Books: The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois
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Anon. >> The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois
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It is now time to give the names of the principal members of this pious
association, as they are undoubtedly written in the Book of Life. Most
happily heading the list is the name of the great Cardinal Richelieu.
Then follow such names as Marechal Duke d'Effiat, M. Jean de Lanzon,
Jean Jacques Olier, first Superior of St Sulpice, Alexander
Bretonvilliers, Gabriel de Quelus and Nicholas Barreau, all priests of
St. Sulpice; Pierre le Pretre, priest by name and office, Louis Le
Pretre his brother, Pierre Chevrier, Jerome de Royer, Jacques Gerard,
Michael Royer Duplessis, Bertrand Drouart, a member of the suite of the
Duke of Orleans, Christopher Duplessis, Antoine Barrilon, Jean Galibal,
Louis Seignier, Louis d'Aibout de Coulonges, Paul de Chaumeday, the
Duchess de Bullion, and the Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois, whose
life we are about to record, and who, without being formally a member of
the Society, took a most active part in it. We shall soon see her
concealing the brightest virtues under the veil of humility.
But pre-eminently was M. Olier the guiding spirit of this splendid
association of Catholic hearts. He it was who projected the plans
necessary for the greatness and security of the enterprise. The first
thing he declared necessary was to secure the blessing of God and the
protection of the ever Blessed Virgin. This was to be accomplished by an
imposing ceremony that might be recorded in after ages for the
edification of those who should undertake a similar work for the glory
of God. It was a spectacle worthy of the complacency of heaven, and the
zealous children of the Church who participated in it. On the 3rd of
February, 1641, the day following the Feast of the Purification, all the
members of that illustrious Society being assembled in Paris, went in
the morning at an appointed hour to the church of Notre Dame. M. Olier
celebrated Mass at the Altar of the Blessed Virgin, and all the
associates who were not priests received Holy Communion from his hands.
The priests at the same time offered the holy sacrifice at other altars.
With one accord they supplicated the Queen of Heaven to bless their
undertaking, and forever keep the Isle of Montreal under her special
protection. At the close of the edifying ceremony the Associates
assembled at the Hotel de Lanzon to hold their first meeting. The plan
being already matured, it was resolved that in the spring of the year
they would get ready a sufficient number of ships, three of which were
to be devoted to the transportation of such respectable and honest
families as were willing to go to Montreal and commence the foundation
of a permanent colony. They were required to take with them all the
provisions, clothing, furniture, and mechanical or other tools necessary
for the first two years, and were to take possession of the isle in the
name of Mary, whom they were to regard as their mother and mistress.
With the King's permission they were to build a city in her honor, which
was to be called Ville-Marie. Under the protection of Cardinal
Richelieu, and during the first session of the assembly, M. de Lanzon
was named administrator of the Society, M. Dauversiere being appointed
its principal agent, which duty was especially suited to him because of
his devotion to the Mother of God. When the plans were finally agreed
upon, each member made it a point of honor to contribute as generously
as possible to the success of the colony, and before the meeting broke
up they received more than two hundred thousand livres. With this
substantial aid, M. Dauversiere set to work in good earnest to prepare
for the voyage across the Atlantic, the remainder of the winter being
employed in preparing the necessary fleet. Authorized by the King, he
enlisted a number of soldiers, whom he foresaw would be required to
garrison and protect the colony. He also assembled a great number of
families who volunteered to accompany him to the New World, and devote
themselves to agriculture, retaining in his own service about thirty
married people of various avocations, so that religion rather than
worldly interest should range under his standard.
Among the emigrants, the nobility were represented by such names as De
Beletre, Closse and Mignon; merchants, by Lemoine, Lebert, Charly, etc.;
mechanics and farmers, by Caron, Barbier, Archambault, Cavalier, Decari,
and others. In the spring of 1641 all these different classes of people
met at La Rochelle, from which port they were to embark. M. Dauversiere
was everywhere--now at Paris, now at Rochelle--and all were ready to
depart, when the idea suddenly struck him that a man of prudence,
experience, and authority was still wanted to govern the miscellaneous
crowd, and take the lead in the young colony. It was now the month of
May, and the embarkation had not yet taken place because of this void.
But Providence did not forsake him, and the want was supplied in a
rather remarkable manner. Being one day in Paris he was invited to dine
at the house of an intimate friend. During the conversation the subject
of colonizing Montreal was discussed, as it was his absorbing idea, and
he spoke of the embarrassing want that delayed him. After dinner one of
the guests, until then a stranger to him, but who had listened very
attentively to the colonization plan, of which he had not before heard,
freely offered to accompany the expedition. "I am a gentleman of about
forty years of age," he said, "I have spent my youth honorably in the
King's service, and flatter myself with having acquired both experience
and reputation. A desire to devote myself to the service of God in some
way or other has induced me to withdraw from the service of his majesty,
and I have lived for some time in a simple, quiet way, on a pension of
two thousand livres, which is sufficient for my subsistence, but I see
in the enterprise you have undertaken for the honor of the Mother of God
so special a field for the spread of our holy religion, that if my
services are agreeable to you, I willingly make the sacrifice of repose,
and even of life."
This man was Paul de Chaumeday, _alias_ de Maisonneuve. On hearing these
words Dauversiere, filled with gratitude to God, adored His Divine
Providence, and believed that the noble volunteer was appointed by
heaven to lead the colonists. He embraced him with tears of joy and
departed forthwith to relate the circumstance to his associates. The
name of de Maisonneuve was well known to many of them, and his services
were gladly accepted. A second meeting of the association was then held,
at which it was unanimously agreed to appoint him Governor of Montreal.
In this quality he was presented to the King for the purpose of
expediting an official appointment. He was certainly a suitable person
to head such an expedition, as he had long been a faithful client of
Mary Immaculate. Many years before he made a vow of perpetual chastity
in her honor, and recited her office every day. His reputation stood
very high, and being in the full vigor of manhood, had given proofs of
courage and prudence, even in religious matters. His business being
quickly settled up, he set out for Rochelle with M. Dauversiere, each
rejoicing at having met the other. They had scarcely arrived there, when
another singular intervention of Providence took place, which was quite
as remarkable as the preceding one. This was the vocation of Jean Mance,
whose name will appear again. She was a young woman, about thirty years
old, the daughter of simple, honest parents in Langers, where she had
spent her youth in the most fervent exercises of piety, and was ignorant
of the extraordinary exertions then being made in France to colonize
Canada, but she felt inspired to pass the remainder of her life in some
place consecrated to the Blessed Virgin, and waited for Divine
Providence to direct her. She proposed her views to her confessor, but
he being also ignorant of the projected establishment of Montreal,
treated her as a visionary. Yet as she persisted in asking advice, he
spoke of her in Paris to persons more enlightened than himself. Those
with whom he conversed did not fail to recognize something remarkable in
her vocation, and she was accordingly introduced to the Duchess at the
Hotel de Bullion. As this lady was already laboring for the colonization
of Montreal she took a lively interest in Jean, retaining her for some
time as a confidential attendant in her own household. In this capacity
the Duchess could not but admire the special designs of God, manifested
in her well-formed habits of virtue. She encouraged her to go with the
volunteers to the New World, and remain faithful to her vocation. As the
day appointed for the embarkation drew near, after giving her a
well-filled purse to supply her wants, she exacted a promise to apply to
her in future for assistance in carrying on whatever good works Divine
Providence might appoint for her. She then took an affectionate leave of
Jean, and sent her to M. Dauversiere at Rochelle. On her arrival he
desired to test her zeal and courage as a postulant, and represented the
difficulty of such an enterprise for a young, friendless girl. He spoke
of his intention to found Ville-Marie, but added that it might be
reddened with human blood, if the savages should attack the colonists,
and that she might possibly have to attend alone in the hospital on the
wounded and dying. Finding that such pictures of horror only increased
her zeal, he blessed the inscrutable ways of God, and joyfully permitted
her to embark with the others. He did not hesitate even to enrol her
name among the Associates, and she eventually became a most useful
instrument in the hands of Divine Providence for completing the
establishment of the Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph at Ville-Marie.
The events we have just recorded delayed the sailing of the fleet until
the end of June, at which time it left the port of Rochelle, but did not
arrive at Quebec until the close of September. The season was then too
far advanced to ascend the river to Montreal, and if it had been
attempted they would have been compelled to winter at some place where
there was neither human habitation nor fort, and would consequently be
exposed to the attacks of the fierce Iroquois. They therefore concluded
to pass the winter at Quebec as best they could. The Governor, Chevalier
de Montmagni, welcomed them with much cordiality, but had views of his
own in the Quebec colony, which were not favorable to an establishment
at Montreal. He supposed naturally that in a country so weak as Canada
then was, it would be unwise and imprudent to divide their strength, and
that the success of a settlement at Montreal was impossible on account
of its proximity to the Indian camping grounds, and their constant
attacks on the French. He intended asking them to select the isle of
Orleans, which was still unoccupied, and where assistance could more
easily reach them in case of an attack. Like a wise politician, however,
he was slow to reveal his plan, preferring to await the return of the
ships to France, which had scarcely set sail when he convoked a general
assembly in order to disclose his projects. It is not to be doubted that
the garrison were as interested as he was, and so were the other
inhabitants of Quebec. But the firmness of M. de Maisonneuve was a match
for their intrigue, and when his views and opinions were asked during
the debate, he replied with much dignity, that he was surprised the
Governor of Quebec thought it necessary to convoke a public assembly on
a matter which concerned the speaker only--that he made no secret of his
intentions--that the settlement of the isle of Orleans had never been
proposed by the Montreal Association--that he came expressly to found a
_new city_, which was to be dedicated to the Mother of God, on the isle
of Montreal--that he had not the least idea of changing his original
plan--and finally, that unless he lost his life, he would execute his
commission. It was impossible to gainsay him, and the assembly dissolved
without deciding on anything. De Maisonneuve contented himself with
sending some of his party to Montreal to cut down trees during the
winter, that they might have a cleared section of land to work on in
spring. He and the rest of the colonists passed the season quietly in
their tents at Quebec, awaiting the arrival of fine weather, and the
breaking up of the ice.
In the month of May, as soon as the river was open to navigation, they
were again in readiness to move on, and Governor Montmagni expressed a
strong desire to accompany them. De Maisonneuve invited the Jesuit
missionaries, Simon and Poncet, to go with them and bless the site of
the new city, and take charge of the church they intended to erect when
circumstances permitted. As there was no road through the country, and
no settlements along the river between Montreal and Quebec, the journey
was long, and everywhere beset with difficulties, so that they did not
arrive at their destination until the 17th of May. Then they encamped,
and called the neck of land at the mouth of the little river "Pointe a
Calieres," in honor of the third Governor of Montreal, M. de Calieres,
who built a fort there, in which he resided during the term of his
administration.
The fervent colonists erected a tent immediately, in which the holy
sacrifice of the Mass was celebrated, and in which they afterwards kept
the Blessed Sacrament. M. de Maisonneuve's first care was to give every
family sufficient land on which to erect a house, and each one built to
suit his own convenience. He erected a house for himself also, which was
known long after as the "Old Seminary."
To Jean Mance he gave sufficient ground for a hospital, the expense of
building which was to be paid out of the fund bestowed by the Duchess de
Bullion. The hospital was as large and convenient as the young colony
required, and the people took the precaution to build their church near
it. This building served for years not only as a parish church, but
likewise as a chapel of devotion for the sick and wounded. As the houses
were all wooden structures, they were speedily erected, and on the 15th
of August, 1642--being the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin--the Adorable Sacrament was taken from the tent in which it was
hitherto kept, and carried in solemn procession to the church with all
the pomp and magnificence possible under the circumstances. Curiosity
attracted the savages from all quarters, and as they were then less
familiar with the ceremonies of our holy religion than now, they were
transported with admiration and joy at what they saw. Nor were they less
edified by the simple fervor and piety of the first French settlers.
This glorious festival of Mary was long remembered in Canada by both
French and Indians, as was the singing of the "Salve Regina" by Columbus
and his crew, when he neared the shores of the New World.
CHAPTER III.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOTEL DIEU--ECCLESIASTICAL APPOINTMENTS FOR CANADA,
ETC.
While M. de Maisonneuve was arranging matters to insure the success of
the new colony, he received a reinforcement which, though not so
numerous as the first band of emigres, was equally well selected. It was
led by M. Louis d'Aillebout de Masseau, a man of eminent piety, and a
member of the Montreal Association. With this opportune and important
addition, De Maisonneuve undertook to inclose the young city with
palisades in the manner of a fort, as a barrier against the attacks of
the furious Indians. These attacks they might any moment expect, and
very justly feared, on account of the atrocities that were daily related
to them. The Governor of Quebec being informed of the proposed
fortification, or rather being assured that it was nearly completed,
determined to oppose it, but de Maisonneuve would permit no outside
interference. In order, therefore, that there might be no clashing of
interests, he returned to France the same year, leaving the command of
the garrison to M. d'Aillebout, with the title of Lieutenant-Governor.
This gentleman discharged the duties of his office to the entire
satisfaction of the people, securing both their esteem and their
property. On his arrival in Paris de Maisonneuve sought an interview
with the King, and related faithfully to him, as likewise to the members
of the Association, the exact state of things in Canada. Every one was
astonished at his success, and approved of his conduct. The King,
moreover, on learning the opposition policy of the Governor of Quebec,
gave De Maisonneuve a letter to place in the hands of that gentleman,
which read as follows:
"M. DE MONTMAGNI,--Being especially informed by the Montreal
Association, at present residing in Montreal, that their intention is to
establish a colony on that island, in order to labor more effectually
for the conversion of the savages, we strongly approve of their design,
and have given them permission to erect a fort on the said island, at
their own expense, which fort they are to furnish with artillery and all
other military supplies that may be needed to secure them from the fury
of the savages. We desire that _you_ render them all the assistance in
your power, and we have named M. de Maisonneuve governor and controller
of the enterprise, so that nothing may occur to prevent its success.
"LOUIS."
"_February_ 21, 1643."
Furnished with this letter, Messrs. de Maisonneuve and Dauversiere
labored in concert to procure a third fleet and a new set of recruits,
and they were quite as successful as on the two former occasions. The
volunteers were select and numerous, their voyage across the Atlantic
safe and pleasant, and at the end of July that year they arrived at
Ville-Marie. The death of Louis XIII. occurring at that period, the
Associates deemed it prudent to apply to the Queen Regent, mother of
Louis XIV., for a confirmation of their former privileges, which she
freely granted, permitting them also to organize militia companies for
their future safety, and to secure the services of such ecclesiastics as
they should judge most useful for the rising colony. Yet,
nothwithstanding repeated royal favors, and untiring exertions to
promote the general prosperity, the colony was languishing, and had much
to suffer from the increasing ferocity of the Indians. But de
Maisonneuve was always equal to the occasion, and derived advantage from
their fury, that is, spiritual advantage. Many and many a time, he had
the consolation to see those barbarous warriors throw down the bloody
tomahawk and embrace Christianity. He was truly an apostle in their
midst, attracting them as much by affability, as by the benefits he
conferred, and it was his greatest pleasure to act as sponsor for them
in baptism. Almighty God blessed the new settlement so visibly as to
cause astonishment and admiration in the hearts of all devoted to His
glory. Jean Mance also labored zealously in the service of the sick, who
were cared for in the hospital she established, and already the work was
greater than she alone could accomplish. Madame de la Peleterie, who
founded the Ursulines at Quebec, came to Ville-Marie to offer her
services to Mlle. Mance, who admired her generosity and good will
without accepting her assistance. The members of the Association
resident in Paris labored meanwhile very earnestly to establish the
hospital in Montreal, but declined the interference of outsiders. The
Duchess de Bullion had already made large advances for its support, and
in 1648 donated an additional fund of sixty thousand livres. With this
money M. de Maisonneuve assisted Jean Mance in building a wing of 60 by
24 feet for the nurses, who were _still wanting_, and whose services it
was time to secure, as the number of patients was constantly increasing.
The ladies of the Hotel Dieu at Quebec, on hearing of the crowded state
of the hospital, presented themselves as nurses, and two remained in
Ville-Marie a considerable length of time to watch how matters would be
arranged. Even the French court approved of them as nurses, but
Providence ordained otherwise, as at that very time the Associates in
France were making their _own_ arrangements, and disappointed those who
wished to press the matter in Montreal.
There existed at La Fleche a new congregation of Hospital Sisters,
partly secular, who by simple vows added the service of the sick to the
ordinary duties of a religious community. They were in their first
fervor, the members applying themselves with zeal and edification to
serve the poor invalids in the Hotel Dieu of St. Joseph, lately
established in their city. Dauversiere, who was acquainted with their
piety, asked and obtained a few Sisters to go to Ville-Marie and
establish the Hotel Dieu of Canada. As soon as his proposal was made
known, these pious women strove who should be first to claim the sacred
honor of expatriating themselves for the cause of charity, and sacrifice
life, if necessary, in a strange land, among wild savages who would most
likely, in return, confer on them the crown of martyrdom. The French
emigrants of those days had no other idea of the Canadian mission, and
prepared themselves accordingly. On the 20th of May, 1656, the community
pledged itself to send four of its zealous souls, who awaited the time
of their embarkation with eagerness, but from some cause or other did
not leave France until 1660. On their arrival at Ville-Marie, Jean Mance
received them with every mark of esteem and affection that Christian
charity could inspire. She put them in immediate possession of that
portion of the hospital set apart for them, reserving to herself only
the administration of the funds for the poor and destitute, a duty which
she discharged faithfully, and with solid benefit to the recipients, the
rest of her life. The new Sisters were little more than a secular
congregation, until 1666, when Pope Alexander VII. approved of them as a
religious order, by a bull dated January 8th, 1666, in which strict
enclosure was enjoined, and a religious dress appointed to be worn.
While the interests of the _hospital_ were being thus carefully attended
to in France, it was evident that the _spiritual wants of the colony_
were becoming every day more pressing. Montreal was now populous, and
numbers of the Indians who embraced Christianity were anxious that their
respective tribes should do the same. Yet there was but _one_ Jesuit
Father in the whole colony, who could not possibly discharge all the
duties required of him. When M. Olier heard of it, he thought seriously
of sending to Canada a mission from the Seminary of St. Sulpice, and as
he was suffering painful infirmities for many years, brought on by the
laborious discharge of his official duties, he contemplated accompanying
them himself. He accordingly selected four priests of his community, who
were gentlemen of merit and distinction, viz., Gabriel de Quelus, Abbe
of Laudieu (one of the Montreal associates), M. Francis d'Allet, Gabriel
Souart, and Dominick Gallitier. M. de Quelus was a man of illustrious
birth, and was appointed by their ecclesiastical Superior (the
Archbishop of Rouen) Grand Vicar of the missionaries in Canada, with the
entire spiritual control of New France. He was received both at Quebec
and Ville-Marie with all the respect due to his dignity and birth,
encountering no opposition in the discharge of his duties in either
city. M. Souart was appointed pastor of Ville-Marie, the Jesuit Father,
Claude Pigots, who had until then discharged the duties of pastor,
resigning gracefully in his favor.
The new pastor before becoming a Sulpician, had been a rich aristocratic
Parisian. His parents, expecting he would have a brilliant career in the
world, almost forced upon him a marriage suitable to his rank and
wealth, and the day of the ceremony, which was the Feast of the
Assumption, 1660, was fast approaching. His simple piety led him on the
eve of that day to the parish church of St. Sulpice, where he heard an
eloquent sermon, on the necessity of seeking light from heaven in the
choice of a state of life. He was deeply impressed by the preacher's
convincing eloquence, and entering into himself, found that he had not
sufficiently consulted God on the alliance he was about to contract. The
next day, therefore, instead of plighting his troth to a willing bride,
he went to the seminary of St. Sulpice to make a retreat, during which
Divine Providence clearly manifested to him that he was called to the
ecclesiastical state. Faithful to the call of divine grace he renounced
the world, entered St. Sulpice, and devoted his young life and rare
talents to the service of the Church. He was joyfully admitted into the
seminary, and having already received a university education, was soon
promoted to holy orders, and raised to the dignity of the priesthood.
His glowing zeal impelled him to volunteer for the mission of
Ville-Marie, where he eventually succeeded M. de Quelus as Superior of
the Montreal Seminary, which he governed happily for many years. He was
the first priest who undertook the perilous task of forming the baptized
savages into villages, and his successful attempt at civilization
resulted in the famous "Mission of the Mountain," where he died shortly
after.
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