Saint Marguerite d'Youville
Saint Marguerite is the foundress of the order of the Grey Nuns. They were based in New France in the 18th Century, now known to us as Quebec. In 1642 Paul de Chomedey and Jeanne Mance founded Ville Marie, which is now the great city of Montreal.

Marguerite was born on October 15th, 1701. She was the oldest of six children born to Marie-Renee Gaultier de Varennes and Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais. Marguerite was baptaized on Oct 16th as Marie-Marguerite. Her father dies when she is just seven, but her great-grandfather takes the family in.

At eleven, Marguerite is sent to the Ursuline Convent in Quebec City to be educated by the sisters. It is here that she sees the power of prayer and receives the peace that believing in God can bring. When her mother re-marries in 1721, the family moves to Montreal and Marguerite meets and marries Francois d'Youville. They have six children; but lose four of them to poor nutrition, which was quite common in those days.

Francois dies in July of 1730 of pleurisy. To survive the pain of her lost children and the heartache she endures because of her husband's bad deeds, Marguerite returns to the peace she once found in prayer. She is drawn from this to helping the people who are even less fortunate than herself

Marguerite and her three friends rent a house to shelter the poor. Louise Ghaumur, Catherine Cusson and Catherine Demers make a promise to God in 1737 that they will never abandon the poor. Without realizing it, they, The Sisters of Charity of Montreal have become the Grey Nuns. The sisters suffer many struggles and tragedies througout the years; but they always believe, and they always made it through.

In December of 1771, at the age of 70, Marguerite herself was confined to bed in need of care. Her arms and legs were paralysed. The only thing she can do is think. She is proud that they have endured through the years, but is concerned that there is yet so much to do. She calls the sisters to her side to beg them to continue this work in harmony and in God's love, and they promise. On the 23rd she joins Our Father in Heaven.

Thank you, St. Marguerite d'Youville