Saint Marguerite d'Youville
Marguerite d'Youville, the first native Canadian to be elevated to sainthood, was born on October 15, 1701, in Varennes, Quebec. She was the eldest child of Christophe Dufrost de Lajemmerais and Marie-Renée Gaultier. Tragically, her father passed away when she was only seven years old, leaving the family in dire poverty. Her great-grandfather, Pierre Boucher, played a crucial role in enabling her to study at the Ursulines in Quebec for two years. Upon her return home, she became an invaluable support to her mother and took on the responsibility of educating her siblings.
Marguerite's life faced more challenges when she married François d'Youville in 1722. Unfortunately, the marriage brought difficulties, including her mother-in-law making her life difficult, and her husband's frequent absences due to involvement in illegal liquor trading with the Aboriginal communities, which caused her significant suffering. She faithfully cared for François when he became seriously ill and eventually passed away in 1730. By the age of 29, Marguerite had endured severe poverty and the loss of her father and husband, with four of her six children dying in infancy.
Throughout these hardships, Marguerite's belief in God's presence in her life and His love for every human being grew. She longed to share God's compassionate love with all. She undertook charitable works, placing complete trust in God, whom she loved as a Father.
Marguerite ensured her two sons received an education and welcomed a blind woman into her home. Three young women who shared her passion for helping the poor joined her, and on December 31, 1737, they consecrated themselves to God, promising to serve Him in the person of the poor. Marguerite, without realizing it, became the foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, known as the "Grey Nuns."
Marguerite's dedication to the rights of the poor challenged the social norms of her time and led to ridicule and taunts from her relatives and neighbours. Despite numerous obstacles, she persevered in caring for the poor.
In 1745, she and her two early companions pledged to help more people in need. Two years later, at the age of 64, she became the director of the Charon Brothers Hospital in Montreal, which was falling into ruin. She, along with her sisters, rebuilt the hospital and cared for those in dire human misery. Marguerite's selflessness laid the foundation for serving the countless faces of poverty.
In 1765, a fire destroyed the hospital, but it couldn't extinguish Marguerite's faith and courage. She asked her sisters and the poor residents to see the hand of God in this disaster and offer Him praise.
At the age of 64, Marguerite undertook the reconstruction of the shelter for those in need. Exhausted from a lifetime of selfless service, she passed away on December 23, 1771, leaving a legacy as a loving mother who served Jesus Christ in the poor.
Marguerite may have been one woman, but her vision for caring for the poor has spread worldwide. Her sisters have served on almost every continent. Today, the mission she began continues with hope and courage, carried on by the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, "Grey Nuns," and their sister communities: the Sisters of Charity of St. Hyacinthe, the Sisters of Charity at Ottawa, the Sisters of Charity of Quebec, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (Philadelphia), and the Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (Pembroke).