St marguerite bourgeoys biography of william hill

Such a foundation occasioned much suffering and the one who took the initiative was not spared.

St marguerite bourgeoys biography of william hill

But the work progressed. The Constitutions of the Community were approved in The foundation having been assured, Sister Bourgeoys could leave the work to others. She died in Montreal on January 12,acknowledged for her holiness of life. Her last generous act was to offer herself as a sacrifice of prayer for the return to health of a young Sister.

Forty memberg of the Congregation de Notre-Dame were there to continue her work. The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continue through the commitment of the members of the community that she founded. She and her religious supported themselves by sewing, and lived frugally so that they could give alms to the poor.

They began needed buildings without the money to complete them, and offered the work of their hands in exchange for the services of carpenters and masons. After a disastrous fire in December ofthe community was left destitute. As soon as the ground thawed in the spring, they began, totally without resources, the construction of a new school.

With alms, Marguerite built a chapel as a place of pilgrimage to Our Lady, Notre Dame de Bon Secours; she and her companions carried stones and poured mortar for the masons. It was only at the turn of the century that they were housed in the towers of the fort built by M. As she saw her work developing to an extent that had been unforeseeable at the beginning, Marguerite Bourgeoys became concerned about the future.

Bishop Laval, who was in Paris, overburdened with cares, received her coldly and even forbade her to attempt any recruiting. This journey, however, was not useless. Marguerite returned to Canada having acquired valuable experience of religious life in France and better prepared to face the difficulties which would soon beset her young community.

In December Sister Bourgeoys intended to resign and to proceed to the election of a new superior. So Sister Bourgeoys courageously resumed office. The succeeding years recall those of the great foundations; it was the beginning of the Quebec era. The resignation of Sister Bourgeoys was finally accepted at Montreal in ; Sister Barbier was elected superior general.

But finally, with the help of M. She died a few days later. The unanimity of the praises addressed to her cannot be misleading. But she adapted what she had acquired to the setting of New France. She combined this goal with housing and caring for the King's Daughters or filles du roi, as they are known in Quebec, after they arrived from France. These were young women who were impoverished or orphaned or looking to start a new life whose passage to Nouvelle France was paid by the Crown in order to marry and create families in the colony.

The young women had to be recommended by the Church as being of good character. Bourgeoys and her four companions also interviewed the male settlers who came to the settlement seeking a wife. The women also worked independently in various villages and towns throughout the colony, teaching the local children. During this three-year period, Bourgeoys and her small community sought official recognition and legitimacy from both the Crown and the religious establishment in New France.

He ultimately issued an ordinance that gave permission to the Congregation Notre-Dame to teach on the entire island of Montreal, as well as anywhere else in the colony that considered their services as necessary. She left with no money or clothing, only with a letter of recommendation by Jean TalonRoyal Intendant of the colony; he praised her great contribution to its future.

By Mayshe had met with Louis XIVand had obtained letters patent from him that secured the viability of her community in New France as "secular Sisters". The French monarch wrote: "Not only has Marguerite Bourgeoys performed the office of schoolmistress by giving free instruction to the young girls in all occupations