At the same time Marguerite Bourgeoys, seeing herself without workers
for the future development of her teaching institution, asked
permission to accompany Mademoiselle Mance, who needed assistance in
her crippled condition, and to seek teachers among her old friends of
the Congregation of Troyes.
But although M. de Queylus had consented to the plan of Jeanne Mance,
he nevertheless was desirous of seeing the hospital work undertaken by
a branch of the Quebec Hospitalières, whose acquaintance he had made.
Consequently under the pretext of change of air, he had two of them
sent on to Montreal, and these arrived two days before the departure of
Jeanne Mance and Marguerite Bourgeoys.
Jeanne Mance, however, had no intention of giving the control of the
hospital to any but the La Flèche Hospitalières, and being, by the act
of foundation, the administratrix of the Hôtel-Dieu, she appointed a
pious widow known as "Mademoiselle" de la Bardillère, to replace her,
and the continuance of the Quebec nuns in Montreal was only justified
by the acceptance of the invitation of Marguerite Bourgeoys to teach
school during her absence. The two foundresses left Ville Marie on
September 20, 1658, and embarked at Quebec on a merchant vessel on
October 14th. They proceeded to La Flèche to see M. de la Dauversière
and thence to Paris. At the touch of the casket containing the heart of
M. Olier, her biographers tell of the complete cure of Jeanne Mance's
helpless wrist and hand, the news of which spread among the pious
ladies and supporters of the Company of Montreal, and created a great
sensation in Paris.
FOOTNOTES:
[78] "A History of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, St. Gabriel Street,
Montreal," by the Rev. Robert Campbell, M. A., the last pastor, 1887.
[79] M. Huguet Latour in his note on L'église de Notre Dame de
Bonsecours in the Annuaire de Montreal, 1874, says that it was finished
in 1659. The second chapel, which was of stone, was also built by
Marguerite Bourgeoys and by her given to the Marguilliers of the parish
in June, 1678. The benediction of the first stone was given on June
30, 1673, by M. Gabriel Souart, Curé, and the church was blessed and
the first mass said there on August 15, 1675. This was the first stone
church in the whole of the island of Montreal. It was reduced to ashes
in 1754, but was rebuilt in 1771 and altered since several times.
CHAPTER XII
1659
THE NEW REINFORCEMENT FOR MONTREAL
THE COMING OF LAVAL
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