gifts which 
 He, in His bounty dispenses, or even for an instant 
 forget that to Him alone belongs the glory, and 
 
I •< : 
 
 lil^ 
 
 I ] 
 
 n I 
 
 I 
 
 '! I 
 
 I !'■ 
 
 
 X 
 
 AUTHORS PREFACE 
 
 that to Ilim alone sliould arise our hymn of 
 gratitude : " No)) nuhls Domrne, non nobis, sed 
 iiommi t'-f-i da Ghriam. ! " 
 
 L. J. C. 
 
 
 :! 'ji 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
 ■I .li 
 
BOOK I 
 
 LIFE of the FOUNDEESS 
 
 AND 
 
 ORIGIN OF THE WORK 
 
 (ia4G-iae4) 
 
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 ■'i; 
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 4» 
 
 J"' 
 
 I 
 
 ;' t. 
 
 
 f 1. 
 
 j 
 

 CIIArTER 1st 
 
 Childhood— Marriage — Happiness. 
 
 f'inil iiilliiir iitiiiur miini... f/iiHuivi 
 siipiriiliiiiii. , . iimbiiliirit ji'k iihiih ilir 
 nrtinii. (Kc CI.. 1. IS-UI.) 
 
 Wlit'ii I WHS jef younii. . . I sought lor 
 wisdom. . . My foot wiilkud in the right 
 w.'iy. 
 
 iqJ:x,:< 
 
 ^ 
 
 |\'.^|/J-9i/^ HE suniiiRT toiiri.st (U'scouding the 
 •^^f^^'^-ii Majestic St. Lawrence tVoiu Mont- 
 / real to Quebec, may discover through 
 
 ^ the transparent veil of twilight, a 
 modest church situated near the left bank 
 of the river, and half hidden bv a screen of 
 foliage. Its tall spire rises towards Heaven like 
 the incense of the evening prayer, scattered here 
 and there at a short distance from the church are 
 to be seen small country houses overshadowed by 
 sturdy elms and maples and surrounded by small 
 gardens where nature's loveliest flowers bloom 
 beside her most useful productions. Such is the 
 
'1 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 :( 
 
 ''■ 
 
 . 11 
 
 « : 
 
 •li: 
 
 
 1 
 
 villaeje of Lavjiltrio whose touiidiition dates from 
 the earlicHt davn of the XVIIIth century, l^evond 
 the vilhige stretch forth fcrtiU; meadows and vast 
 tiehln of oats and harh'v, hedged at intervals by 
 lines of shruhs and thickets. Towards the north 
 the level soil rises by degrees, until the low hills 
 seeni to meet the sky and form the boundary of the 
 horizon. The bauics of the river are rather low, 
 but at the same time so broken and diversified as 
 to be of an agreable aspect. A large island rises 
 from the water in front of the village, and with its 
 crown of verdure, its gray }tatches of shingle and 
 boulders, and above all the anticpie light-houses 
 that are still to be seen on its heights, it forms a 
 landscape which the weary traveller looks upon 
 with pleasure and interest. 
 
 The greater part ot the inhabitants of Lavaltrie 
 are farmers, and although not rich, yet they are 
 fairly well-to-do and enjoy the moderate comforts 
 which arc the just reward of their labor. The 
 sturdy faith and virtues of their forefathers are 
 their most precious inheritance, and many a time 
 has God found among their children His chosen 
 ones, to abide in His sanctuary and become the 
 instruments of His mercies to man. 
 
 Such was indeed Marie Rosalie Cadron, the future 
 foundress of the Sisters of Misericorde. Her father 
 
THE ORKHN OF THE SISTERS (»F MISERICORDE 
 
 5 
 
 f 
 
 i 
 
 Aiitoiiie Ca<lron, or Caderoii, lived on tlio produce 
 of liis fields and her mother, Rosalie Roy, was the 
 daiigliter of an honest farmer living in the same 
 j»arish. Both were sincere and generous Christians 
 of a type which, God he thanke<l, luis not entirely 
 disapi»eared from our rural districts. God held the 
 l>lace of honor at their fireside, and His holy law 
 was the rule of their dailv actions. We are told 
 that Antoine Cadron was a model of patience and 
 suhnnssion to the will of God, whilst his young 
 wife was remarkahle for her energy, her moral 
 strength and lier grea prudence. 
 
 God hlessed their u lion by the birth of three 
 children : Marie Kosalie, whose biography we are 
 now attempting to write ; Sophie, who outlived her 
 pious sister several years, and a boy wlio died 
 while joung. 
 
 Marie Rosalie was born on the 27tli of February, 
 1794, and her pious parents had her regenerated in 
 the sacrament of Bajttism on the same day. The 
 venerable parish priest, M. Lamothe, infused into 
 her young soul that grace of christian life which 
 was one day to bloom forth in such beautiful flowers 
 and produce such excellent fruits of righteousness. 
 Did a supernatural light enlighten the pastor's 
 mind, as to the child's future life, during these holy 
 ceremonies? 'Tis more than we can say. However 
 
1 
 
 6 
 
 MliTUKU I)K LA NATIVITK ANI> 
 
 that iiiav bo, later on, lie told Madame (^^idroii to 
 carefully watch over Marie Rosalie, declaring llial 
 she was destined to aecuiiiplish great thingn in the 
 service ol' God. 
 
 " Facts have Justified this presentiment," sai<l 
 the saintly Hisliop Bourget ; " she was truly a chi 1 
 " of predilection, not only in virtue of tlic graces 
 " with wliich she was endowed, but also through 
 " the virtues which she practised from her infancy." 
 
 From lier earliest youth Marie Rosalie showed 
 forth unequivocal marks of the hoi}' life she was 
 one day to lead. Would it were given us to pene- 
 trate under the liundde roof tliat sheltered her 
 youthful days and revive some of those charming 
 family scenes enlivened an<l sanctified ))y the Joyous 
 innocence of tlic child, but time which respects 
 notliing, has destroyed this modest dwelling and 
 effaced avorx trace of its existence. We are tlius 
 reduced to general evidence unadorned by any par- 
 ticular object or fact : this evidence, however, is itself 
 of great value. According to her mother's testimony 
 Marie Rosalie had not the faults generally seen in 
 children of her age, but from her earliest childhood 
 was a model of obedience, piety and industry, and 
 such was the harmony of the virtues to be seen in 
 her, that she was looked \\\)or\ as a "perfect" child. 
 
 Above all she was full of charity for the unfort- 
 
 « 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE 8I8TBR8 OP MI8ERIC0RDE 
 
 uiiato. The very sight ot th'jin moved her soul to 
 pity and nhe <lid everytliing iti her power to help 
 them witli u motherly tenderness. Oiten wu.-; 8he 
 to he seen deprivin<:: lierselt" of u part of her own 
 elotliing, in favor of the indigent. Did she liappen 
 to learn that any of them were siek, slie immediately 
 hastened to their l)edside, to lavish on them tender 
 care and eonsoling words. It might have been said 
 even then, tliat the poor were " lier most intimate 
 friends." We shall seo this B\nr\t of eompassion 
 and eharity increase with her years. 
 
 Endowed with an intelligent mind and sound 
 judgment, Marie Rosalie soon mastered tlieelenients 
 of instruction, such as then taught in country 
 schools, and her parents decided to gWe her a better 
 education, by jtlacing lier under the care of tlie 
 Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Drnie. Con- 
 vent school life did not agree with her natural 
 activity, and lier father was soon obliged to take her 
 from the convent for fear the constraint might 
 seriously injure her health. 
 
 On lier return home, Marie llosalie recovered her 
 health and spirits and soon resumed her former 
 way of life in the parish where she was known and 
 loved for her virtues. 
 
 She had attained her seventeenth year when her 
 ; :ents thought of marrying her to Jean-Marie 
 
^1 
 
 i: 
 
 
 M 
 
 Jettc whom she luid known .since ()ill<lli<x»«l- The 
 marriage was celebrated the 7th of Octolier, 1811. 
 The young man was an excellent matcli. Of a 
 generous and good disposition, aniniati.tl by strong 
 faith ami fervor in the practice of chrii«tian dntiefl, 
 Jette was capable of appreciating the virtues of his 
 young wife and worthy of seconding her in her 
 good works. The marriage did not caui?e a separa- 
 tion in the Cadron family. Marie Kosalie continned 
 living with her parents, who gave up u jjart of 
 their house to the newdy married couple. His 
 health beginning to fail soon after, Mr. Cadron gave 
 up to his daughter and her husband the house and 
 their portion of his estate, conditioned on their 
 undertaking to care for* their parents until the end 
 of their life. He died the next year and Madame 
 Jette grieved long over his loss : her mother 
 remained to her and was still to be her consolation 
 for the next twenty-iive years ; she was also to lie to 
 her the occasion of many sacrifices and much merit 
 on account of the infirmitie.. with which she was 
 stricken in her old age. 
 
 Those who knew Marie Rosalie during her girl- 
 hood, could easily surmise what she would l>e in 
 her new state of life. A loving and devote<l wife, 
 a tender and watchful mother and a1>ove all a fer- 
 vent Christian, vigilantly consecrating all the leisure 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 9 
 
 rgirl- 
 
 Ih? in 
 
 wife, 
 
 a fer- 
 
 eisnre 
 
 moments of her laborious life to works of zeal and 
 charity, such was her daily life during the twenty- 
 two years she lived in the iriarriage state. Eleven 
 children were given her; six only, — two girls and 
 four hoys, — grew up. Gotl claimed the five others 
 while yet they wore their bapti:snial robe of innocence. 
 
 Madame Jette wa^j deeply impressed with the 
 sense of her duty towards her children. Looking 
 upon them as a deposit confided to her watchful 
 care by divine Providence, she brought them up 
 rather for God than for herself, wishing above all 
 things to make them gofnl Christians To succeed 
 in this difficult task she had only to infuse the 
 sentiments of her own soul into theirs, and this was 
 one ot the greatest objects of her sollicitude in life. 
 
 Whilst teaching them the elements of religion, 
 she endeavored at the same time to form their 
 hearts to piety, and to imbue their souls with that 
 strong faith that sees and blesses the hand of God 
 in all the events of life. 
 
 We shall often have theopportunity of remarking 
 this disposition of iilial trust in divine Providence, 
 which was the predominant feature of Madame 
 Jetto s whole life and sustained her amidst the 
 trials she had to undergo. After her death, one of 
 her daughters wrote : " Mother never ceased (jiviuc: 
 " us an example of resignation, no matter what 
 
 ^i^^Sk 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 10 
 
 MOTUER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 . t Uffli 
 
 I 
 
 !( 
 
 ■» 
 
 •li'l 
 
 I 
 
 " happened ; she always remained calm in time of 
 " trial, and resigned and submissive in adversity ; 
 " her only words were : 'Tie God's will, — blessed be 
 " His Holy name. Nothing seemed to afflict her 
 " more than to see others wanting confidence in 
 " God's goodness. How often '^ have heard her 
 " upbraid persons wlio gave way to murmurs 
 " against the divine Will !" 
 
 While she taught her children to receive with 
 txie like gratitude both the good and the ills of life, 
 as they came from the hand of God, she was no less 
 solicitous to instill into their youthful hearts great 
 charity and gentleness towards their neighbor. 
 Hence she often recommended to them never to 
 nourish feelings of resentment towards any one. 
 " Even though they may have done you the 
 " greatest possible wrong," said she, " never take 
 " revenge ; we must forgive if wc wish to be 
 ' forgiven ourselves. Let us endure for the love of 
 " God, all that others cause us to sufi'er, those that 
 " insult us know not what they are doing." 
 
 Madame Jettc practised faithfully herself what 
 she thus recommended to her children, and lived 
 always in perfect harmony with her neighbors. She 
 would never suffer or listen to backbiting and those 
 slanderous reports that circulate so freely in the 
 world ; her charity enabled her to explain and 
 
 1 Ik' 
 
 1 !i- 
 
 I! 'M' 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 11 
 
 excuse everytliing, and if it became necessary to 
 remonstra.te with those who forgot tliemselvcs in 
 her presence, she liesitated not to do it. Slie always 
 gave tlie lesson with so much diarity and mildness, 
 however, that it was accepted without a murmur. 
 The charity that she showed tow^ards the unfort- 
 unate in her childhood was far from diminishino; 
 Avith time ; on the contrary it became more intense 
 as she advanced in years. Moreover, Mr. Jette 
 was a precious auxiliary to her. This excellent 
 man loved the poor, and the door of his dwelling 
 was open day and night to them. The village ot 
 Lavaltrie being on the highway from Montreal to 
 Quebec, many were the poor families and workmen 
 that passed through it, on their w^ay to Lhc city in 
 quest of work, especially during those early years 
 when railways had not yet facilitated the means of 
 communication between towns and cities. The Jette 
 homestead was ever wide open to all the poor and 
 infortunate ; not only were they received when they 
 themselves sought hospitality, but it was most 
 generously offered to them before they had expressed 
 a wish. Madame Jette especially was always on 
 the look-out. Her sister Sophie said : " I have often 
 seen her go to meet indigent families who were 
 seeking a shelter, and offer them hospitality for the 
 night, if it was during the summer season, or for 
 
12 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 ti 
 
 ti 
 
 several days and even weeks during the rigorous 
 Canadian winters. Once especially, a poor Indian 
 family was housed for a whole week. The appear- 
 ance of the guests thus received was at times suspi- 
 cious, and Madame Jette on such occasions made 
 known her fears to her husband, hut that courageous 
 Christian invariably made light of her anxiety and 
 silenced his own repugnant feelings. "Fear nothing," 
 he would say, " God will protect us, it is better to 
 watch all night than to refuse hospitality." We 
 may well believe that such words as these did not 
 fail to quiet the apprehensions of the noble hearted 
 woman. 
 
 The poor never asked her help in vain. One 
 day she had just taken from the oven a nice cake 
 which was to have been a treat for her own children, 
 when there appeared on the scene a poor beggar, 
 whose emaciated face told )f long fasting and sutfer- 
 ing, asking for a piece of bread for the love of God. 
 Without a moment's hesitation Madame Jette gave 
 him the warm cake. Her christian spirit had 
 triumphed over her motherly love. At other times 
 she did not wait for the poor to knock at her door, 
 but went forward to meet them and solace them in 
 their cruel suiferings. nnd in her visits to the homes 
 of the indigent she never went empty-handed. 
 Now she carried them fresh eggs or vegetables 
 
 :*. 
 
 M 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 13 
 
 i 
 
 from her garden, and at another time chicken or 
 fruit, knowing well that the joy produced in the 
 heart by a friendly word is never cc^mplete, unless 
 accompanied by those charitable deeds that take 
 away all anxiety for bodily wants from the minds 
 of the poor and needy. She was most solicitous 
 for the sick and especially- when tlieir recovery was 
 despaired of. Her sister writes : " 1 have often 
 " seen her pass hours beside the bed of dying per- 
 " sons, talking to them of the joys of Heaven and 
 " the mercies of God, in order to increase their 
 " confidence and alleviate the sufferings of their 
 " last moments : nor did she fear to speak of God's 
 " vengeance and the everlasting punishment due to 
 " sinners, when she judged it tiecessary to do so in 
 " order to excite contrition in their hearts and pre- 
 " pare them worthily to receive God's pardon." 
 
 When any of the neighboring families were visited 
 by death, Madame Jette was always the first to 
 render fill the services required in such cases : she 
 helped lay out the body for burial and often furnished 
 the material from her own resources. After having 
 thusaftbrded material aid, she poured into the hearts 
 of the atHicted family the sweet balm of pious con- 
 solations so much needed and appreciated in time 
 of bereavement. 
 
 One of the spiritual works of mercy dear to 
 
Tsmm 
 
 14 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 N 
 
 li '& 
 
 1 M 
 
 Madame Jctte's heart was to instruct young ehiltlren 
 preparing for tlioir First Coninuinion. After ques- 
 tioning them carei'ully in the Catechism she would 
 give them a few short and impressive explanations, 
 striving ahove all to inspire them with the love 
 of God and virtue. What a charming sight to see 
 her surrounded hy a dozen of her young pupils: 
 what emotion in her voice when she strove to inspire 
 them with a horror for vice and especially for sacri- 
 legious confessions and Communions. With what 
 penetrating unction did she not exhort them to place 
 Iheir confidence in the mother of God and to pre- 
 serve their hearts pure from the stain of sin ; and 
 with what accents of gratitude mingled with desire 
 did she not tell them of the joys of Heaven, and 
 remind them of all that God has done and still 
 does daily for our salvation ! She taught them also 
 pious hymns and sang wath them herself. Thanks 
 to her zeal and patience the children were well 
 prepared for the great day of their First Communion, 
 and the good parish priest was never obliged to 
 refuse admittance to the Sacred Banquet to any of 
 those sent to him by Madame Jette. Not only did 
 she care for the souls of these little ones ; she also 
 provided for their exterior needs by making cloth- 
 ing for those that belonged to poor families. 
 
 She was remarkably skilful \.i needlework. Like 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 15 
 
 ill ; and 
 
 i 
 
 4 
 
 tlie valiant woman wlione portrait is admirably 
 traced in the book of Proverbs, she knew bow to 
 make good clothes for those of her family, and her 
 bands alone sufHced to keep them clad with neatness 
 and decency. The interior of her household rellected 
 the peace and order that reigned in her own soul. 
 Simplicity and neatness were visible everywhere. 
 " There was a place for everything and everything 
 in its place," and according to her sister's words 
 " the most captions critic would not have been able 
 to tind fault with anything." 
 
 One of the most striking features of Madame 
 Jettc's moral character was her unchanuinu' u'cntle- 
 ness. Never did the smallest cloud overshadow 
 her iireside ; ever tender and obliging towards her 
 husband, mild and patient with her servants, she 
 always managed to banish even the most trivial 
 cause of dispute or bitterness. When she was 
 obliged to correct her children, she did it firmly, 
 but also with mildness and prudence. So rarely 
 was she heard to utter an impatient word, that she 
 seemed to be almost perfectly free from those 
 weaknesses, from which no liuman soul can be 
 completely exemfjt. Trials and tribulations did 
 not disturb her admirable serenity of mind, she 
 received them meekly from the hand of our Hea- 
 venly Father and joyfully went her way without a 
 shade of ill-humor. 
 
 
 i 
 
ti 
 
 lU 
 
 16 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 If we pay attention wc shall see later on, her 
 tranquillity in tribnlationn, lier meekness in suft'er- 
 ing, and her serenity amid hnmiliiitions, increase 
 and grow stronger and linally reach the proportions 
 of true heroism. 
 
 But there was nothing stiff and repulsive in 
 Madame Jette's virtues. She was naturally amiable 
 and lent herself easily to the relaxations and annise- 
 ments required in educating youth. She was fond 
 of fishing, and in her leisure moments she often 
 gave herself up to this imiocent pleasure with her 
 oldest children. "What impressions nuist not her 
 noble and delicate soul have experienced at the 
 sight of the mighty St. Lawrence, with its many 
 verdant isles adorned with trees of every possible 
 variety, and its majestic stream hastening onwards 
 ever towards the darkening cast, while in the west 
 the setting sun seemed to linger for a moment on 
 the horizon and cast a regretful look backwards, 
 over its course before yielding up to night the rule 
 of the heavens. "SVe are here reduced to conjectures, . 
 but is it not natural to think that God, who makes 
 all things work together for the good of those souls 
 as to whom he has special designs, made use of 
 those great spectacles of nature to raise his servant's 
 heart to Ilim, to manifest to her some inkling of 
 His own infinite beauty, and draw her to Himself, 
 by stronger and closer ties? 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 17 
 
 There wan Ji little garden elo8e to the house, 
 where Matlanie Jette ibund delight in cultivating 
 witli her own hands the jirettiest of flowers. In 
 winter she took them inside and continued her 
 delicate care. She saw in them, no douht, the image 
 of tlie virtues with wliich she must strive to adorn 
 her soul ; and moreover, another })ious motive 
 animated her : at Christmas time she could endjel- 
 lish the Crib of the Divine Child with flowers and 
 verdure and adorn her own domestic chapel, which 
 was spoken of as quite "magnificent" in those times. 
 
 This small sanctuary was dear to her. When 
 her domestic occu^jations, or the stormy weather, 
 kept her away from church, Madame Jette would 
 kneel in prayer before her modest statue of the 
 Virgin Mother, or commend her loved ones to 
 St. Joseph, the head of the Holy J'amily. She loved 
 to sing, as we have already said, and she had a 
 sweet voice, but never were those frivolous and 
 profane songs indulged in by wordly persons heard 
 on her lips. She found a particular charm in the 
 old-fashioned hymns she had, no doubt, learned 
 during her childhood,— those in honor of St. Gene- 
 vieve, St. Alexis and St. Joseph being her favorites. 
 In this Avay did she follow the advice of St. Paul, 
 " speaking to herself in psalms and hymns, and 
 spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in 
 her heart to the Lord." 
 
'»■ 
 
 '1 
 
 h • 
 
 18 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 - n : j'i'v! 
 
 1 
 
 She nourished her i»iety uinl chsirity by tVe(jueiit 
 visits to Our Dear Lord in the most BUfssed Saeni- 
 iiieut and by fervent eoinniiniiotis. What joy for 
 her soul, when amidst her many oeeupations Machime 
 Jetto conhl find a leisure moment to devote to 
 prayei, and with what eaijerness did she hasten 
 <U)wn the narrow path, lined with trees, winding 
 alonu; the banks of the St. Lawrence to the church. 
 The building no longer exists, but we know it was 
 situated on the bank of the river. The incessant 
 erosion of the water threatened to carry away the 
 sandy ground on which the church was built, so it 
 was demolished in the n\iddle of this century, and 
 a new one erected, Thus, are we deprived of the 
 hap])inoss of seeing the baptismal font where this 
 jtrivileged soul was born to the supernatural life, — 
 and of kneeling at the foot of the altar, whore every 
 Sunday, and often on several successive week days, 
 she received her God in the Sacrament of love. 
 Fortunately those who witnessed her piety have 
 recorded their impressions, and thus has the remem- 
 brance of it come down to us. From her childhood, 
 Madame Jette was penetrated with the deepest 
 respect tor our holy mother the Church and obeyed 
 her injunctions with religious tidelity. Her sister 
 tells us that she would rather have died than eat 
 meat on a day of abstinence. But obligatory 
 
 
THE ORKIIN UF TIIK HLSTKKS OF MISKIUOOIIKE 
 
 19 
 
 jK'iiMin'cs (lid not surtiio to qnoiicli her thirst of 
 nioititicjition, and she practiscMl otliers which iiiijirht 
 liavo injured her health, "What is done lor God," 
 she said, " never causes deatli, on the coTitrary, the 
 more we do i'or Ilini tlie liajtpier we are," Such 
 solid virtue united to precious qualities of mind and 
 iMart, the charm attached to a simi)le and noble 
 character and her eagerness to ren<ler service, with- 
 out exceeding the limits of discretion, had not failed 
 to earn for Madame Jctte, the respect and affection 
 of the whole parish. The pastor of Lavaltrie 
 esteemed her most highly, an<l Madame de la Nau- 
 difere, (') whose large estate formed a considerable 
 part of the parish, took great pleasure in holding 
 irequent intercourse with her. Meantime, thanks 
 to the industry and intelligent care of Madame Jette, 
 the prosperity of the family became more tirmly 
 established as the years went by. 
 
 Everything therefore seemed calculated to attach 
 Madame Jette to her native village and retain her 
 there for the remainder of her life. But the increase 
 of the family, and the anticipation of its coming 
 needs, and above all these motives, the secret designs 
 
 (1) The manuscript does not tell us who this Madame de la Naudidre 
 was. We arc inclined to think that she was Elizabeth de la Come, born in 
 1744, and married in 17tiO, to Charles Louis Tarieu do la Naudidre, Seignior 
 of la P6rade ; eldest son of Charles Francis, who distinguished himself at 
 Carillon and who died in 1811, a member of the Legislative Council. 
 
ij I 
 
 >i .J, 
 
 N 
 
 20 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NAT1VIt6 
 
 of God, wIjo conducts everything to ita end with 
 strength and suavity, nmdc her hu8])and determine 
 to huy a hirgcr farm near St. Ilyacinthe. 
 
 ' ' !■ 
 
 I'll 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 ■ wi' ■ 
 
olh_ »^ »t' ■'~'h_ '!<t") »f^ «** _»J»i idK «Ji «lh ^ J't<.^ 
 
 ^-^ ^ t^ ^ '4' «^9 *j^ «^ '^ »^ «^ ~^^ ^ ifi if 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 Trials and Good Works. 
 
 Confidilinvitcor viriaui (Pfiov. xxxi. 
 11.) 
 
 The lionrt of her husband trusteth in 
 her. 
 
 fn dii: tribulatiitnis nicm Deum exqui- 
 aivi. (Ps. LXXVI. .'t.) 
 
 Ill the day of my trouble I sough t Qod . 
 
 mi HE year 1825 is an important date in 
 v^f^ the life of Madame Jette, if it be 
 true as we cannot doubt, that God 
 prepares souls which are destined to 
 accomplish a great mission in the Avorld 
 by visiting them with sufterings, and 
 marking them as it were with the sepl of the cross. 
 From this date a new career is opened to the 
 pious woman. Until then, her existence had been 
 tilled with happiness and honor in her birthplace, 
 where she lived free from care or trouble ; hence- 
 forth she is to see but days of adversity and mourn- 
 ing. Kevertheless, God, who is always the same 
 
 3 
 
22 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AXD 
 
 
 1 I ■';'!' ill' 
 
 good Fatlier, afflicts our nature only to secure the 
 triumph of liis grace, and we bIuiII «ee Madame 
 Jette as calm, as self-possepsed, as full of courage 
 and gaiety, in the midst of trial?, as she ever was 
 in time of prosperity. Her first step on leaving 
 Lavaltrie was marked by tribulations. By mis- 
 chance it happened that the house which was to 
 receive the family, near St. Ilyaciuthe, was not ready 
 at the date fixed for the surrender of the house at 
 Lavaltrie to its new possessor. Madame Jette and 
 her children were thus several davs without a home. 
 In this extremity she sought hos}«itaHty from her 
 sister, who lived in the same village ; but she met, 
 strange to say, a harsh refusal, and wa* obliged to 
 seek a refuge in an abandoned hovel, open on all 
 sides to the wind and the heavy rain» of that season 
 of the year. Fortunately another neighbor, moved 
 with pity at seeing the family in such wretched 
 quarters, came forward and removed them all to 
 the shelter of her own home. Tliis was onlv the 
 prelude of more painful trials. Scarcely two years 
 had passed since the Jette famil3' had taken possec 
 sion of their new property, wlien they found them- 
 selves forced to surrender it. The farm was found to 
 be subject to mortgages whose exit^tence they never 
 suspected, and was claimed by the creflitors of the 
 dishonest seller. They had, of coun^e, to give it up. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 23 
 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 It was 8urrc'ti(U'riii*r the fruit of long years of work 
 and economy. This loss was a cruel blow for 
 Mr. Jette, Uneat^ines-x for the future of his family 
 took possession of his mind. What could they do 
 henceturth ? AVhic-h way should they turn ? ]Iow 
 could lie i)rovide for his cliildren ? Troubled by 
 these preoccupations, he lost liis appetite and his 
 sleep. Under these painful circumstances, it was 
 his wite who consoleil him, and by considerations 
 grounded on faith, brought back to his soul peace 
 and confidence. " It is God's will," said she, 
 " and we must be resigned and submissive. He 
 " will not abandon us ; lie will take good care 
 " of us, and we can eani our living anywhere." 
 She also persuade<l him to pardon the man who 
 had so shamefully deceived them and caused 
 their ruin, and to refrain from prosecuting him, 
 lest his family should be dishonored. The vir- 
 tuous wonum's trust in Providence was verified. 
 At Montreal where they went to live, they met 
 sympathy and protection from Mr. Jette's family, 
 and through hard work and severe economy they 
 succeeded in ]iroviding for all their needs. Madame 
 Jette was deeply impressed with gratitude towards 
 God, who never abandons his children when they 
 are in need, and endeavored to instil the sentiments 
 other own heart into the hearts of her household. 
 
 sa 
 
24 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 |:| 
 
 ■ifr 
 
 i;l|;illiV! 
 
 " You see that God does not abaiulon us," she 
 wouhl say to her husband ; " let us rejoice in our 
 " poverty. We liave good children and they can 
 " earn their living, even while young. They will 
 " be protected from poverty, because they are 
 " trained to work. " She would say the same 
 " things to her sons : " My children, the good things 
 " that God gives us, do not belong to us ; lie takes 
 " them away when lie pleases : let us rejoice ni all 
 " that hapi)en8, and let us thank God l)oth in pros- 
 " perity and adversity. — It is the secret of liappi- 
 " ness." These admirable sentiments raised her 
 soul above the trivial events and perishable goods 
 of this world, and rendered her superior though not 
 insensible to the trials of life. For her they were a 
 source of strength in the accomplishment of her 
 duties, and inspired her wnth fervor in the service of 
 God. But a much heavier cross than all the former 
 ones, now awaited her. Madame Jettd had been 
 living in Montreal but seven years when her hus- 
 band was suddenly taken from her. The cholera 
 which was so fatal in 1832 carried him oft* in twenty- 
 lour hours. Mr. Jette, at the hour of death, 
 although quite resigned to God's Avill, could not 
 help shedding tears on thinking how his dear family 
 would sufter from poverty after his death. He 
 exhorted his children to be faithful in the service of 
 
 ■V. 
 
 4 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 25 
 
 IS," she 
 iQ in onr 
 they can 
 'hey will 
 hey are 
 tie same 
 id things 
 :Ie takes 
 ice m all 
 . in pros- 
 »f happi- 
 ised her 
 le goods 
 )ugh not 
 y were a 
 t of her 
 ervice of 
 e former 
 lad been 
 her hus- 
 3 cholera 
 1 twenty- 
 f death, 
 )uld not 
 ar family 
 ith. He 
 ervice of 
 
 
 God, and to take good care of their mother. He 
 confided her specially to his youngest son, Pierre, 
 then seventfen years old, and already eminent in 
 virtue. " I depend on you," said Mr. Jette, " to be 
 " the family's support ; proniise me that you will 
 " always assist and never abandon your mother." 
 The weeping youth made the solemn promise to his 
 dying father, and Mr. Jette closed his eyes in peace. 
 
 The afflicted' widow, in spite of her deep sorrow, 
 kissed the hand that smote her, but she long 
 remained inconsolable and never could be persuaded 
 to put off mourning. " The world is no longer 
 " anything to me," she exclaimed, the day after the 
 painful separation. We shall hereafter see how 
 she kept her word. The rearing and education ot 
 her younger children, works of charity, prayer, and 
 works for the conversion of simiers, became more 
 than ever the occupation of her life. 
 
 No sooner have we begun to look beneath the 
 surface of this well-spent life, than we see a funda- 
 mental disi)Osition inspiring all her actions, and 
 holding them in marvellous unity. This disposition, 
 — at once the fruit and tiower of divine charity, — 
 was an ardent desire, a craving need to spend lier- 
 self and give herself for God and her neighbor. 
 " Greater love hath no man than to give up his life 
 " for his friends," says the Apostle. Happy the soul 
 
■''SiWBi 
 
 ;> 
 
 tli! 
 
 26 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 1...-!! 
 
 ■kin'-- 
 
 mm, 
 
 A'l" 
 
 that IB filled with that noble passion, and capable 
 of relishing its austere delights ! Its life even when 
 wholly spent in obscurity, derives from this complete 
 8elf-dei»ial a dignity and nobility, whicli partakes 
 less of earth than of heaven. 
 
 Madame Jette devoted herself to the relief of 
 suliering in others, and to bearing humiliations for 
 herself. She soon found, close at hand, an oppor- 
 tunity for practising those divine* virtues. Her 
 aged mother was stricken down witli paralysis and 
 became childish. Madame Jetti' received her into 
 her own home and, during seven years, gave her 
 the kindest and most attentive care. 
 
 For three winters, she sheltered under her roof 
 the sister (and her children), who had so harshly 
 refused her hospitality on the occasion of the 
 removal from Lavaltrie. She acted thus generously, 
 notwithstanding that she knew she was dealinii' with 
 a person of a captious and peevish disposition, wIki 
 was indifferent to her manifold acts of kindness, 
 and made her no return but disdain or even abuse. 
 
 These cares were not sufficient to satisfy her desire 
 of helping the unfortunate. No sooner was she 
 informed of any neighbors being sick, than she 
 would visit and console them, and render all the 
 assistance in her power. She was always willing to 
 help to lay out the dead. In 1832, and the following 
 
 mH\ 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 27 
 
 I capiible 
 
 ^'eii wlien 
 
 complete 
 
 partakes 
 
 relief of 
 at ion 8 for 
 an oppor- 
 les. II cr 
 alvsis and 
 1 her into 
 
 T lier roof 
 
 harshly 
 
 1 of the 
 enerouslv, 
 aling with 
 ition, who 
 kindness, 
 :en ahuse. 
 her desire 
 ■ was she 
 than she 
 or all the 
 willing to 
 following 
 
 years when those contagious diseases, the cholera 
 and small-pox hroke out, Madame Jette waited on 
 the sick with great charity and assiduity. "While 
 taking care of their hodies, she did not lose siglit of 
 their immortal souls. Her advice and good example 
 were particularly winning, and hecame the moving 
 cause of many conversions. We will mention ])ut 
 one example. — It was in 1832, when the cholera 
 made so many victims. She was one of the first to 
 offer her services to help nurse the sick. During 
 her charitahle visits, she noticed a voung man wlio 
 for two months had entirely devoted himself to the 
 poor suffering ones, working uncoasingly, night and 
 day, in the sick wards ; hut at the same time, she 
 noticed that he had no sense of religion and that 
 his conduct was disorderly. Madame Jette could 
 not see all this without trying to remedy it ; she 
 resolved to make his acquaintance in the hope of 
 heing useful to his soul, and after gaining his con- 
 fidence enough to permit her to speak opeidy, she 
 said to him : " You must l)e very unhappy, living 
 as you do ; but you arc too good-hearted and chari- 
 table for God to abandon you." " What shall I do ? 
 " answered the young man. " As to God, — I do 
 " not know Ilim ; I was brought up in the midst of 
 " vice, and have had no example but evil. I have 
 " only heard about the devil and I fear him no more 
 
j 
 
 j. 
 
 j 
 
 
 ■-I 
 
 Hi 
 
 28 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 "than the God you want nio to know." "Be 
 " careful, young man," returned the pious widow, 
 " the God you retuHC to know will one day bring 
 " you to reason." — " I don't fear Ilim," said he. — 
 " But would you do something for me ? " she asked. 
 — " Oh ! willingly, " replied the young man. — 
 " Well, promise mo that you will think of God 
 " now and then, and, every day say one Ave Mario, 
 " or tliis invoeation : " My God, have mercy on my 
 " soul." The young man promised all, and quickly 
 learned the Ave Maria, which he had never been 
 taught before. Soon after he started for the Rocky 
 Mountains. When he left Montreal he was almost 
 a giant in stature, well-built, and full of life and 
 energy ; " as strong as any four ordinary men," 
 remarks the Sister who reports this story ; " he had 
 " so much confidence in his own strength, that he 
 " thought nothing could subdue him." 
 
 Nevertheless, within the space of two years, his 
 disorderly life entirely shattered his robust constitu- 
 tion, lie then fell sick. During his sleepless 
 nights, he would often think of Madame Jette, and 
 finally resolved to sec hor again. He returned to 
 Montreal and soon knocked at the door of Madame 
 Jette's modest dwelling. He was nothing better 
 than a living skeleton, and she did not recognize in 
 him the vigorous youth she had attended two years 
 
 I 
 
 '4 
 
 ■'"'1 
 I 
 
 ■i 
 & 
 
 
 
 w \-MS 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 29 
 
 " "Be 
 
 widow, 
 
 ly bring 
 
 d he.— 
 
 e asked. 
 
 man. — 
 
 of God 
 
 2 3Iaria, 
 
 y on my 
 
 quickly 
 
 ver been 
 
 e Kocky 
 
 18 almost 
 
 life and 
 
 y men," 
 
 " he had 
 
 that he 
 
 ears, his 
 constitu- 
 sleepless 
 ette, antl 
 nrned to 
 Madame 
 lo- better 
 )gnize in 
 wo years 
 
 
 
 before. " I am Joseph Label le," said the visitor, 
 " God has brought me to reason, as you said, though 
 " I luul no fear of anything. I have been faithi'ul to 
 " the promise I nuide you, however. I am very 
 " weak, please lind me a place in the hospital.'' 
 Madame Jelte was much affected at this [)rodigal 
 child's return. Through her means, he was admitted 
 to the hospital, aiul no sooner was he admitted 
 than he called for a priest and in a loud voice com- 
 menced liis confession. The priest told him to 
 speak lower, but his answer was : " No, Father, no 
 " penance is too great for my sins, I am the most 
 " guilty man on earth." Then turning to those that 
 surrounded his bed, he re<iuested them to pray lor 
 him that he might obtain pardon. Thus did ho 
 open his soul to true repentance, and soon after 
 receiving absolution, died the death of the just. 
 
 One of Madame Jette's favorite works was to try 
 and reconcile witli one another tlie mond)crs of 
 divided families. Her presence alone suihced to 
 banish hatred, her words won over all hearts and her 
 prayers doubtless finished in secret, what her ikt- 
 soiud influence had alreadv begun. ITavinij: learned 
 that the head of a family, whom d(miestic sorrows 
 luul led to abandon his religious duties, was danger- 
 ously ill, she visited and consoled the afflicted man 
 so etfuctually, as to make him at last consent to accept 
 
'*m 
 
 i' 
 
 "I 
 
 llllll: 
 
 
 I 
 
 ■I 
 11 
 
 
 80 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 tliG o;oo(l offices of tho priest. lie died shortly after- 
 wardn, but liis lust aii;ony was somethint^ so frightful 
 that not even his wife and children could endure 
 the sight of it. Every one left the room in great 
 terror, excepting Madame Jette, who remained 
 perfectly self-possessed and assisted the dying per- 
 son until the last, exhorting him to be resigned to 
 the will of God, and frequently sprinkling his bed 
 with holy water. Her efforts were crowned with 
 success, the terrible conflict ceased and the man's 
 death was calm and peaceful. 
 
 Her charity embraced every kind of misfortune. 
 Often was she seen hurrying from house to house 
 in quest of employment for some poor laborer. At 
 other times she strove to find situations for poor 
 orphans, in good families where they would find, 
 not only the necessaries of life, but, — what is still 
 more precious — good christian principles. To suc- 
 ceed in these undertakings she was obliged to 
 make advances, and often to suft'er refusals and even 
 reproach or abuse ; all of which must have been 
 very painful to a person of so timid and retiring a 
 disposition as Madame Jette. But she awaited her 
 strength from God and well might she have said, with 
 the great Apostle of Nations : " I can do all things 
 " in Him who streiigtheneth me." (Phil. iv. 13.) 
 
 She gathered this energy, which raised her above 
 
 !i :i'km 
 
THE OUIOIN OF THE SISTERS OP MISERICORDE 
 
 31 
 
 rtly after- 
 3 frightful 
 Id endure 
 1 in great 
 remained 
 lying per- 
 L'signed to 
 ig his bed 
 Mied with 
 the man's 
 
 lisfortnno. 
 e to house 
 lorer. At 
 i for poor 
 ^ould find, 
 hat is still 
 
 I. To 8UC- 
 
 )bliged to 
 } and even 
 have been 
 
 retiring a 
 ivaited her 
 jsaid, with 
 > all things 
 V. 13.) 
 
 her above 
 
 the strongest repugnances of nature, and gave her 
 courage to sacrifice herself for others, from her sin- 
 cere piety which edified all who knew her. 
 
 Morning and evening she made long visits to 
 Notrc-Bame Church, and often spent hours in suc- 
 cession on her knees before the altar of the Blessed 
 Virgin, towards whom she always entertained a 
 special devotion. One evening she stayed so long 
 that the sexton when about to close the church, 
 after having tried in vain to attract her attention by 
 making a noise, had to approach and speak to her ; 
 so absorbed was she in her devotions that she had 
 heard nothing. 
 
 Alter the death of her mother in 1836, Madame 
 Jette was free to give hers^^lf up more entirely to 
 piety. Her children, in view of her delicate health, 
 tried in vain to repress her ardor. " Piety never 
 " kills one," she would reply. Three times did she 
 make, on foot, the pilgrimage to the Calvary on 
 Mount St. Ililaire, erected in 1839, by the Bishop 
 of Nancy, Mgr. Forbin-Janson. These long journeys 
 were necessarily followed by extraordinary fatigue, 
 but what strength does not the love of God give 
 even to the body ! " Love feels no burden, when 
 " weary, it is not tired," says the pious author of 
 the Following of Christ. " It performs and effects 
 " many things, where he that loves not faints and is 
 " cast down." (Im. b. iii. c. 5.) 
 
h 
 
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 
 
 
 Madame Jett6 bestows attention on fallen girls. 
 
 Ni»i inlm villi viir(trijuiitoH,a)dj)ccca- 
 toriM. (Matt. ix. 1.'!.) 
 
 I am nut come to call the just, but 
 sinners. 
 
 1^' OTIIING less than that charity wliicli 
 J.iJ^ knows no bounds was needed, to 
 
 induce her to undertake the work 
 '(t>i which Avas henceforth to consume her 
 m ^j whole life. There is a certain class of 
 persons for whom society has no word of 
 pity : we mean those young girls who, through 
 ignorance, seduction, or a moment's blindness, have 
 fallen into the abyss where honor and virtue perish. 
 — Frail flowers in their fresh bloom blighted by vice ! 
 Alas ! how numerous are they not in the midst of 
 cities, where, in tlic struggle for life, human beings 
 are crowded together in a close and exciting atmos- 
 phere ! The world displayed all its charms before 
 
TlIK ORIGIN OF THE SISTKRS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 83 
 
 girls. 
 
 ntl>ll,g(tlpCCC(l- 
 
 tho just, but 
 
 •ity which 
 iceded, to 
 the work 
 nsumo her 
 II class of 
 lo word of 
 ), through 
 ness, have 
 tue perish. 
 3d hy vice ! 
 le midst of 
 nan heings 
 ;ing atmos- 
 nns before 
 
 tlieir eyes, when it knew them to })e innocent ; l>nt, 
 once it has corrupted and ruined them, it huighs at 
 their fall, and repulses them with horror ; reproaches 
 them with a crime of which it is itself the real 
 author, and naught hut dishonor and despair remain 
 to the unfortunate victims. What is to become of 
 them? AVhere will they go? What asylum, what 
 retreat will throw an impenetrable veil over their 
 sin? How terrible their anguish, how bitter their 
 despair ! Blessed forever be the friendly hand 
 stretched out to the young girl during these mo- 
 ments of agony, to save her from utter shanu' and 
 rehabilitate her soul before God an<l His Angels. 
 
 Such was the mission to which the rest of Madame 
 Jette's life was to be consecrated. For years luid 
 God prepared her for it by the exercise of zeal and 
 charit3^ AVhile at Lavaltrie she had already as a 
 prelude to this work of mercy, taken into her house 
 a poor illegitimate child that had been, with diffi- 
 culty, rescued from the criminal fury of its own 
 mother. For several years the child lived under her 
 hospitable roof and motherly care, and when neces- 
 sity compelled her to part with him, Madame Jette 
 shed many tears of keen regret. 
 
 Later on, while the family were living in Mont- 
 real, they were one night startled by a loud knock- 
 ing at the door and a pleading voice crying out : 
 

 34 
 
 MOTIIKU I)K LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 ''*<:i' 
 
 " Open tiiiifkly and Have from tho ninrdcrers." 
 Moved l>y compassion, Mr. dette opened the door 
 and a<lmitted an unfortnnate girl who wan heing 
 pursued hy two druiiken Bailorn. He had barely 
 time to hide lier in the cellar when the two mad- 
 men began to ntrike the door with an axe ami strove 
 to l)reak it in. In vain did Mr. Jette try to calm 
 them l>y gentle words. Further resiBtance becoming 
 dangerous, lie ojiened the door and invited them in 
 to search tor their victim. His kindness at length 
 appeased tlieir anger, and they left after having 
 themselves repaired the <himage they liad done. — 
 Snatched from certain death the poor girl avowed 
 that she had led a life of sin until then, and expressed 
 an ardent desire to do better. Touched l)y her sad 
 story, Madame Jette offered her a home in her own 
 house, and did all in her power to bring her back 
 to the practice of duty. God blessed her charity, 
 for the young girl was well nuirried some years 
 later, and from her new home in the United States, 
 wrote *o the charitable Ijenefactress to whom she 
 owed the life of both l)ody and soul, telling of her 
 happiness and exjjressing the warmest sentiments 
 ot gratitude and affection. 
 
 This work of rescuing fallen women became more 
 familiar to Madame Jette when she entered upon 
 her widowhood. God led her by degrees towards 
 the accomplishment of His holy will. 
 
 •vj 
 
THE ORIOIN OF THE SLATERS OF MISEHKORDE 35 
 
 vers. 
 (' door 
 
 Iteing 
 
 )arely 
 ) rnatl- 
 
 strovo 
 
 o ciihu 
 L'oining 
 lieiii "m 
 
 longth 
 
 having 
 (lone. — 
 avowed 
 cpressed 
 
 her sad 
 her own 
 :ier back 
 
 charity, 
 lie years 
 d States, 
 horn she 
 ig of her 
 jntimentB 
 
 ime more 
 red upon 
 8 towards 
 
 One winter's evening the pious woman was on 
 her way to the church as ussual, when she met «i 
 young girl weeping as it' her lieart would break. — 
 Madame Jetto stopped and questioned her kindly 
 as to lier grief. The poor girl rejtlied : "I am 
 " without a home, and I know not where I am to 
 " i)ass the night," Examining her face closely, 
 Madame Jette easily saw what kind of a person she 
 had to deal with ; nevertheless, moved with pity, 
 she took her liomc with her, and during a whole 
 montli supplied her every need and endeavored to 
 inspire licr with good sentiments. But Madame 
 Jette's oldest daughter, suspecting tor some reason, 
 the intentions of this young woman, determined ti> 
 watch her. One night, she saw the girl crec^) 
 stealthily to the bedside of her sleeping mother and 
 bend over her as if she were going to stiHe lier; 
 then straighten herself up, nesitate and finally go 
 back to her own bed. Informed of what had passed 
 Madame Jette questioned her protegee, who frankly 
 owned up to having had several violent temptations 
 to kill lier benefactress, notwithstanding that she 
 really loved her. It was evidently not prudent to 
 keep such a person in her house any longer, so Mad- 
 ame Jette sent her away, but not until she had given 
 her one more good meal and exh(>rted lier to lead 
 thenceforth a better life. 
 
I - 
 
 36 
 
 MOTHER DE LA XATIVITB AND 
 
 The piou.s widow's zoal wa« not always so unfruit- 
 ful. One (liiy, while takinjr a walk with two of 
 her neighbors, slie met tw'> uiitortiinates who had 
 just been figlitini; witli a young man. The liandd 
 of tlie uidiappy creatures were torn and cut, and 
 dripping with blood, and out* of them was uttering 
 terrible oaths. Madame Jette'j* i-onipanions turned 
 away with horror from the wretched women, but she 
 herself, doubtless inspire«l from alw^ve, turned to- 
 wards them, saying in lier heart : " Wlio knows, if 
 " a single kindly word may not bring them back to 
 " God?" She then affably approached them, and in a 
 gentle and compassionate voice asked them if they 
 found hap[)iness in leading such a life? On hearing 
 these charitable words tlie unfortunates were touch- 
 ed, and the youngest at once madeanswer: "I am 
 " very unhapp}', I had not lived in this way for two 
 " weeks when I would have wwhetl to give it up. 
 " But who would he willing to receive us now? 
 " Alas w(! can hope for nothing hut scorn and con- 
 " tempt." Madame Jette replieil : •• If you sincerely 
 '• wish to give up your evil way.*. I will show you 
 " the means of doing so." J>he then advised them 
 to go to Notre-Dame Church, tt* the confessional of 
 a holy priest, who had already, she knew, helped 
 persons desirous oi" abandoning a disorderly life. 
 They promised to do as she wished, and the next 
 
> unfrnit- 
 
 I two of 
 who had 
 he haiuld 
 cut, atifl 
 
 i uttering 
 US turned 
 n, but she, 
 nrned to- 
 knows, it" 
 
 II hack to 
 , and in a 
 'Mi if they 
 n hearing 
 erctouch- 
 r : "I am 
 ly for two 
 jive it up. 
 
 us now? 
 
 I and oon- 
 
 II sincerely 
 show you 
 ised them 
 fssional of 
 w, helped 
 (U'rly life. 
 I the next 
 
 Kic.HT Ri:v. ICNACr: lOrRCKT 
 
 S«cx>n<l Bi'hop of M<iiilrt;il. 
 Koiiiulfr of the onlcr of Mist-ricorde. 
 
iS 
 
 I ■:i 
 
 Ml 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 37 
 
 day one of Marlame Jette's daughters made sure 
 with lier own eyes that they had been faithful to 
 their promise. 
 
 Tliis /ea] for the conversion of persons wliose 
 condition places them outside the reach of ordinary 
 charity, was soon to be afforded a wider field and 
 receive approbation and encouragement from one 
 who, in virtue of his sacred ministry, was the pro- 
 moter and sui»porter of all good works in Montreal : 
 the Right Reverend Ignace Bourget, who was at 
 the time bishop of Montreal. Every one knows the 
 virtues and great works linked with the memory 
 of that illustrious prelate. All the institutions of 
 the Rome of America, — as Montreal is often called, 
 — bear the impress of his powerful hand, and many 
 of them, in fact, owe to him their very existence. 
 His watchful eye discovered all the needs of his 
 flock, and his untiring activity and charity enabled 
 him to create beneficent works, and to multiply 
 the sources of relief by judicious and fervent ap^teals 
 to the well disposed. His name is written in indeli- 
 ble characters in this city of Montreal, much as it 
 is changed and greatly as it has increased since the 
 days of his episcopate, and even if that name could 
 be wiped out from the memory of men, the walls 
 ot the houses of education an<l charity which were 
 created through his instrumentality would never 
 cease repeating it. 4 
 
• ; i 
 
 38 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Bishop Bourget was also to take part in the 
 foundation of the work of "La Misericord e." 
 Before his elevation to the episcopate, he was well 
 acquainted with the Widow Jette, and God had 
 destined him to make known to her His divine will. 
 In his quality of Father Confessor, he had learned 
 the secret of her good works and directed her hy 
 his w^ise counsels. After becoming a Bishop he 
 more than once sought her intervention in matters 
 requiring delicate handling. Before the asylum of 
 St. Pelagia was opened, he time and again entrusted 
 to her the task of securing a refuge for poor girls 
 who had confided to him the story of their sad 
 position. Madame Jette took them to her own 
 houHC or placed them with her children, who over- 
 came their natural repugnance in order to please 
 their mother. She herself carried the new-born 
 infants to the Grey Nunnery, and spared no trouble 
 to bring about the conversion of the guilty mothers, 
 before sending them back into the world. 
 
 But what were these few isolated conversions in 
 face of the vast number of victims destroyed by 
 human passions ? After the first faH, many poor girls, 
 seeing nothing but dishonor before them, rushed 
 headlong into the abyss of vice. What shall we 
 say of the unfortunate children that shame deprived 
 of motherly care ? Alas ! they were often exposed 
 
 U H 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDS 39 
 
 I in the 
 'icorde." 
 was well 
 :Jo(1 had 
 ,rine will, 
 i learned 
 id her by 
 ishop he 
 a matters 
 isylum of 
 entrusted 
 poor girls 
 their sad 
 
 her own 
 who over- 
 • to please 
 
 new-born 
 10 trouble 
 f mothers, 
 
 ;ersions in 
 troyed by 
 poor girls, 
 ni, rushed 
 t shall we 
 e deprived 
 in exposed 
 
 to lose both the life of body and soul. In fact it 
 was no rare thing to find the bodies of new-born 
 infants lying in the streets, or on the banks of the 
 St. Lawrence. 
 
 The worthy P^^stor was greatly grieved by this 
 crying evil, and prayed to God from the depths of 
 his heart to send him the means of relieving it. 
 His zeal had already caused him to form the project 
 of a special institution destined to receive fallen 
 vv men, bring them back to a better life, and secure 
 baptism and a Christian education for their children. 
 Madame Jette seemed to him to be the person chos- 
 en by God to lay the first foundation of this new 
 institution destined to relieve so much suiFering. 
 However, he did not at once make his plans known 
 to her, but he urged her to pray for his intentions. 
 At the same time he recommended the affair to 
 God, during the holy sacrifice of the mass, and 
 requested the members of the Archconfraternity 
 erected in his Cathedral, in honor of the Holy and 
 Immaculate Heart of Mary for the conversion of 
 sinners, should join their supplications to his and 
 beg for light from heaven in abundance. 
 
 When he thought his project sufiiciently ripened 
 by prayers and refiectioi.s, His Lordship sent for 
 Madame Jette. The pious widow at once called at 
 the palace without having the least idea of His 
 
'''"Mimgg 
 
 '^\MM 
 
 40 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Lordship's intentions. With his customary gravity, 
 illuminated by a sweet smile, the Bishop said to 
 her : — " As it has pleased God to make use of you, 
 " in the past, to do much good to these poor chil- 
 " dren, Avould you not like to continue and extend 
 " this 'vork, by founding a Community, which 
 " would multiply and perpetuate the good you 
 " have so happily commenced ?" 
 
 We may well believe that this proposal alarmed 
 the humble woman, and in fact how could it l)e 
 otherwise ? How many obstacles to be met with 
 on every hand ! Where Avas she to find pecuniary 
 means? The Bishop was poor, and the pious widow 
 had hardly anything save her good will — could 
 they rely on public charity in favor of a work that 
 must, from its very nature, necessarily be carried on 
 in seclusion and kept in the shade ? 
 
 And yet such were not ths difficulties tha 
 weighed heaviest in the humble woman's mind. 
 She relied on the foresight of her Pastor and the 
 Providence of God, for exterior wants and resour- 
 ces. " But how," she said to herself, " could a poor, 
 " ignorant, unqualified woman, destitute of virtue, 
 " as I am, carry out such an important and diflicult 
 " undertaking ? " She was then fifty years old : — 
 how could she embrace a state of life that would 
 completely change her habits and mode of living ? 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 41 
 
 gravity, 
 )p said to 
 je of you, 
 poor cliil- 
 id cxteiiil 
 y, which 
 rood yon 
 
 1 alarmed 
 uUl it he 
 met with 
 pecuniary 
 )U8 widow 
 ,Mll_could 
 work that 
 carried on 
 
 Ities tha 
 m's mind, 
 or and the 
 md resour- 
 uld a poor, 
 e of virtue, 
 lid difficult 
 sars old : — 
 that would 
 ! of living ? 
 
 Looking into the future, she saw herself at tlie 
 head of a Conmninity, ohliged to direct some, to 
 form others, and give to a' m example of devoted- 
 ness and of every virtue hecoming in a religious. 
 These considerations made her unworthiness appear 
 more manifest and raised up in her mind a thousand 
 ohjections. The Bishop did not stop to discuss 
 each question with her, hut simply replied with his 
 tone of mild authority v ich nothing could with- 
 stand. " God wills it ! Go>i wills it ! my daughter ; 
 " He will give you the graces you staiul in need of 
 " to succeed in this work. But continue praying in 
 " order to assure yourself of llis holy will." 
 
 When .at hast Madame Jette took leave of him, 
 she was entirely overcome. How could the Bishop, 
 she asked herself, think of her for such an important 
 work? She begged God to take from her a burden 
 that seemed too heavy for her to bear. Little by 
 little, however, she recovered her wonted calmness, 
 and with that inward peace came down from heaven 
 a sweet and tranquil light, and Madame Jette felt 
 that she must give herself up wholly and witliout 
 further anxiety, to the grace of God. 
 
 A few days later she returned to the Bishop and 
 placed herself entirely at his disposal. 
 
 It was at once decided that Madame Jette 
 should leave her home and children as soon as pos- 
 
42 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE 
 
 sible, after having found a house whicli would ansAver 
 her purpose. This was done secretly, so as to 
 avoid as far as possible any opposition from the 
 family. Once the house found and rented, Madame 
 Jette made known her intentions to her children, 
 and entreated them to be as submissive as she her- 
 self was, to the will of Divine Providence. — But at 
 the mere idea of being separated from their mother, 
 they could not restrain their grief and left nothing 
 undone to induce her to change her mind. Madame 
 Jette was greatly affected by this resistance, but 
 she was firmly determined not to give way ; never- 
 theless she wished it to cease before saying farewell 
 to her loved ones, and following the Bishop's advice, 
 she took her children to see him, and His Lordship, 
 by exhorting them in accents pregnant with faith 
 and charity, induced them to submit to the painful 
 sacrifice, and on the 1st of May, 1845, the sacrifice 
 was consummated. 
 
lid answer 
 BO as to 
 from the 
 I, Madame 
 r children, 
 as she hor- 
 ;e. — But at 
 sir mother, 
 eft nothing 
 1. Madame 
 istance, but 
 vay; never- 
 ing farewell 
 lop's advice, 
 is Lordship, 
 t with faith 
 ^ the painful 
 the sacrifice 
 
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 The Foundation. 
 
 fnfirnin viundi eleqit Ihun ut confitn- 
 thiifort'iii (1 Cor. i. 27). 
 
 Hilt tliR weak thinfrs of the world 
 hath God ohosen, that He may con- 
 found the 8trong. 
 
 ISENGAGED from family ties, Ma- 
 
 dame Jettt' was free to give herselt 
 wholly to God, and devote tlie 
 remainder of her life to the salvation of 
 fallen souls. A celestial attraction drew 
 her on towards this work, and henceforth 
 she would be able to satisfy the passion of self for- 
 getfulness and devotedness that had long tormented 
 her heart ; she could now say with the Psalmist : 
 " Lord, Thou hast broken my bonds asunder : I 
 " will otter unto Thee the sacrifice of praise." 
 (Ps. cxv. 7.) — Animated with these fervent disposi- 
 tions, she took possession of the house which was 
 to be the cradle of the new-born Community. 
 
■'TT' 
 
 44 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT6 AND 
 
 Hum])ler Loginning.s can scarcely be imagined. 
 The lionso in which Madame Jcttc was to begin 
 her new life was on 8t. Simon Street, now called 
 St. George, and wliat a house it was ! A wretched 
 hovel, built entirely of wood, old and lialf sunk into 
 the ground. Morever, she had rented oidy the 
 upper story, which was a kind of garret; the only 
 means ot ingress and egress being a ladder. This 
 apartment was large enough, but very low and 
 exposed to all variations of temperature ; — in short 
 it was an ice-house in winter and an oven in sum- 
 mer ; — the winds passed freely through the gaping 
 joints to bo seen on every side. In a word, it was 
 an installation tit to manifest to the world the 
 strength and power of Divine Providence, for God 
 does not need riches in order to accomplish great 
 works. 
 
 Full of hope in the future, the pious Bishop gave 
 this poor house the name of " Hospice Sto. Pelagic" 
 in honor of the holy penitent who bore that name. 
 
 The furniture was in keeping with the building. 
 It consisted of a few beds and chairs, a table and a 
 stove, with the other indispensable kitchen utensils. 
 The furniture was in great part the generous gift 
 of an eminent Christian, Olivier Berthelet, whose 
 name will often be heard in the course of this his- 
 tory. That apostle of all good works had placed 
 
THE OKIOIN OF THE SISTERS OF MLs6rIC0HDK 45 
 
 i to begin 
 low culled 
 . wretoheil 
 'sunk into 
 only the 
 
 ; the only 
 (ler. This 
 ; low and 
 ; — in short 
 on in Huni- 
 the gaping 
 ord, it waH 
 
 world the 
 :'e, lor God 
 [►lish great 
 
 ilshop gave 
 e. IV'lagie'' 
 that name. 
 G building, 
 able and a 
 en utensils, 
 nerous gift 
 elct, whose 
 of this his- 
 had placed 
 
 his fortune at the disposal of Bisliop Bourget a>id 
 seconded his views with the most adnurable zeal. 
 The Bishop had only to make known the needs of 
 any particular W()rk, — a sinipli' word or sign was 
 sufficient, — an<l the good man hastened to help 
 those in distress ; among others the work just begun 
 bv Madame Jette. From him she often received 
 aid, — furniture, food, fire-wood and money. 
 
 Ma<hnne .Jette ojiened her new institution, with 
 but one " penitent," — as the women cared for in 
 the Institutions ol" the h5istcrs of Misc'ricorde are 
 called. During tlie first m<»nth two others were 
 received, and the number increased until she often 
 luul five, and sometimes eight at a time during 
 the rest of the year. The pious woman gave her- 
 self up entirely to her work. Bishop Bourget said 
 later on : " I admired her unshaken confidence in 
 " Divine Providence; I sent her all those who came 
 " to me for assistance, and I gave her very little 
 " Uioney, but she never complained. Slie worked 
 " with the penitents to provide for their needs, and 
 " slie often deprived herself of her own bed in favctr 
 "of the sick ; at such times she herself slei»t on 
 " the fioor, with a log of wood for her pillow." 
 
 It would be hard to give an idea of the hard- 
 ships and }»rivations that the devoted woman 
 cheerfully underwent. Manv a time did she jro 
 
•1" 
 
 4G 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIlis AND 
 
 without food that lier " poor children," as she 
 termed them, miglit not sufter from hunger. 
 
 Kesohite in tlio face of trials, she never looked 
 back, and all the trials, privations and anguisli she 
 had to suifcr, never caused her to look back with 
 regret to the peaceful life she had hitherto led. 
 Her Bishop's words : " God wills it! God wills 
 '\it ! " were ever ringing in her ears, like a command 
 from above, and she would have walked on burning 
 coals to obey it. 
 
 In spite of the poverty of her institution, Madame 
 Jette could never make up her mind to send away 
 tlio persons who sought a refuge with her. One 
 evening, a charitable lady living in the neighbor- 
 hood, brought her a basket of provisions hidden 
 under lier long cloak. Madame Jette did not 
 recognize her on account of the darkness, and think- 
 ing she was a new penitent, gave her a motherly 
 welcome and promised to keep her whether she 
 could pay her way or not. We may easily imagine 
 her confusion when she perceived her mistake, 
 but her benefactress was greatly edified by her 
 disinterestedness. 
 
 Meantime her children were greatly afflicted by 
 her destitute condition, and tried in vain to persuade 
 her to return to her home with them. Her son 
 Pierre attempted one day to constrain her to do so, 
 
 I 
 
TAE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 47 
 
 ' as she 
 ;r. 
 
 ir looked 
 i^uish she 
 ack with 
 lerto led. 
 iod wills 
 command 
 II burning 
 
 , Madame 
 end away 
 ber. One 
 neighbor- 
 US hidden 
 ; did not 
 md think- 
 motherly 
 lether she 
 ly imagine 
 • mistake, 
 ed by her 
 
 ifflicted by 
 ;o persuade 
 . Her son 
 ;r to do so, 
 
 by taking possession of her clothing, but this heroic 
 woman said to him : " Take all tViat belongs to me, 
 " if yon wish, but know that I shall remain here." 
 The family were also keenly wounded by malicious 
 reports circulated in regard to the new work. The 
 kind of charity practised by Madame Jetto was 
 well adapted to invite criticism on the part of 
 worldlings, and their malicious comments filled the 
 air. Home accused her of being a nuisance to society 
 and of dishonoring herself by supporting low 
 degraded creatures. Others, more indulgent, declared 
 openly that she was acting through an ill-judged 
 charity that only served to encourage vice, (ireatly 
 disturbed by these allegations, the family accused 
 her of disgracing them publicly, and one of her 
 sisters-in-law went so far as to reproach her with 
 being "the shame and dishonor of the family." 
 
 Madame Jettc remained perfectly calm amid the 
 storm, and never was she seen to have lost even for 
 a single instant her customary peace of mind and 
 serenity. In truth, her mind and heart were far 
 more concerned about the sad fate of so numy 
 unfortunates, driven without mercy from honest 
 dwellingB, and obliged to seek a refuge in places 
 where both body and soul of the new-born children 
 were exposed to the greatest dangers. Moreover, 
 fihe was working for God and the judgments of the 
 
48 
 
 MOTHER DE LA SATIVTTB AND 
 
 world gave her little trtmble. She might have 
 8ui(l with St. Paul : " It' I yet iileased men, I 
 " shouhl not he the servant of Chris^t." (Gal. i. 10.) 
 
 Others tried to oonvinee her tliat lier efforts to 
 t'ouiid a lasting work were u«ele«f». and bluntly said : 
 " You will never sueeeeil in founding a Ct>njmu- 
 " nity," or " Why take so rnnch trf>uhle with those 
 " wicked u-irls ?" Madame Jetti' listened to all this 
 in silence. No one was ln'ttcr convinced than her- 
 self that she was unahle to found or direct a Com- 
 munity. She realize<l fully her own weakness and 
 incapacity, liut was she not doing the vs^ill of 
 God ? And wh«. can tight against the Most High ? 
 ller oidy answer was: '* Go<l has confided this 
 " undertaking tome, can He not insure its success ? 
 " The world's contempt matters little to me, and will 
 " not prevent me from striving to «lo Goil's work 
 " with courage. Tlie \v<»rhl is nothins: to me, for 
 " what is to be found in it but falsehood and 
 " calumuv?" 
 
 J low utterly <'ommon place and trivial are argu- 
 ments used by worldly i»eople in opposition to the 
 works ot God ! Kach one in tuni adopts them as 
 his own, and retails them with an air of profound 
 wisdom. The answer of faith is invariable in its 
 simplicity : " God can do all things, I n'ly on Him." 
 Madame Jette had daily (u-easion to repeat these 
 
THE OBIGIX OF THE .SLSTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 40 
 
 liglit have 
 5cl men, I 
 3al. I. 10.) 
 r efforts to 
 untly sa'ul : 
 a C'Onnuu- 
 with those 
 1 to all this 
 (1 than hor- 
 •ect a C'om- 
 »akne86 aiul 
 the will of 
 ^ost High? 
 iitiiknl this 
 its success ? 
 lie, and will 
 joil's work 
 to me, for 
 sehood and 
 
 lal are argu- 
 r^ition to the 
 )pts them as 
 of profound 
 iriahle in its 
 ly on llim." 
 repeat these 
 
 words. At limes a celestial ray of liglit showing 
 a momentary glimpse of the veiled future, seemed 
 to accompany her an.*ivverH. To a lady who, like 
 many others, had lieiMi remonstrating with her and 
 giving her (as she tliought) good advice, the pious 
 widow replied : "The day will come, and is ju»t far 
 " distant, wlu'H this Conmiunitv will do a great deal 
 "of good, and yon yourself may he glad to avail 
 " yourself of it« services." This prediction was i'uUy 
 justitied later. 
 
 Madame .lettt' was not long ahle to accomplish 
 alone the task of caring for the iiujrcasing numhcr 
 of penitents. Jiisliop Bourget, who »vatched with 
 jealous care over this new institution, procured her 
 the help of an intelligent widow who had already 
 taken part in founding the work of the Good 
 Shepherd in Montreal. 
 
 Sophie Desrnarets was horn in 1705, at Louise- 
 ville, o" Ri'Mere i.u Loup, as it was then called. 
 Her pious parents instilled into her youthful heart 
 love for God and lier neii;hhor, and tauurht her to 
 practise those simple and modest virtues which are 
 hecoming to liumble country people. While still 
 young, she went to live in Montreal, where slie 
 eariie«l an honest livelihood hy sewing. At the 
 age of twenty-two years she was married to Michel 
 Ivaymond, and Ijccame tlie mother of seven chil- 
 
 ,1 
 
-rp^ 
 
 
 50 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 (Ireii ; six of tlieni died young. Tho oik- survivor, a 
 boy, cost his mother many a tear. Her life was a 
 continual warfare against her son's misconduct and 
 her husband's prodigality. Left a widow, she gave 
 herself up entirely to good works and, in conjunc- 
 tion with another devoted woman, took the first 
 steps to establish the work of " Le Bon PaHtonr." 
 AV^hen the Sisters of the order came out from France 
 in 1844, Madame llaymond returned to her family, 
 as she did not deem herself called by Providence to 
 live in that Communitv. 
 
 Then it was that Bishop Bourget conceived the 
 i<lea of associating her with Madame Jette. 
 
 Obedient to the voice of her Bishop, she bade 
 her loved ones adieu and turned her steps towards 
 the humble Hospice of Ste. Pelagic. The foundress 
 received her with open arms, and she was indeed 
 worthy of taking part in the founding of the good 
 work. By her industry, skill, and self-sacrifice, 
 she was destined to render immense service to the 
 house. Xaturally of a lively disposition, gay and 
 open-liearted, sho charmed all who knew her by 
 her conversation ; at the same time, she was mild 
 and patient, and endowed with great energy and 
 capacity for work. Her past trials, mori'over, ma<le 
 her ect)n()mical and far-sinhted in business matters. 
 
 Such a recruit was indeed precious. Her entry 
 
 i 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 51 
 
 urvivor, a 
 life vvuH a 
 luUu't and 
 , she gave 
 II conjunc- 
 z tlio first 
 Pasteur." 
 m\ FraiK-e 
 ler family, 
 videiice to 
 
 ooived the 
 te. 
 
 >, she ])ade 
 )S towards 
 
 tbiindrosB 
 vas indeed 
 f the good 
 t'-sai'ritice, 
 vice to the 
 n, gay and 
 
 w her by 
 
 was iniM 
 nergy and 
 iver, nuule 
 88 matters. 
 
 Her entry 
 
 took place the 20tli ofJuly. She was wi'll known 
 and liighly esteemed by Olivier IJerthelet, who had 
 witnessed her efforts and saerifices in the first days 
 of the Good Sbopherd AsyUim. — Through her 
 influenee his sympathy and interest in the poor 
 refuge on St. Simon Street was greatly increased. 
 ]Ie nuide up his mind to visit it, and moved to tears 
 at sight of the extreme poverty of its inmates, he 
 forthwith sent in a generous supply of necessary 
 and useful articles, and, up to the day of his death 
 continued to be, in the words of our chronicles, 
 " the visible Providence of the house. " Other 
 eliaritable persons heli)ed these two courageous 
 widows from time lo time, and thus they were able 
 to get through the winter. 
 
 Not the least of Madame Jette's trials this year, 
 was being obliged to go out alone during the night 
 to get the priest or the doctor for the sick or dying. 
 Montreal was not then lit up by electricity, as ac 
 present. It was d.angerous for a woman to pass 
 unprotected through tlie dark and deserted streets, 
 on account of the tramps or vagabonds by whom 
 great towns are infested. Armed with her rosary, 
 however, and full of confidence in the protection ot 
 tbe (iueen of Heaven, the courageous woman matle 
 her way through the darkness to tlu' point where 
 duty called her. No accident ever happened to 
 
52 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 ! ii 
 
 lier. Hut, on one occas'um, a tow days before her 
 death, in a moment of tender eonverse with one of 
 her penitents, she related that in one of her 
 noeturnal journeys to the presbytery of Notre-Dame, 
 she was followed twice by an enormous blaek dog, 
 who, [)ressini5 his nostrils to her heels, tried to 
 friiihten her by his noisy breathing. Her impres- 
 sion at the time was, that the evil spirit under that 
 strange form luul tried to cc^ol her zeal by fear, and 
 turn her away from the paths of <luty. 
 
 Meantime, the house on St. Simon Street was 
 getti'.ig too small for the increasing number (»f 
 penitents, and the time soon came when they were 
 obliged to move clsewliere. Larger and more eom- 
 Ibrtable quarter.'i (not very hard to find) w^ere rented, 
 on Wolte Street, consisting of one half of a <h:>uble 
 house which is still standing and bears the numbers 
 207 and 200. The building is a large wooden 
 structure, of a good substantial ajtpearance, and 
 two stories high ; in the doubli' piti'hed roof, on the 
 street, side, are four attic windows ; below are six 
 windows in the second story, while the lirst lias 
 onlv four, two doors being in the middle. Hack of 
 the house is a yard, surrounded by sheds on all sides. 
 
 Ste. Pelagic was located in the tenement which 
 is now numbered 200, — the house fartliest trom 
 St. Catherine Street, which is only a short distance 
 
 
before her 
 •itli one of 
 10 of her 
 )tre-l)aine, 
 hhiek (log, 
 s, tried to 
 ler iiupres- 
 uiulcr that 
 )y fear, ami 
 
 Street was 
 innnher of 
 n they were 
 1 more eoin- 
 A'l-re rented, 
 ■ of a double 
 the numbers 
 ri^e wooden 
 mrance, and 
 roof, on the 
 )elo\v are six 
 the iirat has 
 0. liaek of 
 on all sides, 
 ment which 
 irthest troni 
 hort distance 
 
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 Ik'-"*.*** •^ ^ ' 
 
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 k 
 
 t 
 
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 7 
 
 wm 
 
 
 
 
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 - ^imirr-^-:^ . Mm 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 il >^ 
 
 'Wk 
 
 
 W V ,\ 
 
 
 31 
 
 
 
 ^s 
 
 M 
 
 1 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 V 
 
 ^ ■'^^'" '*' ** ".ts-2 
 
 
 M 
 
 5ii.£ : 
 
 
 I T. 
 
 '—I 
 
 1 
 
 ! 
 

 %■ 
 
 li 
 
 I 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 63 
 
 away. On the first floor were the refectory, kitcli- 
 eii, etc. ; on tlie secoiul the Coninmnity-rooin and 
 the Cliapel ; while the garret was used as a 
 <h)rniitory for all the inmates. 
 
 It was a hetter and larger building than the 
 first, hut still much too small, if we remember that 
 gs many as eleven penitents were received at the 
 same time. ] it if tlie place was somew^hat too 
 small for its iimiates, there was ample compensation 
 in the assurance of being protected against tlie 
 severity of tliC weather, and the inestimable liappi- 
 ness of having a chapel. 
 
 This chai)el was not a richly ornamented sanc- 
 tuary; the little wooden altar was trimmed with 
 wall-paper, and adorned with four small jugs for 
 vases (covered with the same material) liolding 
 bouquets of paper-flowers, and, on feast-days, a like 
 tuimber of glass or brass candlesticks stood beside 
 the tabernacle. A modest wooden crucifix com- 
 pletctl the outfit of this poor chapel, which was to 
 the inmates of the refuge what the oasis is to tlic 
 weary traveller in the desert. Twice a week, — 
 f^unday aiid another day, — the pious women were 
 able to assist at tlie celebration of the Holy Myste- 
 ries and to partake of the " Bread of Life " come 
 down from heaven to nourish and strengthen our 
 si)uls , every day they could, in union with our 
 
 6 
 
 J 
 
• IP I III tf 
 
 54 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIt6 AND 
 
 DiviiK' Saviour, visit the stations of the Borrowful 
 way of the ( VosH, remw tliuir courago und forget 
 their (jwii Bufferings in the eonteniplation of our 
 dear Kedeenier's jtassion. What more was needed 
 to make them love the little sanetuary? Was it 
 not, moreover, in their eyes, the pledge of that 
 larger and more magnificent sanctuary, which the 
 God of the Holy Eucharist would one day make 
 His own, and in which lie would abide permanently 
 in their midst? The cradle inspires as many hopes 
 as the tomb evokes memories, and this chapel on 
 "Wolfe Street, — so small, so humble and so poor — 
 . was the cradle where the spirit of the new-born 
 community was developed and strengtheni'd. Hence 
 we may well fancy that getting a glimpse of the 
 future in the bright light at times vouchsafed in 
 prayer, Madame Jette must have many a time 
 humbled herself before the Almighty, for having 
 chosen her to lay the foundations of so nolde an 
 undertaking. 
 
 Meanwhile Divine Providence brought associate 
 workers to the two pious widows. This was needed 
 in order to enable Hisliop liourget to organize the 
 religious life in the house. Klisabeth T.'iilleur, of 
 St. BenoTt was the first to enter. She, however, 
 did not persevere. Lucie Benott and a widow, 
 Madame (/lenient Montrais, nee Genevibve Salois 
 
 I 
 
THE OllKJIN OF THE SI.STERS OF MISEKICOIIDE 55 
 
 orroM'ful 
 1(1 fortjct 
 i\ of our 
 s needed 
 
 Was it 
 3 of that 
 ,lnch the 
 lay make 
 nianently 
 iiiy hopes 
 uhapel on 
 BO poor — 
 ncw-horn 
 (1. Hence 
 ^se of the 
 
 isafed in 
 y a time 
 or having 
 
 nohle an 
 
 ap^sociate 
 w needed 
 anize the 
 aillenr, of 
 however, 
 I widow, 
 ;ve Salois 
 
 were tlie next. After a few nionthn' trial, the lat- 
 ter's health seemed to fail and sho was not permitted 
 to enter tlie new Order, hut as a speeial favor, 
 stayed with them until her death. It was altogether 
 ditlerent with Miss IJenoit, whom we shall find a 
 religious later on, and who remained faithful to her 
 first vocation. 
 
 She was twenty-eight years old when she hade 
 adieu to her family, and gave ujtthe world in order 
 to share Madame Jette's life of self-sacrifice and 
 liclp lier in lier undertakings. Until then lier life 
 lia<l been spent under the shelter of the paternal 
 roof, which was only separated from the new liospital 
 hy the width of the street. She saw and appre- 
 ciated the work with her own eyes, and well knew 
 all the sacrifices awaiting her, hut her courage 
 enabled her to meet trials without fear, and the 
 cheerfulness of her disposition, united to the most 
 amiable simplicity of character, constituted a price- 
 less adjunct to a life in which thorns and crosses 
 were to be, as it were, her daily bread. 
 
 This association of five persons desirous of conse- 
 crating tliemselves to God, and serving Ilim in one 
 and the same work, permitted Bishop Bourget to 
 draw the outlines of tlie new rule. On Sunday, 
 July 2()th, 1840, His Lordshij. celebrated Mass at 
 the home, made known the rule to be followed 
 
5(J 
 
 MOTHER DK LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 tlieiicotbrtli, and at tlic Kaiiu' time ostubliHluMl and 
 o[»onod tlio Novitiate. There being as yet no 
 rroressed Sistei's, he was comiielled to cIioohc a 
 Superior from among the new novices, and Madame 
 Raymond was the one designated to perform tliat 
 duty " pro tempore.'^ 
 
 The Penitents were not forgotten. As early as 
 the preceding month of March, the 15ish(j}> liad hiid 
 down for tliem tlic first rudiments of a rule which 
 he finished on this same day, without, however, 
 making it obligatory and binding forthwith. 
 
 About the same time. His Lordship confided tlio 
 spiritual direction of the institution to Kev. Antoine 
 Rey, an aged French jyriest, residing at the episco- 
 pal i)aUu'e. This venerable ecclesiastic, a man 
 austere in appearance and of a still more austere life, 
 was in reality, mild, kindly and full of zeal ; he 
 reminded one of the French clergy of by-gone days : 
 — dignified in manner, amiable, yet self-restrained, 
 — sincerely devoted, but imbued with that spirit of 
 extreme severity with which Jansenism had, so to 
 speak, poisoned the very air. 
 
 A resolute advocate of fasting and abstinence, he 
 himself never ate meat and ii, fact took but little 
 *ood of any kind. Perhaps, in his great ardor for 
 the i)ractice of mortification, he did not make suflS- 
 cient allowance for the painful circumstances in 
 
 
THE ORIOIN OF THE SISTERS OP MIsfiRICORDE 57 
 
 as v«.'t no 
 
 cllOOKl' Jl 
 
 (I Miuliimo 
 srtbrni that 
 
 /Vs early as 
 opliad laid 
 
 rule wliieli 
 , however, 
 ^ith. 
 
 jnfuled the 
 L'v. Antoine 
 
 the episco- 
 
 ,ic, a nia» 
 austere lite, 
 of zeal ; he 
 •gone clays : 
 -restrained, 
 hat spirit of 
 n had, ho to 
 
 stinenee, he 
 ak but little 
 !at ardor for 
 make suffi- 
 nistaiices in 
 
 m 
 
 which the community lived ; but nevertheless, it 
 must he admitted that, by his attentive and ashiduous 
 care, his pressing exhortations and good examj)Ie, 
 he contril)uted greatly to the formatioti of the spirit 
 of the Institution. Could anyone, in truth, carry 
 farther the virtues of humility aiKlsi'lf-forgetfulness 
 than «lid the pious chajtlain? One night, when he 
 was at the Gray Nuns' Hospital, he fell asleep 
 while reading, and his lighted candle set the bed- 
 curtains aiire ; he awoke half stitled by the smoke 
 and, without permitting the Nuns who had hastened 
 to his help to enter the room, he put out the fire 
 with his own hands, burning them both severely. 
 The danger once over, he made light of the intense 
 pain his burned hands caused him, craved forgive- 
 ness from the Sisters for having exposed the house 
 to a great <-alamity, and in the morning, with the 
 liishop's permission, went as usual to the Chapel of 
 8te, IV'lagie, there to offer up, with his luaimed 
 hands, the holy sacrifice, in gratitu<le and thanks- 
 giving to the Almighty for his wonderful escape. 
 Under the influence of tlieir fervent .L;ector, the 
 rtious novices vied with one another in generosity, 
 and the penitents, in whom he took a truly paternal 
 interest, opened their souls to the grace of God 
 and were ins}»ired with a desire to amend their 
 lives. We have in our possession the original 
 
K M 
 
 58 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIV1t6 AND 
 
 iimmiscrijtt of two sots of rules drafted by him, under 
 the inspiration and control of Bishop Bourget, one 
 for the Sisters and another for he Benitents. A 
 glance over these pages will give a better idea of 
 the spirit and life of the little community than any 
 possible description. 
 
 The manuscript opens with a table enumerating 
 the qualities with which a [(crson must be endowed 
 who wishes to become a member of the " Congre- 
 gation de Sainte-Pelagie." The rule requires of 
 her : regularity, mutual forbearance, the desire of 
 attaining perfection, obedience, the avoiding of 
 familiarity, the cordial accepting of such admonitions 
 as are deemed necessary. 
 
 After having set forth the particular end for 
 which the Institute was founded, to wit ; exercise 
 of spiritual and corporal mercy towards fallen 
 women,— the author dwells at length on the virtues 
 essential to the religious life, — aiyl in particular 
 fraternal union, poverty, obedience, humility. The 
 " associates " are each year to make an eight days' 
 retreat, and devote one day every month to prepare 
 themselves for death. Weekly confession and 
 Comnmnion, daily meditation during a half hour, 
 the recitation of the Rosary and spiritual reading, 
 are also required by the Rule. 
 
 The order of exercises for each day is about the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SKSTEKM OF MItifiRICORDE 51) 
 
 him, under 
 uurget, one 
 litonts. A 
 tter idea of 
 y than any 
 
 iiumeratin<!; 
 )e endowed 
 c " Congre- 
 re([uire8 of 
 e desire of 
 voiding of 
 idmonitions 
 
 lar end for 
 
 it ; exereise 
 
 irds fallen 
 
 the virtues 
 
 particular 
 
 iility. The 
 
 eight days' 
 
 1 to prepare 
 
 "ession and 
 
 half hour, 
 
 lal reading, 
 
 IB about the 
 
 name as in tlie majority of religious comnnniities : 
 the hour for rising is five o'clock ; at halt past live 
 meditation ; at six mass ; breakfast at seven ; 
 reciting of tlic beads at eleven and at half past eleven 
 dinner. The interval between seven and eleven is 
 devoted to work which is continued in the after- 
 noon from one o'clock to six, — the hour for supper 
 — with no interruption save the spiritual reading. 
 A little before eight o'clock work is resumed again 
 until nine, thereafter strict silence is observed till 
 after breakfast the next morning. This rule, with 
 a few slight modifications, is that which is still 
 followed by the Sisters of Misericorde, so we need 
 not refer to it again. 
 
 The rule laid down for the penitents in its leading 
 features, is the same. Piety and work fill uj> their 
 day, but they are not obliged to take part in the 
 exercises peculiar to the religious life. They must 
 obey and respect their superiors, maintain peace 
 and charity among themselves and observe, within 
 certain limits, the rule of sijji.ce, without which a 
 community life would be an impossibility. Amoag 
 the rules concerning them there are some wliicli 
 are really touching ones, so instinct are they with 
 the delicacy of faith and charity. Take for instance 
 this rule : — " The penitents shall each adot»t a 
 " jtseudonym in place of her family name,(') so as to 
 
 (1) In 1851, the pauudonyni was obanged to u Saint'n name. 
 
60 
 
 MOTHER DE LA XATIVITE AND 
 
 " safoffuard tlieir own honor as well as that of tlieir 
 " relatives." 
 
 Another rule reads as follows: "Eacl person 
 '' admitted sha-l put aside all jewelry and other '^fmi- 
 " nients conducive to vanity, and iihall ilress niodcsily 
 " and in a manner hefittin^ a true penitent." The 
 Sisters strove above all tliiiigH to infuse into their 
 hearts the spirit of true i>eniteiice, and ao help them 
 lay the foundations of a new life. Hardly had these 
 rules been inaugurated al the Institution on Wolfe 
 Street, when the following i»ostulants presented 
 themselves for admission : diirin;' the month of 
 September, Lucie Leeourt<»i«i, and a widow by the 
 mime of Joseiite Galipeau ; and in October, Justine 
 Filion. AVith these ]»o»tulantii came three others 
 who did not i)er8evere. The noviciate was then 
 composed of twelve mend>er8. The first new postu- 
 lant, Lucie L'-^courtois, wa« Ixjni at I'Assomption in 
 1810. After a youth spent in piety and the practice 
 of virtue, she came to Montreal to reside, and chose 
 for her H[>iritual director. Bishop Hourget, whose 
 counsel enabled her, as it did so riiany other souls, to 
 (scover the will ,)f G(m1. Hers was a soul endowed 
 with st 'ong faith ami tender piety, a so.il firm and 
 courageous in all trials, filled with unlimited con- 
 fidence in Divine Providenceandatlcttionate charity 
 for her neighbor. The qualititri^ most <litterent in 
 
tiat of their 
 
 %c\ person 
 other ^ma- 
 ss nioilcsily 
 ent." Tlie 
 e into their 
 help tlieni 
 i hud these 
 II on AVolt'e 
 presented 
 month of 
 U)vv Ity the 
 )er, Justine 
 lireo others 
 ( Avas then 
 new postu- 
 lomption in 
 ho praetiee 
 , and chose 
 •ijjet, whose 
 ler souls, to 
 id endowed 
 al firm ai;d 
 imitcd oon- 
 uite charity 
 littcrcnt in 
 
 THE ORIUIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 CI 
 
 a[»pearance were thus liarmoniousiy united in this 
 richly end(»wed nature, and all these gifts were 
 crowned h}- a truly filial devotion towards the 
 lilessed Virgin. 
 
 When Maduuic Galipeau, then forty-sevon years 
 old, tirst entered Ste. IV-lagie, she had known the 
 vicissitu<les of life, and had acquired an amount of 
 experience in the management of att'airs that was 
 destined to he of great henefit to the community. 
 Tall h \d rohust in stature, with a countenance stately 
 and dignified and a quick and penetrating eye, her 
 wli(»le appearance announced a superior wonuin, 
 well fitted for organizing and commanding. Never- 
 theless, the poverty and ditficulties inseparahle from 
 a new foundation had alone attracted her to the 
 refuge. When, after an eight days' retreat at the 
 convent of the Sisters of Trovidence, she declared 
 to liishop liourget that slieliad a decided preference 
 for the poor house on Wolfe Street, she was douht- 
 less far from anticipating the important part she 
 was to take in the new foundation. 
 
 Endowed with humhler ipudities, Justine Filion 
 was also destined to render eminent services to the 
 community. A pupil of the convent of the Sisters 
 of the Congregation, at T.-rrehonne, her native phioe, 
 she received from tlmse excellent teachers, together 
 with a solid education, the spirit (»f order and reli- 
 
m 
 
 62 
 
 MOTIIKR DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 nl 
 
 gion which were tlio most distinctive fcaturcH of 
 lier cluiractcr. Tlic ruling motive of lier life was 
 oxi»reKBe<l in the words which were always her 
 motto: "Serve (lod and for love of Him <lo good 
 " to your neighhor." She at tirst taught a country- 
 school, hut eoon gave up that position in order to 
 devote herself to rearing her orphaned nephews. 
 She pertornu'd this task with a mother's <levoted- 
 nt'ss. Later on, carried away hy zeal an<l set ting 
 hunum pru<lencc aside, she opened her house to tlu' 
 poor and unfortunate, whom she taught, fed, and 
 tlothed. In this undertaking her small means soon 
 vanished, and at puhlic charity did not fulfil her 
 hopes nor respond to her appeals for help, she had 
 to give up the attempt, hapjiy nevertlu'less in 
 having sacrificed all "for (Jod and His poor." Then 
 it was that she turned her attention towards Madame 
 Jette's institution. The new work attracted her, 
 for it promised to satisfy her thirst for self-sacrifice, 
 hut what 'lumiliations, privations and sacrifices, did 
 it not invcdve I The nuilieioun and evil-minded, 
 always greedy for new scaiulalp, criticised without 
 reserve or mercy these poor defenceless women, 
 who said not a woid in rejily hut went on 
 with their work, anxious only to please (Jod. 
 Mi-antime a toniru'twasgoing on in Justine Kilion's 
 heart. Tired of this state of uncertainty, and worn 
 
fD 
 
 TUB ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 63 
 
 e featiires of 
 r lier life was 
 ? always lior 
 Him do good 
 ;ht a country- 
 I in order to 
 iH'd lu^pliews. 
 liur'H <levoto«l- 
 il and hi'tting 
 r houno to the 
 ight, fed, ami 
 ill means soon 
 not fuHil her 
 u'lp, she had 
 ivcrtlu'less in 
 « poor." Then 
 k'ardn Madame 
 at tract e<l her, 
 r welf-saeriiiee, 
 saeritices, did 
 
 evil-minded, 
 iciwed without 
 eelesB women, 
 l)Ut went on 
 
 pli'ase tJod. 
 iistine Kilion'rt 
 iiity, antl worn 
 
 f 
 
 out with anxiety, she one day took refuge in the 
 (Cathedral and prostrating herself hefore the altar, 
 consulted God in prayer. What passed between 
 the Divine Prisoner of the Tabernacle and Ilis ser- 
 vant, no one ever knew, but certain it is that the 
 pious woman rose to her feet calm and resolute, and 
 Joined the little group in that humble "guest 
 chiindtcr " whore, in silence and prayer, the future 
 order of the " Sisters of Misuricorde " was being 
 fornu'd. This was on Octidn-r 8th, 1846. 
 
 A few (lays previous to that <late. Bishop Bour- 
 get had started for Home, leaving to Bishop rrince, 
 his coadjutor, the care of the administration. Bishop 
 Prince was not only a distinguished theologian, ho 
 was also an enlightened director and a zealous 
 patron antl promoter of every species of good work. 
 
 The religious of the Good Shepherd and the Sis- 
 ters of Providence had already found in him a safe 
 and devoted guide; but they were not thi! oidy 
 ones to iienetit from his directio)» and care, — Ste. 
 Pelagic was also about to profit greatly hy it. 
 
 The coadjutor Bishop visited the house on Xo- 
 vember tUh, and, after having offered up the Holy 
 Sacriliee, pro«'eeded to hold a general election for 
 the several otHces in the house. "After having 
 " invoked,"' says the otHciai record, "the light of the 
 " Holy Ghost and the protection of the Blessed Vir- 
 
G4 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 " gill, wc liave taken tlie votes of the present twelve 
 " members of tliis Community, and we iind tlie 
 " nominations to the several offices to be as follows : 
 " Madame Jette is elected superior ; Madame Gali- 
 " peau, assistant; the remaining offices are divided 
 " among the others." 
 
 The Jiishop signitie*! his approval of this election 
 hy aji authentic deed, which is carefully kei»t in 
 the archives of the Order. It is wt)rthy of note 
 that he gave to the new associates the name of 
 " Ladies of Charity ;" also, tint he refrained from 
 naming a Mistress of Novices "as they are all in 
 " the novitiate, the Bishop and the Director of the 
 " house will, by their advice and instructions, do 
 " what is needed in that behalf." 
 
 Jiishoji Prince watched over the work of the new 
 comnuinity with fatherly solicitude; he often in- 
 quired about the i)rogress of the novices in the 
 l>ractice of the religious virtues, and rejoiced when 
 he saw their fervor and piety. Towards the end of 
 November, Judging that it was time for them to 
 change their worldly garments ibr the religious 
 habit, he visited the house and gave its inmates an 
 instruction re]>lete with solid doctrine and unction 
 in relation to the religious habit, and the interior 
 dispositions it imjtlics: he then tilled the hearts of 
 the Superiors with Joy and delight by telling then), 
 
THE ORIOIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISKHICOUDE 
 
 bo 
 
 esent twelve 
 wc iind tlie 
 e as follows : 
 adame Gali- 
 are divided 
 
 this election 
 ullv keiit ill 
 ■thy of note 
 ;he name of 
 ['raine<l from 
 y are all in 
 rector of the 
 ructions, do 
 
 k of the new 
 
 lie often in- 
 
 tvices in the 
 
 L'joiccd when 
 
 Is the end of 
 
 for them to 
 
 he religions 
 
 s inmates an 
 
 and unction 
 
 the interior 
 
 the hearts of 
 
 telling tliem, 
 
 that after having reflected a long time hefore God, 
 he was persuaded that they should delay no longer 
 in clothing themselves with the garfiieiits of the 
 Sjiousea of Christ. 
 
 lie himself indicated the form and color of the 
 new hahit and fixed the date of the reception for 
 the first day of Decemher. This simple costume 
 was to consist of a hlack hahit and cai)e, with 
 a white cap and a collar of the same color. The 
 novices accepted it lovingly as a heaven-sent gar- 
 ment. Detained elsewhere hy important husiness, 
 JJishop Prince could not come as he wished at the 
 time appointed, so the Reception took i)lacc without 
 the usual ceremonies. Nevertheless the novices were 
 hai)py and joyous and from their hearts rose hymns 
 of thanksgiving, at the thought of the innumerahle 
 hlessings showered upon them. The Holy Hahit 
 seemed to them a sufficient recomiiense for all the 
 trials and bitterness of the past and a sure pledge 
 of future happiness. Ten of the novices received 
 it. Two of the " Associates " had left, a short time 
 hefore, not l)eing fitted to this kin«l of life, but 
 hefore long they were replaced hy two new can- 
 didates : — A<lelaVdeLan/,on and 8o[ihie Uihean, who 
 later on became excelk^it religious. 
 
 Yielding to the suggestions of her great love for 
 her dear penitents, the venerable Mother Superior 
 
6t; 
 
 MOTIIKH DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 Kolicit(Ml and ()l)tniiie(l for tliciii, not indoi'd u ((Hii- 
 plt'to coHtmno, Imt at IcjiHt a f'ow diHtinctiv*! parts of 
 one; i\wy were given a white cap and veil, alwo a 
 nu'dnl of the Blessed Virgin fastened to a blaek 
 ribbon which they wore around their neek ; but 
 these articles were expensive, and after a short time 
 they were laid aside and black caps and veils were 
 adopted. 
 
 In the meantime the Novitiate went on as usual. 
 It was, in truth, an excejitional novitiate, very far 
 from being in conformity witli the idea that the 
 word awakens in the mind I Who does not picture 
 it to himself as a place of retreat, a peaceful solitude, 
 where the trouble and noise of the world are un- 
 known, where the soul alone with her Cio' lives a 
 life of silence, meditation and pray»'i ? Ami sn.'h 
 is, in reality, the (»rdinary and nornuil ; of the 
 novitiate in religious communities. 
 
 But, under the unavoidable jiressiire of necessity, 
 altogether difterent was the spectacle aftbrded by 
 the little novitiate on Wolfe Street. There were, 
 as we have said, hours t'or prayer and recollection, 
 i)Ut was it not also necessary to provide for the 
 ever increasing wants of the ('ommunity? Were 
 the novices to give up, for a time, the practice of 
 works of mercy for which the institution was 
 foundi'd ? Sucli a thing could not be thought of ; 
 
THK ORKUN OF THK SISTKK.S OF MISKIl!n>HI»K 
 
 r.7 
 
 let'tl !i «'»mi- 
 jve juirtrt of 
 1 veil, ulrto 11 
 to a black 
 • iioek ; but 
 a abort tiino 
 1 veils wore 
 
 on as usual. 
 
 lite, very far 
 
 lea tbat tbe 
 
 H not picture 
 
 ,'ful Holitude, 
 
 orld are un- 
 
 CJo' Uvea a 
 
 Ai)"l si'i'li 
 
 ^ oi tnc 
 
 of nt'oesrtity, 
 
 att'onU'd by 
 
 Tbere were, 
 
 rocoUei'tion, 
 
 vide for tbe 
 
 tiity? Were 
 
 practice of 
 
 titntion wan 
 
 tbougbt of; 
 
 HO witb tbat bearty good will wbicb beaven blesHcs 
 and filial eonlideiice in (Jod, tbe novices witb tbeir 
 venerable Motbcr for tbeir guide, witbout a nio- 
 1 ment's besitalion and tbeir bcarts in peace, accepted 
 for tbeir sbare tbe twofold part of Nfartba and Mary. 
 And we can say witb certainty tbat if Martini's 
 was not tbe better part, it was in no way less con- 
 sidi'rable or less arduous tban Mary's. If we for a 
 moment reflect upon tbe insulKcicnt size of tbe 
 bouse for ho many inmates, tbe niany kinds of work 
 to be done and tbe extreme poverty wbicb reigned 
 witbin its walls, we sball bave no trouble in torming 
 an idea of tbe activity neeiled to supply all wants. 
 Tbe most spacious apartment on tbe groinid 
 floor bi'came on one and tbe same day, by turns : 
 kitcben, refectory, laundry, soapdiouse, drying and 
 ironing-room. An oM cooking-stove placed in tbe 
 centre of the room, served to cook tbe poor victuals 
 for tbe bousebold, boil tbe water, beat tbe flat- 
 irons, etc., and on <'ertain days to melt tbe wax out 
 of wbicb Justine Filion's skilled bands made tbe 
 tapers tbat were to burn on tbe altar. Need we be 
 surprised then if tbe dinm-r was sometimes burnt? 
 On sucli occasions Lncie Henolt usually made 
 known tbe fact to ber fiitber. wbo lived just across 
 tbe way, and tbat cbaritabb' neigbbor wo Id sbare 
 witb tbe poor community tbe food prepjired .>r bis 
 own family. 
 
 m 
 
68 
 
 motiii;k J)K la nativitk and 
 
 At i\\ght tlie commuiiity-rDOin, on tlio hocoimI 
 floor, was clmnt^od into a dormitory t'ortlic juMiitcMitrt 
 and tlie SisterH bi-took themselves to tlic garret. 
 Tliis distressing state of things histed several 
 months. To alleviate it, Hishoj* Prinee rented tlie 
 gronnd floor of the other half of the house and 
 placed the penitents there. Being theneel'orth «)Ut 
 of the way of general supervision, they required u 
 Bpeeial direetress. 
 
 This eharge was given to Lueie Lccourtois, who 
 aceeptcd it with fear and trembling. But Madame 
 Jette reassured lier, saying : " These poor ehildrcn 
 " are better than you think, go and be without fear." 
 Experience jtroved tliat her eonfidence was not 
 exaggerated. The penitents were obedient, and in 
 regard to piety and industry their eonduet was all 
 that could well be hoped for. The sight of the 
 great jtrivations which the novices gladly iTnjn)scd 
 upon themselves, in order to lighten the burthen 
 for their penitents, touched them to the hearf. 
 They became greatly attached to the house, and 
 many of them manifested a heartfelt desire to 
 remain and share the life and labors of those to 
 whom, next to (Jod Himself, they owed tlu'ir return 
 to virtue and honor. But the house was so snuill I 
 In fact there was barely room for those who already 
 belong ed to the household there. There was nothing 
 
 
THE OKIOIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICOHDE 
 
 60 
 
 the secontl 
 tin' iH'uitontrt 
 » tlic garret. 
 Htcd Heverul 
 CO rented the 
 le house un<l 
 I'ueetorth out 
 •y reciuired a 
 
 conrto'iH, who 
 But Mathiiue 
 poor chiUlreu 
 wit^ out feur." 
 Mice was not 
 lulient, aiul \n 
 )inluet was all 
 > sight of the 
 ;latlly imposed 
 i the hurtheti 
 to the heart, 
 lu' house, ami 
 folt desire to 
 rs of those to 
 i>d thi'ir return 
 was so small I 
 se who already 
 re was nothing 
 
 i'or it, therefore, hut to send tlie poor girls hack into 
 the world where, in not a few eases, tlu-ir irreproach- 
 able eonchiet was rewarded by an honorable mar- 
 riage ; or ilan irresistible attra<!tioi\ retained tiiem 
 in that solitu<le of the soul whieh is the fruit of 
 penanee and prayer; they bade adieu to their bene- 
 factors and resumed their life of reparation in the 
 cloister of the (iood-Sheplienl. 
 
 About this pericxl it was that the penitents, by u 
 spontaneous act on their part, began to give to their 
 directresses the name of " Mother.'' They had 
 hitlu-rlo addressed them as " MademoiselU," but the 
 word did not express the sentiments of their hearts; 
 so they agreed amongst themselves to replace it by 
 a sweeter one, by that name whieh is the syndjol of 
 the strongest, highest, most generous and disinter- 
 ested love to be found on eaitb. This usage has 
 been faithfully perpetuated in the Community, 
 
 ' wlu'rc all the professed nijnw are called " Mother " 
 
 s by the penitents, Magdelenes, etc. 
 
 Such marks of love an<l gratitude were a great 
 consolation to the novices in the midst of the con- 
 stantly recurring sufferings resulting from poverty. 
 They lived with the strictest economy, A little 
 hread and butter and a few potatoes often tbrmed 
 
 / their whole bill of fare ; and yet this frugal numner 
 of living did not always enable them to avoid con- 
 
 6 
 
70 
 
 MOTIIEU DE LA NATlVIlfi ANU 
 
 tructiiig <U'l)t8. But CJod never abaiuloiirt His little 
 oiu'K ; and in their groateHt neeesHitieH some ^enor- 
 ourt soul would ahvayw eonie torwanl when the 
 time eame to settle their aeeounts. Hirthop Jiour^et 
 had authorized Mr. IJenoit to assist thoC'omniunity 
 in its neeeswities whenever ho himself tailed to do 
 so. That ^ood ehristian on every oeeasion accpiitted 
 himself of the task witii /eal eidianeed by his 
 I'atherlv love. 
 
 Other wealthy and charitable jiersons soon beeaino 
 inscribed as benefactors of the new-born Institution. 
 We have already mentioned Olivier lierthelet, to 
 whose name and memory no words of ours can do 
 justice ; we must not omit the IMnsonnault family, 
 and in particular one of its most illustrious mem- 
 bers, the future JMshop (') of London, at the time a 
 Sulpician priest. 
 
 As it will readily be believed, tlie Cathedral clergy 
 were not the last to ^ive a helping hand to the little 
 Comnninity. What consoling memories and at the 
 same tinje what sentiments of gratitude are linked 
 
 (1) rininnnnult, (Mur. Pinrre-Adolpho 1H15-l8K:t). bnrn at St. PhUippe, 
 P.Q., WH8 educntfJ at the College of Montreal, wont to Pnrifi. whero ho 
 Ktuiiicd thooloBv and wns ordained prieiit in 1K4U. IIo loft the Society of 
 St. Sulpicc in iHj'.t to untir the Itiahop'g paliine iif Montreal, where he bo- 
 on me titular oannn in ISSl. Promoted to the ncwiy-crcoted See of Iitindon, 
 he wn» conaecriiled Bisliop hy Mgr. do Charbonnol, in 1Hr>tS. lie removed 
 hii* See to Sandwich in IK/)') and rvsiKned in IHtit), From that time he lived 
 a retired life at .Sault-au-H((collet, and later at the Episcopal renidenco in 
 Montreal. 
 
THE ORKIIN OF TIIK SISTEUS OF ML^KKlCoUUE 
 
 71 
 
 •IIH lI'lH little 
 
 some jxencr- 
 il when the 
 liop liourgel 
 ! Coniniunity 
 tailed to <lo 
 ion iic(iuitto<l 
 need by his 
 
 Hoon becuino 
 u Institution. 
 IJertlielet, to 
 'ours ean do 
 iiiault family, 
 Ktrious n»enj- 
 at the time a 
 
 hedral clergy 
 
 id to tlic little 
 
 es and at the 
 
 Ic are linked 
 
 rn lit St. rhilip|>e, 
 ;o IMrio. wluTO ho 
 hft the Society oi 
 renl. where he bo- 
 oted See of Iioiidon, 
 IK'it). lie rouioved 
 that time he lived 
 Rcopal reHidenco in 
 
 4 
 
 with the names of Fathers Tiutoau (') and IManion- 
 doii ; hothofthem titular canons, and tlietirnt named 
 tlcHtint'd to become Vicar-General of tlu' Diocese. 
 
 To the Birond, Bishop Hourgt'* intrustod tho 
 admiiustration of the temporal affairs of the hoiisr. 
 The duties ot Ins now position were not very com- 
 plicated and consisted rather in giving than in 
 nnuinging, as the following incident will show. One 
 Sunday, the Hishojt, accompanied by Father Tla- 
 mondon (), paid a visit to the house, and when they 
 were going through the refectory, tlu' latter iioticocl 
 that only a small pieci- of butter remained for the 
 comnnniity breakfast ; he mentioned the tiict to tho 
 Hislio[t, who said : "Have you no money with you, 
 "Canon?" at tlie same time i»utting his hand in 
 his own pocket. Iloth contributed according to 
 their means, ami that day, Justine Filion, who was 
 the provider of the house, was enabled to nuike 
 an extraordinary purchase, having receivetl tive 
 shillings. 
 
 Canon Tiuteau used to say jestingly : " There is 
 " no such thing as entering this house without 
 
 (1) Triitcau (Alcxin-FrM^riu 1H(IH.1H7;1). alliT having flninhcd hi8 courgo 
 of ftudiex lit the Collego of Montreal, remained in that insfitution as a 
 l'roft'»»<)rand at tho eame time ntudio I theology. Wim ordained priest in 
 h.'U), callod ti> the Epixcopal residence the next year by Mgr. Iiartiguo ; 
 beoame fccretary in Ix.ts and Vicar-(9oneral in 1817. 
 
 (2) L.-T. Plamondon (IKI'J-IHHJ), horn at St. Hyiicinthe. made a ooiirse of 
 studies at Montreal College, was ordained |>rioBt in I8l.'t,and made I'roour- 
 iitorof thodiocoie; canon in IHAI : retired into private lite in i'uo Ilotcl- 
 nieu in 1S»1, where ho died in 1HH2. 
 
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 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIlfe AND 
 
 " paying." Its poverty was indeed great, and help 
 was mucli needed. The Hotel-Dieu nuns and the 
 Sulpician Fathers deemed it their duty to help the 
 house and secure for it means of support. 
 
 Even the poor man's mite was not wanting. 
 And in particular that of one who had chosen 
 voluntary poverty for his lot, and who died about 
 thirty years ago. He was well known to the people 
 of Montreal by the name of " Thre Beaudry." Ilis 
 life, if written, would form one of the most beautiful 
 pages in the history of " private charity " in Ville- 
 Mario. Having distributed all his money to the 
 poor, and given his lands to the Seminary of 
 St. Sulpice, Mr. Beaudry took up his abode at the 
 Seminar^' on Notre-Dame Street. He started from 
 the Seminary every morning, with his wallet on his 
 back, — after having heard two or three Masses, — 
 and begged throughout the city and specially on 
 the market-place, where he was well known by all. 
 The butchers used to give him shanks of beef, cal- 
 ves' or sheep's heads, and renmants of meat which 
 was sometimes anything but fresh. 
 
 " Pere Beaudry," his cane in one hand, and 
 steadying his well-filled wallet on his bent back with 
 the other, would then Avend his Avay to the house 
 on Wolfe Street, or, at -limes, towards some other 
 community in like distress. If at times the sensitive 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 73 
 
 hiB 
 
 feelings of some novice suft'erecl from his blunt and 
 abrupt manner wliicli in truth, the good old man 
 put on in order to avoid that vain complacency to 
 which the very purest souls are exposed uncon- 
 sciously to give way in face of gratitude, the Com- 
 munity itself, on the other hand, was greatly 
 indebted to him for his charity and devotedness. 
 
 Thanks to the help thus received, the winter of 
 1846-1847 was not as hard as the preceding one. 
 The Sisters still had, it is true, to clear away the 
 snow which had gathered around the house during 
 the night ; saw and split with their own hands the 
 fire-wood for heating and cooking, and do many 
 other tasks of a like nature ; but they performed 
 with cheerful hearts whatsoever necessity imposed 
 upon them, and in short all were happy to submit 
 and adopt themselves in all things to the will of God. 
 
 Superior and Infirmarian, at one and the same 
 time, Madame Jette gave the example of activity, 
 courage and all the other virtues which her new 
 position demanded. A holy emulation reigned 
 among the novices ; all were eager to take part in 
 sitting up nights with the sick or doing the hardest 
 and most repulsive work. This was also to be seen 
 in their numerous journeys to Notre-Dame Church 
 where they carried the new-born infants to be bap- 
 tized. Nothing: could be more humiliating and 
 
 ■ .■',.. I' 
 

 
 itii 
 
 74 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 mortifying than tlie treatment inflicted on those 
 who performed that heroic work. 
 
 The i>ublic seemed to have a settled antipathy in 
 regard to tlie new work. At the sight of one of 
 the Sisters, passers-by turned their heads aside, 
 others insolently laughed, while some, more daring 
 than the rest, laid hands upon the burden, which 
 those pious women tried to conceal, and over- 
 whelmed them with abusive language. On Sundays 
 and holydays the task became more difiicult and 
 more humiliating still, on account of the crowd. 
 The Sisters were often obliged to elbow their way 
 to the holy font, and there they sometimes had to 
 wait several hours on account of the great number 
 of infants to be bai)tized. This was not sill. Once 
 baptized the infants had to be carried to the Grey 
 Nunnery, so that the poor novice must set out 
 again with a prospect of enduring fresh insults and 
 humiliations. At such times the relatives or 
 friends, who had done all in their power to prevent 
 the novices from entering the new Community, 
 would meet them with scornful and angry looks 
 and even with bitter or sarcastic words. One of 
 the novices stated that on one such occasion she 
 had nearlv fainted ; another was so terrified that 
 she was tempted to leave the poor screaming infant 
 on the roadside an<l run away. In spite of all 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 75 
 
 these sacrifices so peculiarly hard and crucifying for 
 human nature, these journeys to Notre-Dame created 
 a noble rivalry between the novices, for like the 
 Apostles, they rejoiced that they were accounted 
 worthy to sufier reproach for the name of Jesus. 
 
 I;- I 
 
Ii*i 
 
 111. • 
 
 
 ir. ■ 
 
 i^:^ 
 
 m-: 
 
 
 ,'>o«='^j€T 
 
 CHAPTER^ V 
 
 New Trials. 
 
 Olortnnivr in trihulattotiihus : ncientcs 
 qtiod trihuliitio piitientiiim ojtrratnr : 
 Ititlientia atitem prohiiliotiKni (KoM. v. 
 3-4). 
 
 We glorjr also in tribulations, know- 
 ing that tribulation worketh |!atience ; 
 and patience trial. 
 
 YEAR had passed since tlie day 
 when Madame Jett^ established her 
 little colony on Wolfe Street. Al- 
 though far from sharing the malevolent 
 feelings of many persons towards the new 
 Communit}', the proprietor of the house, 
 feared that discredit would also fall on his property 
 and diminish its value ; ho therefore notified the 
 Superior that she must seek quarters elsewhere. 
 
 On being made aware of the notice to quit, Bishop 
 Prince instructed Rev. Mr. Rey to look for a house 
 suitable for the Community. During two weeks, 
 the devoted chaplain travelled all over the city, 
 
■m 
 
 m 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MI.'?EK100aUb'E 
 
 t t 
 
 but it was useless ; every one had a homtrfyfthe 
 hospital, its neighborhood was shuiinexl aiiwl the 
 owners of houses considered that thev "wonjy incur 
 public disgrace by furnisliing quarters lor itiuor insti- 
 tution. Sharp criticism and hard wor<l# were, 
 moreover, unsparingly lavished on the poor ■eluaplain 
 and the devoted and courageous wonieo. *- Whj 
 " did not they leave these wretches in the «)tre«t?" 
 " Was not misery and suftering more lik*]ir to e»>r' 
 " rect them than pity ? And what cominasmm^ are 
 " such persons worthy of?" In the eyes, **i the 
 world, it was simply encouraging vice to tlarow the 
 mantle of charity over these poor girln, -nho. cttfcier 
 through a sudden impulse, through wcakm<M» or 
 the enticement of strong passion, had fallieBi mto 
 the abyss of shame. All doors were i>iti]ei*4y *liBt 
 against them, as of old the inns of BethWlihe'nni in 
 view of the poor and humble aspect of Marv an»I 
 Joseph. 
 
 Touched to the heart by this want of ^'U'CtCT&fflf in 
 so many quarters and above all by th<.^fs«e affronfi* 
 ofl'ered to holy charity, and whi(.h imperilled the very 
 existence of the hospital, Bishop Prince -Kent Mnni- 
 self to the house on April 0th. After ceMiiraitting 
 Holy Mass, he called the Sisters together atwl rair;2«.i!i 
 them to solicit, by fervent prayers, the liKeBii- of 
 Divine Providence for their institution. "TLf |xc«»i- 
 
 
 
 ■•:■■■ •■'■'.'1 
 
 m 
 
 
Wl -' 
 
 78 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITY AND 
 
 111; 
 
 " tion ill wliich you are now placed, he said, is a 
 " very difficult one ; you have no refuge ; your 
 " Community will perish if God does not come to 
 " your assistance ; you must pray with fervor. 
 " But God will not abandon you ; He does not for- 
 " get all you have done for love of Him. Let us 
 " entreat Him to help us, through the intercession 
 " of St. Pelagia. This very day we must begin a 
 " novena in honor of your patroness, so that we 
 " may ask her to secure for you a home where you 
 " may carry on your work. You know what peo- 
 " pie do when in danger of perishing : they cry out 
 " for help with all their strength ; do the same, 
 " pray with faith and confidence, say from the bot- 
 " tom of your hearts : St. Pelagia, pray for (/s .' " 
 And the Bishop, falling on his knees, in the midst 
 of the poor Sisters, whose hearts were saddened by 
 the prospect before them, (and how could it be 
 otherwise ?) but full of hope in Him who holds in 
 his hands the hearts of men ; commenced the novena 
 by reciting aloud a chaplet of invocations to the 
 holy Patroness of the Hospital. 
 
 Continued with entire confidence, the novena 
 ended on April 14th, with, as yet, no apparent result, 
 and there was but little time left. The next day, 
 Bishop Prince went himself to see a proprietor in 
 the neighborhood, Mr. Donegani. The success of 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 79 
 
 his undertaking surpassed all his hopes, for that 
 gentleman not only consented to let the Sisters have 
 his house, but to give it up to them free of charge, 
 and for an unlimited period of time ! 
 
 On receiving this good news, the Community gave 
 way to transports of delight and the next day, at 
 the suggestion of His Lordship, they began a novena 
 of thanksgiving to the Saint whose helping hand 
 had been so manifest in their deliverance. 
 
 From that day forth also, devotion to St. Pelagia 
 increased wonderfully in the little Community. The 
 Sisters invoked her with tender and confiding piety, 
 and it would be impossible to say how many spiri- 
 tual and temporal favors were obtained through 
 her intercession, more specially in behalf of the 
 poor penitents. 
 
 The house to which the Hospital was about to be 
 removed was on the south-east corner of St. Catherine 
 and St. Andre Streets. It is still standing, but so 
 changed that the visitor, who would fain discover 
 some vestiges of a holy and glorious past, can today 
 see but a common restaurant. 
 
 The aspect of the new Hospital was quite as 
 modest as the first, perhaps e%'en less regular in out- 
 line and less pleasing to the eye. But it was much 
 larger. On the first story, there was room for the 
 parlor, the Community hall, the refectory, the 
 
 
 
 ' r 
 
 ■.■!-•: 
 
 ;:Vj; 
 
 ' ■- ■ ; ■ I 
 

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 I- 
 
 I;" 
 
 m 
 
 ^!l! 
 
 ii> " 
 
 
 I.. 
 
 80 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 I'r 
 
 kitchen mid even the laundry. On the second floor 
 was the Chapel, the penitents' room, the Siwters' 
 dormitory, and even a small office for the clergy. 
 The third story was set apart for the penitents' 
 dormitory and the inflrmary. Adjoining the house 
 was a garden. 
 
 The Community moved into their new quarters 
 on April 26th. There was more room than in the 
 old house, but how much weary work had still to 
 be done to render it fit for use ! The trials of the 
 Sisters during the first few weeks were extremely 
 severe, on account of the many privations they 
 endured. All their previous sufl:erings were as 
 nothing compared to what they now endured. What- 
 ever little meat they were able to procure, and all 
 that was sent in by charitable people, was given to 
 the penitents. The Sisters were reduced to living 
 on bread and water ; and it is not surprising to 
 read that they were on the verge of sinking under 
 the strain of their incessant labors. 
 
 During this general distress, Madame Jette gave 
 to all an example of courage and confidence in God. 
 She knew that it was one of those trials to which, 
 by a special permission of Divine Providence, such 
 new undertakings are subjected, and wliich, when 
 generously endured, but serve to cause the spirit of 
 self-denial and sacrifice to take deeper root and 
 
 f 
 
 s 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICOUDE 
 
 81 
 
 gain strength. Wlio could liave been better quali- 
 iied than she to iml)ue with these Hentinients the 
 minds and lioarts of her companions? Slie thanked 
 God from tlie depths of her heart, when she saw 
 that they too were brave and resigned in face of 
 such a discouraging position. 
 
 But these courageous women did not give way 
 to useless fear and repining ; tliey knew the [troverb : 
 " Ilelji thyself, and heaven will lielp thee " and 
 worked hard for their living. While Madame 
 Raymond and some others were sewing, Madame 
 Jette herself made soles for several shoemakers, or 
 took in washing. As they were often not well 
 paid for their work, they had recourse to begging. 
 Each morning one of the Sisters went to the market ; 
 but how many bitter words and foul taunts accom- 
 panied the feeble alms she received, God alone knows ! 
 
 Things had come to this point when Bishop 
 Bourget returned from the eternal City, in May 
 1847. One of his first visits was to his afflicted 
 daughters. The extreme poverty in which he 
 found them touched him greatly. lie laid it upon 
 them as a duty, for the future, to let him know 
 their wants should tliey ever again fall into such a 
 state of constraint and poverty. To meet tlieir 
 most pressing wants, he gave them all the money 
 he had with him, which amounted to eight dollars. 
 
 
 
 fi: 
 
 
 
1. 
 
 82 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 'I 
 .5 
 
 Iff : - .1 
 
 I: '1 
 
 It ii 
 
 '51 .-■ 
 
 1 1! ■ 
 
 On returning to liis residence he gave micli further 
 aid as showed that lie did not forget those whose 
 need ho had just ascertained. No sooner did lie 
 receive some gift or present which could he used in 
 the Hospital, than he immediately sent it to the 
 Sisters, and many a time disposed of the collection 
 taken up at the Cathedral on Sunday, in favor of 
 this work so dear to his heart. 
 
 Meantime, the hour had come when God was to 
 call upon the community to make one of the most 
 meritorious sacrifices which it could then offer Ilim. 
 
 Borne hither by the unfortunate Irish emigrants, 
 mercilessly banished from their island-home by 
 English eviction, the typhus fever had cast its 
 baneful pall over the city of Montreal. The poor 
 emigrants, wasted by the pangs of hunger and 
 exhausted by all the sufferings of a long sea voyage, 
 perished by thousands on the shores of the St. Law- 
 rence, where the ships had landed them. With 
 that quiet heroism born of charity and trust in 
 God, the clergy, the religious communities and 
 even a large number of pious lay-people went to the 
 help of those unfortunate victims of the plague. 
 Eight priests and ten Sisters proved their courage 
 and devotedness by the loss of their lives. Among 
 the first stricken down were Bishop Bourget and 
 his coadjutor ; they, no doubt, owed their recovery 
 
 nn 
 
 '■«. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORUE 
 
 83 
 
 to the ardent prayers oft'ered up to the Almighty 
 entreating Ilim to spare thowe two precious lives. 
 
 The Sisters in charge ■:.' 'te. Pelagic were also 
 eager to join the ranks oi" those who were fighting 
 the dread disease, but the Bishop informed them 
 tliat tliey must not think of doing so " on account 
 " of their penitents." Their chaplain, the venerable 
 M. Rey, replaced them on the field of honor, on 
 which he was doomed to fall. 
 
 From Point Rt. Charles, tliat is to say, the western 
 extremity of the city, where he was stationed in 
 attendance on the sick, he daily came on foot to offer 
 up the Divine Sacrifice at the Hospital ; then, 
 without taking any of tliose precautions which 
 prudence dictates under such circumstances, without 
 relaxing in the very slightest degree his practice of 
 mortification regarding his food, he went forth to 
 face all the overwhelming labors of his ministry, 
 and the poisonous atmosphere in which sickness 
 and death held sway. Ilis strength soon gave out. 
 The last time he offered the Holy Sacrifice in the 
 Community Chapel he was so feeble that he was 
 hardly able to stand. Completely exhausted by 
 the effort he made in saying Mass, he fainted away 
 during his thanksgiving. Madame Jette, justly 
 alarmed, wished to send liirn home in a carriage, 
 but he would never consent to it ; lie made his way 
 
 
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 84 
 
 MOTIIKll DE LA XATIVITE AND 
 
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 on foot to the Cathedral, and from thence proceeded 
 to the IIotel-Dieu, which he was never to leave 
 alive. He died a holy death, on July 27th, 1847. 
 
 Diirinc^ his sickness, which was short, Madame 
 Jetto and Madame Galipeau went to see him, hut 
 this holy priest, whose soul seemed alrea<ly to he 
 tilled with that heaven it wasalx>ut to enter, refused 
 them admittance to his room ; he, however, sent 
 them his thanks for their visit, assurinj^ them that 
 he would rememher their "work" hefore God; 
 and commending his soul to the pious prayers of 
 the Community. 
 
 Soon after, the terrihle plague threatened to 
 secure victims iii the Hospital itself. Tv-'o of the 
 novices were taken sick. If the tlisease spread it 
 meant the ruin of the institution and the complete 
 destruction of a work most necessary in a growing 
 city such as Montreal. The Bishop resolved to have 
 recourse to supremo means to arrest the progress of 
 the disease. lie sent to the venerahle Superior of 
 tlie Community hy the handsof their new chaplain, 
 the Rev. Louis Sache, S.J. ; a relic of Blessed 
 Beatrice d'Este, a gift of His Holiness, Pope Pius IX, 
 and in order, no douht, to incite the Comnmnity to 
 jiray with greater fervor, he sent them word that 
 he would give the relic to the Providence nuns, it 
 the Saint did not work anj- cures in their Hospital. 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTEKS OF MISBRICORDE 
 
 85 
 
 The relic was exposed in the Chapel with all the 
 solemnity possible, and the Community immediately 
 began a nov^na. The result was soon manifest, 
 and a few days afterwards, the two novices had quite 
 recovered, their rapid restoration to health being 
 looked upon as truly miraculous. One of the novices 
 thus cured was Lucie Benoit, of whom we have 
 already spoken in this history. Through gratitude 
 for the Saint she decided to adopt her name at the 
 lirst profession and place herself under her special 
 patronage. The devotion to St. Beatrice was from 
 that time forth in great repute in the Community, 
 and whenever a contagious disease broke out in the 
 city, and seemed to be about to invade the Hos- 
 pital, the relic was exposed amid fervent prayers 
 and supplications, and the conlideuce thus exhibited 
 was never found to be misplaced. 
 
 The joy over these unhoped for cures was still at 
 its height when a fresh trial cast the shadow of 
 death over the house. During the same summer, 
 1847, Madame Montraia was taken away. Eminently 
 pious, and gifted with an amiable simplicity and 
 goodness, combined with entire devotedness to duty, 
 she had accomplished much for the Community, 
 and had won the esteem and aftection of her com- 
 panions. A few months before her death, her 
 health began to fail, so that she felt herself unable 
 
 7 
 
 ■ V' .. 
 
86 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 to continue her novitiate and after seeking the 
 advice of her director, she decided to give it up. 
 Nevertheless, she asked the Bishop and Madame 
 Jette, as a special favor, to permit her to end her 
 days in the house she loved so much. The favor was 
 granted, and this pious lady, who could have lived 
 at ease and comfort, at home, shut herself up in 
 the poverty of this obscure anddiscredited establish- 
 ment, there to devote herself to the most humble 
 duties, until the day when the Divine Spouse invited 
 her to enter into the glories and splendors of Ilis 
 kingdom. 
 
 A Jesuit, Father Louis Sacho ('), succeeded 
 M. Rey as chaplain. He was filled with the zeal 
 of a true apostle. His goodness and charity, as we 
 read in the annals of the Good-Shepherd Convent 
 of Quebec, were inexhaustible, but veiled under a 
 cold and placid countenance, which no passing 
 events, it would seem, ever sufficed to disturb. He 
 was naturally of an austere temperament. The 
 
 
 
 m- 
 
 
 (1) Louis-C^faire Snch6 was born in a village of La Touraine, (Ftance), 
 in 1813, entered the Society of Jesus in 1840 and came to Montreal in 1845. 
 Three years were devoted to the work ol the ministry in the city or at La- 
 prairie. In 1848 he was named director of the College at Ste. Th^rdso. The 
 next year, he founded the residence of Quebec, was called to the post of 
 Master of Novices at Sault-au-RCcollet in 1853, remaining there until 1862 
 when he was a|)pointcd Rector of St. Mary's College (lH()2-t;5); was sent 
 back to Sault-au-R^collct in 18t)6; in 1871 was ^eiit to the United States 
 and in 1881 to Quebec. Celebrated his golden Jubilee in 1888, and died in 
 Quebec October 24th, 1889. His memory is still cherished by many in that 
 oity. 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 87 
 
 Community hoped much from his zeal and his spirit 
 of faith, and he was hecoming attached to the work 
 just in proportion as its many needs impressed 
 tliemselves upon his mind, when his Superior's 
 orders called hira elsewhere. 
 
 He was replaced by a priest, who, although young 
 in years, was distinguished by eniinent qualities. 
 Bishop Bourget had recently called him to the 
 Cathedral and bestowed on him the title of Canon. 
 Venant Pilon (') was a man of God. In accepting 
 the mission confided to his care by the Bishop he 
 did not hide from himself, either the importance of 
 the task ho was about to attempt, which was to 
 form privileged souls to a life of perfection and the 
 spirit of their order ; or the criticism to which he 
 would be ex'^osed on account of his youth and the 
 peculiar charu.; jr of the work intrusted to him. 
 
 Many priests still entertained doubts about the 
 Hospital. In the first place, they said, it was a 
 new Community, — a capital grievance in the eyes 
 of some, — and then, to say nothing of its object, 
 which seemed to be of uncertain utility, — how could 
 it possibly get out of the poverty in which it had 
 
 (1) Pilon (Venant) (1822-1860), wac born at St. Geneviiivo, P.Q. After a 
 brilli int course of studies at the College of TAssomption, ho remained in 
 that eatablisbment as a professor, while pursuing also the study uf theolo- 
 gy. Ordained priest in 1845, he was for a time direotor of the College 6f 
 Chambly; named Canon in 1847, he divided his time between preaching, 
 and the Chaplaincy of the Community of Mis^ricordc, until his death. 
 His body lies in the vault of the Community Chapel. 
 
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 88 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
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 been struggling for tlio last two years, especially at 
 a time when so many other rising instituti*»ns, 
 unquestionably more useful, were appealing to the 
 charity of the faithful ? 
 
 Tho«e objections must also floubtlesshave occurred 
 to M. rilon, but, remembering that " the thoughts 
 " and ways of men are not the thoughts and ways 
 " of God," he gave himself up to his duties with 
 that zeal and devotedness derived from motives 
 elevated high above the things of earth and time, 
 which are proof against the assaults of the one and 
 the inconstancy of the other. 
 
 He saw from tlie first that, in the then state of the 
 Community, — with no definite rules, no vows, 
 customs or traditional spirit, he must not confine 
 himself to the work of a director of souls, but, in the 
 general interest of the house he must also become 
 Master ot Xovicea. It was a great undertaking 
 with his feeble constitution, but the future of the 
 Community depended on it and M. Pilon did not 
 for a moment hesitate. lie presided over all the 
 daily exercises and taught the novices how to 
 ac(|uit themselves of those that seemed most difficult, 
 such as : the chapter of faults, fraternal correction 
 and direction. In order to surround those exercises 
 with all the respect inspired by religion, he wished 
 that the novices should perform them in presence 
 
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 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIMJBJCOB&E 
 
 89 
 
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 of the Holy Eucharist, a sure way <»f awrcompUshiug 
 them with a fitting spirit of faith a««l luniniiHtj. 
 
 To these weekly exen-ises, which art- iriOabeerved 
 in the Community, were added a few odlneTS which 
 have since heen abolished. The aninak tell as of a 
 liabit the associates had of avowing to nine J^aperior, 
 each "vening, all violations of th<? mle ♦•omrnitted 
 during the day, also giving her an itfxmmnt of the 
 manner they had occupied their riiiiiiKli. Fasting 
 on Friday was then observed, but am ^-iewr of the 
 difficultes and drawbacks it occasioinwl. the prac- 
 tice was, a few years later, given up- 
 
 Thus was the new family with whicL Goel wished 
 to endow and gladden His Church, Utnu^l in the 
 shade, in prayer and in the exercise <*f tW hnmblest 
 offices of charity. Two years had now }><een spent 
 in laying, amidst humiliations of everj llcimL the 
 deep, solid and immovable foundation* of that true 
 and sincere humility which St. AugiusSiiuc- deems 
 essential for ever}' spiritual structune tliiat in to 
 escape ruin : " Do you aspire to l>ecoiJjie great ? — 
 "' tlien begin by being little. Do you whrh to raise 
 " a great and noble edifice ? — then let ymr Hirst care 
 " be the solid foundation of humility;" *ay* that 
 illustrious Doctor of the Churcli. Tljue gTa<e of 
 God had accomplished all this in the sonik of those 
 who formed the Conmiunity of Ste. Pelagie. For 
 
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 90 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE 
 
 over a year, they had given up their worldly attire ; 
 having long before renounced the spirit and maxims 
 of the world. And now, not only were they clad in 
 the religiouH habit, but, better far, their souls were 
 adorned with the virtues and interior dispositions 
 of which it is the emblem. 
 
 
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 V 
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 CHAPTER VI 
 
 
 >>,,f1 
 
 .1^ 
 
 Profession and Religious Life. 
 
 Dominui pars hrreditatit mrtr.. (Ps. 
 XV. h.) . .. et hxrediUtK men super mil et 
 fnvum. (EnOL. xxiv. 27.) 
 
 The Ijord in the portion of my inherit- 
 ance. .. and my inheritance is sweet 
 above honey and the honey-oomb. 
 
 ISIIOr Bourget now felt that the 
 time had at last come to execute the 
 project he had for so long cherished, 
 sf^ of erecting into a regular congregation 
 the Community created and fostered by 
 his care and under his patronage. He 
 came to the Hospital on November 1st, 1847, and 
 inaugurated a thirty days' retreat, in order to decide, 
 by the light of recollection and prayer, who where 
 those that should be admitted to religious profession. 
 It would be difficult to describe the joy of all when 
 they heard this welcome news. 
 
 The day had at last come, when their most ardent 
 
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 92 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIlfi AND 
 
 aspirations would be realized, when they were to 
 give themselves up wholly and unreservedly to the 
 Divine Spouse of souls ; when they would bind 
 themselves to Him by that " triple tie " which in 
 the words of Holy Scripture, " cannot be broken," 
 by those " glorious chains " the religious vows, and 
 this not only for a day, or a year, but forever ! 
 What a beautiful dream ! Or rather what a precious 
 reality ! We can easily understand, therefore, with 
 what fervor and what transports of joy the retreat 
 was begun by all. It went on amidst the every day 
 occupations of the Community ; but more time was 
 given to meditation, every eftbrt made to preserve 
 recollection, and the chaplain's impressive and 
 heart-stirring appeals opened their souls to the 
 effusions of divine grace. As often as he could, 
 during the retreat, that is to say, in the brief inter- 
 vals left by his many 7 essing duties, the Bishop 
 failed not to visit his dear daughtero. At such times 
 bespoke to ihem of God; of their duties ; of the 
 spirit of their vocation ; of the honor which it had 
 pleased Divine Providence to confer upon them ; 
 of the increase of humility and self-denial by which 
 they should strive to make return for these benefits ; 
 then he would confer M^ith Madame Jette on details 
 respecting the government of the future Community. 
 What name would they give this new Order? 
 
 ir 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISEUICORDE 
 
 93 
 
 His Lonlwlnp decicled to fall it : " La Misericorde " 
 and that the religioim were to take the name of 
 " Sceurs de Misericorde." " This name," say« the 
 Episcopal Mandate instituting the Order, " tells 
 " you all that you must be in your now state ; and 
 " it is of itself alone a full indication of tlie line of 
 " important duties you have to fultill." The Bishop 
 fixed the IGth of January of the coming year, the 
 feast of the Holy Name of Jesus, — as the date for 
 the canonical erection of the Community, What 
 were the motives of that choice ? The pious Bishop 
 tells us himself in his Pastoral Letter in these words : 
 " Remember well, that it is on the solemn day con- 
 " secrated and devoted to honoring the Holy Name 
 " of Jesus that the Church confers on you a glorious 
 " title. Now, since Our Lord, in order to merit 
 " the sweet name of Jesus, has deigned through an 
 *' excess of mercy, to sacrifice Himself in order to 
 " save sinners, — so must you, in order to become 
 " true Sisters of Mercy, devote yourselves generously 
 " to the work of saving the greatest of sinners." 
 
 It was then decided that only the eight older 
 novices should be admitted to pronounce theii ows. 
 — We give their names in the order in which they 
 were admitted : Marie Rosalie Jette,the foundress; 
 Sophie Raymond, Lucie Benoit, Lucie Lecourtois, 
 Marguerite Gagnon, Josephte Calipeau, Justine 
 Filion and Adelaide Lauzon. 
 
 
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 94 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 Having entered tlio novitiate later tlian the 
 otliers, Sopliio Bibeau, notwitliHtanding her most 
 ardent desires, liad to wait until later for the happi- 
 ness of being received among the Spouses of Jesus- 
 Christ. Slie was appointed, with two postulants, 
 to take charge of the penitents and do the daily 
 work of the house ; in a word, she was to fill the 
 part of Martha, while her sisters, taking " the better 
 *' part," left aside all worldly occupations in order to 
 listen, like Mary, to the voice of God and prepare 
 themselves, by an eight days' retreat, to pronounc 
 their holy vows. As she was skillful at sewing, 
 she was chosen to make the habits of those who 
 were about to be professed. 
 
 This habit was none other than the one the novi- 
 ces already wore, but completed and embellished 
 by the emblems proper to religious. The black 
 dress and cape were retained, witli the addition of 
 the stomacher and the band of white linen ; a 
 black veil fastened on the head, fell on either side 
 and covered the shoulders ; encircling the waist 
 was a black cord with tassels of the same color ; 
 lastly the cross with the monogram of the name of 
 Jesus, the espousal ring, and the beads, — the emblem 
 of filial confidence in Mary, — completed the costume. 
 
 While these outward garments were being pre- 
 pared, the grace of God fell more abululantly on 
 
 ■>'v- ■ 
 
 
 ii ; 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OP MIsfiRICORDE 95 
 
 . >•'. 
 
 their souIh, and imlmcMl tliem witli the sentiincnts 
 ftiid virtues of that " now man, who according to 
 " God, is created in justice and holiness of truth (')," 
 of whom tlie Apostle speaks, and who is none 
 other than Jesus-C'hrist himself, as he shows else- 
 where (•) ; a garmeiit wliiter than snow, more 
 rosplendant than the sui. , a garment of honor and 
 glory, such as it hecometli the King of heaven to 
 bestow on His beloved Spouses on the day of their 
 blessed union. 
 
 The day so long desired dawned at last; that 
 16th of January, 1848, which must henceforth be 
 surrounded with a halo of unequalled glory in the 
 annals oi the Sisters of Misericorde. What deep 
 gratitude tilled the hearts of the happy novices 
 when Madame Jctte, lier voice trembling with 
 emotion, awoke them at dawn of day with the 
 invitation to bless the Lord : " Benedicamus Domino!" 
 and with what transports of joy and thanksgiving 
 did they not answer : " Deo gratias ! " Each and 
 everyone of them might then appropriate to herself 
 these words of the Holy Ghost : " This is the 
 " Lord's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes. 
 " This is the day which the Lord hath made, let us 
 *' be glad and rejoice in it (^)." 
 
 (1) Ephk. IV. 24. 
 
 (2) Rom. xin. 14. 
 
 (3) Ps. cxvii. 23-24. 
 
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 96 
 
 MOTHER DE LA XAXIVITE AND 
 
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 Bright and early the chaplain was at his post. 
 The Chapel ami the Commiinitj-roora had been 
 pre[»ared and decorated with the utmost care. His 
 Lordship himself, accom[tanied hy some of the 
 priests of his household, soon appeared and while 
 the Bishop was being arrayed in his pontifical gar- 
 ments, tlie novices were assembled in the Oommu- 
 nity-room in deep emotion, silence and recollection, 
 preparing to enter the Chapel when all at once, in 
 ac(!ents at once joyous and grave the venerable 
 chaplain intoned the anthem : " Pnidentes Vir- 
 " gines ; " " Prudent Virgins, prepare your lamps, 
 " the Spouse is coming, go forth to meet Him ;" a 
 touching and appropriate invitation to the spiritual 
 nuptials about to be celebrated. The novices answer- 
 ed by singing the 121st Psalm, which expresses so 
 admirably the sentiments of the J ewish pilgrims at 
 the sight of the Holy City : " I was glad at the things 
 " that were said unto me : We will go into the house 
 " of the Lord. Our feet were standing in Thy courts, 
 " O Jerusalem." A moment later all were kneel- 
 ing in the Chapel, and the Bishop began Holy 
 Mass. After the gradual, the prelate, wearing the 
 insignia of his office, toe. the seat prepared for 
 him, the novices kneeling in a semicircle at his 
 feet; the following dialogue then took place. 
 " My daughters, what do you ask for? My Lord, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 97 
 
 " we ask for the grace of consecrating ourselves 
 " entirely to Jesus-Clirist, by making the three 
 " vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in this 
 " Holy Congregation of the Sisters of Misericorde." 
 The Bishop then asked in grave and solemn 
 accents, whether thoy had seriously reflected on the 
 " sublimity of the union " th<'y desired to contract, 
 and after having heard their answer, recalled to 
 their minds what virtues they must practise, and 
 what obligations they must fulfill, if they would 
 remain faithful to their vocation. — " However weak 
 " we may be," answered the novices, " we rely so 
 " firmly on the infinitemerciosof God,that we hope 
 " always to Avalk in His divine presence and never 
 " lose His holy fear, which will be our safeguard 
 " amidst the dangers of this world." 
 
 His Lordship then interrupted the ceremonies to 
 address these valiant women, in an allocution 
 wherein he gave full scope and expression to the 
 sentiments of a heart inflamed with the love of God 
 and zeal for souls. Then filled with anxiety and 
 seemingly disturbed at the thought of the long train 
 of crosses and sacrifices involved in their under- 
 taking, if they were resolved to be faithful to their 
 engagements, and terrified, morovcr, on account of 
 human weakness, he questioned them a last time 
 saying : " My daughters, do you still persist in your 
 
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98 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
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 " request?" With a firm voice all answered : " Yes, 
 " My Lord, we are resolved to persevere." Reassured 
 by this answer the Bishop tells them to accomplish 
 their sacrifice, saying : " Since you persist in your 
 " good resolutions, my daughters, accomplish now 
 *' what you have resolved upon." After a moment 
 of silence each novice, in her turn, then pronounced 
 aloud, in due form, the sacred vows which united 
 her forever to the Divine Spouse. 
 
 The Community of the Sisters of Mi8(5ricorde wn-^ 
 founded. Heaven seemed to have opened its portals 
 and filled this humble Chapel with rays of glory 
 from above, or rather to have shed upon it the 
 abundant dew of benediction and joy which casts 
 the Saints into inpflfable transports of delight. 
 
 We will not try to describe the sentiments which 
 filled to overflowing the hearts of the new Sisters 
 at the close of the ceremony. All their past suffer- 
 ings vanished amidst the joy of being united to 
 God forever ; they were blotted out from memory 
 or remembered only to increase the happiness of 
 the present. Bishop Bourget, his soul at peace, his 
 face radiant with a sweet light, gave thanks to God, 
 from the bottom of his heart, for having so 
 graciously heard and answered his prayers, blessed 
 his daughters most tenderly, and wished them a 
 prosperous future. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 
 
 99 
 
 All but one of the witnesses of that memorable 
 scene have now passed away. The sole survivor 
 was at the time a young ecclesiastic ; he is now a 
 venerable old man, whose head has grown gray 
 under the rudest labors, and in the eyes of all who 
 know his history, his white locks are radiant with 
 the halo of a half century's apostleship in the Ca- 
 nadian North-West, and his memory is blessed 
 throughout the Church in Canada. He bears the 
 honored name of " Pbre Lacombe." Let us hear 
 him, fifty years later, describe in a letter the 
 impressions of those days of the gGcd-time. He 
 writes : " Invited by the Bishop to accompany him, 
 " I was far from anticipating or imagining the scene 
 " that I was to witness. How amazed then was I 
 " on entering that humble room, which was your 
 " first Chapel, to see a group of women in religious 
 " habits, kneeling before the altar. I learned from 
 " the Bishop's sermon that I was in presence of the 
 " heroic band who founded the Community of the 
 " Sisters of Miscricorde. 
 
 " How can I give you an idea of the eloquence of 
 " the holy Bishop on that day ! The deep sense of 
 " conviction with which he spoke ! Like a prophet 
 ' unveiling the future he foretold to these valiant 
 " women all the trials awaiting them. After all 
 " the years that have passed, I can still hear him 
 
 
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 100 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 " telling them, in a voice trembling with emotion, of 
 " all the courage, devotedness and self-sacrifice 
 " they would need in order to bear up '^nder the 
 " world's mockery. ' They will call you ^ools, but 
 " remember that your divine Master was first 
 " treated thus and that He conquered the world by 
 " the folly of Hie Cross.' 
 
 " For my part, " continues the venerable mis- 
 sionary ; " in my simplicity and ignorance of the 
 " things of God, I said to myself: ' What audacity ! 
 " and yet what courage ! ' ' You will be subject to 
 " many contradictions,' continued the Bishop, ' you 
 " will undergo many trials, you will have to bear 
 " many insults before you accomplish such a mir- 
 " acle ! ' 'It is tempting Providence ' people will 
 
 " say Meantime I prayed for these brave 
 
 " women and I thought to myself; ' Does not God 
 " sometimes make use of means apparently sense- 
 " less in che eyes of men, to operate the greatest 
 " wonders? These devoted foundresses, — their act 
 " of consecration in hand, in the presence of Our 
 " Lord in His Holy Sacranent, before their Bishop 
 " and the Rev. M. Pilon, their protector and guide 
 " in the religious life, and lastly under the eyes of a 
 " future missionary to the western wilds, pronounced 
 " their solemn vows. During all this time, the busy 
 " life and stiii'e of the city had not been interrupted 
 
 'f-V 
 
 !IV 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 101 
 
 " for a moment ; this little spot seemed forgotten 
 " amidst its unceasing turmoil ; but it was far 
 " otherwise with the heavenly city ; its portals 
 " opened wide to this declaration, or rather this 
 " proclamation, which endowed Montreal with a 
 " new Community. The divine contract was signed 
 " and accepted by heaven and earth, and the 
 " Church had produced another religious family." 
 If the world ignored the sublime act of tlicse 
 privileged souls, the Church contemplated it and 
 applauded it with joy. Bishop Bourget resolved to 
 consecrate this 16th of January, 1848, by a solemn 
 and authentic document which would perpetuate 
 forever the remembrance of this first profession. 
 To that end, His Lordship addressed to the Com- 
 munity an Episcopal Letter replete with counsels of 
 wisdom and considerations derived from faith, im- 
 bued throughout with the spirit of paternal charity. 
 Then after having set forth and clearly defined the 
 end for which the Institution was founded, he 
 dwelt on the beauty and grandeur of this under- 
 taking which, in some sort, he declared, will cause 
 those consecrated to it to participate in the exercise 
 of God's mercies towards sinners. The very name 
 they were henceforth to bear, he said, would 
 unceasingly recall this to their minds ; and if, in 
 order to exercise worthily this ministry of com- 
 
 8 
 
 ^■■4 
 
1^ 
 
 I 
 
 i*^ • 
 
 
 r 
 
 i':.' 
 
 V 
 
 ;■; ' • • ■* ■ 
 
 102 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 passion, condescension, and goodness, they had many 
 times, and perhaps, every day, to trample under foot 
 their natural feelings of repugnance, they should 
 remember that all the graces and strength necessary 
 to enable them to accomplish their task were to be 
 found in the Cross they wore. " Every morning," 
 said His Lordship, " v^'hon arming yourselves with 
 " this cross, you will press to your lips with respect 
 " and affection the image of your Jesus, — the image 
 " that will remind you that there is no other name 
 " under Heaven whereby we can be saved than the 
 " holy name of Jesus ; that this same Jesus was during 
 " his life the friend of sinners ; that lie was pleased 
 " to visit them and sit at table and eat with them ; 
 " that He scorned the taunts and carpings of the 
 " proud Pharisees ; that Jesus performed a long 
 " and weary journey to Samaria to convert a single 
 *' sinner, — an adulteress ; that He allowed Magde- 
 " lene, the sinner, to remain at His feet and dismissed 
 " her only after having pardoned her her many sins. 
 " Each time that you look at this cross, hanging 
 " from your neck, you will hear an interior voice 
 " saying to you in the eloquent words of Holy 
 " Scripture: 'Thus hath God loved men.' From 
 " the life-giving cross that henceforth you will never 
 " lay aside, will unceasingly emanate a salutary 
 " virtue that will inflame you with zeal for the 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MI*ERirORDE 103 
 
 .V>; 
 
 ;■!*■■•„ 
 
 " Balvation of souls. At the si^Lt •r»f tbi» cross you 
 " will weep and mourn over tht- manj scandals 
 " which prevail everywhere and •wim-h sw^nt Jesus to 
 " Calvary. Jesus will say to y<*iu ni^lut and day, 
 " from the cross : ' If you will come after me, deny 
 " yourself, take up your cross and f<rjtlll«f>w me.' Surely 
 " this will he for you a most eloijiifmit invitation to 
 " bear with courage on every oci^arfon the trials of 
 " the religious life. Aniniatt^i w'nh these sen- 
 " timents you will say to yourR-Jvn-* ramceasingly : 
 " ' We can never do enough for Jt«w*, who lias 
 " done so much for us.' " 
 
 The love of the Cross, — the ]or*t of Jesus cannot 
 exist without a filial devotion tovi.sinh Mary ; and 
 the Bishop ends his letter b}' exhorting hi* daogliters 
 to practise the most tender piety towards the 
 Blessed Virgin. 
 
 In pronouncing their vows the SiifterB had given 
 themselves entirely to God, and in Mrder that they 
 might belong to Ilim alone, they ha*! renounced 
 the world, its trappings, its spirit ami its false 
 goods ; and in order to annihi]at<-, ««> to speak, the 
 remembrance of the rank and [►o^ition they once 
 occupied in the world, they had given up their 
 family name and adopted a religiou* one. Madame 
 Jette selected that of Sa'ur de la Xativite. doubtless 
 because she had presided over the hirth of the 
 
 
 ^•■4; ;ci 
 
 (' ^. 
 
 
1r 
 
 I' 
 
 F**'- 
 
 ■' ! 
 
 104 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Community; Mudame Raymond was named Sd'ur 
 St. Jean ClirysostAnie ; Lucie Bcnoit, Su'ur Ste. 
 Beatrix ; Lucie Lecourtois, Sa'ur Marie des Sept 
 Douleurs ; Madame Galipeau became Sceur Ste. 
 Jeanne de Cliantal ; Justine Filion, Sceur St. Joseph ; 
 Marguerite Gagnon, Sceur St. Fran(;oi8 de Sales ; 
 and Adelaide Lauzon, Su'ur Ste. Marie d'Egypte. 
 
 On the <lay after the itrofession the election to 
 the various offices of the Conmiunity was held. 
 His Lordship himself presided on the occasion. 
 The title of Superior seemed to belong by right to 
 Sister de la Nativite, she being the foundress of the 
 institution. And without doubt she would have 
 been unanimously elected had she not, through her 
 lowly opinion of her own worth, and her dread of 
 the bare idea of being elected, judged herself inca- 
 pable of governing a community, and begged the 
 Bishop to have pity on her weakness and not to 
 impose her .so heavy a charge. The Bishop tried 
 to allay her fears ; but it was all in vain, he had to 
 yield to her persistent humility, and Mother de la 
 Nativite congratulated herself and was much rejoic- 
 ed at being able to follow her leaning for the 
 hidden life. 
 
 Sister St. Jeanne de Chantal was elected Superior ; 
 the position of Assistant wjis given to Sister St. 
 Frangois de Sales ; that of Mistress of Novices to 
 
 ■i -v 
 

 ••• . • I' 
 

THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISHRICORDE 105 
 
 Sister Marie des Sept Douleurs ; Sister St. Joseph 
 became Treasurer ; Sister St. Jean Chrysostdme, 
 Mistress of tlie Maternity ; Sister St. Marie 
 d'Egypte, Mistress of Penitents ; while Mother de 
 la Nativite and Sister St. Beatrix were named 
 Councillors. 
 
 Mother Ste. Jeanne de Chantal governed the 
 Community during fifteen years. Of an imposing 
 personal appearance, and a firm and straightfor- 
 ward character in all her dealings, she showed 
 sound judgment and keen insight in managing 
 ter.iporal affairs, and great skill in the art of judging 
 of men and things ; such were the qualities of the 
 new Superior, who was to do so much towards the 
 development and prosperity of the work which 
 Divine Providence intrusted to her care. If she fell 
 short in any one point (and who can blame her for 
 it?) it was in the difficult art of directing and form- 
 ing souls to a religious life. Pious and full of char- 
 ity, but having herself received but an imperfect 
 training, and that at an age when habits have 
 become a second nature; little instructed in the 
 ways of religious perfection and withal deeply 
 absorbed in the management of temporal matters, can 
 we wonder that she was of herself unequal to the 
 task of training her Sisters to the great virtues of the 
 spiritual life? Happily God had provided for their 
 
 *"■. 
 
 
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 '.':•;,'' «\-1 
 
 '■' ■■ ■! i 
 
 n 
 
■I- * 
 
 fiii:-; 
 
 it 
 
 t:; 
 
 1„1 
 
 *'<■■., 
 
 
 Hi''- 
 
 106 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 needs by giving them Eev. Mr. Pilon for spiritual 
 director. Tlic devotedness of tliis good priest was 
 boundless and unfailing ; but his health began to 
 fail, and now and then he was compelled to absent 
 himself for a few days ; but the disease gained a 
 footing and he had to take frequent journeys 
 which sometimes seemed very long to the (^oni- 
 mimity. 
 
 Meantime, the priests of the Cathedral did all 
 they could to provide for the spiritual needs of the 
 Sisters. Time and again at this period, did Bishop 
 Bourget himself come to the house, eitlier to say 
 Holy Mass or give religious instructions. lie often 
 took possession of the small room provided for the 
 chaplain and spent the day in the house. He was 
 then at the disposal of any of the Sisters who desired 
 to see and converse with him. At times, he resorted 
 to the house, which was only a short distance away 
 from his own residence, in order to escape from 
 visitors and devote himself to some pressing work, 
 without fear of being disturbed. The good Shep- 
 herd always visited the penitents first and was in 
 truth to them what ho strove to be, a living image 
 of our Saviour. These poor souls were ever deeply 
 moved by his great charity and did their best to 
 respond to it by their piety and docility. Often 
 did the charitable pastor come himself to administer 
 the last sacraments to penitents in danger of death. 
 
 It' 
 
■><: 
 
 THE ORIGIN OP THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 107 
 
 X'' 
 
 ''■H 
 
 By his geTitlonosH and liis consoling words lie 
 calmed the fears awakened in their souls hy the 
 rememhrant'e of a deplorable past ; by representing 
 to them the infinite mercies of God, their confidence 
 was restored, and deei>ly penitent for their faults, 
 they breathed their last in the bosom of their 
 Saviour. — " My child," said he to a dying penitent, 
 " you will see Our Lord in a few moments ; take 
 " your sins in one hand and in the other your 
 " crucifix, and say to Ilim : " O my Saviour, 
 " here are my sins and there is Thy mercy ; 
 " Thou canst not refuse to forgive my sins, since 
 " Thou hast shed all Thy blood to efface them." 
 Having beside them a counseller capable of in- 
 spiring suCii sentiments, how could these poor 
 girls fail to be reassured and die in peace ! 
 Some, however, were found to be so hardened in 
 vice as to resist even in the face of his great charity. 
 The heart of the good Pastor was then a prey to 
 the most cruel anguish, and he shed tears in abun- 
 dance. Such instances, let us hasten to say, were 
 very rare ; and as a rule the Sisters had the conso- 
 lation of seeing them die in the peace of God. 
 
 At this period, the Sisters themselves treated 
 and took care of the sick. Doctor Trudel ('), the 
 
 (1) In ihe bcRinning of the year 1H")(), foUowinK the advice of Doctor Tru- 
 del, towards whom the Sisters had reasons to be grateful, and having 
 obtained the consent of the Bishop, the doors of the Maternity were opened 
 
108 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 » 
 
 pi' 
 
 ■ 4 " - - 
 
 til 
 ? ••11 
 
 i? 
 
 first physician employed in the establishment, gave 
 them free lessons. The Sisters also attended sick 
 women in the! own homes. They had calls at 
 every hour of the day and night. This continued 
 until 1862, when certain medical men having raised 
 objections, the Bishop advi-sed the Sisters to abandon 
 this outside work, though he did not absolutely 
 forbid the practice. 
 
 But, four years later, the Holy See itself inter- 
 vened, and prohibited the attendance of the Sisters 
 on such cases. By way of a set-off for this. Bishop 
 Bourget charged them with the duty of visiting 
 the women's prison, and of attending to the spiritual 
 welfare of the prisoner:?. The Sisters discharged 
 this ministry for several years, until the day when 
 their ever increasing labors in the Community 
 obliged them to remain at home. 
 
 The number of penitents had rot ceased to 
 increase since the foundation. In 1848, their num- 
 ber reached eiiihtv-seven and while in the two 
 following years it was a little lower, in 1851 it 
 increased to ninety-seven. The births were also 
 proportioned to that number. During the first six 
 years the Institution served as a refuge to 436 peni- 
 tents, procured the grace of Baptism, and perhaps 
 
 lu medical students that they might more easily initiate themselves to the 
 practice of their profession. Special regulations were then adopted and 
 Btrictly unforced witli a view to obviate any posaible dispute or ditiioulty. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 109 
 
 also saved the life of 390 new-born infants. These 
 figures alone are a sufficient eulogy of the Commu- 
 nity and enable us to appreciate the extent of its 
 services to families and to society. 
 
 It was becoming evident that the house on St. 
 Catherine Street would soon be too small, and the 
 Sisters began to consider by what means they might 
 procure themselves a well-situated site, appropriate 
 for a definitive foundation. Divine Providence, 
 ever attentive to the wants of its children and 
 faithful in following up its designs, was soon to 
 show them the place chosen for the Mother-house 
 of " La Misericorde," and towards the end of 1851, 
 they were to be in a position to establish their 
 dw^elling there. 
 
 Previous to that date, Sister St. Fran9ois de Sales, 
 one of those professed on the IGth of January, 1848, 
 had left the Community. Discouraged on account 
 of certain trials to which she had been subjected in 
 view ot a somewhat stiff and haughty character, 
 she asked to be released from her vows. Her 
 request was granted by the Bishop. A short time 
 afterwards she returned and begged the Superior to 
 receive her again into the Conmiunity ; but the rule 
 then and ever since enforced was not to accept anew 
 any religious who shall have left the institution. 
 
 
 y- 
 
Ay 
 )■■■' 
 
 § 
 
 f ;-.. 
 
 J-' 
 
 I'-''. 
 Il '■ 
 
 
 !lMi 
 
 :'<. 
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 The present Mother-House (1851). 
 
 Stnt ocul! tui finerti tiuper huncdomtitn 
 
 U tin anvrtmuper hn 
 di>' ac. node. (.'5 Rko. viii, 2!l.) 
 
 Let Thine eyes, Lord, be upon this 
 house day and night. 
 
 T was Imrely six years since the clay 
 when Madame Jett<?, alone and 
 without other resource than her 
 r?^ own stout heart and a firm confidence 
 in God's help, had opened the refuge on 
 St. Simon Street, and lo the grain of mus- 
 tard seed liad become a tree, young indeed, but of 
 sturdy growth and full of promise for the future. 
 As a growing child casts aside, from year to year, 
 the garments it has outgrown, so, in its progressive 
 development, tlio Institution had migrated succes- 
 sively from the garret in which it first saw the 
 light to the larger houses on Wolfe Street and on 
 St. Catherine Street. These were but temporary 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 111 
 
 ^ ■-■•Sir 
 
 installations. A permanent and lasting abode was 
 soon to be found. It had become a necessity. 
 The Community had been tried in every possible 
 manner and stood the test without flinching. There 
 was good reason, humanly speaking, for thinking 
 that it would live and in fact assume larger propor 
 tions. The public had, to some extent, conquered 
 its aversion and began to see the great utility of such 
 an institution, It was manifest, from the daily 
 increasing number of unfortunate creatures who 
 sought a refuge in the house, that divine Providence 
 had blessed the new undertaking. The advisability 
 of extending the work of the Community was a 
 thing upon which opinions might differ, but was it 
 right or possible to refrain from relieving the mis- 
 eries of the every day increasing number of victims 
 of vice ? The question was answered in the neg- 
 ative, and Bishop Bourget and the friends of the 
 house, and notably Olivier Berthelet, decided to 
 secure a site for the building of an establishment 
 suited to the object and special needs of the Com- 
 munity. An excellent opportunity soon presented 
 itself. Close by, towards the river, lay a piece of 
 land, well located, large enough for present needs 
 and with adjoining land available for future needs. 
 The property v.as sold by auction, and purchased by 
 Mr. Berthelet, on behalf of the Bishop, for two 
 
 rf™«> 
 
 
 ( 
 
112 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 ilii • 
 
 thousand five hundred dollars. It faced Dorchester 
 Street on the North, Lagauchetiere Street on the 
 South and Campeau Street on the East; on the 
 West side it adjoined sundry small private proper- 
 ties, which could be purchased, from time to time, 
 so as to enable the Comn\unity, when the require- 
 ments of the institution rendered it necessary, to 
 extend their limits as far as St. Hubert Street, 
 parallel to Campeau Street. 
 
 On the property purchased stood two houses. 
 One of them, designated in the Annals as " la mai- 
 " son de brique,"^ stood at the angle formed by 
 Campeau and Lagauchetiere Streets. It was the 
 larger and more convenient of the two, and was to 
 be the home of the Conmiunity for a time. Repaired, 
 whitewashed and adorned with a verandah or 
 "gallery," this house afterwards became the resi- 
 dence of the chaplain. — The second building, which 
 was a more unpretending structure, and was called 
 " la moison grise" stood on Campeau Street, some 
 distance from the other. It was used for a time as 
 a wash-house and afterwards taken down to make 
 room for larger buildings. 
 
 No sooner had the purchase been eftccted than 
 Mother de Chantal put forth every efiort to prepare 
 the buildings for the reee})tion of the Community 
 as rapidly as possible. The work of repairing histed 
 
■•flip. 
 
 m 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTEKS OF MISERICORDE 113 
 
 until the end of November. And earlvin December 
 the " mawon ^77se " was occupied by tlie penitents 
 and the brick building by the Sisters. The latter 
 sufl'ered much from the damjiness of the rooms. 
 The plaster was not dry, and the heat of the stoves 
 did not suffice to overcome or obviate completely 
 the evil effects as regards the health of the inmates. 
 But no one complained. They well knew that 
 suft'ering ever accompanies the beginnings of all 
 works undertaken for God ; and souls truly detached 
 from the world are never happier herebelow than 
 when they have to endure pain or inconvenience. 
 Moreover, even in the new quarters there was over- 
 crowding, and the novices who lived in those heroic 
 days remember, with that speciallj' intense joy 
 which clings to the memory of trials nobly endured, 
 the close and cramped dormitories located ever the 
 bakeries and stables and the rough hard beds on 
 which they slept for many a year. 
 . The year 1852 brought no change whatever in 
 this state of tilings. But the Superior was con- 
 sidering as to the means of enlarging the buildings 
 already existing. The number of penitents was 
 increasing every day : to let things remain as they 
 were would be to reduce themselves to the sad 
 necessity of closing their doors to many unhappy 
 creatures. 
 
 ■•■ ','?•' 
 
 i^ 
 
114 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 1-1 : 
 
 Mother de Chantal was busy witli this problem 
 when the memorable eouilagratioii of July 8th 
 dostroyed eighteen hundred houses and reduced to 
 shelterless penury over nine thousand persons. 
 The (^'athodral and Bishops' residence were destroy- 
 ed. The Sisters were for a time anxious as to the 
 fate of their own house. It was in imminent danger. 
 The lire caught and was extinguished twice. 
 While the vast, whirling body of flame, driven >)y 
 a tempest of wind laj»ped up the adjoining houses, 
 and burning brands fell in showers, on their roof 
 and in the garden, the Sisters quickly carried some 
 of their effects to a place of safety and l)uried the 
 rest underground. The liery element spared their 
 buildings, however. Their liouse remained un- 
 scathed when the storm of flame had done its 
 worst, and the Sisters were able to return to their 
 Chapel which they thought they were never to see 
 again, there to return heartfelt thanks to divine 
 Providence for the escape of the institution. 
 
 This catastrophe compelled the Mother Superior 
 to put oft' for the following year the carrying out of 
 her plans for now buildings. So soon as the season 
 was sufliciently advanced work was, however, begun 
 on the building which now stands between the 
 Chapel and the wing on Campeau Street. Its 
 dimensions were sixty-five feet in length by fifty-five 
 
"^m 
 
 ■,■.. '■ '^1 
 
 ^* 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTEEf? OF MI.-fEKICORDE 115 
 
 in width, thus aiibnliiig to the CV>minnnity a hirger 
 amount of space than any building they had as yet 
 occupied. 
 
 Sister St. Jean Chr^'sostome never entered the 
 new quarters. Exhausted by hier laliorw and sacri- 
 fices, she was drawing near the end of her career. 
 The ilhiess which brought lier U* the grave made 
 manifest to all her admirable strength of soul. 
 Unable to stand, she never reujaine*! nnoccupied 
 even when in bed, and, up to her \ast day on eartli, 
 gave an example of courage and indnstry. She 
 might well say, as she gave up her «onl to her Lord 
 and Master : " I have finished my course, I have 
 " kept the faith, there remains for me now but to 
 " receive the crown which will Ite granted me ))y a 
 " just Judge." She was burie<l in the garden until 
 such time as a vault was prepared for her remains 
 in the Chapel basement. 
 
 The institution was still located m the " nuiison 
 " tie briqiie,^' when Rev. M. Trutean, Vicar General 
 of the diocese was appointed eoclejiasrtical su{»erior 
 of the Community. His many <ci^-ea|wition3 else- 
 where rendered it impossible to foJSow up na closely 
 as was needed and as he would ha^e wished the 
 work placed under his i-are. He hj»ved it, never- 
 theless, and held it in high esteem, and whenever 
 any distinguished strangers vii?ite«l the palace, the 
 
I,r 
 
 116 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Superior never failed to bring them to the humble 
 house of Misc^ieorde. Thus it happened that Mgr. 
 Bedini, Nuncio to Brazil, was received as a guest 
 by the Community. That distinguished and most 
 amiable prelate, when the Superior bogged him to 
 make allowance for the poverty of the institution 
 smilingly replied : " Dear Mother, it is just because 
 " you are poor that I am glad to visit you." 
 
 Meantime the buildings begun the previous year 
 had been completed. In the month of October, 
 1854, the Sisters took up their abode in their new 
 quarters. During the first few weeks they suf1:ered 
 somewhat from damp and cold, but the improve- 
 ment resulting from the increased accommodation 
 in the size and number of rooms, and the distribu- 
 tion of the various offices of the household was more 
 than sufficient to compensate them for any tem- 
 porary suffering or discomfort. Their hearts must 
 indeed have been grateful for the steady growth 
 and development of their institution, manifested by 
 the successive enlargements of their buildings. 
 
 Mot b or Nativite, in particular, saw with heart- 
 felt delight, the designs of Providence in her regard 
 unfold themselves, day by day, with an unfailing 
 fidelity wh'eh confounded her humility. But yes- 
 terday, fiiU of faith an<l trust in Providence and in 
 the Avords of her Bishop, she had rushed blindfolded 
 
THE ORIGIN OF TUE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 117 
 
 
 into a path from which there seemed to he no issue, 
 a. life of devotedness, of poverty and of sacrifice ; 
 and to-day the light was shining, the tree which 
 had heen planted amid the darknoss had grown up, 
 and hecome strong and was destined to live. Hence 
 did the humble foundress feel the need of humbling 
 herself, of hiding herself, of annihilating herself. 
 Another lield tlie title of Superior, and passed, in 
 the eyes of the public, for the foundress of an order 
 wliose usefulness was at last admitted by all ; this 
 moved her but little ; and while others were con- 
 cerned at it in the interest of truth, she would 
 gladly have applied to herself the words of St. John 
 the Baptist in relation to Our Lord : " ITo must 
 " grow ; as for me, I must diminish and grow less 
 " and disappear. '' And in very truth did she 
 disappear, as we shall soon see, under the veil daily 
 growing thicker and more dense, of humiliations 
 and of sufferings, in which it pleased God to enfold 
 her in order to sanctify her life, augment her merits 
 and prepare her soul to enjoy tlie pure delights of 
 our heavenly country. 
 
 The buildings which had hitherto sheltered the 
 Community were not at once completely abandoned. 
 They continued to be used for several years longer 
 by the novices or the penitents. The " maisov grise " 
 was used for boarders, some of whom made gen- 
 
 
 
 ii. 
 
 \^ 
 
 J : 
 
 1^ 
 

 
 i*.; 
 
 in 
 
 <ifl»- 11 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 'r 
 
 118 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 erous giftH to tlie Comnmnity. In the Btraiglitcned 
 circumstances of the institution this aid was most 
 acceptable. In order to increase the revenue of 
 tlie ConiTnunity, the Sisters devoted their spare time 
 to doing needle work for the city shops. The 
 articles made consisted of men's clothing, linen and 
 the like. This work was well paid for, and it 
 would seem that the Sisters worked too hard at it, 
 if we are to believe the record in the Annals, which 
 tells us that it proved to be injurious to the health 
 of the workers. 
 
 With the same object in view, the increase of the 
 resources of the Community, Mother de Chantal 
 bought a piece of land on the other side of Dorchester 
 Street, opposite the Sisters' house. A dilapidated 
 building stood on this piece of ground. It was 
 repaired at great expense with a view to keeping 
 boarders. The name of Ste. Fran^oise Romaine 
 was given to the new institution, but the undertaking 
 was not a success. After five years of persevering 
 trial it had to be given up. 
 
 Meantime the city having at last overcome its 
 prejudice, began to take an interest in the institution. 
 On several occasions money grants were made l)y 
 the corporation, and about this time a large building 
 on Campeau Street opposite the Community garden 
 was conveyed to the Misericorde for a term of a 
 
 b' 
 
 m 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsSrICORDB 119 
 
 
 few years. The building is still stan<liiig hut in a 
 ruinous condition. It was three stories higli, and 
 its high-pitched roof rining in pyramid form and 
 especially its square, massive and unadorned frame 
 denote its ancient origin. After extensive repairs 
 had been effected the Maternity was installed in 
 this building. Its vast, airy and well-lit rooms were 
 a great improvement on the accommodation hitherto 
 available for the inmates ; and no doubt the penitents 
 would have been most nuitably domiciled therein 
 but for the close proximity of the ntreet. The 
 ordinary noises from the street were nothing, for it 
 was not much frequented ; but, too often, it was 
 fiupplemented by shouts which had a special mean- 
 ing, an organized tumult, an indescribable charivari. 
 Sometimes it was necessary to cross the street in 
 order to attend the offices of the Community, and 
 then to gratify an indiscreet, morbid and foul 
 curiosity, two rows of men with sardonic and im- 
 pudent looks and uttering low and sarcastic taunts, 
 would gather close up on either side of the hapless 
 penitents. With their faces hidden under a coarse 
 brown veil, and their shoulders covered by a red 
 cape, the unfortunates endured without a word of 
 complaint the shower of taunts and winks and foul 
 epithets. Many a scene of this kind was witnessed 
 during the four years of the occupancy of the 
 " Corporation Building." 
 
 f\f. 
 
 r 
 
 f 
 
If 
 
 t«)^ Mil 
 
 11:1 -, 
 
 ■■it"; 
 » 
 
 120 
 
 MOTHER Dl LA NATIVITfi AND 
 
 Happily this p.^rt of the Coniinuiiity ]nu\ heon 
 l)liiced under tlio spiritual care of a cliaplain, a 
 priest of veuerahle cliaractor tillod with the spirit 
 of God, whose fervent exhortations aroused the 
 courage of the defenceless inmates, fostered piety 
 and good-will amongst them and urged tliem on to 
 the practice of every christian virtue. To a sincere 
 and prudent zeal, M. Villeneuve (') joined a heart 
 filled with houndless compassion. Hence it was 
 that at this period he was given charge of all 
 undertakings which nohody hut himself wanted to 
 take in hand. He poured out upon them the 
 treasures of his charity and devotedness, hoth in 
 spiritual and in temporal matters. lie had heen one 
 of the first to befriend the Community, and he 
 remained its friend to the last. For four years he 
 faithfully administered to the spiritual needs of 
 the penitents. His wisdom and, above all, his 
 condescension and his fervor worked wonderful 
 transformations in these poor souls. Many of them 
 
 (1) Leonard Vinoeut Ldon Villeneuve, or de Villcriouve (1808-1873), was 
 born at Tulles in France, became a priest of St. Siilpicc in 1830 and en mo 
 to Canada in 1838. Was eight years Director of the " College de Montrdal " 
 and subsequently held sundry most important positions in the Company. 
 He was in all diflioult matte' ri<;ht hand man of M. Billaudble, then 
 
 the Superior of the house. .Hod in architecture he designed and 
 
 built the Churches of ?•■ .Jacques and Notre-Dame de Qr4ce8. 
 
 Deeply versed in the ^as president of several learned societies. 
 
 He was taken sudd .enreturninRfrom the Hotel-Dieu and entered 
 
 the refuge for the a St. Urbain Street, where he received the last 
 
 sacraments. Thu.<! he unded his life while engaged in one of those works of 
 charity to which it had over been devoted. 
 
■ f ■ 
 M 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 121 
 
 formed the desire ofli'uving the world mid reiiuihi- 
 ing forever hidden from ita eyes in tlie Conimunity 
 which liad opened itH <h)or8 to wlielter tlieni. Thus 
 originated witliin the Order, ii legion apart, wholly 
 composed of former penitents : — the Magdalenes, 
 of whom we shall have something to say later on. 
 At the close of the year 1858 the Community 
 numhered twenty-four Sisters. Its services to society 
 were now evident to all. The yearly number of 
 penitents had reached one Imndred and thirty ; a 
 year or two afterwards it was to reach one hun<lred 
 and sixty and before many years, two hundred. 
 In view of this development of an institution whose 
 usefulness he felt to be so great, Bishop IJourget ielt 
 the necessity of looking for himself more closely 
 into the affairs, the spirit and regularity of the Com- 
 munity. He came, therefore, into the midst of his 
 spiritual daughters, conversed at length with each 
 one of them, and en(|uired into every thing. His 
 fatherly and pastoral eye scanned their souls and 
 the exterior conduct and management of the house. 
 lie compassionated with every grief and sorrow 
 and shared in all their sufferings ; but he stood 
 firm in face of all abuses, watchful and vigilant 
 where he saw negligence, and eager for good ; he 
 insisted on tho exact observance of the rule, 
 encouraged all in the generous practice of the reli- 
 
*; 
 
 It- 
 
 
 it 
 
 fc- : 
 
 ■;?". ■ 
 
 122 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATiVITE AND 
 
 gioiis virtues, of mutual forbearance, of silence, the 
 safeguard of the life of a community, of abnegation 
 and self-sacrilice. Of a certainty the Sisters had 
 practised these great virtues, joyfully and lovingly ; 
 but we all know that habit benumbs the best pos- 
 sible dispositions and relaxes the will the most 
 energetic ; hapitily we also know that there is no 
 more eftectual agent for inspirir fresh courage and 
 energy than the word of cue clothed with authority 
 from on high. 
 
 His Lordshij), of his own motion held a new 
 election. He took this course in view of the small 
 number of Sisters in the Community. Besides, no 
 rules had been adopted to settle the mode of carry- 
 ing out elections. But it was now decided that for 
 the future the elections should be conducted as in 
 other ct)mmunitic8. Mother de Chantal was retained 
 in her position. She had as Superior done much 
 for the Community. Her talent for business was 
 well known outside, and the public looked upon 
 her as the foundress of the Sic'urs de Misericorde. 
 It may be also that a certain number of the Sisters, 
 Avho had not witnessed the inception of the Order, 
 and in whose eyes Si.ster Xativite, so humble, so 
 retiring, besides being sickly and aged, seemed a 
 very ordinary })erson, or ratlier a person hardly to 
 be noticed at all, — it may be that some of the Sisters, 
 
THE ORIGIN OP THE SISTERS OP MIsfiRICORDE 123 
 
 then were led to give to the Suiierior a title which 
 the latter did not take the trouble to decline. In 
 order to dispose of the legend which seemed to be 
 about to usurp the place of truth, Bishop Bourget 
 declared, in presence ot the assembled Community, 
 that the title of foundress devolved of right on the 
 person who had begun the work, and hence it 
 belonged exclusively to Mother Nativite. "You 
 " shall all," he added, " for the future give her the 
 " name of Mother ; it is the only suitable name for 
 " her." lie also decided that the foundress was 
 to rank next after the Superior, and that the Sisters 
 might in fullest confidence seek her counsel and 
 advice. 
 
 The good Bishop then revised, modified and 
 perfected the rules as he deemed necessary, and 
 exhorted all the Sisters to edify one another mutually 
 by giving an example of that regularity whicli is 
 the mainspring of a religious community. Knowing 
 well how much instruction and good reading help 
 to sustain piety in the soul, he caused all the books 
 scattered throughout the house to be gathered 
 together to form the nucleus of a library, which was 
 destined to increase from year to year. 
 
 But the pressing need of enlarging the building 
 began to assert itself. It could not be hoped that 
 the " Corporation building " would be left much 
 
 1 
 
 
124 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 
 w\ 
 
 .f. •>•■. 
 
 longer at the disposal of the Community. Besides 
 the annoyances connected with it had long been a 
 source of suftering to the inmates and every one in 
 the institution. But how was it possible for the 
 Sisters, in their utter poverty, to think of building? 
 Would it be wise to take upon themselves the 
 burden of a heavy debt ? True, His Lordship had 
 given them permission to go through the parisliisof 
 the diocese to solicit aid from the charity of the 
 faithful ; and equally true that the generosity of 
 the catholic people was beyond all praise, and 
 manifested itself in every possible way, in tlieir 
 eagerness tf) help the many religious anr charitable 
 works attracted from elsewhere or set on foot 
 tbi-ough the zeal of Bishop Bourget. But would it 
 be prudent, in view of this vast number of new 
 undertakings appealing for aid, to go on witli their 
 undertaking, relying on human charity whose 
 resources are of necessity limited ? These questions, 
 pregnant with doubt and anxiety, were pressing 
 heavily upon the mind of ^lother de Chantal, when 
 Olivier Berthelet, crowned his many acts of liberality 
 towards the (Community by offering to construct at 
 his own expense the buildings required. 
 
 In the summer of 1850 ground was broken, on 
 an extension of the buiUling occupied by the Sisters, 
 for the foundations of a new editice of like dimen- 
 
 
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 f'li 
 
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THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 125 
 
 sions. Between the two was to stand the Chapel, 
 with its entrance facing Dorcliester Street. It was 
 begun the same year. In spite of all the energy 
 and activity displayed, the building was not tinished 
 when winter set in. Early in the following year 
 work was resumed ; and on the 30th June, Binhop 
 Bourget, surrounded by many of his clergy, solemnly 
 blessed the new buildings, which were not occu[>ied 
 until the autumn. 
 
 The i»enitents removed to their new quarters on 
 the 12th October. Mr. Berthelet himself put them 
 in possession. His charitable heart was filltil vith 
 joy at being the means of furnishing the poor 
 creatures with a suitable refuge, ile t(»ok part in 
 the work of removal to the new home. When ho 
 saw the wretched furniture up to that time used by 
 the penitents, his heart was moved to pity, and he 
 gave orders for bedsteads, chairs, tables and other 
 articles to meet every need of the household. 
 " When he saw that anything was needed," says 
 the Chronicle of the house, " his kindness of heart 
 " overpowered him, and he had to give.'' Many a 
 time was his generosity api)ealed to, and many a 
 time did he himself forestall the wishes and needs 
 of the Sisterhood ! 
 
 Fifteen years elapsed without further enlargement 
 of the buildings. However, provision was made to 
 
 

 i. 
 
 126 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE 
 
 tliat end, by the purchase, in 1862, of tlie remainder 
 of the ground required in order to extend the 
 Sisters' property to St. Hubert Street, with the 
 exception of a strip, still occupied by private houses, 
 on Dorchester Street. Before speaking of the 
 successive additions made to the Mother-house, we 
 have to record the important events, which occurred 
 during these years and cast a shadow over the life 
 of the Community or filled with joy the hearts of 
 its members. 
 
 r 
 
 
 

 ^ >«3— c&r'-oi 
 
 
 
 CHAl^TER \^II 
 
 Death of Mother de la Nathrite (1864). 
 
 PrtHifMin im I'mmpeetu Domini morit 
 Saaiit'jrmm ■'imt. (Ps. CSV. 15.) 
 
 Freei«iK» m che eye^ of the Lord iB the 
 deiilii «4 kiic ;$h»tat«. 
 
 ITE year 18(*0 ended in mourning and 
 sorrow. On the la*t day of November 
 ill that year dme*l the eartlily career 
 of Canon Pilon, \\'h*Me devotedness had 
 been of such great i»ervice to the Commu- 
 nity for fifteen year?. His example, no 
 less than his wise counsel and fervent exhortations, 
 had helped to enkindle and maintain in the hearts 
 of the Sisters a holy emulation in striving for the 
 perfection of their calling. He was^ moreover, in 
 every sense of the word, a con^rding angel. " You 
 " felt," we road in a note, ** when you approached 
 " him, that there emanate<l froin his person sonie- 
 " thing of the goodness and cliarity of Our iSnviour 
 
 r 
 
 / 
 
 ? 
 
 '^ 
 
128 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIlfe AND 
 
 #■•■ 
 
 \ 
 
 
 U;f, 
 
 " Himself." His love for the Blessed Virgin and 
 his burning zeal for God's house, were among the 
 traits of his character which most deeply impressed 
 the Community. His death fell upon them like a 
 bolt from heaven. Though often indisposed, he 
 was young, and it was hard to realize that his end 
 had already come. 
 
 The funeral service, which was celebrated in the 
 new Chapel, was presided over by Bishop Bourget 
 in the presence of a large number of clergymen, 
 friends of the deceased and of the house. The body 
 was interred in the basement, under the sanctuary, 
 and to this day the mortal remains of the venerated 
 chaplain lie resting beneath a special monument in 
 the midst of those for whom he gave up his life. 
 
 He was succeeded by Canon Pare ('), who besides 
 the title of chaplain held also that of ecclesiastical 
 Superior, and subsequently became also the Director 
 as to temporal matters. His great wisdom and his 
 burning zeal bore much fruit. Besides the special 
 and often hidden results of his ministry during the 
 two years it lasted, the Community were indebted 
 to him for many important modifications of the 
 
 (1) Joseph Octave Par« (1814-1878), a (rradnate of St. Hyacinth College, 
 who also pursued his theological studies there, fieini; ordained in 1838, ho 
 spent the remainder of his lifetime at the Bishop's Palace in Montreal. 
 Becoming Secretary and subsequently one of tlie Canons, he was in- 
 strumental in securing Home's approval of the constitutions of the Mont- 
 real Chapter, and in procuring the requisite funds for the erection of the 
 present Cathedral. 
 
 m 
 
 Ami 
 
 ■t \^. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 129 
 
 rules, modifications which were of value in that 
 they brought the letter of the rule into closer con- 
 formity with the spirit of the Order. 
 
 Mother St. Jeanne de Chantal was a party to 
 these modifications of the rule which the good ot 
 the Community required. It was one of the last 
 acts of her administration, which was then nearing 
 its end. Those fifteen years had been a period of 
 development and in fact of prosperity, if we compare 
 the condition of the house at the time when she 
 first took charge with that in which she left it at 
 the close of her administration. When Sister St. 
 Jeanne dc Chantal became Superior the work was 
 in its infancy and barely .able to stand on its feet ; 
 and now we find it well-formed and vigorous. 
 The excellent worker could now rest from her 
 labors and return to the obscurity of the common 
 life of the Community ; her name would henceforth 
 be inscribed in letters of gold in the Annals of her 
 Community. 
 
 Nevertheless it is only true to say that her 
 government had become a burthen to the Sisters 
 and for more than one reason. The firmness of her 
 character, which was not always counterpoised by a 
 corresponding mildness, had the eftect in the long 
 run, so closely did it simulate harshness, of warping 
 the minds of even the least prejudiced members of 
 
 ■.•i;;J 
 
 
130 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 j; 
 
 1! 
 
 
 the Community. Ne<j^ligcnco or even abuHes, whicli 
 are the natural consequences of human weakness, 
 invariably creep in under cover of routine, or it may 
 be of habits contracted, from which there seems to 
 be no escape for those who remain too long in 
 authority. 
 
 Mother St. Jeanne de Chantal's a<lministration 
 was no exception to the rule. Its long duration 
 alone sufficed to make a change desirable. Besides, 
 many of the religious longed for a superior, who, 
 without neglecting temporal matters, would watch 
 more closely over their spiritual interests and take 
 more effectual means to infuse the spirit of the Order 
 into the young recruits and maintain it in the pro- 
 fessed. In short, notwithstanding her excellent 
 qualities. Mother St. Jeanne de Chantal seemed to 
 be no longer suited to govern the house in view of 
 the period of development it had now entered upon. 
 At the time when, with a view to secure aid, she 
 had to bestir herself actively to make herself 
 known, to mingle with outsiders and exert an 
 influence over people in order to interest them in 
 the work she had at heart, she seemed to be the 
 providential person appointed to accomplish all this 
 exte/ior work, a difficult task that no ordinary person 
 could have accomplished ; a meritorious one if we 
 only consider what self-denial, what mental energy 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OP MIsSrICORDE 131 
 
 and unceasing activity, were required : it was a 
 task full of perils also, on account of the tendency 
 it might impart to the Community, and it is hut 
 just to acknowledge that the Sui>erior throughout 
 all this, was only animated by a sense of the neces- 
 sity and the duty of opening up the way for the 
 new-horn organisation. 
 
 The Bishop presided over the elections which 
 were the first held in accordance with the usual 
 forms. Sister St. Joseph was elected Superior, 
 while Sister St. Jeanne de Chantal became first 
 Assistant. This new position was far from being to 
 Sister St. Joseph's taste ; she accepted with a heavy 
 heart the burden which the will of her Sisters, in 
 her eyes the expression of the will of God, — imposed 
 on her. Her feeble health was, moreover, hardly 
 compatible with the duties of her oflSce, and often 
 did she have to rely on her Assistant for business 
 matters. 
 
 It was during Mother St. Joseph's term of office 
 that the venerable foundress gave up her beautiful 
 soul to God, on April 5th, 1864. In pursuance of 
 the plan adopted for this work our attention has 
 been directed towards the exterior development of 
 the Order of Misericorde, and thus it happens that 
 we have lost sight, for the time being, of the noble 
 woman who was its life and soul from the very 
 
 m^ 
 
 '■■'iT 
 
 
132 
 
 MOTHER DB LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 « 
 
 tJl 
 
 
 beginning, and who beyond a doubt and in Hpite of 
 all appearances to the contrary, continued to bo its 
 creative and vivifying principle before God. It i« 
 with religious communities as with the truly Christ- 
 ian soul : her eyes are fixed on the one hand upon 
 the world in which she lives, and on the other upon 
 heaven to which she eagerly aspires ; she holds out 
 one hand to her follow mortals to draw them to 
 God, with the other she takes firm hoklofGod 
 Himself, the source of all light, life and strength. 
 Among the members of a community, there are, it 
 would seem, some who, by the very nature of their 
 office and still more, by a special call from above, 
 seem destined to fill a larger measure of either one 
 or the other part. 
 
 While by a special vocation of divine Providence, 
 Mother St. Jeanne de Chantal hud been their guide 
 in all earthly matters, by an equally providential 
 disposition Mother de la Nativite had been the link 
 which kept the work closely attached to God. 
 Her life is almost completely hidden from the eyes 
 of men. Occupied in performing humble duties, 
 she buried herself in a blessed obscurity, where she 
 found all that she loved : Jesus and Mary. There 
 also she found humiliations and sufferings in every 
 form, — the cross with all its anguish ; but must not 
 the grain of wheat fall to earth, disappear and be 
 
 li;!l 
 
THE ORIflIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfilUCORDE 133 
 
 (lissolvod ill order that it may reappear, in due 
 season renewed, innltipliod and transti^nred into the 
 heautiful ear, fit to he earessed hy the rays of tlie 
 sun and tlie soft hreath of the sunimor hreeze. Is 
 it not also a divine hiw tliat life springs from death, 
 as light from darkness? Since Our Lord Jesus- 
 Christ suffered and died, heforc lie entered into Ilis 
 glory and recovered his heavenly kingdom, is it 
 not a law amongst us, that we must undergo all the 
 keen and poignant pangs of inmiolation in every 
 part of our being, before we can liope to feast our 
 eyes on the eteriuil splendors of heaven? And 
 tlien, is it not from its fiery bed on the burning 
 embers, that the incense exhales its most fragrant 
 and penetrating perfume? For all these reasons 
 suggested by faith and strikingly confirmed by our 
 daily experience of the ways of divine Providence, 
 Mother de la Nativite was subjected during the last 
 years of lier life, to numerous tribulations of body 
 and soul. The five years which preceded her 
 death were a long martyrdom. She spent tliem in 
 the infirmary, or rather, — for there was no infirmary 
 — confined in .a poor cell, apart from the Commu- 
 nity, where she often had to sufl:'er tlie painful or- 
 deal of solitude. 
 
 Sickness and infirmities without number afflicted 
 her body, which she had never spared. Her feet 
 
 10 
 
 
184 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIxfi AND 
 
 
 r ' i 
 
 U 
 
 t 
 
 .t 
 
 grew lioavy and refused their services ; dropsy of a 
 painful and ominous kind appeared in all her mem- 
 bers ; an inveterate and almost unceasing cough 
 had settled on her chest, causing frequent and 
 distressing attacks of suffocation. The sufferings 
 which followed these attacks were most severe and 
 unremitting. But, far from complaining, the pious 
 foundress humbled herself under the hand of God, 
 and with resignation and even with thankfulness 
 pressed her lips to the chalice of Gethsemani. " I 
 " asked God to grant me sufferings here below, 
 " and spare me the torments of purgatory," she one 
 day said confidentially to the Rister-infirmarian 
 "and 111' has grantt-il my prayer; blessed be His 
 "holy Name!" At times her sufferings became 
 intolerable, and then the poor invalid would raise 
 her eyes and hands towards heaven, as though in 
 mute prayer, and then lower them again and remain 
 for long intervals recollected and as if absorbed in 
 realizing and relishing at leisure the bitterness of 
 her sacrifice, or perhaj* in gathering up all her 
 strength to meet the onslaught of suffering. " My 
 " Saviour have mercy on me!" would she say at 
 times, when the pains became too keen and violent : 
 or: " O my Jesus, accept all !" AVhen the paroxysm 
 had passed away, the countenance of the poor 
 sufferer at once recovered its usual expression of 
 goodness and serenity. 
 
 UU 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 135 
 
 At times she was left without proper attendance 
 and nursing, for the Sisters were few in number and 
 overwhelmed with work. In fact, as no one had 
 been Bpoeially appointed to look after her wants, in 
 the beginning of her illness it sometimes happened, 
 by a special permission of Providence, that she 
 spent an entire day witliout receiving any care or 
 attention. Never did a W(»rd of complaint fall 
 from the lips of the venerable forsaken one. She 
 would then unite herself to Jesus abandoned in 
 the garden of Olives and on the Cross, and fidl of 
 confidence in Ilim who sustains here below those 
 who are stricken down and sinking under sorrow, 
 she took delight in suffering for His love. While 
 she did not suffer from hunger, the food offered her 
 was often unsuited to her failing appetite and her 
 worn-out constitution. The doctor had ordered 
 fresh eggs and certain rare and expensive delicacies* 
 but the house was very poor ; and who will ever 
 know the many privations the venerable foundress 
 had to endure? She bore everything with perfect 
 cheerfulness. When the Sister in attendance ex- 
 pressed her sorrow at not being able to give her 
 better food, she smilingly held out her crucifix and 
 said: "Our Lord did not always have what was 
 " necessary." 
 
 Much more painful to her heart so full of love for 
 
 
136 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 hi: 
 
 
 
 God, were the spiritual privations she endured. 
 Her little room was far from the Chapel, and she 
 was thus deprived of the consolation of assisting at 
 the Holy Sacrifice, and often even of confession 
 and Holy Communion, Ilcr soul tlien fell into an 
 agony, hut no complaint ever escaped her lips ; she 
 resigned herself Avholly to the ever adorable will of 
 God and repented, with the agonizing Saviour in 
 the Garden : " Father, Thy will, not mine, he done." 
 
 Bishop Bourget visited her often during this 
 long ])eriod of illness ; her suiFerings and moral 
 trials were such, that he hesitated not to declare to 
 the assembled Sisters that " they would have been 
 " too much for any one of less solid virtue than 
 " that of their Mother." 
 
 In the spring of 1864, she grow suddenly worse, 
 and fresh complications were feared. Phe had 
 until then been able to sit in a chair by the window ; 
 she was now compelled to take to her bed. The 
 physicians declared that she was threatened with 
 an attai'k of acute bronchitis, which there was but 
 little hope of controlling, on account of her extreme 
 weakness. The venerable Mother grew more feeble 
 every day, her appetite completely disappeared, and 
 the Sisters saw to theirdisiniiy, that the fatal disease 
 had reached an<l sap]te<l the inmost citadel of life. 
 
 Mother de la Nativite had lost none of her sweet 
 
m. 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 137 
 
 serenity. She smiled at the sight of Death, as on 
 meeting a dear friend. What else liad she desired 
 on earth, if not to see and possess God for whom 
 she had always lived ? The thoughts of Heaven 
 and eternity fascinated her soul with increasing 
 power, in proportion as the bonds which still 
 detained her in this land of exile, were severed by 
 the hand of disease. » 
 
 A priest from the Cathedral, while visiting her, 
 asked her if she feared death? "Oh! no," she 
 quickly replied, " for I liave to do with a merciful 
 " God. " The Bishop found her in the same 
 dispositions, and liimself administered to her the 
 last sacraments of the Church. The invalid received 
 them with a lively faith. She already seemed 
 standing on the shores of eternity, only awaiting 
 permission from her Bishop and father to enter into 
 the promised land. " My Lord," she said to him, 
 " henceforth I am useless to tlie Community ; permit 
 " me to leave tbis valley of tears." "My daughter," 
 answered the Bishop, " wait a while, God's time has 
 " not yet come." lie then announced to the Sisters 
 that their venerable Mother, who edilied them daily 
 by her courage and cheerfulness under her harrow- 
 ing trials, would remain with them sometime longer. 
 Tliis forecast was fulfilled. Tlu' disease took a 
 milder form, and the patient was evidently better. 
 
 
138 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 I 
 
 
 ). 
 
 ll 
 
 m 
 
 
 Ere long all immediate danger had seemingly 
 disappeared. 
 
 But it was only in ajipearance. It was but a last 
 effort of life against death, which was surely and 
 mercilessly advancing, step hy step. Forty days 
 had elapsed since the Bisliop administered the last 
 rites of the Church to Mother de la Nativite, when 
 a sudden return of the most alarming symptoms 
 took away all hope of recovery. The end was fast 
 drawing nigh. Kev. M. Iluberdeau, Chaplain to the 
 Community, again administered Extreme Unction 
 to the sufferer and told lier that her exile was nearly 
 over. She was ready and the news tille<l her soul 
 with raptures of joy. Well might she have said with 
 the Psalmist : " I rejoice at the things that were 
 " said to me : we will go into the house of the 
 " Lord ; soon my feet will be standing in thy 
 " courts : O Jerusalem, city of my God." 
 
 Before parting from her Sisters, whom she so 
 dearly loved, she called them all once more around 
 her in order that she might bid them a last farewell 
 and give them her supreme reconnnendations. " I 
 *' entreat you," she said, " for the love of God, to 
 " strictlv observe all the rules of this house, and 
 " not to take as your model this unworthy servant of 
 " Jesus-Christ who is about to leave you in order to 
 " appear before the throne of the Almighty Judge. 
 
 m 
 

 TIIS ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 139 
 
 " I carry with me the sweet hope of seeing you all 
 *' in heaven." After having asked their forgiveness 
 for all the pain she might have caused them, she 
 recommended herself to their pious prayers and 
 gave them her last blessing. In the evening the 
 Bishop came to see her and said : " My dear daughter, 
 •' now you may die in peace, and go to heaven to 
 " receive the crown which God in his goodness has 
 " prepared for you, as a reward for all the sacritices 
 " and good works you have accomplished for 
 " His glory." lie then asked her to watch over 
 him from ahove, blessed her for the lust time, 
 saying that he hoped to meet her soon in heaven, 
 and begged her to ask that grace for him. — " I will 
 " do no such thing, my Lord," replied the dying 
 Mother, "you are still necessary for the welfare of 
 " the diocese ; and when God wills to call you, it 
 " will be time enough." 
 
 In the meantime her death was rapidly drawing 
 near, and her streni^th was visiblv failinij her. 
 Her breath was getting short and broken. Kneeling 
 around her bed, the Sisters were praying and await- 
 ing the supreme moment in deep recollection. 
 Towanls two in the morning the veniTable Mother 
 slowly made the sign of the cross, and turning her 
 eyes towards the Sisters, asked them to say the 
 Litany of the Blessed Virgin. After having joined 
 
140 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITfe AND 
 
 4; 
 
 J. 
 
 in these pious prayers, she said aloud : " O my 
 " Jesus ! " These were her last words. Slie had 
 fallen asleep forever. She died thus without the 
 slightest struggle or agony, and gave up her soul to 
 God, on Tuesday, April 5th, 1864. 
 
 During that same night the inmates of the pen- 
 itents' iniirniary were suddenly awakened and saw 
 an aged Sister, whose features were unknown to 
 them, enter the room carrying a light in her hand 
 and go around among them from bed to bed. AtTter 
 completing her rounds, she made lier exit by a 
 different door from that by which she had entered 
 the room, but not until she had spoken to one of 
 them, who was dangerously ill, and told her that she 
 would soon recover. From the description given 
 by the penitents, in the morning, the Sisters were 
 inclined to think that God had permitted Mother de 
 la Nativite to visit and console the poor penitents, 
 whom she had so dearly loved during her life, 
 but they were fully convinced of it by the speedy 
 recovery of the sick penitent. 
 
 Bishoi) Bourget did honor to the pious foundress 
 by himself presiding at her funeral service. A large 
 luimber of priests and members of other religious 
 communities were also present, to pay a last tribute 
 of respect to the noble woman, whose earthly career 
 had borne abimdant fruit, because it had been 
 wholly consecrated to God's service. 
 
 1!^' 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE i^IFTEBd OP MISERICORDE 141 
 
 Before the last [(rayers. Hi* Lonliship, in a brief 
 allocution, enumerated the manv virtues of the ven- 
 erable Motlier. He spoke oi the hamble beginnings 
 of her work, the daily i-^acrifice^ which she had 
 been obliged to make, coifi|iaring her to the valiant 
 woman of Holy 8crii>turei^, and spoke more espe- 
 cially of tlio humble and hid<i«L-n lile^ joyfully accept- 
 ed, which had been her lot for the fiast few years, and 
 which, before God, was {tcrltafjus her highest title to 
 an eternal reward. Her rernaiiisf were laid in the 
 vault under the Chapel ; there she lies in the midst 
 of her spiritual children, auahinj^ the great day of 
 the Resurrection. 
 
 " Precious in the eyes of the hffTtl i?* the death of 
 " the Saints " because it \» the eeho of their life. 
 We have seen in looking over these pages what 
 Mother de la Nativite's life was : humble, active, 
 wholly given up to God, and *aerifieed to tlie sal- 
 vation of souls. From the day when ^he gave up the 
 direction of her work in order toiianctify herself, far 
 from human eyes, she ahno«t diafap[>ears from this 
 history. But inasmuch as the virtnen she continued 
 to [tractise and the example she thiisi gave, contri- 
 buted to the founding of her Institute, quite as much 
 as did her active work in the l«eginning, it is but just 
 to cast a retrospective glance o%-er this* noble life, of 
 which we have just seen the elotse, and gather up 
 
 I 'If I 
 
 f. ■■■*'.: 
 
 i .- 
 
 •fc .i 
 
 t?.' 
 
142 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIxfi AND 
 
 for our edification, the crumbs fallen from that 
 " perpetual feast" wliich a pure soul offers to her 
 Creator. This we shall do at the close of this 
 history. 
 
 Meantime, before going any further, let us note 
 that tlie Community was composed, at tliat time, 
 of twenty-three professed Sisters, eleven novices 
 and postulants, and twenty-five Magdelenes and 
 girls in the preservation class ; also that nearly two 
 thousand three hundred penitents, besides a large 
 number of orphans, had found a refuge in the house 
 founded by Mother de la Nativite, and we shall be 
 able to form some idea of the singular blessings 
 showered down by God on his servant's undertaking. 
 If we call to mind, moreover, that our divine Saviour 
 teaches us to "judge n tree by its fruits," this simple 
 enumeration of human miseries succoured and 
 relieved, and of virtuous souls led to sacrifice their 
 liberty in the religious state, will be sufficient to show 
 what treasures of piety and eminent virtue were 
 hidden in the heart of the foundress of the Sisters 
 of Misericorde. 
 
 •» f- — g)''-'^^r^ a ^ 
 
BOOK II 
 
 (1864- 1898) 
 
 Development of the Work 
 
 UP TO THE END OP THE 
 
 FIR8T HALF-CENTURY 
 
 VIRTUES 01^' 'XilEJ I^^OUNURESS 
 
 Benedtj-it eta et tiiultiplicuti lunt 
 (Ps. CVI. 38). 
 
 And »' e Lord blessed them and 
 tbey weremultipliedexceedingly. 
 
 I.- 
 
 mm 
 
f'f^li 
 
MDST RIvV. KIiolAKI) CII.\RI,i;S I'ABKI-; 
 
 l-'if<t Arclitii-lKHi nl' Mniitrfal. 
 
I 
 
I fl ■ 
 
 ^^.*iil^^l5^ 
 
 ; m; . 
 
 CTIMTEU l8t 
 
 Revision and Approbation of the Constitutions. 
 
 Quirunniiie hitnr rrgulum tecvti fur- 
 rlnt, piix miper illim it mini'rieitrilia 
 ((Ul,. VI. 16). 
 
 And wbosoevur (ball follow this rule, 
 peace on them and mercy. 
 
 j'Cy 
 
 T tlie hour of her death Mother de la 
 Nativito had enjoyed one supreme 
 consolation : tlie poor girls for whom 
 she had worked and sacrificed herself 
 fJjKgj unceasingly, throughout the last twenty 
 hos^ years of her life, were not to be forsaken. 
 An asylum was open to them in their misfortune, 
 and in that asylum, — whose existence seemed now 
 to be assured, — devoted, tender, self-sacrificing and 
 charitable liearts would welcome tlieir return to 
 virtue. God, we may well suppose, gave her a 
 glimpse of many generations of Sisters, animated 
 by her spirit and her zeal and heirs of her virtues, 
 extending and multiplying throughout time the 
 
146 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIt6 AND 
 
 
 I;: 
 
 |:-V 
 
 good v/c .z she had commenced. From the soil 
 ploughed and seeded down with so much labor and 
 watered so freely with the sweat of her brow and 
 her tears, a promising harvest had already sprung 
 up ; and like unto the laborer after his day's work 
 is done, she could enter joyfully her eternal home, 
 singing the praises of Ilim who had " done great 
 things for lier." 
 
 A short time after the death of the Foundress, 
 Bishop Bourget, accompanied by the chaplain of the 
 Community, M. Iluberdeau {'), started for Rome. 
 Doubtless the choice of his companion was made 
 in view of the intention the Bishop had of submit- 
 ting the Rule of the Order of Misericorde to the 
 Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. He 
 could not have made a better one. 
 
 Abbe Iluberdeau wap a priest of .\t learning, 
 intelligence and energy, besides beni^ perfectly con- 
 versant with the idles, traditions and spirit of the 
 Community. After having examined the constitu- 
 tions and the several rules of the Order, the Sacred 
 Congreerotion indicated certain modifications in 
 matters of detail and some amendments to be 
 
 \m 
 
 u) Huberdean, GM^on (1823-1887), born at Chambly, ordained in 1840, 
 employed flrgt at the Cathedral, afterwardi charged with the parishos of 
 St. Andr^ d'ArKenteuil, St. Athanaae, Chi.mbly, St. Hubert, St. Vincent 
 do Pivul, St. Zotiquc, and the French Church in Albany, N.Y. In 1852, he 
 founded a hou»c ol the Sisters of Prcridence in Chili. Died at Longuo- 
 Pointe in 1887,— buried at St. Th^ri««. 
 
3 
 
 «r 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 147 
 
 made, and formulated notes on the constitution and 
 rules. All this was communicated directly to the 
 Community by the devoted chaplain himself, or 
 made known indirectly, through the medium of 
 Canon Hicks ('), who was twcii ecclesiastical Superior 
 and Chaplain " pro tempore." 
 
 On his return to Montreal, M. Huberdeau, still 
 impressed with the ol)8ervation8 he had heard 
 made, at Rome, by the eminent persons appointed to 
 examine the constitutions, resolved to go to wo, k 
 at once and fashion the Community in conformity 
 with the ideal he had brought hai'k with liim. 
 Two circumstances seemed to favor his plans ; the 
 Bishop's illness, and the election of a Superior 
 who was young, and cousequently timid and 
 inexperienced. 
 
 The fatigue of his voyage joined to the incessant 
 labors of his office, had been too much for 
 Bishop Bourget ; and, for a time, the state of his 
 health prevented him from looking closely after the 
 Community. — ?4other Marie do la Misericordo, the 
 new Superior, was only twenty-eight years old. 
 She was intelligent and full of energy, but in no 
 
 (1) Hiokx, Etienne Ilyppolito (182.'l-lHHn), be: m at St. Marie ile la Beauce, 
 •tudied at Nioolet College, ordnincd in \XW. occupied difTerent po«tR until 
 Wu when called to the E|iiRcoi>al Uexidence. Named Canon in IMiO. Wa* 
 charxed with leveral oommiinitieR, eRpeciiklly " La M's^ricorde." Ketirrd 
 in 1KT!», died January 12th, IMH'.>. 
 
 He had been named Honorary Canon of Chartrcs, Franoe. 
 
148 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 I: 
 
 w 
 
 f. 
 
 
 
 !?.:'; 
 
 •i'-y 
 
 way prepared, by exi)eriem*e or training?, to under- 
 take Hucli a responsible position ; thus she tiaturally 
 had a great deference for M. Jlnbenh'au's experience 
 and knowledge, and hoof course availed biniselfot'it. 
 
 Zealous and daring, indifferent to blame or praise, 
 lie was clearsighted, impartial and well-intentiotied, 
 but little versed in the art oftem[)orizinga)id waiting 
 for favorable opjiortunitics to realize liis projects ; 
 moreover, not making sufficient allowance for men 
 and things, he carried out im[>rovements and reforms 
 with a degree of ardour and energy that compelled 
 submission, without imparting con\iction. lie was 
 lacking in that moderation, that wise deliberation, 
 that tact, which are so necessary to one who under- 
 takes to direct his fellow-beint-i without crushing or 
 infringing on human liberty. 
 
 One of his first measures was to forbid the Sisters 
 taking charge of the sick, on the ground that it 
 was work ill-befitting their calling and their vows. 
 •Some of the Sit'ters offered their protest. The older 
 members of the Community looked upon this point 
 as essential to their vocation. The chaplain held- 
 out. The Bishop woidd have j»refcrred slower 
 measures, "but M. Ilubcrdeau went straight on" 
 as the Annals tell us, and when the Bishop's sen- 
 timents were (pioted, he replied: "Yes, but the 
 *' Bishop is in reality delighte*. with what I am 
 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDB 149 
 
 " doing." This brancli of the work wan kept up 
 for a time, however, by two " Consecrated " pen- 
 itents, that is two penitents wlio, tearing the sediio- 
 tions of the world and yet liaving no taste tor the lite 
 adopted by the Magdalenes of tlie house, undertook 
 to serve the Sisterhood in tlie domestic work of tlie 
 Convent. 
 
 About this tiiue the Chapel was rlosed to 
 the public. It was barely large enough tor the 
 Community, and owing to a steady increase in the 
 number of outsiders seeking admission, it was fouiul 
 impossible any longer to admit them without 
 enlarging it. This measure was alsoM. lluberdeau's 
 work. Tlie zealous chaplain desired to sejiarate 
 the IJeligious as much as possible from the people 
 of the world. For tliis same reason, he restricted 
 the number and the duration of visits tt> tlie jtarlor, 
 and even undertook to make sundry alterations in 
 the Rule. This latter was going beyond his poweis, 
 and the Superior referred the matter to the IJishop. 
 The result was that M. ITuberdeau was instructed 
 not to touch the Rules without having tirst consulted 
 the diocesan authorities. 
 
 He was shortly afterwards rejilaced by a new 
 chaplain. Rev. M. Martin had the same zeal as his 
 predecessor for tlu' sauititicatiou of souls, and 
 showed great ability in dciiling with temp(jral affairs. 
 
 11 
 
 
160 
 
 MOTHER DB LA NATIVIxfi AND 
 
 I- 
 1*3 
 
 ?5i 
 
 l^\ 
 
 He rendered service to the Community by toacliing 
 them book-keeping, and systematizing the records 
 of the Institution. lie also applied himself to 
 training the Sisters in singing for he was convinced, 
 and rightly so — that nothing is better calculated to 
 maintain piety and add to the dignity of divine 
 worship, than well-executed singing, lie was not 
 the first one who had insisted on this important 
 point, for from the very origin of the Community, 
 the Sisters had been taught the Gregorian chant. 
 When the cliaplains were unable to teach them, 
 the Bishop himself became their teacher, so 
 eager was ho that they might sing the praises of 
 God in a seemly manner. He even gave them the 
 first liturgical books which they possessed. M. Va- 
 lade, a priest from the Cathedral, had also, a few 
 years earlier, rendered great service to the Com- 
 munity in this respect. 
 
 Nor did M. Martin overlook the Magdalencn, 
 who up to that time had contiinied to live with the 
 penitents and followed one and the same rul(( with 
 thi'm. This state of things could not continue to 
 exirtt without nuiny disadvantages on both sides. 
 To the young Superior belongs the merit of i)erceiv- 
 ing and removing the difticulty. The Magdulenes 
 were placed apart, and formed, as it were, a separate 
 Conmmnity, and a novitiate was opened lor the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE 8ISTER8 OF HIS^RICORDE 151 
 
 trainin|]r of recruits for their ranks. They wore at 
 first jtermitted to make but temporary vows, but 
 erelong — 1860, — three of them pronounced perpet- 
 ual vows. This work succeeded as well as could 
 be expected, for in 1872, when Mother M. de la 
 Mi8«5ricorde eeased to be Superior, the number of 
 Magdalenes was twenty-two. 
 
 This continuous and uniform development of the 
 essential work of the Order, soon compelled the 
 Sisters to give up certain accessory works which 
 they had theretofore ])een enabled to take in hand, 
 but which it had become impossible for them to 
 carry on. About five years previously they luul 
 undertaken the work of sheltering poor homeless 
 orphan girls, who, in a large city, are but too often 
 destined to become a prey to vice and corruption. 
 It was a good, a niost meritorious work ; it had been 
 undertaken most (cheerfully, and gladly indeetl 
 would the Sisters have* continued to carry it on, but 
 it was utterly impossible to accomplish so much. 
 The Community must work within the sphere of 
 its providential mission. The orphans were, there- 
 fore, placed with respectable families, where they 
 would have the benefit of good example aiul a 
 christian training. 
 
 The Sisters also at this time gave up another 
 work which, through certain circumstances, iia<l 
 
152 
 
 •MOTHER DE LA NATlVIxfi AND 
 
 (U'volved upon the Community. When the Sisters 
 left the " Corporation house," it was taken by Miss 
 liissonnette, a pious woman, who liad taken eharge 
 of a certain number of unfortunate girls who had 
 fallen frojn virtue, or whose reputation had sutl'ered. 
 in the hope of leading them back to a better life. 
 Following the Bishop's advice, the Sisters consented 
 to lend a heljting hand to Miss Bissonnette. The 
 latter at tivst desired it, but divergence of views 
 and the unyielding character of the directress, 
 rendered any united action impossible. A heavy debt 
 and an utter lack of public sympathy and supjiortj 
 soon brought the work to an end. Happily for the 
 unfortuiiate inmates, the Community came to the 
 rescue, and gave them a home, thus saving them 
 from falling back into the ever yawning abyss of 
 vice. On being received into the Comnnniity, they 
 took the name of " Daughters of St. ThaYs," in 
 honor of the illustrious Egyptian [lenitent of that 
 name. They were placed in the brick house jmr- 
 chased from Mr. Lacroix in 1802, and situated near 
 the corner of Lagauchetiere and St. Hubert Streets. 
 Thanks to the influence and earnest prayers of the 
 Sisters, the great majority of these unfortunate young 
 women were sincerely converted. They formed the 
 nucleus of the class now called the " Consacrees." 
 Those who were found to be incorrigible, were placed 
 
THE OIUUIN OF THE ^liTEIkii OF MIsfeRICOUDK 153 
 
 in the IijukIh of the city authorities* and committed 
 to prison. 
 
 The whole Rtroii<;th ot the Community waw then 
 centered on tlie work for u'lii< h Mother de hi Nati- 
 vite liad foun«U'd it. A re^»rganization of the 
 adniiniHtrative ('oiineil wa* then felt to be a matter 
 of neeessity. The relativel}- »mall nnmberot religious 
 luul rendered it necesBarv to admit therein the Mis- 
 trenHCH of Novices, Mag:dah'fi<«, and I'enitenta, and 
 it was decided tliat this should no longer be the 
 case. Tlie costume now worn by the religious was 
 a«lopt('d about this same |<*ri«»d. Th»^ earlier dress 
 resend>led too closely that m'om by the IIotel-Dieu 
 Sisters, a cloistered order, for whom they were often 
 mistaken by outsiders. 
 
 Finally, Mother M. '^'' '• "*'' --ricorde took at^tive 
 measures for the liq» ' i \ja of the debt of the 
 (community. It anK>unte<I to $20,000, — a large 
 sum, considering that the <'ommnnity was then 
 nearly destitute of resourct*?., \\y goo<l numagenient 
 and economy, the genci<»sity (»f friends und the col- 
 lections taken up veurlv b\" the Sisters, within the 
 diocese, and often outsi<lc it# limits, the entire sum 
 was paid off within the r^iiac* of snx years. During 
 this interval, theComnjunity mmte*] a farm near St. 
 Anne du IJout de Tile, in the hope of creating a 
 revenue tor the Community ; Init the experiment 
 
 If 
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 if 
 
164 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVlxfi AND 
 
 s 
 
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 h-. 
 
 li 
 
 was not a Buccess, and the farm was given up after 
 a year's trial. 
 
 The liouse was thus on tlie road to prosperity 
 wljen the news of tlic approval of the Institute 
 arrived from Rome, on the 7th of June, 18G7. Soon 
 afterwards a laudatory Brief emanating from the 
 Sacred Congregation appointed to examine the 
 constitutions, was received by the '^ perior. These 
 favors caused an immeiise joy among the Sisters. 
 They could now work an<l devote themselves with- 
 out fear, since God, }v the voice of His Vicar on 
 earth, had accepted and blessed their labors and 
 their sacriiices. God was, indeed, with them ; the 
 future seemed to smile on them more kindly, and 
 they faced it with increased ardour and confidence. 
 The Community had steadily increased from year 
 to year, and at the end of 1872, there were fifty-six 
 professed Sisters; the average number of candidates 
 in the novitiate was ten. The number of Penitents 
 was continually on the increase ; in that year three 
 hundred and twenty-three were received, and there 
 were two hundred and thirty births in the Hospital. 
 These figures show, better than any possible 
 description, the state and position of the house when 
 Mother M. de la Misericordc's term of office expired. 
 
 The Community was preparing for the new 
 elections, when their generous and devoted protector, 
 
f 
 
 T7!E ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDB 156 
 
 Mr. Olivier Bcrthelct, died. (September 25th, 1872.) 
 His death was the faithful echo of his charitable 
 and self-sacrificing life. The Sisters mourned for 
 him as for a friend and a father : the services he 
 had rendered the Community, for over twenty-five 
 years, were such, that God alone could fittingly 
 reward him. His memory will be forever cherished 
 and blessed in the Order. 
 
 A few days after this sad event, Bishop Bourget 
 visited the house and presided over the elections, 
 which gave to the Community for Superior, Mother 
 St. Rose de Lima. Mother M. do la Misericordo 
 was too young to be re-elect- d ; for the limit of age 
 required by the constitutions approved by Rome 
 was then thirty-five years and she was but thirty- 
 four. She was, however, elected Bursar. 
 
 The new Superior had until then lived in the 
 shade, and consequently was but ill-prepared to 
 undertake the direction of the house. Firm and 
 energetic by nature, she insisted on a strict obser- 
 vance of the rule, and herself g.ave the example. 
 But the fear of losing her authority made her sus- 
 ceptible and suspicious, and she acted with a degree 
 of severity not counterbalanced by any eminent 
 qualities, and which caused many a difficulty in the 
 Community. 
 
 Nevertheless, the work prospered. The yearly 
 
 *i 
 
 . 
 
156 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 .l>'! 
 
 
 ■) .. 
 i.' 
 
 coUootioHS oxtotidcd over a vaster fioM ; tlio Sisters 
 went beyond the limits of Lower-Canada, and made 
 their appeal tor aid in Ottawa, an<l also in Portland, 
 wliere the liishop received tlieni witli great cordiality 
 and interrupted a call tor help in behalf of his own 
 diocesan works, in onler to leave more abundant 
 gleanings for these new Knths. — A few years later, 
 in lH7'i, we lind them in Toronto, and then in 
 New- York, where the •; tempted wit bout sticcess to 
 tnund a tirst mission or branch of the Order. In 
 the following year they went throngh the dioceses 
 of S[>ringtlel«l, Kingston and San Fraiicisco. The 
 harvest increased in j>roportion asthetield widi-ncMl, 
 and the collections reached snecessively : three, four, 
 and even five thousand dollars. 
 
 In 1H74, the Community was in readiness to 
 undertake the construction of a large wing, west of 
 the building erected by Mr. lierthelet fifteen years 
 before. It was Hnished twoyears later, and dedicated 
 by Bishop Hourget. The same day, April Hth, 187(5, 
 the worthy prelate had the consolation of distri- 
 buting to all the professed Sisters, sifter luiving bless- 
 ed it, the nevvlyi>rinted book of the Constitutions. 
 " It is a very simple volume in ap[(earance," said 
 he to them, "but one which you should consider as 
 " a book of lifi'. On receiving it, you will kiss it 
 " with respect and alleclion, because it nuuiifests 
 
,.- 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 157 
 
 " tho will of God to you : at'tor the Now TeHtuinetit, 
 " no book should bo dearer to your beartH." 
 
 A tew days later, Sister St. .Jeanne <le Cbantal, 
 who bad wbared in tbe early wtrug^lert of tbe Coin- 
 niunity aiul «;(>verned it during tifteen years, peace- 
 fully departed tins life, aged seventy-seven years. — 
 Sbe was at tbe time a member of tbe Couneil. 
 Sbe was an Inunble and submissive religious and 
 editied ber companions, cbeerfuUy accepting a life 
 of <d)scurity, after baving filled tbe most important 
 ofKees in tbe Order. Sbe suft'ered greatly during 
 ber last illness, but was wbolly resigiuMl to tbe will 
 of (Jod, strcngtbcned hy tlie liread of Life, and too 
 anxious to please ber Heavenly Spouse to tbink of 
 complaining, slie made ber last sacritice witb 
 generosity. Her deatb was rigbtly dei»lored by 
 tbe Community, to wbioli sbe luul rendere«l great 
 service, liisliop Fabre, tben recently consecrated co- 
 adjutor to IJisbop Bourget, presided over Ikt funeral 
 service, at wbicb a large imndtcr of priests attended, 
 in onler to pay a last tribute of respect to tbe 
 venerable ri'ligious. 
 
 MeantinU' Jiisbop Bourget, broken down by baitl 
 labor and years, and desirous, njoreovcr, of pn'paring 
 bimself, in recollection and soliludi', to give an 
 account t< (iodof bis long administration, bad taken 
 tbe resolution of retiring to a country bouse at 
 
IMAGE EVALUATION 
 TEST TARGET (MT-3) 
 
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 Sdences 
 
 Corporation 
 
 23 WEST MAIN STREET 
 
 WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 
 
 (716) 872-4503 
 
158 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB 
 
 Sault-au-Recollet, where several aged and infirm 
 priests already resided. Once, and once only, did 
 he again visit the Convent in his oflicial capacity : 
 to preside over the election of a memher of the 
 Council, in succession to Sister St. Jeanne de Chan- 
 tal. From that date, June 6th, 1876, until his 
 death, nine years later, the venerable prelate visited 
 his spiritual daughters only at rare intervals, and 
 but for a few moments on each occasion ; but his 
 heart still watched over them, he wrote to them 
 and gave them the benefit of his advice, and received 
 them with fatherly affection whenever they visited 
 him in his retreat. But, above all, he prayed 
 unceasingly for the success of their work and the 
 sanctification of their souls. 
 
N 
 
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 MOST RKV. J. T. DIHAMKL, D.D., 
 Archbishop of Ottawa. 
 
* 
 

 '• "t". 
 
 CHAPTER H 
 
 The First Mission. 
 
 Ego elegi vog. . . potui vo», . . ut eatit, 
 et/ructum afferatit. (JoAN xv. 16). 
 
 I (have chosen you. . . and have ap- 
 pointed you, that you should go, and 
 should bring forth fruit. 
 
 OTHER St. Rose de Lima was not to 
 see the end of the term of six years 
 in office. Her weak constitution and 
 nervous temperament were soon worn 
 out, by the daily cares and solicitude of 
 government. She sank under the burden, 
 in the month of September, 1876, and she was never 
 to rise again. Her illness continued throughout 
 the winter and was accompanied by cruel sufferings, 
 amidst which all were compelled to admire her 
 patience and moral strength. A few days before her 
 death, she called her Sisters around her bed and 
 begged them to forgive her for all the pain she may 
 have caused them, in the discharge of the duties of 
 
160 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 her office, and for the faults which she had herself 
 committed. She recommended to them the practice 
 of regularity, fraternal charity and zeal in striving 
 for perfection. "At the hour of death, we do not 
 " regret the efforts we may have made," said she, 
 " and at that hour, we judge of things very 
 " difterently from what we do during life." This 
 occurred during Holy Week, of which according to 
 all appearances she was not to see the end. On Good 
 Friday, she was so weak, that it was easily seen 
 she could not pass the day. " Mother," said the 
 Assistant to her, "you are going to die to-day with 
 " Our Lord, in order to rise speedily from the dead 
 " with Him." " What happiness ! " she answered, 
 with a heavenly smile. — Those were her last words. 
 She expired peacefully at about three o'clock in the 
 afternoon. 
 
 Sister St. Therese de Jesus, who was elected to 
 succeed her, was of a gentle and timid disposition. 
 Her preference was for humble offices and rude 
 labors. Greatly alarmed when she learned that the 
 Community were thinking of her for the office of 
 Superior, she begged of them, in pity, not to lay 
 such a burden upon her ; but no attention was paid 
 to her earnest pleading. Her rule was an exceed- 
 ingly mild one. She was greatly helped in her 
 administration by the chaplain, M. J. M. A. Brien, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 161 
 
 and under her management, the Community attained 
 a degree of profperity it had never before known. 
 Mother St. Ther^se de Jesus had been Superior 
 only a few days, when a fire broke out in the soap- 
 house and soon endangered the entire Convent. 
 However, the firemen arrived in time to conquer 
 the destructive element and preserve the house 
 from a catastrophe. This was not the first time 
 that the Comnmnity had been threatened by fire, 
 but Divine Providence watched over its own work 
 and no serious loss was ever incurred. 
 
 The work of erecting new buildings was con- 
 tinued. The Chapel built by Mr. Berthelet had 
 become too small, and the Community resolved to 
 build a new one. The present Chapel with its 
 portico opening on Dorchester Street, was the result 
 of this project. The Very Rev. H. Moreau, V. G., 
 blessed and laid the corner-stone of the edifice, with 
 all possible solemnity. Bishop Bourget was not 
 present at this ceremony, but he wrote as follows to 
 the Superior : " I shall not fail to take part in spirit 
 " in all your joys and hopes," and in another letter :« 
 " I pray the Mother of Mercies to enable you to 
 " carry-out successfully your holy undertaking." 
 
 The undertaking was completed as the venerable. 
 Archbishop had desired, and a year later — August 
 31st, 1879, — Bishop Duhamel, of Ottawa, dedicated. 
 
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162 
 
 MOTHFH DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
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 the new sanctuary, and in eloquent terms voiced the 
 sentiments of joy, love, and gratitude that filled to 
 overflowing the hearts of his hearers. In the course 
 of his remarks. His Lordship had been able to speak 
 highly of the Community upon good grounds, for 
 he had had, for several months previously, an oppor- 
 tunity of witnessing its eminent services, in his own 
 episcopal city. — He was, as we have stated before, 
 one of the first to open his diocese to the mendicant 
 Sisterb, and soon afterwards conceived the idea of 
 establishing them at Ottawa. Eev. M. Bouillon, 
 then treasurer of the Cathedral at Ottawa, was del- 
 egated to deal with the matter. The conditions 
 were easily settled, and in fact the Sisters saw no 
 serious difficulty in Ihe way of this project, — God 
 had blessed them, and there were now seventy-two 
 professed Sisters, and such a foundation would be 
 doubtless the source of new vocations. Bishop 
 Bourget was consulted, and from the depths of his 
 retreat, he applauded the scheme and wrote to the 
 Superior as follows : " I have long prayed that you 
 *' might found a new mission." Six religious were 
 selected to go forth and take possession of the house 
 and property, bought from the episcopal corporation 
 of Ottawa, for the new establishment. Bishop 
 Fabre celebrated Mass in the Community Chapel 
 and blessed the first missionaries on the day of their 
 
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 THE ORIGIN OP THE SISTERS OP MIsfiRICORDB 163 
 
 departure. The Ottawa house, known as " House 
 " of Mercy," was opened on May 19th, 1879, and 
 in the month of August following, Sister St. Stanis- 
 las arrived at Ottawa, with the title of Superior. 
 She was accompanied by three Magdalenes. 
 
 The beginnings of the new work were not accom- 
 plished without trials, and we know, from one of 
 Bishop Bourget's letters, that, but for the help of 
 God, the little colony would have given way to 
 discouragement. " Far from being discouraged," 
 wrote the pious Archbishop, " you should be more 
 " courageous thin heretofore in the discharge of all 
 " your important duties. Trials are always a good 
 *' sign, and there is less danger of being lost then, 
 " than when everything is prosperous. — Take cour- 
 " age then ! Your foundation in Ottawa will prosper 
 " only when it is on Calvary, at the foot of the 
 " Cross." The clouds dispersed little by little, and 
 brighter days soon dawned. — The following year 
 the Federal Government granted an annual subsidy 
 to the house, thus recognizing its public utility. 
 Enlargements were soon needed, and in 1883 a 
 large wing was added to the buildings already in use. 
 
 Meantime the number of inmates at the Mother- 
 house was continually increasing. The census of 
 1882 gives seventy-seven professed Sisters ; ten 
 novices ; forty-one Magdalenes ; thirty-one Con- 
 
 •I ^ •'ll 
 
164 
 
 MOTHER DB LA NATIVIlfe AND 
 
 Becrated girls and six nurses. As to the penitents, 
 whose number varied from day to day, it is safe to 
 say that often as many as a hundred were to he 
 found in the house at the same time. There was, 
 therefore, an urgent need of again enlarging the 
 house, and it was decided to build a large wing on 
 Campeau Street that would be joined to the older 
 part of the buildings and match with the west wii - 
 inaugurated in 1876. Work was immediately begun, 
 but the Sisters had not counted on the opposition 
 of the City corporation who purposed widening 
 Campeau Street, by taking a strip of land off the 
 garden of the Community. Permission to build 
 was refused ; — requests were unsuccessful. A peti- 
 tion to the City Council, signed by a large number 
 of influential citizens and proprietors was also 
 rejected. All work had, in the meantime, to be 
 suspended. 
 
 • The Sisters had recourse to St. Joseph in order 
 to obtain a favorable settlement of the difliculty. 
 Many prayers were offered up in the Community, 
 and the statue of the Saint was placed in a, niche 
 close to the intended site. Heaven's action accom- 
 plished what man's influence was powerless to do. 
 On January 23rd, 1884, the City corporation in 
 Council assembled, rescinded the resolution order, 
 ing the widening of the Street, and left the Sisters 
 
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 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISiiRICORDE 165 
 
 in full poseession of their ground. If was on a 
 Wediiesday and the Church celebrated that day 
 the feast of the Eip ^als of the Blessed Virgin. 
 St. Joseph's protection was evident. In thanks- 
 giving, the statue, which had passedpart of the Fall 
 and Winter outdoors, was brought in and installed 
 in a place of honor in the Sisters' choir, during 
 Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, at which tlie 
 Te Deum was sung. The ceremony ended witli a 
 procession through the corridors of the house. Tlie 
 statue of St. Joseph, after having been borne in 
 triumph, with lighted tapers and the clianting of 
 pious hymns, was replaced in the choir and from 
 thence removed to a place of honor over the entrance 
 door of the new wing, where it is still to be seen. 
 This prosperity was the fruit of many trials and 
 sufferings, and Mother St. Therese was sometimes 
 quite disheartened. Interior difficulties were joined 
 to exterior trials, and the Superior was overcome 
 with grief w^henever she was forced to adopt 
 energetical measures of repression. " Do not be 
 " cast down," wrote Bishop Bourget to her, " if the 
 " enemy of all good seeks to take away your peace 
 " of mind and soul, — which is the greatest of bless- 
 " ings, since it is a foretaste of the peace of heaven, 
 " — hold fast, and despise the illusions of the 
 " devil. — Do not forget that God is always ready 
 
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 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ 
 
 " to help US in our greatest needs, when He sees 
 " that we feel our incapacity and unworthiness ; 
 " for, the more useless we are, the more pleasure 
 " He takes in making use of us to do good, provided 
 " we place our confidence in Him alone and seek 
 " only His greater glory. Serve this Gcd of f^ood- 
 " ness, therefore, with holy joy." Such encourage- 
 ment always quickly imparted courage to the 
 Superior, and she went to work again with fresh 
 energy and ardor. 
 
 "When her term of office expired, she was 
 delighted to return to the obscurity of the ranks, 
 but the confidence her Sisters had in her was such, 
 that they did not leave her entirely at rest. At 
 the elections which took place on August 31st, 1883, 
 she was selected to fill the office of Assistant to the 
 new Superior, Mother St. Zotique. 
 
 These elections were followed by important 
 reforms. The number of Councillors or Assistants, 
 which had until then been six, was reduced to four. 
 — The practice of consulting in all important matters 
 the Capitulary Sisters, that is to say, those ten years 
 professed, which had until then prevailed, was 
 abolished. But twelve among them were chosen as 
 advisors, with the privilege of electing the Superior. 
 Lastly, it was decided that before being admitted 
 to *akG perpetual vows, each religious should make 
 temporary vows for five years. 
 
11 
 
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 CHAPTER lit 
 
 I' I 
 
 W 
 
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 Relations of Bishop Bourget with the Community. 
 
 Menientote jyrrrpositorum vjstrorum 
 guivohis locuti aunt verbum Dei ; Quo- 
 rum inttientea exitum convenationii, 
 imitamini fidem. (Hrb. xiii. 7.) 
 
 Remember your prelates who hare 
 spoken the word of God to you : whose 
 faith follow, considering the end of 
 thoir ooDTer.-ation. 
 
 ,,.„URmG Mother St. Zotique's teinire 
 ^?' of office, Bishop Bourget, the founder 
 of the Community of the Sisters of 
 Misericordo, died, at his residence at 
 Sault-au-Recollet. This aged and illustrious 
 prelate was struck .down by what ho felt 
 to be a fiital disease, on the feast of the Immaculate 
 Conception, 1884. — Bishop Fabre administered to 
 him the last Sacraments of the Church, towards the 
 end of December. — At the sight of his God, who 
 deigned thus to visithim, the venerable Archbishop 
 exclaimed : " My God, this is probably the last 
 " time I shall receive Thee upon earth ; I bow to 
 
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168 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 " Thee as my Creator and 1 cast myself into the 
 " arms of Thy divine mercy." After having asked 
 pardon of all those he might in any way have 
 offended, and prayed for his Church of Montreal, he 
 added: "My God, I hope that Thou wilt soon 
 " show me mercy and admit me to contemplate 
 " Thee, face to face." 
 
 It does not enter into the plan of this w^ork to 
 describe the death of the saintly bishop. The story 
 of his last hours and of his entire life, belongs to 
 the history of the diocese of Montreal. But we 
 cannot, in this rapid sketch of the origin of " La 
 " Misericorde," refrain from recording those touch- 
 ing appeals to Divine Mercy, which fell from the 
 lips of the illustrious prelate on his deathbed, 
 because it seems to us that among the many works 
 of his long episcopate, none perhaps could have been 
 better calculated to dispell the apprehensions of his 
 last moments than this work of the Misericorde ; 
 for according to our Saviour's own words : "Blessed 
 " are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." 
 
 He died June 8th, 1885. His funeral was a 
 triumph. 
 
 Having reached the closing point of this glorious 
 career which will henceforth occupy so important a 
 place in the history of the diocese of Montreal, it 
 will not be useless to turn back for a moment and 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 169 
 
 cast a glance over the relations of Bishop Bourget 
 with the Community of Misericorde. There, with- 
 out any intention on our part, we shall see once 
 more the countenance so simple, and yet so dignified, 
 of the illustrious prelate, together with his eminent 
 qualities of mind and heart, his piety, his spirit of 
 faith, his ardent zeal for the conversion of sinners, 
 and his firm confidence in Divine Providence. 
 
 We have seen that the work of " La Misericorde " 
 was born, so to speak, of the heart of this charitable 
 pastor. For over five years he cherished the 
 thought of it, without declaring his mind to any- 
 one ; waiting patiently, praying and watching for 
 the providential hour. And when his penetrating 
 eye discovered in Madame Jette, Heaven's chosen 
 instrument for the accomplishment of his long- 
 cherishea '. i^ign, he seized upon her with all the 
 authority of his apostolical mission, solved all her 
 diflftculties, cut-short the hesitation inspired by her 
 humility, helped her to decide and urged her forward. 
 " God wills it ! God wills it ! " were his inspiring 
 words. Soon, however, came days of trial and 
 difficulty : in the interior of the house poverty and all 
 its consequences ; — outside, contempt and reproaches. 
 The Bishop taxed his own means to the utmost to 
 relieve the most pressing needs of the house, but he 
 was poor himself, and the suiierings of his struggling 
 
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170 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 children grieved him to the heart. He was accused 
 of imprudence, and the sublime inspiration which 
 produced an institution most useful to society and 
 Jionorable to the Church of Canada, was called a 
 caprice and a whim ; the good pastor let people 
 talk as they pleased and strove to sustain Madame 
 Jette's courage ; for he knew that words pass away 
 but deeds and works remain. 
 
 Later on when the work developed itself he took 
 steps to provide resources for it. He appealed to 
 the charity of the faithful ; he applied to generous- 
 hearted christians favored with worldly possessions ; 
 he gave, himself, also, — little if he had but little, and 
 muoh, whenever Divine Providence placed large 
 sums at his disposal. When the house named St. 
 Fran^'oise Romaine was bought, the Bishop wished 
 to be the first to contribute towards it. He had in 
 his possession only eight dollars, but no matter ! he 
 gave that much, feeling sui'ethat Divine Providence 
 would provide the rest. When he could not give 
 money, he lent it, without charging interest. Thus, 
 on two different occasions when the house was in 
 need of large sums of money to meet payments, he 
 handed to the Superior, first, four thousand dollars 
 and then twelve hundred. He did not wish the 
 Community to be rich, but he did all he could to 
 provide what was necessary. He long retained the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OP MISBRICORDE 171 
 
 ■'■i 
 
 direction of the house in his own hands ; but when 
 its development became such that it required more 
 time than he could well dispose of, he appointed an 
 ecclesiastical Superior to look after the material 
 interests of the house. 
 
 However, this is not the most beautiful or striking 
 part the great Bishop played in the foundation 
 of this house. A community is a living body, 
 whose distinctive mark, whose principle of life, is 
 its mind — its soul, and needless to say, also that 
 which is most important. Bishop Bourget under- 
 stood this, and with the help of God, he endeavored 
 to form and fashion, with his own hands, the soul 
 of the new Community. And as the soul of a com- 
 munity is, in some sort, the outcome of the souls of 
 all those who are its members, he did not fail to 
 give close and special care and attention to certain 
 souls in need of it, — -judging rightly, with St. Fran- 
 cois de Sales, that one single soul is a diocese vast 
 enough for a Bishop. 
 
 One of the first chaplains, M. Pilon, was frequently 
 absent from his post on account of poor health, and 
 on such occasions the pious Bishop, whenever it 
 was possible, gladly took it upon himself to dis- 
 charge the duties of his office. — He would set-out 
 alone and on foot from his residence, which was 
 but a short distance oft', and make his way to the 
 
172 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITK AXD 
 
 Goiiveiit in spite of rain, mud or snow. He often 
 arrived without beins: expected by the Community, 
 said mass, heard confessions, gave instructions to 
 the Sisters or the Magdalenes, visited and consoled 
 the penitents ; sometimes even he would shut him- 
 self up in the Chaplain's modest room and there, in 
 tranquillity and sure of being undisturbed by any- 
 one in his quiet Bethany, finished writing some 
 Pastoral letter or other work of the kind, com- 
 menced and too often interrupted at his own 
 residence. When the bell rang for the Community 
 exercises, he would leave his work in order to preside 
 in person over the sacred office or otlier function : 
 " But does it not inconvenience you, my Lord ?" said 
 the Superior to him, on one occa^sion : " No, my dear 
 " daughter," he replied, " it is an agreeable relaxa- 
 " tion for me to see you pray." At such times, the 
 Bishop's meals were necessarily of a most frugal 
 kind, and the Sister who waited on him, one day 
 apologised for the humble fare : " Do not worry 
 " about me, my daughter," he replied, " I act in this 
 " way in order to avoid being overcome by sleep." 
 Usii -^ the words and following the example ol 
 the Divine Master, he would sometimes say as he 
 entered : " I came not for the ju.st, but for sin- 
 " ners," and then he would visit his dear penitents. 
 Such was then the goodness animating his words, 
 
Tip' 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 173 
 
 the gentleness of his countenance and his manner, 
 that many of them would burst into tears. The 
 Bishop, much affected himself, would console these 
 unfortunate girls, and bid them hope for God's 
 mercy and forgiveness. He assisted several of 
 them at the hour of death, and by the charm of his 
 conversation and exhortations, mitigated the terrors 
 of the passage from time to eternity. One day, he 
 wnnt so far as to condescend to become himself 
 their guardian. The Sisters were anxious to gain 
 the indulgence of the Jubilee granted by the Holy 
 Father in 1853. One of the conditions being the 
 visiting of several churches, the Bishop said to them : 
 " Go, my daughters, and visit the churches, I will 
 " watch over these poor children until your return." 
 His fatherly heart was filled with joy whenever 
 he learned that some one of them, touched by grace, 
 had resolved to break forever with the world and 
 shut herself up, in the blessed solitude where she 
 had found once more the God of her youth and her 
 innocence. — He spared no pains to secure this happy 
 result. The zealous pastor taught them their 
 catechism, delivered formal instructions and sermons 
 for their benefit, .*nd gave wise counsel in abundance 
 to the Sister in charge of the penitents, prepared 
 rules and regulations for them, and in short left no 
 stone unturned to ensure their conversion and their 
 
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174 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 perseverance. "We read in a manuscript note that : 
 " It was a touching sight to see this holy Bishop 
 " discharging in all simplicity the humble functions 
 " of a catechist. One day, during the tenancy of 
 " the " Corporation house," he crossed the street 
 " wearmg his rochet and camail, followed by all 
 " the poor girls, whom he was so eager to instruct. 
 " It was truly ' the Good Shepherd, bringing back 
 " the lost sheep to the fold.' " 
 
 His great solicitude was not fruitless. The num- 
 ber of Magdalenes soon increased sufficiently to 
 permit the establishment of a separate group within 
 the Community, with its own particular rules and 
 customs. The Bishop wished to inaugurate it him- 
 self and consecrate it to God from its foundation, 
 with his blessing and his prayers. — He did even 
 more, for he often went so far as to visit the inmates 
 himself and give them instructions on the duties 
 and virtues of their state. Later on, he consented 
 to preach to them in their yearly retreat. From 
 what has been preserved of his instructions to this 
 part of his flock, it is easily seen that he was fond 
 of presenting Mary Magdalene to them as a model 
 for their imitation. He recurs to her over and over 
 again, and draws the most precious and consoling 
 lessons for his hearers from the life of the saint, "to 
 " whom nmch had been forgiven because she loved 
 
v\ 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 175 
 
 " much," " The good Master," he would say to 
 them, " has looked upon you, in the same way that 
 " he formerly looked upon Magdalene ; in his sight 
 " your sins no longer exist, and if they are recalled 
 " on the day of judgment, it will be for your glory." 
 He visited them on their feast day, and his tender 
 and compassionate heart was filled with 1: ; piness at 
 the sight of their joy, and deeply moved by their 
 fervor. " I was so much affected," he one day said, 
 " on seeing them kneeling before me to renew 
 " their act of Consecration to St. Magdalene, that 
 " I was unable to speak to them. I seemed to see 
 " Mary of Bethany at the feet of our Saviour." 
 
 When the Community was definitively constituted 
 and a Chapel built which permitted divine service 
 to be celebrated in the house, it became necessary 
 to form a choir of singers chosen from among the 
 Sisters. Some few of them were familiar with pro- 
 fane music and singing, but all were ignorant of 
 plain chant. Bishop Bourget wished to prepare 
 them himself for the first oflSces they were to sing. 
 It was a few days before Palm Sunday in 1860, and 
 they were to sing on that day the hymn " Gloria 
 " tibi rex" and the Vespers of the day. The Bishop 
 taught them how to chant the psalms, and after the 
 practice said : " Sing with confidence, and I will 
 " send Canon Plamondon to officiate for you." The 
 
 
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176 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Canon was an excellent man, as wo have seen, but 
 it must be owned that he was anything but a 
 musician. During Holy "Week, the devoted founder 
 privately visited the Convent and presided at a 
 practice of the chant and the Offices for Easter; 
 High Mass was to be celebrated for the first time, 
 on that day, in the Community Chapel. These les- 
 sons were continued afterwards. It was deeply 
 touching to see the venerable Bishop filling the 
 humble office of singing-master, and none of those 
 who heard him could ever forget the words inflamed 
 with zeal for the glory of God, that fell from his 
 lips, as he exhorted his daughters to acquit them- 
 selves with piety of the function of singers. 
 
 " Do not forget," said he, " that you are fulfilling 
 " the office of the Angels. When you enter Heaven, 
 " the Virgins will come to meet you and say : 
 " 'Here, we sing the pr; es of the Most High.' 
 " You will answer them : ' We are quite accustomed 
 *' to that, for v. is what we did on earth.'" He 
 availed himself of the words contained in the liturgy 
 to inspire them with good thoughts, or suggest 
 pious practices. One day during the pascal time, 
 they were singing the versicle : ^'- Mane noUscum, 
 " Domine," etc., " Stay with us Lord, because it is 
 "towards evening, and the day is now far spent," 
 — words of the disciples of Emmaus to our Saviour, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 177 
 
 — and the Bishop said to one of them : " My 
 daughter, is it ever night in your soul ?" — " Alas ! 
 " yes, my Lord, sometimes." — " Well," said he, " at 
 " such times, repeat the prayer of the disciples." 
 The Sisters once asked him to allow them to omit the 
 Commemoration of the Saints, at Vespers, on the 
 ploa that the music was too difficult to he sung. — 
 " No, my daughters, you should omit none of the 
 " commemorations, for we need to be protected by 
 " the Saints, and you yourselves need it more than 
 " any other Community." A short time after, the 
 Bishop, perceiving that the Sisters had but one 
 plain chant book, took secretly a Gradual and a 
 Ve&peral from the Cathedral choir and gave them 
 to the Community with the injunction to say 
 nothing about it to anyone. 
 
 While the venerable Bishop strove to train the 
 Sisters in that exterior chant, which St. Augustine 
 calls "an almost divine science," '•'' scientia prope 
 " divina" he was more anxious still to teach them 
 that interior harmony which results from the perfect 
 conformity of the soul with every manifesta*^ion of 
 the divine Will. For this end, he spared neither 
 exhortations, advice nor letters. lie preached no 
 less than four annual retreats, and it would be 
 impossible to tell how many sermons and instructions 
 to the Community. Many of the latter have been 
 
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178 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITY AND 
 
 preserved ; and in looking them over, we arc 
 Burprised at the appositeness and readiness with 
 which he avails himself of any special circumstance 
 to inculcate forcibly some essential point of the 
 religious life. These instructions have thus the 
 double advantage of being appropriate to the 
 occasion and circumstances and hence exceedingly 
 varied, and of tending towards the one end — 
 religious perfection. Their doctrinal importance is 
 thus singularly enlarged and they are at the same 
 time characterised by a true unity. 
 
 The bonds which attached the distinguished 
 prelate to "La Misoricordo" had been strengthened 
 and drawn closer with his increasing anxiety for 
 the future welfare of the work. Shortly after the 
 reception of the papal Bull approving of the 
 Institution, he spoke openly of his fears. " I was 
 " not without uneasiness," said he, " as to the future 
 " of your Community. — So many obstacles had 
 " arisen on all sides, at its inception, that I feared it 
 " would be abandoned after my death. But God 
 " himself has put an end to my deep anxiety. I 
 " sent your Constitutions to Rome to be revised, 
 " but I had not asked for and dared not ask for, 
 " the approbation of your Institution. Judge of 
 " my surprise, then, on receiving, with the notes 
 " and corrections on the Constitutions, the Decree 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIs6rIC0RDE 179 
 
 " approving of your Institute. I could not help 
 " seeing therein a special favor and protection of 
 " Divine Providence ; and I can now betake myself 
 " to my rest without the smallest anxiety in your 
 " regard, and feeling sure that, after my death, the 
 " work that Home has C Mgned to approve will 
 " continue to be protected." ' 
 
 Among the diiferent practices of fraternal piety 
 suggested by the holy Bishop, to the Community, 
 we read of one which is peculiarly touching. — After 
 the death of a Sister there is drawn up, under the 
 title of necrology, a clear and forcible summary of 
 the virtues practised, the several offices held, and 
 the obstacles overcome by the deceased. This 
 short notice is read in the refectory on the anniver- 
 sary of the death, and recalls to those still living, 
 the memory of their predecessors, appeals to them 
 to pray for the repose of their souls and is a continual 
 incentive to the faithful practice of their rule. — 
 How often on leaving the refectory, where they 
 have listened to the enumeration of the virtues of 
 the early pioneers of the Order, must not the Sisters 
 apply to themselves the words of St. Augustine : 
 " Can I not do what this one or that one has done ? " 
 
 During his numerous visits to the Community, 
 the Bishop took special pleasure in peaking of the 
 early difficulties of the work he now saw so pros 
 
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180 
 
 MOTHER DE LA . ATIVITE AND 
 
 perous. In replying to the address presented to 
 him on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee, October 
 18th, 1872, His Lordship said : "Your work is one 
 " of those that touch my heart most deeply, for it 
 " seems to me to be preeminently God's own work. 
 " Your eftbrts seemed barren at first, but you knew 
 " these words of Our Lord : Fear not, Utile flock, 
 '^ for it hath pleased your Heavenly Father to give 
 " you a kingdom. — That kingdom is the develop- 
 " ment of your Institution, — it is the souls you 
 " bring back to the path of virtue, at the cost of 
 " unnumbered sacrifices. How many souls have 
 " been regenerated in this holy house ! They were 
 " precious pearls trodden under foot : they have 
 " been raised out of the dirt and filth in which they 
 " lay and cleansed : and now they arc shining 
 " pearls that Heaven and even earth admire." 
 
 After 1876, the visits of the venerable Bishop 
 become rare. lie had gone into retirement at the 
 Residence St. Janvier, at Sault-au-Recollet, where 
 he lived in solitude preparing himself for the passage 
 into eternity. — He did not cease, however, to render 
 service to the works created and sustained by his 
 zeal. His advice ar 1 direction were frequently 
 asked for, and freely given in admirable letters, 
 redolent of faith and charity, filled with wise coun- 
 sels and that practical spirit which rendered his 
 

 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 181 
 
 administration so fruitful in good results. "We 
 shall cite only one of the letters. He had been 
 questioned as to the line of conduct to be held in 
 regard to the penitents in order to obtain their con- 
 version : " Sacrifice yourselves with all possible 
 zeal," said the saintly and venerable Bishop, 
 for the perfect conversion and perseverance of 
 your dear penitents. To that end, make use of 
 the following means : 
 
 " 1st. — Instruct them as thorougly as possible in 
 all christian duties. Teach them to love Our 
 Lord, the God of all goodness, and Mary the 
 Mother of Mercies. Impress upon them and 
 make them understand, that their happiness in 
 this world and in the next depends on this. 
 " 2nd. — Be careful to prepare them well for the 
 retreats that they are accustomed to make during 
 their stay at the Maternity. — The more piously 
 they make these retreats, the bettor they will un- 
 derstand the happiness to be found in serving God. 
 " 3rd. — Use all possible means of inducing them 
 o make good confessions and communions, and 
 instill into their hearts a lively horror of sacrilege. 
 " 4th. — Put them on their guard against the 
 scandals of the world, bad company, and the 
 proximate occasions of sin, which are always the 
 cause of their relapsing into evil. 
 
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182 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 (( 
 
 5lh. — Endeavor to induce them, when they 
 ' leave the Maternity, to go to service only in 
 ' respectable families, where good example will be 
 ' given them. 
 
 " 6th. — Teach them to pray every day for 
 ' perseverance in well-doing ; and admonish them 
 ' often that they should continually beg for that 
 ' grace, in all religious exercices, especially during 
 ' Mass and after Holy Communion. — Those who 
 ' are in the House should pray for the perseverance 
 ' of those who have left it. Make them all under- 
 ' stand well that their honor as well as their happi- 
 ' ness are at stake and depend on their not being 
 ' obliged to return to the Maternity. 
 
 " 7th. — When they are about returning to the 
 ' world, give them a short rule of life, the principal 
 ' article being the obligation to go to confession 
 ' every month, and receive Holy Communion often, 
 ' following their Confessor's advice." 
 
 Here we have a detailed programme of the niode 
 of dealing with the penitents, in order to change 
 their dispositions and bring them back to the path 
 of duty. From the precision of his counsels, it is 
 easy to see that the saintly Bishop had been in 
 direct contact with the penitents, that he knew the 
 inclinations and weakness of their souls. He points 
 out the remedies to be used, with the contidence of 
 a physician who has closely studied the malady. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 183 
 
 The Sisters often consulted him on the virtues of 
 their state in life, or as to what they should do in 
 order to realize in all possible perfection his ideal 
 of a Sister of Misericorde. The Bishop would 
 thereupon remind them of their pious foundress and 
 repeat to them again and again : " Behold your 
 " model ; imitate your Mother." We have before 
 us a memorandum in his own handwriting entitled : 
 " Portrait d'une vraie Sneiir de la Misericorde." It 
 begins with these words : " To recognize her, it is 
 " sufficient to cast a glance over the life of the 
 " venerable \[other de la Nativite." After a rapid 
 sketch of the virtues practised by this " valiant 
 " woman," — humility, patience, mortification, blind 
 submission to the good pleasure of God, ardent zeal 
 for the salvation of souls, contempt of the world, 
 meekness and charity towards her Sisters, — after 
 having depicted, in sober hues, but in sharp relief 
 the character of that soul " so intimately united to 
 '' God, delighting in prayer and pious exercises, 
 " ever ready to sacrifice herself for the glory of 
 " God and the conversion of sinners," he concludes 
 as follows : " By contemplating night and day the 
 " beautiful character of their Mother, the Sisters 
 " will become true Sisters of Mercy, for that good 
 " Mother was a perfect model of regularity, or 
 " rather, a living rule." 
 
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184 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 Towards the end of the year 1879, a biographical 
 notice of Mother de la Nativite and her work, was 
 communicated to the Bishop. The wor had been 
 written under his own eye ; he had imparted his 
 own recollections and furnished some of the in- 
 cidents, and in doing so said : " You must make 
 " known the virtues which your mother hid so 
 " carefully : she is no longer in need of humility 
 " now." — His Lvyrdship read with lively interest 
 the little biography, and said it was " a faithful 
 " mirror wherein the admirable qualities of that 
 " noble soul are marvellously reflected." He wrote 
 the Sisters a long letter, setting forth his satisfaction, 
 and exhorting them to walk in the footsteps of their 
 venerable Foundress : " The conclusion you shall 
 " draw from these interesting details, will doubtless 
 " be that you must strive generously to follow her 
 " example, to imitate her virtues, embrace with cour- 
 " age all the crosses sent you by Divine Providence, 
 " and carry on the Work of Misericorde, which cost 
 " her so great a price, with renewed zeal and courage, 
 " to meet fearlessly the insults and mockery of the 
 " world, to place all your confidence in God who has 
 " never failed you in time of need, to Icve simplicity 
 " in all things, to sacrifice all for the sake of peace, 
 " to love one another like true Sisters, and the 
 " daughters of so good a mother, to practise unceas- 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICOKDE 185 
 
 " ingly that blind obedience which excludes mur- 
 " muring, and lastly to be living copies of your 
 " Foundress, in order that we may recognize her by 
 " seeing you." 
 
 Not only does the Bishop urge the Sisters to take 
 their Mother for their model, but he also advises 
 them to have recourse, in private, to her intercession. 
 He himself composed a prayer to that end. — " It is 
 " not forbidden to invoke her," said he, " and you 
 " should do so every day, although she is not honored 
 " publicly." — " I advise you," he wrote, " to invoke 
 " your good Mother in your private devotions, in 
 " order that you may obtain through her interccs- 
 " sion, that the good spirit which animated her 
 " may be bestoyv^ed on you. You would also do 
 " well to wear some little relic of her, or things that 
 " she had in use." 
 
 In suggesting these pious practices to the Sisters, 
 Bishop Bourget manifested the sentiment of pro- 
 found veneration with which Mother de la Nativite's 
 virtues had always inspired him, as well as his 
 ardent desire of seeing her daughters advance day 
 by day, with ever increasing fervor, in the path of 
 religious perfection. 
 
 The venerable Archbishop paid his last visit to 
 the Community on March 29th, 1881. His brow 
 was crowned with the double halo of age and 
 
 am 
 
 M 
 
 It s 
 
 ■i 
 
 ^1 
 
186 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 misfortune. It was the period when the venerable 
 octogenarian niad^ a personal appeal throughout 
 the diocese to solicit charitable contributions in aid 
 of fund for the Cathedral of Montreal. He was 
 received by all with transports of joy. Sisters, 
 Novices, Magdalenes, and " Consecrated '" gave 
 expression to their gratitude, their submission and 
 aft'ection, in special addresses. The Bishop replied 
 with the "simple, quiet and dignified kindness, that 
 never forsook him. He was struck by the contrast 
 apparent from an involuntary comparison of what 
 he then saw, with the condition of the house thirty 
 years before. — " The humiliations and sacrifices of 
 '' former days," he said, " have brought down upon 
 " you God's blessing and earned for you the prosper- 
 " ity you now enjoy." He then urged them each 
 and all to practise great fidelity' to the grace of God, 
 and after having invoked a supreme benediction on 
 the house and Communitv, which were the fruit 
 of his own zeal and charity, he left them, never 
 more to return 
 
 The memory of the great and saintly Bishop is 
 still living in the hearts of the Sisters, who pride 
 themselves upon being his daughters ; and with his 
 memory, his spirit of charity, his compassion and 
 his tenderness for sinful souls, — and, if after the 
 lapse of years, one wished to fathom the full extent, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISKRICORDE 187 
 
 and divine ardor of Bishop Bourget's commiseration 
 and love for the lost sheep of the fold, it would be 
 sufficient to enter his convent, and witness the good 
 accomplished therein. 
 
m 
 
 CITArTER IV 
 
 New Buildings. — A new Branch house. 
 
 Benedictio patrin firmat domum fili'o- 
 ritin. (EccL. III. 11). 
 
 The father's bloffsiiiKostablisheth the 
 houses of the children. 
 
 '$'^)x'\ ^^^ since the death of Bishop Bour- 
 )^ get, the work of the Community 
 
 has steadily grown and developed 
 itself, to the benefit of society and of 
 souls. Large additions, rendered necessary 
 by the increasing number of its inmates, 
 have been made to the Mother-house in Montreal, 
 while a promising branch establishment has been 
 founded at New- York. 
 
 In the summer of 1885, the old " Lacroix house," 
 which had been used as a Maternity Hospital for 
 several years, was demolished, and on its site was 
 erected a large building known later on by the 
 name of " The Work-shops " or " Dependencies." 
 
r. 
 
 C5 
 
 x 
 
 Cfl 
 
 y, 
 
 ic 
 
II 
 
^f^ 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 189 
 
 It corituined the laundry, drying-room, shoo-shop, ''Mi 
 
 spinning and weaving-room, and other rooms used 
 
 for the various industries needed in a Com- ' l:,. 1 
 
 munity, to meet its own wants or to supplement 
 
 its resources by working for outsiders. These 
 
 " work-shops " have since disappeared, or rather 
 
 they have been blended with a much larger building 
 
 begun in 1897, and known as the " Infant Asylum," 
 
 which will be spoken of later on. 
 
 In the same year, on the feast of the Exaltation 
 of the Holy Cross (September 14th) the corner-stone 
 of the present Maternity Hospital was laid. — This 
 edifice designed with the utmost care and provided 
 with all modern improvements, has aftbrded to the 
 penitents a healthy abode. It was dedicated by the 
 Chaplain of the Institution, Rev. M. Brien, on April 
 20th, 1887. It fronts on St. Hubert Street, on which 
 is its principal entrance. This ])uilding is connected 
 with the Convent by means of the Infant Asylum, 
 with which it forms a vast square, enclosing nearly 
 the whole extent of the Community garden. 
 
 The Maternity is a four story building with base- 
 ment. On .the first floor a private Hospital under 
 the direction of Dr. Brodeur. It was opened to 
 receive patients who had need of the physician's 
 immediate and continual care. It lasted but three 
 years. The apartments are now occupied by lady- 
 
 &fi' 
 
190 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 boardere. The penitents sick-wards and the nurses' 
 apartments are on tlie second floor. The third 
 contains large wards for hotli the French and Eng- 
 lish speaking penitents, an oratory for retreats and 
 several rooms. The dormitories are on the fourth 
 floor- 
 To meet the expenditure on these large buildings, 
 the Community liad no other resource than public 
 or private charity. We have already spoken of 
 collections taken up iji different dioceses of North 
 America. The time has gone by when pastors 
 refused to tolerale among their flock, under pretext 
 of scandal, the humble servants of God commissioned 
 to solicit alms. Their work is now better under- 
 stood ; they are heartily welcomed ; those who once 
 showed repugnance, now receive them most cordially 
 and charity triumphs at last. At Montreal, bazaars 
 were organized, through tho help of kind friends^ 
 and from time to time generous souls, on whom 
 God had bestowed earthly goods in abundance, were 
 moved to render aid. 
 
 We would fain speak of their devotedness, their 
 sacrifices, and write their names in letters of gold 
 in the annals of charity, — but how can we " sound 
 " the trumpet " before them, when they themselves, 
 docile to Our Lord's teachings, " let not their left 
 " hand know what the right doeth." They do not 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 191 
 
 seek their reward in the vain praiscri of men, 
 but from God, the eternal remunerutor, wlio rewards 
 even a cup of cold water given for His love ; their 
 names, inacribed in the Book of Life, will shine 
 throughout the ages of eternity. But we feel 
 bound to proelahn their lib rality and blesji their 
 inexhaustible charity ; and when we see them always 
 so lavish of their gold, their time and their pains in 
 favor of all the works of mercy of which Montreal 
 may well be proud, we are reminded of the words 
 of a famous general, which are eipial in themselves 
 to a long })anegyric : " It is always the same that 
 " get killed." — Yes, in the warfare organized by 
 Catholic charity against human miseries, the same 
 good souls are always the first to man the breach, 
 and the first to open their hands to give, their 
 hearts to console and their lips to encourage. — " I 
 " bring you the sum I promised," said one of these 
 generous benefactors, " but that does not mean that 
 I will not give you more than I promised ; on 
 the contrary, I shall be always happy to help you 
 according to the measure of prosperitj' granted 
 " me by Divine Providence." — Divine Providence 
 must have multiplied his resources, for he often 
 visited the Community bringing with him on every 
 occasion a generous ottering. — His invariable reply 
 to the Reverend Mother's grateful acknowledgments 
 
 (( 
 
 a 
 
■:;t|) 
 
 
 192 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Avas : " Do not tliank me, thank God for giving me 
 "• the means and the will to help you a littla." 
 May his charity and disinterestedness find many 
 imitators ! To aueh persons may surely be applied 
 the words of God addressed to the Patriarch Abra- 
 ham : " I am thy protector and thy reward infinitely 
 " great : Ego merces tua magna nimisy 
 
 The most important event of the year 1887 was 
 the foundation of a mission or branch at New- York. 
 Dr. McQuirk, rector of St. Paul's Church, had 
 founded a year before, at Clifton, Staten Island, a 
 Maternity for the poor, and had placed it under the 
 direction of a Community who had already in the 
 City of New-York, a Foundling Asylum and a 
 Maternity available only for those able to pay. At 
 the end of the year, not being able to agree with the 
 Community as to certain conditions, he conceived the 
 idea of entrusting the \vork to the Sisters of Miseri- 
 corde, of whom he had heard a favorable account. 
 He came to Montreal to open negotiations with the 
 Community, and at the same time. His Grace, 
 Archbishop Corrigan wrote to Archbishop Fabre 
 on the subject. The aftair w\is soon brought to a 
 favorable conclusion. Sister St. Stanislas who was 
 appointed Superior, left on September 1st, for the 
 new mission, accompanied by four Sisters. The 
 new premises at Clifton were of a character to 
 
 ¥. 
 
 f 
 
 
 1^.^ 
 
.MUST RI'V. M. A. eoRKIC.AN, I). I). 
 
 Archlii'^hoi) dI Nc.v York. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 193 
 
 remind the Sisters of the early days of the work at 
 Montreal : the building was a wooden one of large 
 dimensions, too large in fact for the number of in- 
 mates, and so old that many of the rooms were unfit 
 to live in. The result was a winter of much 
 discomfort and suft'ering. It was impossible for the 
 Sisters to remain there any longer, and in the 
 spring Dr. McQuirk rented a house for them in the 
 city, on West 123rd Street. The house at Clifton 
 was retained for the children, as the site was good 
 and the air pure and bracing. 
 
 Several other Sisters were sent to the new mission, 
 under the direction of Sister St. M. Madeleine. 
 They saw at once that the success of the work 
 depended greatly on its being recognized by the State 
 as useful to society, and measures were immediately 
 taken to attain that end. As Dr. McQuirk's ideas 
 differed somewhat from theirs, and difiiculties 
 seemed inevitable, the Archbishop, taking the house 
 under his own immediate protection, appointed one 
 of his Vicars-General, Mgr. Donnelly, ecclesiastical 
 Superior of the Community. A new era now 
 dawned for the work : the refuge was incorporated 
 under the laws of the State of New- York, November 
 22nd, 1888, by the name of the " New- York 
 " Mothers' Home of the Sisters of Misericorde." 
 
 In the following year, 1889, the house at Clifton 
 
 m 
 
194 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITfe AND 
 
 was given up, the Sisters of Charity having agreed 
 to receive the children, and as the house on 123rd 
 Street was now too small, a more suitable house 
 and several lots of land on East 86th Street were 
 bought. The Archbishoi» dedicated the new Hos- 
 pital and his blessing was a pledge of its coming 
 prosperity. Before five years had elapsed, the 
 Sisters were enabled to record in their Annual Report 
 that 717 penitents had been admitted gratuitously 
 since the foundation of the mission. — The Report, 
 it is true, went on to say that : " None have been 
 " refused, whenever it was possible to find space 
 " for a bed." Moreover, no discrimination had 
 been made as to tlic religion, color, nationality or 
 residence of applicants, and the poor had always 
 had the preference over those whose means enabled 
 them to select any institution they pleased. 
 
 After the general elections of 1889 at the Mother- 
 house in Montreal, Sister M. de la Misericorde was 
 appointed Superior of the mission in New- York. 
 This house luid soon become much too small, and it 
 was absolutely necessary to build. On November 
 12ih, 1898, His Grace, Archbishop Corrigan formally 
 opened and blessed the new ''Home," which it 
 took just one year to build and complete at an 
 expense of nearly §100,000.00. It furnished accom- 
 modation for one hundred and twenty poor patients, 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 195 
 
 and forty rooms for private patients, and was provid- 
 ed with all modern conveniences and improve- 
 ments. The undertaking, of course, burdened the 
 Community with a heavy debt, but they relied on 
 Divine Providence and the generous charitv of the 
 citizens of the vast metropolis. Nor was their con- 
 fidence misplaced. Subscriptions, voluntary dona- 
 tions from individuals and charitable Associations, 
 supplemented the efforts of the Sisters and facilitated 
 their task by keeping them above want. We read 
 in the Annual Report for 1896: "It would be 
 " ungrateful on our part not to acknowledge the 
 " great kindness and boundless generosity of all our 
 " friends, who have been so liberal to us in the past, 
 " and without whose assistance we could not have 
 " succeeded." And further on : " There are manv 
 " words and deeds of charity that can be suitably 
 " praised and rewarded only by the Father of Mer- 
 " cies Himself, whose choicest graces and blessings 
 " we implore for all our benefactors." Thanks to 
 the zeal and generosity of its numereus friends, the 
 New- York Mothers' Home was soon able to render 
 eminent services to society. The Official Report of 
 1894 stated that 284 poor creatures in search of a 
 refuge to save their honour and the good name of 
 their family, had found shelter and care in the 
 Home during the year. Several of them were so 
 
196 
 
 MOTHER DE LA XATIVITE AND 
 
 '■;'■, )* 
 
 
 m 
 
 Is 
 
 destitute that even clothing had to be provided for 
 them. Seventy-seven poor women, whose husbands 
 were out of work, were taken in and cared for : 
 some of these women were accompanied by children 
 from one to throe years of age. 
 
 Such results are consoling, and it is not surprising 
 to find that Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washing- 
 ton and other large cities in the United States, have 
 manifested a desire of being provided with similar 
 establishments. 
 
 The foundation at Xew-York took place during 
 the administration of Mother St. Zotique, who was 
 Superior general until September, 1889. — She was 
 then replaced by Mother M. du Sacre-Coour de 
 Jesus. Under the new Superior an eftbrt was made 
 to establish an Orphan Asylum in the country, 
 where the air is so beneficial to children. A large 
 house and farm were bouglit at St. Ililaire, in the 
 diocese of St. Hyacinth. But the expenses for 
 maintenance and working the farm were so great, 
 that the enterprise was given up a few years later, 
 and the farm and houses rented to private families. 
 
 Mother M. du Sacrc-C«eur de Jesus endeavored 
 especially to dispel the prejudices which still existed 
 against the work of the Community, in the minds 
 of many lay-men and even some ecclesiastics. 
 Without prejudice to the virtue of humility so 
 
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o 
 
 
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 'J. 
 
 3i 
 
 y. 
 
 •Si 
 
 o 
 
 as 
 
!r 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTEHS OF MISERICORDE 197 
 
 becoming to a religious community, and with the sole 
 view of removing the obstacles hampering a good, 
 work, she wanted that that work should be better 
 known, being convinced that no one could know it 
 well without appreciating it highly and loving it, 
 and, as a natural consequence, promoting its success 
 and its extension. Such was the predominant idea 
 she had in view during her administration. 
 
 She was Superior when the last surviving mem- 
 bers of the ('ommunity who made their profession 
 on January 16th, 1848, died. These were Sister 
 St. Joseph, Sister St. Marie d'Egypte, and Sister 
 M. des Sept Douleurs. — Sister St. Beatrix had 
 preceded them, having died in 1870, after a life of 
 humility, self-sacrifice, obedience and poverty, and 
 so dominated by love of the Blessed Sacrament, that 
 these words of the Royal Psalmist might well be 
 applied to her : " How lovely are Thy tabernacles, 
 " O Lord of hosts ! my soul longeth and fainteth 
 " for the courts of the Lord (')." She left this earth 
 with the same feelings of joy and satisfaction with 
 which an exile returns to his native country. 
 
 Sister St. Joseph gave up her soul to her God 
 on March 10th, 1890. Withdrawn for a moment, 
 and in spite of herself, from the hidden life, in 
 which she placed her delight, to govern the Gom- 
 
 el) Ps. 83. 
 
 14 
 
 ; f:.r 
 
 • h 
 
198 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITK AND 
 
 munity, she never ceased to long for tlie day when 
 she might return to obscure and subordinate labors. 
 She was very clever at carpenter work, and several 
 pieces of furniture, such as desks, step-ladders, &c., 
 which bear witness to her skill, are kept as relics in 
 the Community. She was also most successful in 
 teaching catechism to the penitents, and they, 
 themselves, said of her : " She speaks like a priest." 
 
 A few months later the earthly exile of Sister St. 
 Marie d'Egypte came to Ji close. Her life had 
 been sown with so many sufferings of all kinds, 
 that she had felt that "weariness of living, — tcedium 
 " vitcr." of which the Apostle speaks, and longing 
 for a better life, she often exclaimed with the Psal- 
 mist : " Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged ! " 
 She died after two novenas made in honor of the 
 Blessed Virgin, to obtain her deliverance. After 
 finishing these pious exercises, as she was still in the 
 same state of suffering, she was heard to say : 
 " Although I have prayed well, good Mother, 
 " nothing has yet come of it ! " The following night 
 she fell suddenly ill and while the Sister who was 
 watching with her ran for help, she gently breathed 
 out her soul to Him who gave it. 
 
 Lucie Lecourtois, — in religion Sister M des Sept 
 Douleurs, — still remained. After having seen her 
 companions of the great day of profession precede 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 199 
 
 her into eternal life, it seemed to her that she too 
 might well sing her '• Nunc (limittis." She had 
 Avell earned her crown. Her life had been a hard 
 one, if we can so qualify a life wherein everything, 
 — joy, sorrow, pleasure and pain, — had been imbued 
 with a most tender devotion to the Mother of God. 
 Though weighed down by the infirmities of age, she 
 would crawl to the foot of Mary's Altar, and spend 
 the greater part of her time in sweet converse with 
 her Blessed Mother. Her soul took its flight for 
 the eternal hills on the feast of the Purity of the 
 Blessed Virgin, October 16th, 1892. She was then 
 eighty-two years of age She had always desired 
 and asked for the grace of dying on a feast of the 
 Blessed Virgin 
 
 In the year 1895, Mother M. de la Misericorde, — 
 who as we have already seen, governed the Com- 
 munity from 1866 to 1872, — succeeded Mother M. 
 du Sacre-Cceur de Jesus, as Superior-general. — In 
 the interval, she had occupied important posts at 
 Montreal, and since 1889 she had most successfully 
 directed the New- York House. The building of 
 the Infant Asylum — of which we shall speak later 
 on, — and the enlargmont and restoration of the 
 Chape', will stand as the principal works of her 
 administration. 
 
 Even with the galleries where the Magdalenes 
 
 •111'; 
 
 ■'•\^^ 
 
200 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 and penitents were accommodated, the Chapel had 
 become too small for the ever increasing number of 
 inmates, and the Sisters soon saw the necessity of 
 enlarging it, or closing the doors to the large number 
 of seculars who crowded in to attend divine worship. 
 The wall at the back of the sanctuary was thrown 
 down, and behind the altar was built a second Chapel 
 whicli is an extension of the former one and equals 
 it in size. These two Chapels constitute but one, in 
 reality, and form a quadrilateral 180 feet in length. 
 At equal distances from each end, the ceiling, slightly 
 arched on each side, is rounded into a cupola. 
 Underneath it rises a Roman altar, in the center of 
 a circular sanctuary surrounded by a railing. The 
 old nave, which opens on Dorchester Street, is still 
 set apart for the use of seculars, and the new one is 
 reserved for the Religious, who are thus, as it is 
 proper, more c >mpletely separated from the world. 
 
 The great work of Mother M. de la Misericorde's 
 second administration, was the erection of a Chapel 
 which not only meets a long felt need of her Com- 
 munity, but which al' ^ mi this year of golden jubilee, 
 rises Heavenward-^ lanifestation of gratitude 
 
 for half a cen* ^.lotection and benefits. 
 
 On the grau ^lorch of the Chapel which is now 
 being built, no human name will be engraved, for it 
 is the house of God ; but the friends of " La Mise- 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 201 
 
 " ricordc " will manage to read thereon the names 
 of Rev. Canon Loclero and Rev. M. Charpentier, — 
 the latter of whom han for nearly nine years, placed at 
 the service of the inmates of the Convent all the devo- 
 tedness of his priestly heart, and the other, in his 
 capacity as ecclesiastical Superior watches over, 
 and directs by his wisdom and experience all tlie 
 undertakings and progress of the Community. 
 
ic8-:>-^S}>-=°-<{S>-»'>-<a>-ofti V (&»— <{3t>— oo-^Jj—ooHBG'-o*^ 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 Magdalenes —Consecrated girls— Penitents — Children. 
 
 Converiii est rili-omum et viJit Jeaum 
 stttntem. . . converna ilia dtcit ei: Rahhoni 
 (quod dicitur Magiater) (Joan. xx. 14-16). 
 
 She turned herself back and saw 
 Jesus standing.... she turning saith 
 to Him: Rabbonil (which is to say 
 Master). 
 
 EFORE finishing this history, it will 
 doubtless be of interest to east a 
 glance at some of the verdant boughs 
 which have sprung from the trunk of 
 this tree of charity. Some of thera have 
 already been mentioned, but we could not 
 have given a description of them without interrupt- 
 ing the course of our narrative. 
 
 During the first years of the Community, there 
 were only two classes of persons in the house : — the 
 devoted Directresses of the work, who were soon 
 to become Religious ; and the unfortunate creatures 
 who were the objects of their charity, and who 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDS 208 
 
 were called the Penitents. Thanks to the zeal and 
 self-denial of the former, and above all to the bless- 
 ing of Heaven, several of the penitents were in- 
 spiied with the idea, which soon became the desire, 
 of dwelling far from the world on the new" shore 
 where their souls breathed an atmosphere so fortify- 
 ing and so pure. — The house was then too small to 
 enable the Sisters to entertain iheir request. Those 
 who were most persistent in pleading for admission 
 found safety and the means of loading a blameless 
 life, behind the grating of the Good-Shepherd Con- 
 vent, established at Montreal in 1844. But the 
 happy contagion increased, cases became more 
 numerous from year to year, and the Sistere saw they 
 could no longer resist what seemed to be the will of 
 God. Successive enlargements of the buildings 
 had been made in proportion to the needs of the 
 work. In 1859, it was found possible to open a 
 class for those penitents who desired to remain in 
 the house and peisovere in tiie life of expiation and 
 reparation they had entered upon. Their model 
 and patroness was easily found in the Gospel. 
 What more salutary and consoling example could 
 be proposed to their imitation than Mary Magdale- 
 ne, canonized by the wordh* of our Saviour himself : 
 " Many sins are forgiven lur, because she hath 
 " loved much." 
 
204 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 ill 
 
 Thus was founded, under the name of " Magda- 
 " lenes," a secondary order recruited among the 
 penitents. Its members were at first allowed to take 
 annual vows, and a few years later, in 1866, to bind 
 themselves to God for life. They were seven in 
 number in 1859, when Bishop Bourget consecrated 
 their foundation as a religious order, by his author- 
 ity, and gave them a Rule to follow. — This number 
 rapidly increased and one of Mother M. de la Mise- 
 ricorde's first acts as Superior was, as we have seen, 
 to separate the professed Magdalenes from the 
 novices ; since that time, about 1866, the' . novitiate 
 has always formed a kind of separate Community. 
 — The room where the novices unite for their 
 recreations and spiritual exercises, is called the 
 Magdalum and the room of the professed, St. Baume. 
 
 The end aimed at by the Magdalene Sisters is 
 " to honor the infinite mercy of Our Lord .Tesus 
 " Christ and the tender compassion of His Blessed 
 " Mother for the greatest of sinners, by devoting 
 " themselves to works of penance, under the pro- 
 " tection of Mary Magdalene, whom they desire to 
 " reproduce in themselves, by the faithful imitation 
 " of her virtues." This we read in their Constitu- 
 tions in the very handwriting of Bishop Bourget 
 himself. Each Sister should reproduce in herself 
 the mortified and penitential life of that holy friend 
 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MI8ERIC0RDE 205 
 
 of Jesus, and as a continual reminder of that obli- 
 gation, each and everyone of them is to bear the 
 name of Magdalene prefixed to her religious name ; 
 and it is to be their " first and principal name." 
 Their duties are all to be deduced from the con- 
 templation of the model proposed to their generous 
 efforts. " They should strive to conquer self and 
 " destroy in their hearts all inordinate afifections. 
 " Their solitude will be like ' a battlefield whereon 
 " they must fight until their last breath.' " The}' 
 shall endeavor to realize in their hearts the heinous- 
 ness of sin and the nothingness of earthly things. 
 They must constantly bear in mind such maxims as 
 will remind them of the emptiness of life and the 
 world with ut God, and of the ineffable splendor 
 and unspeakable happiness of the heavenly king- 
 dom. In union with their holy protectress, they 
 shall love to remain at the feet of Jesus, to weep 
 over their past offences, and compassionate the cruel 
 sufferings of their Saviour, listen to his tender 
 words, and pour forth their hearts in acts of adora- 
 tion and love. — In short they have the Rule laid 
 down for them and the daily opportunities for the 
 practice of virtue, which is facilitated by good 
 example, to lead them, as it were by tlie hand, 
 along the path of perfection. 
 
 What u consoling sight^in the eyes of God and 
 
206 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 His angels, is not this humble Community, wherein 
 these poor flowers blighted and crushed by the 
 world, begin to live and bloom once more in the 
 full light of faith, under the vivifying breath of the 
 Holy Spirit and the sweet dew of the Precious 
 Blood. The world may look down with pity on those 
 whose life passes in obscurity and silence, far from 
 its noisy and pompous feasts ; it may pity these 
 souls who renounce its joys after having tasted, 
 alas ! their deadly poison ; but the world does not 
 know that in this enclosure, which appears so sad 
 and gloomy, the air is purer, God and heaven are 
 nearer; and what more is needed, even here below, 
 to render life sweet and happy ? 
 
 Among the penitents were some who trembled 
 at the thought of being again launched on the stormy 
 sea of the world, where their frail bark had already 
 been wrecked, but who, nevertheless, felt no attrac- 
 tion towards the mode of life followed by the Mag- 
 dalenes. — Must they, in spite of themselves, be 
 sent out into a world where they see only pitfalls 
 and precipices which, as new recruits under the 
 standard of virtue, they naturally, anticipate with 
 ' dread ? And did not charity suggest that they be 
 kept away from the scandals of the world, since it 
 would be preserving them for God and virtue? 
 There could be but one answer to the questions, and 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OP MI8BRIC0RDE 207 
 
 this idea was the origin of the Preservation class or 
 " Consecrated girls." In this class are placed former 
 penitents who, under the influence and attraction of 
 grace, remain in the Hospital to consecrate, (as 
 their name implies) the remainder of their days to 
 spiritual and corporal works of mercy. — Some of 
 them remain all their lives in this class, but the 
 majority, after a certain lapse of time, solicit admis- 
 sion to the Magdalene Novitiate. It must also be 
 said that many among them, after persevK.i: ^ a 
 year or two, return to the world. However, short 
 though it be, their sojourn in the house contributes 
 greatly to strengthen them in their good resolutions ; 
 and on their return into the midst of society their 
 conduct, in most cases, affords the consoling spectacle 
 of a regular and edifying life. The first Consecrated 
 were received in 1859; since 1878, their number 
 has varied from twenty to thirty. 
 
 Before 1866, the Sisters themselves, as we have 
 seen, attended the sick penitents. This usage had 
 been faithfully kept u[t and transmitted ever since 
 »the foundation. They had given up, it is true, 
 visiting and attending the sick at their homes ; but 
 the work of attending the sick of the Hospital 
 seemed to some of the Sisters to be closely connected 
 with the vocation they had embraced ; and the 
 authority of Bishop Bourget and of Rome itself 
 
 
 
208 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 were required to overcome the reluctance and pain 
 with which they consented to give up that duty. 
 Once the matter decided, it became necessary to 
 procure nurses wIk), under the direction of a Sister, 
 woukl bestow on the penitents the care and attend- 
 ance which the religious were no longer allowed to 
 give. By a happy and providential coincidence a 
 pious widow, Madame Terras, mother of the Superior 
 of that time, lived retired as a boarder in the Con- 
 vent. Being accustomed to treating this kind of 
 sickness in the world, she generous*iy offered to 
 instruct in the art a certain number of trustworthy 
 women, on whom the Sisters could fully rely for the 
 care of the sick penitents. In this way originated 
 the group known as " Nurses," in the house, their 
 number varying from ten to fifteen. The spirit 
 with which they should be animated is clearly 
 shown by the words of our Divine Saviour, on 
 which they often meditate : " I was sick, and you 
 " visited me." Having freely entered the Commu- 
 nity, they discharge their duties with a degree of 
 self-denial and devotedness that cannot be tocv 
 highly praised. They are also instructed to carry- 
 out to the letter the directions of the ^jhysicians, to 
 use the greatest discretion with regard to those 
 committed to their care, and take every possible pre- 
 caution to secure the safetv of tlie new-born infants. 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 209 
 
 Tlie household also includes a group, few in num- 
 ber, however, known as " Filles de conjiance " or 
 Trusted maids, attached to the various departments 
 of the house and enjoying the advantages of the 
 religious life, without assuming its obligations. 
 They are employed in the house, in various duties, 
 with the religious, and receive no other salary for 
 their services than their food, clothing and lodghig; 
 but they are glad to devote their lives to the work 
 of God in this house, where they enjoy peace and 
 retirement, and can more easily work out their 
 eternal salvation far from the perils of the world. 
 
 There would still remain to be spoken of, those 
 persons who are admitted into the Hospital under 
 the name of penitents, as well as their children, 
 had they not been already often referred to in the 
 course of this history. It is well, however, to bear 
 in mind that the end and aim of this Institution, — 
 inspired ])y charity and religion — being to save not 
 only the honor but also, and more especially, the 
 souls of the unfortunates who find a refuge within 
 its walls, it would be a mistake to look upon it as a 
 mere hospital, to be entered to-day and left to-mor- 
 row. It is that without doubt, and even that of 
 itself is a real charity ; but there is something more. 
 — Solicitude for the salvation of souls prevails over 
 and absorbs all other considerations ; it is the mani- 
 
 »►..•.■ 
 
 I. 
 
210 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 feat spirit of the rules laid-down for the penitents. 
 Their very name " penitents" is a clear indication 
 of the sentiments the Sisters strive to instill into 
 the souls of these unfortunates. " They are to bear 
 " in mind," says their rule, " that they have entered 
 " this house in order to learn to know, to love and 
 " to serve God, and begin an entirely new life." 
 This is the great point : — to make them conceive 
 the desire, adopt the resolution, make the attempt 
 to lead a better life. For this end, a three days' 
 retreat is given them as soon as possible after their 
 admission into the house. — Amid silence, solitude 
 and prayer, whereby their souls are as it were, made 
 to stand alone and trembling before their God, they 
 are enabled to reflect seriously over their past con- 
 duct, to fathom the depth of the abyss to which 
 they were hurrying, and with the help of grace, 
 conceive a salutary shame, which soon bears fruit in 
 tears of repentance and the accents of sincere con- 
 version : " Surg am et ibo ad Patrem meum 
 
 " I will arise and go to my Father." 
 
 All are not in the same degree of need. Many 
 of those admitted are unfortunate young creatures 
 whom a moment of passion or sudden impulse has 
 plunged into the abyss of shame, and who, in spite 
 of their fall, have still retained the love of virtue. 
 The Maternity offers a refuge against shame and 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 211 
 
 despair to these poor victims. Soon Avill they be 
 able to return to their accustomed place in society, 
 without dishonor for themselves or their families. 
 Their sad experience will render them more circum- 
 spect and reserved in the future, and in some cases 
 their misfortune imparts to the remainder of their 
 life a degree of earnestness and gravity they would 
 never have known otherwise. 
 
 Souls more familiar with vice, whether through 
 ignorance, a bad education, or temptations against 
 which no exterior vigilance has protected them, 
 find in the religious instructions given them, in 
 meditation on the last things and on the eternal 
 truths, and in the example of virtue afforded by 
 those with whom they have taken refuge, reasons 
 for seeking a change of life, and an invitation to the 
 practice of piety, — all of which, under the influence 
 of grace, soon results in true conversions. On 
 returning to their homes many become models of 
 virtue ; and their Pastors, touched by the happy 
 transformation, write to the Sisters letters expressing 
 profound and heartfelt gratitude Some of the 
 former penitents, in order not to forget the good 
 resolutions taken at the Maternity, but to remain 
 firm in the midst of the seductive snares for their 
 virtue, write regularly to the Sisters, until the day, 
 (and sometimes even after) when an honorable mar- 
 riage puts an end to their struggles and dangers. 
 
 
 \"i 
 
 m 
 
 
 
 
212 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Open to the poor as well as to the rich, like the 
 Divine Mercy itself, the Institution founded hy 
 Mother de la Nativite endeavors to insure to all 
 alike the henefit of a life of holiness and reparation. 
 Penitents whose means permit are allowed to enjoy 
 the advantage of a private room, hut they are not 
 in any way exempt from the observance of the 
 general rule. The greater part of the places are, 
 however, reserved for the poor, for it was in the poor 
 and humble class, it will be remembered, that the 
 pious Foundress took most interest, as being, in her 
 eyes, most worthy of pity. 
 
 As regards admission, no distinction is made 
 ])etween Catholics and Protestants. Charity opens 
 her arms to all with equal tenderness, and if she has 
 taught the Sisters to recall to the former their 
 baptismal promises and the divine character with 
 which their souls had been stumped for eternity, to 
 the latter she makes them repeat our Divine Saviour's 
 teachings and the conditions without which none 
 can hope to enter the kingdom of heaven. Many 
 of these poor girls, l)rought-up in the school of error, 
 are touched by the kind and disinterested care 
 lavished on them, and finish by opening their eyes to 
 the true light and renouncing heresy. 
 
 Over eighty have thus made their abjuration since 
 the foundation of the house. The greater part of 
 
'A 
 
 y. 
 
 'Hi 
 
 IR ! 
 
 ■'■'* 
 
 m 
 
THE ORIGIN OP THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 218 
 
 these conversions were duo to the impression made 
 by the charity of tlie Sisters. Convinced that a 
 Church which inspires its votaries with so much 
 goodness, sincere devotcdness and self-denial, can be 
 neither bad nor false, these poor girls soon experience 
 tbe desire of sharing in the religious belief of their 
 benefactresses, ask for instruction, and ere long to 
 join in their prayers, and finally, the grace of God 
 finishes what the heart had begun. — Several of these 
 converts have remained in the Community, in the 
 quality of Magdalencs, to weep over their past life 
 and give unceasing thanks to God for having called 
 them to the true faith. 
 
 The children born at the Maternity were, imme- 
 diately after Baptism, carried to the Grey Nunnery 
 and received in the Foundling Asylum connected 
 with the General Hospital. Things went on this 
 way until about the year 1880. At that time the 
 number of children having considerably increased, 
 — it was nearly four hundred, — and the Grey Nuns 
 receiving a large number from other sources, their 
 asylum became too small, anc 'hey were obliged to 
 confide a number of these poor little ones to nurses, 
 to whom a small monthly allowance was given. 
 This system was expensive, and the children did 
 not always receive the care and attention their tender 
 age required. On this account the Grey Nuns 
 
 16 
 
 m 
 
 ■"m 
 
 m 
 
 ;i 
 
 ■♦!■ 
 
214 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 resolved to receive in future only so many children 
 us could be kept in their Asylum, and from that 
 date they became more strict in their conditions 
 for admission. — Finally, in the spring of 1889, they 
 declared that they would no longer receive children 
 born in the Maternity. • 
 
 Being thus obliged to provide, themselves, for the 
 rearing of the children, the Sisters improvised forth- 
 with an Infant Asylum on the third floor of their 
 Hospital, and readily accepted the new work laid 
 upon them by Divine Providence. But it was 
 evident that they had not sufllicient room to carry 
 on the work, and without additional space, many 
 inconveniences and much suflering were inevitable. 
 The Sisters themselves were long since accustomed 
 to sutlering of this kind, but the sufferings of the 
 children must be prevented if possible. In short, 
 the construction of a new Asylum was resolved 
 upon, and no time was lost in beginning the work. 
 The edifice is now nearly completed. — It extends 
 from East to West in rear of the Mother-house, and 
 measures 185 feet in length. The western end is 
 joined to the Maternity and the eastern to the Cha- 
 pel. It is a vast and imposing four-story building, 
 fire-proof, well ventilated and lighted, and laid-out 
 with the greatest care. The first story is devoted 
 to the laundry, drying-room, shoe-shop, &c., and 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 215 
 
 replaces the former " Workshops. " The second 
 contains, besides tlie ironing-room and children's 
 linen-room, several apartments for the class of Con- 
 secrated girls. The third and the fourth are destined 
 for the children's wards, infirmaries, nurses' rooms, 
 bath and operating-rooms, &c. — In a woid, the 
 work thus undertaken is entirely new and highly 
 important. It will be remembered that the germ 
 of this undertaking was eml)odied in the idea of 
 the work as conceived b}' Mother de la Nativite. 
 Did she not say to her Sisters : " The children will 
 " one day be your crown in heaven?" It is mani- 
 fest that while this work involves a great increase 
 of labor and expense, it will also be the source of 
 fresh and abundant blessings. On receiving each 
 new-born infant confided to their care, the daughters 
 of Mother de la Nativite will hear the voice of God 
 whispering softly, as an encouragement and a pro- 
 mise, these words of Pharaoh's daughter, confiding 
 the infant Moses to the unknown mother of the 
 child " saved from the water : " " Receive this 
 " child and nourish it for me ; and I will reward 
 " thee for it." 
 
 f — •-'vi/a^ •i^s»_*^|- .^^/M^-> — I 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 
 Virtues of Mother de la Nativity. 
 
 _ Venite, audite et narraho, omnei qui 
 timeti* Drum, Quanta fecit nnimm mem 
 (Ps. LXV. 16). 
 
 Come and hear all ye that fear God ; 
 and I will tell you what great thingB 
 He hath done for my soul. 
 
 HIS history would rem»i:: incomplete, 
 if after having narrated the life of 
 Mother de la Nativite, theb'rth and 
 progress of her work, we considered 
 the object of her career accomplished and 
 our task comi>leted. The persons for whom 
 this book is written ask us for more than this. 
 Their piety would fain commune with the truly 
 pious soul, with the tender and most loving heart 
 of Mother de la Nativite. May ihe Virgin Mary 
 enable us to gratify their legitimate desire. 
 
 God alone, it is true, can penetrate into the in- 
 most recesses of a soul and contemplate all the 
 generosity and love hidden therein. The eye of man 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 217 
 
 which sees hut the exterior need never hope to 
 fathom its depths, often ilhiininated by rays of light 
 from above. But he need not complain, because he 
 can judge only by the exterior — by works and 
 words — for "Out of the abundance of the heart, 
 " the mouth speaketh " and often some one word 
 or action throws a flood of light on the inner life of 
 the soul. 
 
 1st. — Love of God. 
 
 If we consider Mother de la Nativite's life as a 
 whole, if we consider its leading features, the iirst 
 thing to strike us is her devotedness, her tender- 
 ness, her compassion for the unfortunate. Even 
 when a child, she opened her heart to temporal 
 miseries ; later on, corporal necessities were not 
 excluded from her charity, but she extended it also 
 to spiritual miseries, in order to relieve and remedy 
 them, and sometimes, with God's help, " whei'e sin . 
 "abounded," prepare a place for superabundant 
 grace. 
 
 Such devotedness cannot exist without a great 
 love of God ; for He alone can raise the soul above 
 this world and render it capable of performing the 
 acts of self-denial, and self-devotion, and calm and 
 persevering heroism we admire in this noble life. 
 " The noble love of Jesus impelleth us to do great 
 " things," says the author of the Following of 
 
218 
 
 UOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 Christ. " Love feeleth no burden ; when weary it 
 " is not tired ; when frightened is not disturbed ; 
 " but like a vivid flame and a burning torch, it 
 " mounteth upwards, and securely passeth through 
 " all.'* " Whosoever is not ready to suffer all things 
 " and to stand resigned to the will of his Beloved, 
 " is not worthy to be called a lover." By these 
 exterior marks, it was easy to know that the glow- 
 ing embers of divine charity burned in this venerable 
 Mother's soul. She nourished that sacred flame by 
 means of a strong and tender devotion towards the 
 Holy Eucharist. None rejoiced more heartily than 
 Mother de la Nativite on the day when Bishop 
 Bourget, yielding at last to the entreaties of his 
 daughters, granted them the inestimable privilege 
 of possessing the Blessed Sacrament in their Chapel. 
 The house was then located on St. Andre Street. 
 The Divine Master's temple was small and poor, but 
 what did it matter, when He was there ! And these 
 drawbacks would not detract from the fervor of 
 their love and adoration. Mother de la Nativite 
 spent whole hours kneeling at the feet of her 
 Saviour. The moment her occupations loft her any 
 spare time, she would quietly retire to the Chapel ; 
 and there, immovable, her eyes fixed on the taber- 
 I'itcle, insensible to all that wan goine: on around 
 her, completely absorbed in her sweet vision, her 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 219 
 
 Boul tasted the happiness of divine love. One of 
 the greatest trials of her long illness was, that she 
 was deprived of these visits, the source of her 
 strength and consolation. 
 
 We can easily imagine what pure delights flooded 
 her soul when she received Holy Communion. In 
 a note on this venerable Foundress we read that : 
 " Whenever communion was announced her heart 
 " was filled with pure joy, and from her face seemed 
 " to shine forth a ray of that heavenly fire with 
 " which her soul was inflamed." On such days 
 she was more absorbed in peace and fervent recol- 
 lection. What passed between her and her Saviour ; 
 what communications she received from her Beloved 
 during her long and fervent thanks-givings, none 
 will ever know. She scrupulously hid all that con- 
 cerned herself from human eyes, and never divulged 
 the secrets of grace. At times, however, her heart 
 overflowed with love and she smilingly said : " What 
 " a grand visit I received this morning ! " Her face 
 was then illuminated with satisfaction and joy. 
 When she was deprived of holy communion by 
 illness or otherwise, she was deeply afilicted. 
 
 Her only consolation at such times was the 
 thought that it was the will of God. That was her 
 true source of strength. For, to plca&e God, whe 
 would have suftered anything. It will be remem- 
 
 m 
 
220 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITi AND 
 
 bered that Bisliop Bourget, in seeking to overcome 
 her difficulty in undertaking the foundation of the 
 work, had only to say these words : '" God wills it." 
 Faithful in considering all events as directed by 
 God, she overcame her natural repugnance and 
 remained indifferent, though not insensible, to all the 
 painful and humiliating reverses which constantly 
 beset her life. She strove in every way to infuse 
 this disposition, which is the fruit of the love of 
 God, into the souls and hearts of her Sisters, know- 
 ing it to be the shortest if not the only way to 
 happiness and peace, amid the ceaseless trials of this 
 life. Presiding at the breakfast-table, one day, 
 when there was very little to eat on the table, she 
 said to the assembled Sisters : " My daughters, let 
 " us make the will of God our nourishment," recall- 
 ing to mind the words of our Saviour to His disci- 
 ples by Jacob's well : " Aly meat is to do the will of 
 " Him that sent me." 
 
 How many times, during the early struggles of 
 the work, when on all sides, insults, slander, disdain, 
 contempt and abandonment were showered on the 
 new Order, did she not arouse the courage of her 
 daughters by these words : " My dear Sisters, let 
 " us bless the adorable will of God ! " Sustained 
 by that spirit of love and faith in her God and 
 Father, she was to taste with her Saviour the bitter- 
 
^'1 
 
 THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 221 
 
 ness of Gethsemani, and repeat with entire resigna- 
 tion in the midst of her suiFerings : " Father, Thy 
 " will, not mine be done." 
 
 Another proof of her love of God w*a8 the attrac- 
 tion she felt for prayer. Some of the Sisters, faith- 
 ful witnesses of her daily life, said that she never 
 ceased praying, even during work. Her soul felt 
 the need of being united to its Creator. "When she 
 prayed aloud, a sweet and penetrating unction 
 seemed to flow from her lips, and stimulated the 
 piety of the least fervent heart. What can be said 
 of her practice of meditation ? It was her favorite 
 exercise, and she often spent in mental prayer a 
 longer time than the rule prescribed. It was said 
 of her that : " She spoke little, but prayed and 
 " meditated a great deal." 
 
 She united spiritual reading, which is the food of 
 the soul, to prayer. Next to the Gospel and the 
 Epistles, of which she every day read a passage, she 
 preferred in a special manner the " Following; of 
 " Christ," "the most beautiful book written by man," 
 and the " Lives of the Fathers of the Desert." 
 Her piety enabled her to see God behind the veil 
 of words ; and in this way these spiritual lectures 
 became a celestial and strengthening manna for her 
 soul. 
 
 After having nourished her soul, they became 
 
 i 
 
 . w 
 
 
 -■ 
 
222 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITi^ AND 
 
 the subject of her conversations. The Sisters loved 
 to hear her, during recreation time, relate the lives 
 of the "Solitaries of Thebaid ;" falling from her 
 lips they seemed to have new charms. The moral 
 drawn corresponded so well with the original and 
 charming story, that her companions were always 
 eager to hear her and urge her on. " We are far 
 " from loving God as these holy Fathers did," she 
 would say ; " -vhat great works of penance they 
 " performed to atone for their faults ! What heroic 
 " virtues they practised ! In very truth, dear Sisters, 
 " if we now sacrifice something for God, we shall 
 " one day rejoice for having done it." Passing then 
 quite naturally, from the life of the Saints to that 
 of her Sisters, she would sum up the graces with 
 which the Community had been favored since its 
 foundation ; and filled with deep gratitude for it 
 all, she would exclaim : " How good God is ! " 
 " How good God is ! " and beg Him, in conclusion 
 to sanctify the Community and to render all its 
 members agreeable in His eyes. 
 
 The yearly retreat was for Mother de la Nativite 
 a precious opportunity of renewing her fervor, and 
 no one rejoiced more than she when the time drew 
 near to make it. Bishop Bourget, with unwearied 
 zeal and devotedness, had himself preached several 
 of these retreats, which thus brought double happi- 
 
THE ORIGIN OP THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 223 
 
 ness to the pious Foundress ; for she venerated her 
 Bishop as she would a Saint. Hence these blessed 
 days were to her, we may well believe, a source of im- 
 mense benefit and increase in charity. During the last 
 few years of her life, she was deprived of the benefit 
 of the sermons and instructions addressed to the 
 Community ; but sometimes the preacher would 
 kindly give her a summary of the subject matter of 
 his discourse to the Sisters. At the close of a retreat 
 preached by Bishop Larocque ('), since Bishop of 
 St. Hyacinth, the Superior told him that all the 
 Sisters had made it excepting Mother de la Nativite. 
 — " Do not worry about that," replied His Lordship, 
 " your Mother has made an excellent retreat, she 
 " has followed all the exercises, and I myself heard 
 " her confession." 
 
 Mother de la Nativite loved the house of God no 
 less than she loved His word. — Great was her joy 
 when, after long years of waiting, the Sisters were 
 able to build a sanctuary not wholly unworthy of 
 the Divine Majesty. Up to that time, they could 
 offer the King of Angels but an humble shelter, 
 only too much like the stable of Bethlehem in its 
 littleness and poverty. Mother de la Nativite had, 
 
 (1) Joreph Larooque. (1808-1887). born at Chambly, ordained in 183.5. 
 After linving filled soveral poiitiona in the diocese of Montreal, he wai 
 consecrated Bishop of Cydonia and coadjutor of Bishop Bourget, in 1852. 
 Transferred to the See of St. Hyacinth in 186U, resigned in 181)5, died 
 November 18th, 1887. 
 
224 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 however, invariably caused it to be kept bright 
 with the gold of cleanliness. It was a sight most 
 pleasing to watcli her, with her own hands, cleaning 
 the candlesticks and dusting the poor little Chapel. 
 One day wlien a young Sister oftered to take her place 
 at this work. Mother foundress thanked her for her 
 kind offer, but would not consent to be deprived of 
 wliat she termed her " pearls." " You will also have 
 " pearls, my dear child, when your turn comes," 
 said she. 
 
 Through the same pious motive, she manifested 
 the deepest reepect and boundless confidence to- 
 wards the Pastors of the Church. She suffered no 
 one to speak depreciatingly of them in her presence, 
 even in ever so trifling a matter. — " A Sister of 
 " Misericorde," she often said, " should never utter 
 " complaints against a priest." She prayed for the 
 Clergy, and frequently begged of God to raise up 
 holy priests for his Church. 
 
 The persecutions which the Sovereign Pontiff* 
 had then to endure, sorely afllicted her heart ; she 
 heartily compassionated his sufferings, and prayed 
 without oeasing for the exaltation of our Holy 
 Mother the Church. — Some one having given her a 
 picture of Pius the Ninth set in a gilt frame, phe hung 
 it up in her own poor cell. Shortly afterwards the 
 Bishop came to visit her, and remarked that tlie 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIsfiRICORDE 225 
 
 picture- frame was perhaps somewhat of a luxury ! — 
 " It is none too nice for the Holy Father," she 
 quickly replied. — Thus did she voice her piety, and 
 reverence for the Holy Father, but the spirit of 
 poverty had its turn next and triumphed of course : 
 — the gilt frame was sacrificed. 
 
 2nd. — Charity towards her neighbor. 
 
 ft 
 
 True love of God cannot exist without a cordial 
 love of our fellow-creatures. The Apostle St. John 
 writes : " And this commandment we have from 
 " God : that he who loveth God, love also his 
 '' brother (')," and elsewhere he says : " Whosoever 
 " is not just is not of God, nor he that loveth not 
 " his brother (-)." It may be asserted without fear 
 of error, that the distinctive mark and touch-stone 
 of the true love of God, is love for our neighbor. 
 We have already seen how Mother de la Nativity 
 cherished that virtue from her childhood. It was 
 the motive power of her whole life and the princi- 
 ple of her vocation. In her religious life it attained 
 a marvellous growth, or rather, it took hold of "11 
 the faculties of her soul. Hence no one ever saw 
 even the shadow of failing in her conduct, in regard 
 to this virtue. Charity had become, as it were, a part 
 of her being. 
 
 (1) ISt. John,iv-21. 
 
 (2) 18t.Jobn,in-lO. 
 
 ,1 
 
226 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 The evidence of all the Sisters who shared her 
 life and labors for years, agrees perfectly on this 
 point, and they all say she was never heard to pro- 
 nounce a word that could throw the slightest shadow 
 over her neighbor's reputation. She sometimes 
 endured from seculars unmerited blame and even 
 atrocious insult, but never in replying did she show 
 the smallest sign of ill-will or bitterness. 
 
 She was most skilful in turning aside uncharitable 
 conversation, and if one of the Sisters happened to 
 indulge in light banter or raillery during recreation, 
 she immediately excused her with charity, saying: 
 " Our Sister has made a mistake to-day, who knows 
 " but it will be our turn to-morrow ! " She could 
 not bear tale-telling, which always has the sad eftect 
 of disuniting hearts and causing a coolness, and 
 she always mildly reprehended any of the Religious 
 who failed in that respect. — " The more united we 
 " are," she would say to them, " the more good we 
 " shall do to our penitents." She sufl'ered greatly 
 when any one showed a want of charity at the 
 exercise of mutual correction. " When shall we be 
 " truly charitable ?" she exclaimed. "Oh ! if I have 
 " any power before God after He has called me 
 " from this world, I will ask Him that this duty 
 " especially, may be performed Avith charity." 
 
 The goodness of her heart shone forth especially 
 
TUB ORIGIN OF THB 8IBTBRS OF MIsfiRICORDB 227 
 
 towards those of the Coinnniiiity who were in afflic- 
 tion. — She seemed to have received from God a 
 singuhir gift for illeviating siirtering, qnieting 
 fears and uneasiness, and restoring [>eace and serenity 
 to troubled souls. The Sisters opened tlieir hearts 
 to their beloved Foundress with perfect confidence, 
 knowing how much slie sympathized with them, 
 and what grace God liad given her for consoling 
 and strengthening them. After they had heard 
 lier, with that impressive and persuasive unction, 
 the fruit of her close union with God, set forth how 
 much suffering increases our merit, how effectually 
 it tends to develop and strengthen virtue, how pre- 
 cious it is in the sight of God and how salutary, 
 through the blessings it brings with it for one's self 
 and for the whole Community, they found their 
 hearts filled with the sweet spirit of resignation 
 and courage to accept tribulations. 
 
 She had a kind of predilection for the novices, in 
 whom she saw the hope and the future of the Com- 
 munity, and she was fond of conversing witn them. 
 She was perfectly at ease with her" children ; " and 
 ahe had only to let her own heart speak, in order 
 to instruct and form them. On various occasions 
 she was called upon to address and instruct them ; 
 and she performed her task with so much ardor 
 and application, that she often, without perceiving 
 
 f 
 
228 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITIs AND 
 
 vif exceeded the time allotted to the exercise. The 
 novices who had the happiness of listening to her 
 (several of them are living still) love to re-call to 
 mind those vivid instructions, wherein they saw, as 
 in a mirror, the whole soul of their Mother. 
 
 The penitents had a like share in her affection. 
 She loved them all the more in view of their pitiable 
 condition. "We are Sisters of Mercy," she said, 
 " chiefly for the most miserable, and we should show 
 " the greatest kindness to those who are the most 
 " incorrigible." — Nothing pained her so much as the 
 dire necessity which sometimes compelled the house 
 to refuse admission to some poor girl, for want of 
 room or some other reason. — " We ought to 
 " take in these unfortunate children," she would 
 say, " the house is for thorn. God v ' ^>iovide for 
 " their needs, and we should deuriv^ ourselves in 
 " some way, sooner than refuse them." She herself 
 practised faithfully what she taught. — We have 
 already seen that more than once she gave up her 
 own bed to the penitents. This she did repeatedly 
 ."•ven after her religious profession. One of her 
 companions relates that she saw her once deprive 
 herself of her bed in favor of a poor girl for whom 
 no other bed could be found. Mother de la Nativity 
 often urged upon the Mist'' ^bs of Novices the neces- 
 sity of cultivating a love for the penitents in the 
 
THE ORIOIN OF THE BISTERS OF MISERICORDS 229 
 
 hearta of the future Religious ; and whenever she 
 had an opportunity of addressing them lierself, she 
 insisted strongly on th; ^ ^oint. " A Sister of Mise- 
 " ricorde," Hhe said to them, "should sacrifice her 
 " life and strength, and e\ an he ready to die, for the 
 " penitents." She even went the length of saying : 
 " Do not remain here, if you do not love the pen- 
 " itents. — We must pray for them, help them in all 
 " possihle ways, — take the very bread from aur 
 " own mouths to give it to them, if necessary." 
 " We ourselves can manage not to die of hunger, 
 " but these poor children might suffer." 
 
 The good Mother's heart could not bear to see 
 those around her in suffering, and especially her 
 " dear penitents." She desired that they should 
 be spared all trouble, for she considered their poni- 
 tion painful enough in itself, without anything 
 being done to make it worse, even in such small 
 matters as a lack of attention or care. She was 
 greatly displeased when she saw anyone so act : 
 " It grieves me personally," she said, " for I carry 
 " the penitL»nt8 in my lieurt." She called them, 
 " the treasures, the jewels of the house." At other 
 times she would say : " The penitents are my heart, 
 " and if it were the will of God, I Wv^uld not hesitate 
 " to begin over again, for their salvation, a life still 
 " more painful and laborious." 
 
 16 
 
 ^^m 
 
230 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 These words were i«»irnply a faithful echo of her 
 feelings in regard to these unfortunates. This was 
 ♦•asily seen when she was in charge of the Hospital 
 of St. Pelagia. What motherly solicitude and 
 forethought ! What tenderness in her relations 
 with them I How great her fear of wounding 
 them by word or deed ! During the winter she 
 herself rose early in tlie morning to light the fire, 
 so that the penitents might not suffer from the cold 
 on rising. The huilding they lived in was separated 
 from the Community by the whole length of the 
 garden, and the path to it was often filled with 
 snow on a winter's morning. Long before daylight 
 Mother de la Nativite was up a at work cleaning 
 out the path with a shovel and a broom, so that 
 her dear penitents might go to the Chapel to hear 
 Mass, without danger of wetting their feet. 
 
 The venerable Foundress was never more at her 
 ease than when with her penitents. " God treats 
 *' me like a spoiled child," she sometimes said. — 
 " He inspires my Superiors to place me where I like 
 " best to be, that is with my dear children." She 
 was most sympathetic and affectionate in her deal- 
 ings with these unfortunates ; sue easily won their 
 confidence and their affection, and as a consequence 
 ha<l a great deal of iiiHuence for good over them. 
 One of these girls, who became a Magdalene later 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDS 231 
 
 on, writes : " I was very wayward and committed 
 " a great many faults ; I shunned the good Mother's 
 " company, but she used to seek me out and 
 " remonstrate with me, not with severe reproaches, 
 " but witli kind words, saying that I wouhl become 
 " a good girl, that aftir all, my faults were not so 
 " serious ; that she herself, without the grace of 
 " God, would commit more grievous ones, and that 
 " many Saints had been greater sinners than I." 
 Further on she says : " I was thou a Protestant, 
 " and the dear Mother's [irayersand good example 
 " were in great part the na-uns of my conversion." 
 WluMi Mother do la Nativitu had won a penitent's 
 heart, she endeavored to impart to her a true spirit 
 of compunction ; and while she liked to see her 
 children gay and contented, she would not permit 
 them to indulge in noisy or boisterous games. 
 When slie had to deal with individuals of a more 
 worldly disposition, she gradually brought them 
 round to better sentiments, and induced them to 
 observe the rule, however hard it miglit seem to 
 them, with the object in view of atoning for their 
 past faults. Some of them tried her patience greatly 
 by their intractable character and their whims. 
 Far from showing irritation on such occasions. 
 Mother de la Nativito always treated them with 
 kindness and forbearance and patiently awaited the 
 
232 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 action of grace on their rebellious hearts. "Since 
 " God endures us with patience," she often said, 
 " should we not endure these poor creatures in the 
 '' same way ? In a single instant, we might fall 
 " lower than they." 
 
 Words cannot do justice to the impression that 
 80 much amenity and devotedness produced. Many 
 of the penitents were so deeply moved that they 
 conceived the idea of remaining in the house to do 
 penance. — This was the origin of the Community 
 of Magdalenes as wo have already stated. 
 
 Mother de la Nativito's charity was also extended, 
 as will readily be believed, to the new-born infants. — 
 As long as her strength permitted her to do so, she 
 took pleasure in carrying them to the Church of 
 Notre Dame for baptism. After the ceremony, she 
 was in the habit of offering them to the Blessed 
 Virgin and anking her to take them out of the 
 world, if they were one day to sully their baptismal 
 robe of innocence. " Those little ones," said she, 
 " will one day bo the Sisters' crown in Heaven." 
 
 3rd. — Humility — Poverty — Mortification. 
 
 Love of God and our neighbor ounnot flouriHh in 
 a Boul, without a great fund of abnegation, self- 
 contempt, and hunnlity. Hence it is that our Divine 
 Saviour says to those who winh to follow Him, that 
 
THE ORIGIN OF TUE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 233 
 
 they roust first learn to deny themselves, A soul 
 will vainly strive to love God, if she does not begin 
 by forsaking herself : her ettbrts will be fruitless, 
 and her love illusory. — " Let me know Thee, Lord," 
 exclaimed St. Augustine, "and let me know myself : 
 " let me know Thee to love Thee, and let me know 
 " myself to despise myself." " Then only," the 
 illustrious Father of the Church seems to say, " then 
 " oidy shall I love Thee as Thou art worthy of 
 " being loved, when I shall have understood Thy 
 " greatness and my own nothijigness." 
 
 Mother de la Nativito had begun to lay this 
 indispensable foundation or condition of charity, — 
 which is humility, — in her childhood. — We have 
 already seen how she always cherished the hidden 
 life. But God specially loves that virtue, iloubtless 
 because it will one day serve to manifest more fully 
 His glory, since lie has sai*! that those who humble 
 themselves shall he exalted ; an<l in order to promote 
 the gro'.vMi and increase of that holy virtue in the 
 heart of His faithful servant, He permittt'd her to 
 bo strangely humiliated. 
 
 After having twice refnsi'd the ofticc of Superior, 
 Mother de la Nativit«5 sought only to be cIussikI 
 with the rest of the Sisters and tri'ated as the hast 
 among them. When any of the more attentive 
 Sisters eagerly sought to render her some humble 
 
284 
 
 MOTHER DB LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 servioo, in u moment ot lUfd, she would gently chide 
 them, Haying : " 1 am the servant of the Lord, and 
 " 1 should not he served hy His memhers." Her 
 great wish was to he unknown and esteemed as 
 nothing. A life of ohscurity and ohlivion was her 
 choice. She had given it up with great regret in 
 ohedience to her Bishop, and as soon as she could 
 do so without sinning against her duty, she joyfully 
 returned, or rather threw hei-self hvnvdlong into this 
 blessed life of ohscurity. 
 
 God makes u\\ things work together for the 
 sanctificution of those predestined to glory, and this 
 alone explains the neglect and indifference, nay, even 
 the disdaiii and aversion, tlie humhle Foundress 
 sometimes encountered. She was treated as the least 
 of the Sisters, without the consideration or respect 
 due to her age and the serviees she had rendered 
 the CVnnmunity : she drank often and deeply of that 
 cup of sorrow — which for the Saints is true delight 
 — thedelight, luimely, of heing accounted as nothing 
 and suffering at the hands of those she most dearly 
 loved. Kven lier right to the title of Foundress 
 was at one time contested, and soon it was refused 
 to her. — Nothing short of the i}ishoi>'s intervention 
 sufficed, as we have stated, to cause it to be restored. 
 In the midst of these affronts, which sometimes 
 bordered on insult. Mother de la Nativite always 
 
TUE ORIGIN OF T)I£ SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 235 
 
 remained meek and undisturbed. To hear her talk, 
 one would think she deserved juHt such treatment. 
 The greater jiart of the Religious, nevertheless, 
 venerated her as their Mother, in spite of all that was 
 said or done, and when one of them compassionated 
 her sufferings. Mother de la Nativito would wmile 
 sweetly, as much as to say, " You pity me on account 
 " of what makes me tnily happy, and what is per- 
 " haps my strongest claim before God." A« to her 
 title of Foundress, she would not have lifted her 
 hand or made the smallest effort to retain it. 
 " What difference does that make," she said, " I 
 " was only the instrument ; it was the Bishop w);o 
 " did everything." 
 
 "When her infirmitie .. n^er allowed her to 
 
 attend the Chapter, Si.o .. as set aside comi>letely 
 and lived an entire fltranger to all that was going 
 on in the house. Far from being displeased or 
 grieved by this neglect, she rejoiced at it, for it gave 
 her more liberty to give up her mind and her heart 
 to God. She dreaded for herself any prominent 
 oflBce, and her humility made her shudder at the 
 thought of becoming Superior. She often said : 
 *' The ruin of worldly }>eople is love of riches and 
 " independance ; but tor us, Religious, it is pride 
 ** and self-love." Hence her daily and ceaseless 
 struggle against that root of all evil. 
 
236 
 
 MOTIIEK DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 . When she was AssiHt&nt, she never presided over 
 the Chapter of faults or mutual correction, until 
 after she had first taken the lead in going through 
 the ordeal herself. She sometimes carried her love 
 of humiliation no far as to ask [)ermission to perform 
 works of penance imposed on others. When severely 
 reprehended hy the Superior for some involuntary 
 fault, she never showed the least sigii of annoyance, 
 hut always suhmitted humbly to whatever was 
 prescribetl. On one occasion it happened that a 
 secular person, who often visited the Community on 
 businesH, went so far as to address her in grossly 
 insulting language. Mother de la Nativite answereii 
 not a Word, and moreover, two days later, when the 
 same person again called at the house, she received 
 lier with a serene countenance and kindly smile, as 
 if nothing had happened. * 
 
 Full of humility and contempt for herself. Mother 
 de la Nutivite also gave her Sisters an example of 
 the practice of poverty, by contenting herself with 
 what was strictly necessary, and of mortification, by 
 retrenching something even from that. vShc never 
 complained of wanting for anything. '• If I had 
 " remained in the world," she used to say, " I might 
 " not Imve had what is given me here." It required 
 but little, in truth, to supply her wants. This 
 venerable Foundress always strove to economize the 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 287 
 
 Community's goods, for the benefit of the unfortu- 
 nates who sought a shelter within its wriUs ; and after 
 having worked unceasingly, and without ever wil- 
 fully losing a moment of time, she deemed herself 
 unworthy of tlio poor food she received to sustain 
 her strength : Such was always Mother de la Nati- 
 vite. We must also mention that during her long 
 illness, she was often deprived, on account of the 
 great poverty of the house, of the diet and remedies 
 that might have relieved her. 
 
 She manifested simplicity and the spirit of poverty 
 in her clothing and other oVjects provided for her 
 use, as she did in regard to her food. When, by 
 her infirmities, she was obliged to remain in her 
 room, a plain board served her as a table. In vain 
 did the infirmarian try to replace it by a less primi- 
 tive and rudimentary piece of furniture ; she suc- 
 ceeded at length in overcoming the good Mother's 
 repugnance, only by representing tliat the board 
 was not suitable to bear the Blessed Sacrament, on 
 occasions when Holy Comnmnion was administered 
 to her. Extreme ]»overty, which excludes neither 
 care nor neatness, was ever the sole ornament of 
 her dress. Even when living in the world, she never 
 cared for dress, and on becoming the Spouse of 
 Jesus-Christ, slie also embraced the poverty that 
 surrounded our Divine Saviour from Bethlehem to 
 
288 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVIT^ AND 
 
 Calvary. She never nt any time had more than 
 one habit. When it was worn out, she could not 
 be prevailed upon to accept a new one, but would 
 make another out of material which had already 
 been in use. ' 
 
 One of the Sisters desiring to dress her in a more 
 becoming manner, on a particular occasion, was 
 obliged to borrow a cape and other jiarts of the dress 
 from the Sisters. — Her shoes were entirely worn 
 out, but she would manage to hide them lest she 
 should be given new ones. When she died, she had 
 but one old dress, entirely worn out, which was 
 used to bury her in. Blessed indeed was her poverty, 
 which doubtless earned for her more glory in 
 Heaven, than she could have attained with all the 
 riches of earth ! 
 
 4th. — Regulakity. — Obedience. 
 
 One of the principal virtues required in a member 
 of a Community is regularity. Fervor cannot long 
 be maintained without this faithful observance of 
 the rules, fatal relaxation slips in by degrees where 
 order first reigned ; and failing the application of 
 prompt and energetic remedies, individual perfection 
 is likely to be abandoned, and the good aimed at by 
 the Community is seriously compromised. Hence 
 the founders of religious Orders, who were often 
 
TUE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MIS^RICORDE 239 
 
 indulgent in other reepeets, were inflexible in regard 
 to the Rule. They knew that the slightest infringe- 
 ment of it is often followed by grievous or even fatal 
 consequences. God had imparted the same convic- 
 tions to Mother de la Nativite, and she was herself 
 a living einbodiment of the Rule. 
 
 Even before the Rule was formally written out, 
 she observed it with a punctuality which was never 
 for one moment relaxed. " We should observe the 
 " Rule," she said, " although it is not as yet wholly 
 " written out and weveral points have been only 
 " recommended orally ; for if we do not now put in 
 " practice what we know to be the Rule, how shall 
 " we be able to do so later on, when our Rules are 
 " completed ? " Xothing grieved her more than to 
 see any of the Sisters neglectful in regard to the 
 Rule, and her firm rebuke in such cases, was in 
 striking contrast with her mild and indulgent 
 character. She was herself a living example, which 
 it was not possible to resist. "Our dear Mother was 
 " so regular," relates a Sister, " that she would 
 " leave unfinished a stitch already begun, in order to 
 " obey the first stroke of the bell ; and when some 
 " one spoke of her scrujiulous regularity, she replied: 
 " ' God calls us bv the voice of the bell, and we 
 " should obey llim promptly.' " Sometimes the 
 Sisters teased her laughingly about her great exact- 
 
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 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 ness, which made her keep account of every minute, 
 nay every instant of time. — " 'Tis true," answered 
 the good Mother, " a minute is nothing, but one 
 " minute added to other minutes will make several 
 " hours, at the end of the year." Thus acting ever 
 in the light of faith, she was always the first at her 
 post in all the religious exercises of the Community, 
 in obedience to the voice of God. 
 
 She was long entrusted with the duty of ringing 
 the bell for the various exercises, an office for which 
 she was admirably well adapted, although it must 
 have cost her many a sacrifice — As she had neither 
 watch nor alarm-clock, she was obliged to make 
 her way through several rooms to look at the clock, 
 and practise constant vigilance, so as not to ring too 
 late or too early. After awakening the Community, 
 she had to cross the garden in order to awaken the 
 Novices, who slept in a separate building, and this 
 in all weather, amid the deep snows and icy north 
 wind of our Canadian winter. This habit of regu- 
 larity was stronger than the infirmities of nature : 
 when her limbs began to get stiff and heavy. Mother 
 de la Nativite would make an earlier start, so as to 
 arrive in good time for the exercises of the Com- 
 munity. She was sometimes obliged to make really 
 superhuman eflbrts in order to accomplish her duty. 
 — One day, when going to the refectory, she fell 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISBRICORDE 241 
 
 fainting to the floor, atid was found by the Sisters 
 in that condition. And often in the morning on 
 arising, she was so weak that she could scarcely stand. 
 The Sisters, seeing her so feeble and exhausted, 
 would urge her to remain in bed ; " No, my chil- 
 " dren," she would reply, " I shall be longer lying 
 " down than standing ; let me work as long as I 
 " can." At other times she said : " I must do 
 " something to win souls to God." 
 
 There was, however, nothing unbending or rigid in 
 her way of understanding the Rule. — She was faith- 
 ful in observing the letter, but she also knew how to 
 interpret the spirit underlying it. No one could 
 be, at one and the same time, more attached to the 
 rule, and more easily induced to surrender it when 
 charity required. She never hesitated a moment 
 to break silence, when a young Sister was in need 
 of advice or help of an}' kind ; for she well knew 
 that far above all special rules is the great universal 
 rule of Charity, in accordance with these words of 
 St. Augustine : " Love and do what thou wiliest." 
 
 The observance of the Rule has the happy effect 
 of making those who observe it love not only the 
 Rule itself, but also the Community and all that 
 interests it. Such is the happy experience of all 
 religious souls, and Mother de la Nativite was no 
 exception to the rule. — " I have never been happier 
 
,■» 
 
 242 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITB AND 
 
 " than since the day I entered religion," she often- 
 times said ; " yes, everything about me is pleasant 
 "to my eyes, and I love even the very walls that 
 " separate me from the world." — To the young Sisters 
 she would say : " Be not of those Religious who find 
 " life dreary and lonesome in the Community. The 
 " religious habit should speak to your heart and help 
 " you to bear joyfully the crosses that Divine Prov- 
 " idence sends you." During the early years follow- 
 ing the foundation, some of the Sisters were inclined 
 to get discouraged on account of their poverty and 
 the other difficulties to be met with ; but the calm 
 serenity and confidence in God manifested by their 
 Foundress re-assured the timid : " The devil is 
 " doing all in his power to prevent us from doing 
 '• good," she would say to them ; " but never mind 
 " him, keep on praying, be good and obedient, and 
 " these difficulties will disappear and the house will 
 " prosper." As these financial difficulties might 
 have been an inducement to facilitate the admission 
 of novices belonging to rich families, she said to 
 her Sisters again and again : " Do not receive the 
 " novices on account of their wealth ; for a poor 
 " subject endowed with a proper spirit, is better 
 " than a subject endowed with wealth and void of 
 " the religious spirit." . . : . . 
 
 Such being the sentiments of Mother de la Nati- 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISBRICORDE 243 
 
 vite, we need not be surprised to learn that she 
 herself was most respectful and submissive to her 
 Superiors in every way. The profound veneration 
 in which she held her Bishop is well known to our 
 reader. His slightest desires were sacred laws to 
 her, and she made it her duty never to transgress 
 them. All her other Superiors, moreover, no matter 
 who they might be, were sure to find her filled 
 with the utmost deference and trusting submission 
 in their regard. She made it a rule to close her 
 eyes to their failings, and did all in her power to 
 palliate and excuse their defects. To the novices 
 she often said, "Even though you remark some 
 " fault in your Superiors, that should never prevent 
 " you from having recourse to them with a submis- 
 " sive and open heart ; it is a sign of a true vocation 
 ". to do so." " We should see God in our Superiors," 
 she would often say, and she never liked to see any of 
 the Sisters worry or busy themselves about matters 
 relating to their Superiors. And again: "They 
 " have the necessary grace for looking after things, 
 " they receive light from above that is not given 
 " us ; we have enough to do to attend to our own 
 " conduct." She always consented to whatever 
 was decided in regard to herself, without uttering 
 a word. • ' . 
 
 Already suffering from the diseases that confined 
 
244 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE AND 
 
 her to her room during the latter part of her life, 
 she was given charge of the penitents one very 
 Bcrere winter. The building they occupied was 
 separated from the Convent and very cold, for a sickly 
 «id aged person. Mother de la Nativity had a 
 ^reat deal to suffer, and yet, e ery morning, she 
 made her way to the Community Chapel for mass, 
 chilled through and nearly fainting. When some 
 of the Sisters advised her to solicit a change of office, 
 she replied, that one should not solicit anything 
 contrary to holy obedience. 
 
 During her illness, she always obeyed the physi- 
 cians' directions with childlike simplicity. The 
 infirmarian had once received order to change her 
 clothing at regular intervals ; but when the time 
 arrived, Mother de la Nativite was enduring such 
 acute pain and was so weak, that the Sister hesitated 
 and wanted to wait a while. " No, no," said the 
 ** Mother, " we must obey, and if I die in obeying, you 
 ** need have no uneasiness in regard to me." These 
 admirable words throw more light on this favored 
 fionl^ than any words of ours could possibly aftbrd. 
 
 Another day, through some misunderstanding, 
 the chaplain took Holy Communion to her, when 
 she had not permission to receive. What should 
 she do ? Her love of obedience triumphed over her 
 desire of uniting herself to the Divine Spouse of 
 
THE ORIGIN OF THE SISTERS OF MISERICORDE 245 
 
 souls ; and with as much joy as she would have 
 had in receiving Holy Communion, she informed 
 the priest that she could not do so. We may well 
 believe that Jesus, who was Himself obedient even 
 unto the death of the Cross, did not leave his faith- 
 ful servant without rewarding her amply for this 
 admirable act of obedience. 
 
 For this pious Religions, obeying the rule, trusting 
 herself to her Superiors, to be employed and treated 
 according to their good pleasure, was one and the 
 same thing as obeying and giving herself up to 
 God. This was what she believed perfection to 
 consist in ; and her whole life may be resumed in 
 these words : Accomplishment of God's will through 
 love, and the sacrifice of her own taste, will and 
 tranquillity. . .. , 
 
 All this was done in the most unassuming 
 manner, and without pretension of any kind whatso- 
 ever. Everything about her w^as plain and simple, 
 and she had a great horror of singular and extra- 
 ordinary ways. She made it a point to difter in nothing 
 from the others in her exterior ; and her modest and 
 recollected deportment spoke loudly of her closeness 
 to God, in whose presence she constantly strove to 
 abide. ■ • ■■ ' ' ' . . ; 
 
 A short description of her exterior, will complete 
 the portrait of the pious Foundress. She was of 
 
 17 
 
 y» 
 
246 
 
 MOTHER DE LA NATIVITE 
 
 medium height and naturally robust, but her con- 
 stitution had been undermined by labor and priva- 
 tions. Her features were not soft or regular, but 
 taken as a whole, her face revealed an energetic 
 and resolute soul. Her small, black eyes, bright as 
 diamonds, seemed to read one to the very bottom 
 of the soul, and you felt that she was a keen 
 observer. Her large, half-opened mouth expressed 
 great charity and kindness. She spoke but little, 
 examined closely and judged with shrewd imparti- 
 ality, the character of those with whom she had to 
 deal. — Although she had received but little school 
 education, she was remarkably polite in her manners, 
 and her delicacy and prudent reserve made her a 
 charming person to deal with. Her great grasp of 
 memory, nourished by continual and serious reading, 
 furnished her with a quantity of edifying and 
 interesting stories that were a real treasure for the 
 Sisters during recreation. 
 
 Let us add, to finish this incomplete portrait of 
 the venerable Foundress, that although naturally 
 timid and retiring, she was also firm in all that 
 regarded duty. More than once she would ask for 
 time to reflect, at a capitular council, and after 
 having once decided according to her conscience, 
 she never changed her mind. 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
 EOOLESIASTIOAL SDPEEIORS 
 
 op THB 
 
 COMMUNITY, 
 
 FROM ITS FOUNDATION UP TO THE PRESENT DAY. 
 
 Ist 
 2nd 
 
 3rd 
 4th 
 5th 
 6th 
 , 7th 
 8th 
 9th 
 
 10th 
 11th 
 
 Rt. Rev. Tgnace Bourget, Bp. of Montreal. 
 Rt. Rev. Joseph LaRocque, coadjutor 
 
 Bishop of Montreal. 
 Very Rev. A. F. Truteau, V. G. 
 Rev. J. Octave Pare, Canon. 
 Rev. Etienne Hicks, Canon. 
 Rev. Godefroi Lamarche, Canon. ' 
 Rev. Joseph S^guin, Canon. 
 Rev. P. E. Lussier, Canon. 
 
 Most Rev. E. C. Fabre, Archbishop of 
 Montreal. 
 
 Rev. T. F. Kavanagh. 
 
 Rev. J. U. Leclerc, Honorary Canon, 
 
248 
 
 APPENDIX 
 
 CHAPLAINS 
 
 let 
 
 2nd 
 
 3rd 
 
 4th 
 
 5th 
 
 6th 
 
 7th 
 
 8th 
 
 9th 
 
 10th 
 
 11th 
 
 12th 
 
 13th 
 
 14th 
 
 Rev. Antoine Rey, 1846. 
 
 Rev. Father L. C. Sach^, S.J., 1847. 
 
 Rev. Venant Pilon, Canon, 1847-1860. 
 
 Rev. J. O. Pare, Canon, 1860-1862. 
 
 Rev. G. Larnarche, Canon, 1862-1864. 
 
 Rev. E. Hicks, Canon, 1864. 
 
 Rev. G. Huberdeau, 1864-1866. ' " 
 
 Rev. C. Martin, 18661870. 
 
 Rev. J. A. Martineau, 1870-1871. 
 
 Rev. Z. Delinelle, 1871-1874. 
 
 Rev. L. H. Pare, 1874-1877. 
 
 Rev. J. M. A. Brien, 1877-1889. 
 
 Rev. N. A. Dugas, 1889. 
 
 Rev. M. II. Charpentier, since 1889. 
 
 .' « 
 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 249 
 
 GENERAL SUPERIORS 
 
 l8t Mother St. 
 
 2nd Mother St. 
 
 3rd Mother M. 
 
 4th Mother St. 
 
 5th Mother St. 
 
 6th Mother St. 
 
 7th Mother M. 
 
 1895. 
 
 8th Mother M. 
 
 Jeanne de Chantal, 1848-1863. 
 
 Josepli, 1863-1866. 
 
 de la Misericorde, 1866-1872. 
 
 Rose de Lima, 1872-1877. 
 
 Thermae de Jesus, 1877-1883. 
 
 Zotique, 1883-1889. 
 
 du Saere Ca3iir de Jesus, 1889- 
 
 de la Misericorde, since 1895. 
 
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 55. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 1— ( 
 
 
 CO 
 
 CO 
 1— 1 
 
 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Dedication * ''^"''■' 
 
 Author's Preface 
 
 V 
 
 Book 1st 
 
 Life of the Foundress and Origin of the Work 
 
 Chapter Ist-Childhood-Mariage - Tlap- 
 piness 
 
 Chapter II-Trials and Good Works oj 
 
 Chapter III-Madame Jette bestows atten- 
 tion on fallen girls 
 
 Chapter IV_The Foimdad'on '. '. ' 4I 
 
 Chapter V—mw Trials " 7^ 
 
 Chapter VI_I>rofession and Religious Life 91 
 Chapter VII-The present Mother-House 
 
 (i«^i) no 
 
 Chapter VIII-Death of Mother de la Nati- 
 
 vite 
 
 127 
 
 Book TI 
 
 Developn^ent or the Work up to the end of the Pi.t 
 
 Half Century. 
 
 Chapter Ist-Revisior. and Approbation of 
 
 the Constitutions 
 
 Chapter II_The First Mission .'.V. ' ." .' .' .' * .' .' 159 
 
 18 
 
262 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 Chapter Ill—Relations of Bishop Bonrget '*"'' 
 with the Community jgy 
 
 Chapter TV-New BuildingB— A new Branch 
 
 house 1 0Q 
 
 Chapter V-Magdalenes— Consecrated girls 
 
 — Penitents— Children 202 
 
 Chapter VI— Virtues of Mother de la Nativite 216 
 Appendix— Table of the Ecclesiastical Supe- 
 riors, Chaplains and General Superiors 
 of the Community from its Foundation 
 up to the present day .—Table of the 
 Professed-Sisters of Mis^ricorde since 
 the Foundation of the Institution 247