Catholic Heroes . . . St. Marguerite D’Youville
By CAROLE BRESLIN
By 1701 the European colonies in North America had expanded beyond the Appalachian Mountains. The Anglo population in the English American colonies had reached 275,000. The French had recently established a colony in Detroit. Catholics, however, were persecuted as Massachusetts passed a law ordering all Roman Catholic priests to leave or face execution. New York passed a similar law shortly thereafter.
Meanwhile, in Quebec, where the French colonies were thriving, Catholics had built churches and established parishes. In fact, the records of the Catholic churches have become famous for their genealogical records, kept from as early as 1621.
St. Marguerite d’Youville was born into this era on October 15, 1701 in Varennes, Quebec. Varennes is located on the St. Lawrence River, about 25 miles northeast of Montreal.
Marguerite was the eldest of the six children born to Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais and Marie-Renee Gaultier. When Marguerite was only seven years old, her father died, leaving the family in poverty.
Her great-grandfather, because of his position in the French colony, was able to provide for some education for Marguerite. For two years she attended the Ursuline school in Quebec. She then returned home where she took care of her mother and the family. Although she had only attended school for two years, she undertook the education of her brothers and sisters.
Marguerite possessed a sweet disposition. She was not only lovely to look at, but also very loving, known for both her virtue and her beauty.
Shortly after her return from school, she became engaged to a wealthy man. Sadly, when her mother remarried to Timothy Sullivan, an Irish doctor who was looked down on as a foreigner, her fiancé’s family ended the engagement.
Later, in 1722, Marguerite married Francois d’Youville. He took her into his home where his mother mistreated the young lady. Her married life quickly became miserable at the hands of her mother-in-law, coupled with the suffering she endured from her husband’s neglect.
For long periods of time, Francois would be absent from the home, never explaining where he had gone. One of his occupations also caused her pain. Francois frequently traveled to meet with the Indians: For their furs, he would give them liquor, which was illegal.
As much as she disliked her husband’s habits, Marguerite remained a faithful wife. When he fell ill, she dutifully cared for him, keeping vigil by his bedside, tending to all of his needs with patience and love. Despite her ministrations, he died in 1730 when she was pregnant with their sixth child.
Once again, Marguerite was left destitute. With her mother remarried, her mother-in-law uncaring, and her husband gone, Marguerite had no one to support her in her grief. She had also lost four of her children in infancy. She had lost her father, several siblings, her husband, and four children by the age of 29.
Despite these losses and her poverty, Marguerite did not become bitter or despondent. Rather she found great comfort as her faith in God’s fatherly care actually increased. By her suffering she became more aware of His tender love for every person. She realized that each human being possessed special dignity.
Rather than wallowing in self-pity, Marguerite considered ways to support her two remaining children, both sons. She ran a store to pay off her husband’s debts and to supply a very basic means of existence. Furthermore, she worked hard to ensure that both of her sons made it to the seminary — they both became priests.
By running the store, she learned more and more about the suffering of the poor in Montreal. At one point, she took a blind woman into her home to care for her. Although her finances were severely limited, Marguerite found a way to practice charity. She did not hesitate with doubts about resources, but trusted that God would find a way to supply her needs.
Her kindness did not go unnoticed. It was not long before three other women joined her in her work to serve the poor and destitute.
On December 31, 1737 they consecrated themselves to God, promising to serve Him in the person of the poor. This marked the beginning of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal — although they did not know it at the time. Because they selected gray material to make their habits, the people of Montreal quickly dubbed them the “Grey Nuns.”
Marguerite continued to fearlessly defend the rights of the poor even though she and her sisters were ridiculed by their family, friends, and neighbors. She disregarded the social conventions that forbade any association with the destitute.
The long hours of taxing physical labor took their toll. Her health began to decline and one of the sisters died. While mourning for her, tragedy once again struck Marguerite when the house in which they based their work burned down.
Once again, Marguerite did not succumb to self-pity. In fact, this event only strengthened her resolve to work harder. In 1747, as the Grey Nuns became more and more respected, the failing Charon Brothers Hospital in Montreal asked Marguerite to take over their operations as director.
She and her sisters along with the growing numbers of lay supporters rebuilt the hospital. This success also met with tragedy as fire once again struck, burning down the hospital in 1765. Still, Marguerite did not crumble. She gathered her followers near to her and asked them to join her in giving praise to God and — once more — she began the work of rebuilding the hospital.
By 1771, Marguerite, exhausted from a lifetime of tragedy and service, fell ill. She died on December 23 of that year.
Her order has expanded and has houses throughout Canada and in the rest of the world as well.
On May 3, 1959 Pope John XXIII beatified Marguerite d’Youville, giving her the title of “Mother of Universal Charity.” Pope John Paul II canonized Marguerite on December 9, 1990 making her the first native-born Canadian to be canonized.
Her feast day is on April 11.
Dear St. Marguerite, as mother of the poor, you have been named patron of so many who need your help today: those in difficult marriages, those who have lost parents, people ridiculed for piety, victims of adultery, and widows.
As the enemies of Christianity continue to attack the Church, pray that we may all receive the grace of final perseverance. Amen.
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(Carole Breslin home-schooled her four daughters and served as treasurer of the Michigan Catholic Home Educators for eight years. For over ten years, she was national coordinator for the Marian Catechists, founded by Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ.)
