The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret BourgeoisAnonymous
History
The Life of Venerable Sister Margaret Bourgeois
Anonymous
Bourgeoys, Marguerite, Saint, 1620-1700
secure passages for her young charge of eleven girls, three of whom were
her nieces. Six of this band were intended for the community, the
remainder being destined to become the wives of as many colonists. On
this occasion they set out from Paris by way of Normandy, taking a boat
on the Seine as far as Rouen. Here they were compelled to remain one
month, and as they were not rich, their funds were on the point of being
exhausted, the expense of maintaining so many persons being very
considerable. Madeline Senecal kept the purse, and found it necessary to
warn Sister Bourgeois that she had not sufficient money to meet the
current week's expenses. "You seem to distrust the Providence of God, my
child," replied Sister, in a tone of rebuke, but immediately added in a
pleasant manner, "Since it is evident that we must have a dinner of
_some kind_, fear nothing, God will provide it himself." And God did
provide it, for that same week, Louis Frin, who had remained in Paris
with M. de Maisonneuve arranging some business matters, arrived at
Rouen, bringing to each of the girls a draft for 200 livres, and also
the means of purchasing a full supply of provisions, until their arrival
at Quebec. Behold how God provides for those who trust in Him. Departing
from Rouen, they arrived at Havre-de-Grace, one of the seaports of
Normandy, and were obliged to wait fifteen days for the arrival of the
ship that was to take them forever from home and country. During these
unavoidable delays, Sister Bourgeois occupied both herself and them with
the most fervent exercises of piety. Among others, they proposed a
pilgrimage to the celebrated shrine of "Our Lady of Snows," to procure
through _her_ intercession the favor of a successful voyage. This shrine
was one of the most famous places of devotion to the Blessed Virgin in
France. It was decided to make the pilgrimage on foot, and although they
set out early in the morning, they did not arrive at the shrine until
quite a late hour. Two priests resided here in a kind of monastery, one
of whom had just concluded his morning Mass, the other being confined to
his room for six weeks by sickness. When Sister told the first Father
the object of their pilgrimage, he immediately repaired to his invalid
brother priest, whom he found partially dressed and still fasting. Both
returned to the church, and heard the confessions of the devoted young
pilgrims. The sick Father, who had not been able to walk for a long time
without the aid of a crutch, then said Mass without the least
inconvenience. All fervently received Holy Communion from his hands, and
_he was fully restored to health_. Two days after they set sail for
Canada, Father Jean Baptiste le Fevre, who was destined for the Montreal
Seminary, accompanying them on the voyage. The anchor was weighed, while
all on deck with uncovered heads, implored the protection of Mary, Star
of the Sea. The heroic young postulants, with Sister Bourgeois, formed a
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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