M. FRANCOIS DE LAVAL DE MONTMORENCI IS APPOINTED FIRST BISHOP OF
CANADA--SISTER BOURGEOIS SUCCEEDS IN BUILDING THE CHURCH OF "NOTRE DAME
DE BON SECOURS."
In the year 1659 M. Francois de Laval de Montmorenci was appointed first
bishop of Canada, having been hitherto known as the Abbe de Montigni.
The famous Henri Marie Bondon, author of many ascetic works, succeeded
him as arch-deacon of Evreux, M. de Laval having resigned in his favor.
He received his appointment from the French King, but as the Sovereign
Pontiff had not yet erected any portion of the Canadian church into the
diocese, came at first in quality of Vicar Apostolic, consecrated with
the title of Bishop of Petree. M. de Quelus, who had until then governed
the Church in New France, subject to the authority of the Archbishop of
Rouen, did not dispute the jurisdiction of Bishop Laval, but returned to
France immediately, accompanied by his secretary, M. d'Allet, to inform
his own Bishop of what had transpired in Canada. He never returned,
however, and died in Paris, in 1680, in the Seminary of St. Sulpice. M.
de Laval met Sister Bourgeois for the first time, during the voyage from
France, and having conceived a very high opinion of her virtue, gave
herself and companions permission to form in his diocese whatever
religious establishments they should consider most conducive to the
welfare of the country.
Almighty God in His inscrutable wisdom had so arranged matters that the
Institute of Sister Bourgeois should be born in a stable, like His own
divine Son, the Sisters being much happier there than if they were
lodged in a palace. As soon as circumstances permitted after her return,
she took occasion to revisit the chapel she attempted to build before
her departure, and found to her sorrow what she had foreseen, that the
greatest part of the lumber was in a state of decay, and quite
worthless. Yet, as she could not yield to despair, she collected from
the debris sufficient material to build a sort of shed, to be used
alternately as a chapel and a class-room until they could do better. The
piety and fervor of the new teachers attracted the attention of the
whole colony, and the schools in a short time became overcrowded, so
that Sister Bourgeois was induced to undertake the erection of a
building large enough to meet their wants. She had neither ground nor
money, but Divine Providence provided both, as M. de Maisonneuve, whose
devotion to the Blessed Virgin always prompted him to assist her, had
already given a deed of the property they then occupied, and added to it
fifty rods adjoining, with the clause that if the Congregation decided,
in the future, to build on a more extended plan, for which the present
site would not be suitable, the said fifty rods were to be deeded to the
hospital, in the vicinity, all which was legally arranged in the month
of February, 1658. M. Gabriel Souart, superior of the Seminary, donated
another piece of ground, upon which the convent stands today. Many other
gifts of real estate became also the property of Sister Bourgeois, and
were chiefly in the suburbs of the city, which was at last becoming
extensive. As soon as the plan for the building was completed every one
hastened to offer assistance, as an educational institution was
considered a public blessing, and it was evident that God inspired His
faithful servant to undertake the work. The building was so arranged
that one side should be occupied by the Sisters, the other being fitted
up for the boarders and schools. It was not fully completed when Sister
Bourgeois reflected that in the then unsettled state of things, and for
the security of the institution, it would be necessary to obtain letters
patent from the King. The reflection was a wise one, but to obtain the
letters would expose her to much personal humiliation, and also to great
dissipation and loss of time. At first it seemed possible to arrange
matters by procuring the approbation of the home authorities, that is to
say, of the Bishop and Governor-General. So she determined to set out
for Quebec, to present her petition to these distinguished persons,
hoping to have little difficulty in making them understand the utility
of the establishment. Messrs. Souart and Perrot gave her letters of
recommendation, and the inhabitants of Montreal, who knew the great
virtues and talents she concealed beneath the veil of humility,
assembled _en masse_ in the Seminary, to give to her petition the weight
of their united signatures. They also sent by her an humble supplication
to his majesty, or his representatives, entreating that the royal
sanction be given to insure the success of the establishment. Each one
separately signed his name to the document, and placed it in her hands.
They were all the more eager to help as they had often been compelled to
send their children to Quebec to the Ursulines, and the pressing need of
a home institution was becoming more apparent each day. Full of
confidence in God and His holy Mother, and furnished with these
respectable documents, she finally decided on no half-way course, but
set sail again for France, in the autumn of 1670, fearing neither
danger, nor the inconveniences conveniences of a third sea-voyage, to
obtain the succors she needed for others, more than for herself. What a
sublime spectacle it was, to see an humble, unattended woman cross the
great sea alone, and go in her simple attire, into the brilliant court
of the Great King, Louis XIV., to treat of the interests of religion and
the glory of God. Her success was as singular as her enterprise, and
though the journey was long, and full of pain and fatigue (she did not
return for two years), she felt abundantly repaid by the many advantages
and lasting good it produced. On her arrival in Paris, her first visit
was to the church of Notre Dame, to renew, before the altar of the
Blessed Virgin, the consecration she had there made of herself, in 1646,
in company of the Montreal Association. She implored the blessing of the
Queen of Heaven, on herself, her fellow-laborers in the schools of
Montreal, and her present undertaking, and then set to work to
accomplish her end. She visited some of the old friends of M. de
Maisonneuve, who were all persons of merit and high social position, and
were known to have much influence at court, in order to induce them to
procure her the favor of an interview with his majesty. These people had
not at all forgotten her, and had several letters of recommendation in
her favor. They knew the good she was capable of effecting, and made it
a point of honor to assist her. The King was in due course of time
informed of the matter, and seemed to be rather favorably inclined to
grant her request, yet six weary months elapsed without his giving a
decisive answer. Learning that his majesty was at Dunkirk in the May of
1671, she repaired thither, to renew solicitations, and at last obtained
the long-sought letters, which contained Catholic sentiments worthy of
the great French monarch. Being authorized by the royal patent, she next
tried to procure a new corps of volunteers, who would, like the first
heroic band, generously renounce home, family, and country, without hope
of ever returning, who would be willing to cross the great ocean, then
but imperfectly known, and devote their future lives to the instruction
of wild savages, as much as to the advancement of the French colonists,
expecting also that the relentless Iroquois would repay their Christian
love with the tomahawk or the scalping-knife, and in those days how
often was the expectation verified. Yet these considerations were
precisely what attracted a great number of talented young girls, fully
capable of sustaining and perfecting the enterprise, and worthy to share
with the holy Foundress the labor, the glory, and the success that
awaited the Congregation in Ville-Marie. She procured her postulants in
the towns that lie scattered between Troyes and Paris, and she as often
travelled on foot carrying her little bundle of poor clothing, as she
did in the public conveyances, that were disagreeable to her, because
the roads were rough, and the companions she met were frequently
dissolute libertines, although her modest exterior and edifying
conversation frequently silenced their licentious discourses. In fact
her travels were a sort of continuous mission, effecting good for the
souls of her neighbor, and advancing her own spiritual perfection. At
such times she refused all personal convenience, so great was her spirit
of poverty, humility, and mortification, and she possessed these virtues
in an eminent degree. Liberal and generous to others, when there was
question of charity or the glory of God, to herself she was rigorous in
the extreme. She truly possessed nothing, giving all the fruit of her
labors to the poor. But Divine Providence never failed her in the hour
of need.
Once, during this visit, she met a gentleman in the streets of Paris,
who suddenly stopped to ask if she knew a lady from Canada, named
Margaret Bourgeois. "I am the person," she replied. Surprised at the
unexpected rencontre, he placed a considerable sum of money in her hands
(she had not wherewith to pay her night's-lodging at the time), which
she refused to accept, not knowing his motive for doing so, but was soon
relieved of her embarrassment, by his assuring her he was only repaying
a charity she had done him in Ville-Marie, and that it afforded him
great pleasure to be able to return her generosity, as he could well
afford to do it at the time.
Travelling thus, through the towns and villages like the Saviour of the
world, He prevented her by the unction of His grace, and prepared
beforehand faithful hearts, who were willing to enter the new society,
and consecrate themselves to the service of God under her guidance. Six
young persons responded to her call. Their names were Sisters Elizabeth,
Genevieve, Constantine, Durant, Marianne, and Margaret. Filled with holy
joy, and accompanied by her new companions, Sister Bourgeois went to
cast herself at the feet of her Bishop, and offer him the fruit of her
journeyings and prayers.
M. de Laval was at that time in the college of Foreign Missions in
Paris, not only in quality of Bishop of Petree, Vicar-Apostolic of
Canada, as he had been up to that period, but also as the first Bishop
of Quebec. For it was not until the year 1672 that the important
question of erecting the church of Quebec into a titular Bishopric was
at last happily decided. The prelate approved the Sister's persevering
labors, bestowed the most ample benedictions on herself and her young
recruits, and received their first religious consecration to the service
of God and the Church. He placed no bounds to his favors, and renewed
the general permission given before, to erect schools, and form any
other religious establishment in his diocese that they should judge
beneficial to the colony. Everything seemed to succeed with this holy
woman, and she attributed all her past success, as well as what the
future might develop, to the special protection of the Blessed Virgin.
Her confidence in her good Mother was boundless, and she considered it
an essential duty to depend on her in all things, and inspired her
daughters with a similar devotion. She wished it to be perpetuated in
the Institute, and desired that the name and livery of Mary might be
distinctly traceable in their houses, their furniture, and their
personal appearance forever.
Having now obtained all that she desired in France she thought it full
time to return to Canada, after a long though unavoidable absence.
Before embarking, she felt it was a duty of Christian politeness to call
on the distinguished people who had assisted her in procuring the
letters patent, and thanking them for their many kindnesses. No person
could be more punctilious than she in the duties of social etiquette
that charity approved, and religion did not condemn. By a particular
dispensation of Providence, her first visit was made to the house of M.
Pierre Chevrier, Baron de Faucamp, a priest, and one of the first
proprietors of the Isle of Montreal, who then resided at Paris. In the
house of this gentleman she received another most singular mark of the
Blessed Virgin's love and protection.
M. de Faucamp had in his possession a small miraculous statue of the
Mother of God, which he, conjointly with his brother, Louis le Pretre,
had taken from among a number of precious relics, in their castle
chapel. It had been specially venerated, and carefully preserved for
more than a century. Their intention was to send it to Ville-Marie,
where they hoped it would be more religiously taken care of than
elsewhere, as that city was really the city of Mary, having been built
in her honor, and consecrated to her service. While awaiting a favorable
opportunity to send the statue to the New World, Sister Bourgeois
fortunately presented herself. During the two days that M. Faucamp had
it in his house he fell dangerously ill, the sickness proving to be a
fatal attack of inflammation of the lungs, and the physicians despaired
of his life. In this emergency he made a vow, while praying before the
miraculous statue, that if Mary cured him, he would everywhere publish
her praises, and do all in his power to build a chapel in her honor, for
which he would donate thirty pistoles to commence a fund for the
purpose, begging also in his simplicity that she, the Mother of God,
would not go to Montreal, and leave one of her most devoted clients sick
in France. Scarcely had he pronounced his vow before he was perfectly
restored to health. The following day Sister Bourgeois called upon him,
and he could not help recognizing the wonderful providence of God in her
visit. He immediately gave her the statue and the money, with an
authentic certificate of the miracle performed on himself the day
before, and Sister was happier in the possession of these treasures,
than if she had gained the wealth of the universe. Never, indeed, was
human confidence better placed than on this occasion.
They set sail soon after, and arrived safely at Quebec on the 13th of
August, the same year. She sent her band of heroines direct to
Ville-Marie, for which they had so often sighed during their
journeyings, and the very name of which animated their zeal and fervor,
but she herself was detained at Quebec for some time. It was necessary
to have the letters patent registered by the local authorities so that
she would be at liberty to put their contents in execution, when Divine
Providence presented an occasion. Her desire was complied with as soon
as known, the act of registration taking place on the 17th of October,
1672, after which she set out for Ville-Marie to join her daughters, and
labor anew in the service of God. Glorying in being the custodian of the
miraculous statue, she hastened to relate its wonderful history to
Messrs. Souart and Perrot, who authorized her to expose it for public
veneration. She deposited it in the little wooden shed she had erected
after her first return from France, expecting to be able to place it
more honorably in the large chapel, that was to be built of stone, and
decently ornamented. This chapel was to be a kind of station for the
ordinary parish processions, and a place of pilgrimage for those who had
a devotion to the most holy Virgin, when they wished to visit the statue
in order to obtain spiritual or temporal blessings through Mary's
intercession, such being the intention of Messrs. le Pretre and Faucamp,
and of many other devout persons who had contributed towards its
erection.
Despite the sorrow and humiliations she had already experienced
regarding this chapel, she set to work again with renewed energy to
effect its completion, but in order to proceed with suitable solemnity,
M. Souart ordered a solemn procession to be made to the place, on the
29th of June, 1673, being the Feast of the Apostles SS. Peter and Paul.
A great concourse of people attended Vespers after the procession, and
M. Souart, the celebrant, put a crucifix in the place destined for the
altar, and the next day laid the corner-stone, in the name, and as the
agent of M. de Faucamp. Sister Bourgeois labored indefatigably to
procure and disburse the necessary funds, a portion of which she had
received in France, as we have seen, the remainder being contributed in
Ville-Marie. The Sisters themselves assisted generously out of their
private funds, and others donated materials or labor which was
equivalent. The interior decorations were quite elaborate, and in due
course of time the church was finished to the satisfaction of every one.
It was the first _stone_ church erected in Montreal, and was consecrated
under the title of "Notre Dame de Bon-Secours." Mass was celebrated in
it for the first time on the Feast of the Assumption, 1675, this day of
Mary's glorious triumph being selected as its principal Festival. The
work being thus happily completed, Sister Bourgeois, in the hope of
making it contribute more effectually to the glory of God, requested the
cure and church-warden of the parish to accept the new monument of piety
for public use, and make it a perpetuity of the parish, in order to
promote devotion to the Mother of God. The donation was of course
accepted with gratitude, and confirmed by an ordinance of M. de Laval,
dated November 6, 1678. Some years afterwards, by a new arrangement,
dated January 17, 1700, La Fabrique gave the Sisters suitable lots for
free sepulture, and the unrestricted use of the Chapel of the Infant
Jesus, for their private devotional exercises, which act was approved
and confirmed by M. de St. Vallier, the second Bishop of Quebec, during
one of his pastoral visitations in 1719. This church of Bon-Secours
served for many years as a convent chapel to the Hospitalieres of the
Hotel-Dieu, when their hospital and convent was burned down in 1734, and
when they were obliged to lodge their sick in the houses adjoining the
church, until their re-establishment, which did not take place for three
or four years.
We learn from a letter of Sister Bourgeois, that these same religieuses
had been previously burned out in 1695, but that their hospital escaped
the fury of the flames at that time. They sought and found a refuge with
the Sisters of the Congregation, after the second burning, issuing forth
daily to serve the sick, and returning at night to discharge the
reciprocal duties of charity, consequent upon two different communities
residing in the same house, and unavoidably crowding each other, yet no
violation of charity ever occurred, and long before the day of
separation came, an enduring friendship founded on Christ had mutually
existed between them. This famous chapel of Bon-Secours was burned, and
reduced to ashes in 1754, as was also a portion of the city of Montreal.
The war between France and England occurring about that time, the
citizens neglected to rebuild Bon-Secours, and the capture of
Ville-Marie by the English, which took place on the Feast of the
Nativity of Mary, 1760, was perhaps justly attributed to public
disorders and licentiousness (the colonists in many instances having
lost their first fervor), and was also considered a just punishment for
not having erected anew the once favored shrine of Mary. Canada having
exchanged masters, and being under the dominion of the King of England,
who was a Protestant ruler, the inhabitants of Montreal did not think
the time favorable to rebuild the church, and it remained a ruin until
1771. They repented of their inaction, however, and reproached
themselves with cowardice, attributing to their neglect the
extraordinary calamities that befell them. The city was scourged by two
other general conflagrations, the first occurring on the 18th of May,
1765, when in the short space of four hours, one hundred houses were
consumed. The burning was so violent, that the flames leaped beyond the
city limits, reaching out to the General Hospital, which was soon a mass
of smoking cinders. The second occurred on the 11th of April, 1768, more
than eighty of the best public buildings being destroyed, including the
chapel and residence of the Sisters of the Congregation, also the chapel
of our Lady of Victories, which was built on their grounds in 1711, the
repaired ruins of which serve to this day for school purposes.
Much suffering and misery was the result of these calamities, but what
struck terror to the hearts of the entire community, more than any other
scourge of God, was the insolent demand made by some British officers,
for the land on which Bon-Secours, or rather its ruins, stood. They then
thought seriously of repairing their fault, and a general assembly of
the citizens of Montreal was called in June, 1771, at which it was
unanimously decided that they must labor strenuously to rebuild the
chapel. They at once appointed persons to draw the plans and superintend
the work, and in less than eight days the foundation was dug, and
everything was in readiness. On the 30th of the same month they
inaugurated the building of the second temple with the same religious
ceremonies that a hundred years before had called down the material
benedictions of Mary Immaculate on the first cornerstone, or rather on
those who laid it. The entire city turned out in procession, with an
enthusiasm and splendor worthy the admiration of succeeding ages, the
foundation-stones being put in place by the most distinguished men of
Montreal. The first was laid directly under the sanctuary, by Etienne
Montgolfier, Vicar-General of the diocese, with the following
inscription: "This church is dedicated to the Great and All-powerful
God, and the Blessed Mary of Good Help, with the title of her glorious
Assumption." The second was laid under the grand entrance door, by Louis
Jollivet, beneath which was placed the following scroll: "This church
was built nearly a century ago, by the Venerable Sister Margaret
Bourgeois, Foundress of the Congregation Sisters of this city, but
having been burnt in 1754, the citizens of Ville-Marie, who have ever
been the devoted clients of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on this day, June
30, 1771, place the first stone for its re-establishment, on a much more
extensive plan than the original design." The other stones were placed
under different parts of the building, by persons of the highest rank,
and under each was deposited a leaden plate, on which was engraven the
name and rank of the depositor. In the midst of this general enthusiasm,
there soon arose the vast and magnificent edifice that we behold to-day.
Every one worked for it in some way or other, and believed it was an act
of religious reparation to defray the expense. Sister Bourgeois and her
daughters had contributed largely the first time, and their descendants
would not be outdone in generosity on this occasion. They donated 600
livres to "the rebuilding of the temple." The work was pressed forward
with all diligence and zeal, and was completely finished in less than
two years. On the 30th of June, 1773, it was solemnly blessed amid the
acclamations of the entire people and Mass was celebrated in it ever
after.
But to return from this long digression. When Sister Bourgeois arrived
at Ville-Marie in 1672, she realized the full responsibility of
governing and providing for so many young aspirants to religion, and
began to think seriously of giving some regular form to the community.
Her second batch of postulants had already obtained in Paris the
approbation of M. de Laval, who received their primary engagements, and
she ardently desired that her first beloved companions should enjoy the
same precious advantage, having labored with her faithfully for twelve
years at Ville-Marie. She wrote on the subject to M. Bornieres,
arch-deacon of Quebec, who represented M. de Laval in his absence, this
prelate being still in France. The reply of the distinguished
ecclesiastic, dated November 4, 1674, was:
"MY DEAR SISTER,--I have received the letter in which you ask, 'Is it
proper to receive now, _formally_, in your Congregation, the Sisters who
first came with you to Canada, or will it be necessary to await the
return of the bishop?' Although I am persuaded of the propriety of what
you ask, nevertheless, it will be more prudent to await his return, as
he has written to me regarding both you and your Congregation, for which
he testifies much esteem. It will be best that he regulate everything
himself, as he will certainly make his intentions known to you. I trust
that all will be arranged satisfactorily, for the glory of God, the
salvation of souls, and your own consolation, and shall offer every
assistance in my power for the good work. I salute your esteemed
daughters, and recommend myself to their prayers and yours."
M. de Laval returned to Canada the following year. The Sisters were all
of the same grade, no distinctions having been made; all wore a uniform
dress, similar to that ordinarily worn by pious women of the middle
class. The color was black, being the same in every respect as Sister
Bourgeois herself wore on her first arrival at Ville-Marie, and which
the Sisters continue to wear to this day. We will refer again to her
Memoirs. She says:
"In 1670, I found it necessary to undertake another journey to France,
and had long felt inspired to make it. As I was suffering much from
mental anxiety, I hoped that an interview with M. de Laval would afford
me some solace. He was then only Vicar-Apostolic of Canada, but I had
great confidence in his wisdom, and hoped he would impart to me the
light necessary for governing our community. I was told that I should
bring with me to France the King's letters, and endeavor to procure more
postulants. For these purposes, I obtained the consent of the Sisters,
and was furnished with many letters of recommendation, from the priests
of the Quebec and Montreal Seminaries. I also had one from M. Perrot,
Governor of Montreal, and successor of M. de Maisonneuve. The Governor,
who was a Parisian, recommended me to his family there. I left Montreal
accompanied by M. de Fenelon, who gave me a passage in his boat, to
Quebec. He was returning to France on business, and wished to sail in
the same ship with me. Father Fremi, a Jesuit, also embarked with us. On
arriving at Quebec, I found myself very much indisposed, and was obliged
to remain in the hospital a few days, as the ship was to depart when the
wind became favorable. I requested M. de Fenelon to permit his servant
to take charge of my box, which contained the papers above referred to,
and of a little package of clothing, that constituted my entire baggage,
and to place them safely on board. The captain politely consented, but
his servant entirely forgot both myself and my baggage. Recovering from
my indisposition in two or three days, I went on board without further
precaution, but alas, found that I was minus the precious box, M. de
Fenelon delayed a short time to find it, but all in vain. It was not
forthcoming. As the vessel was obliged to sail with the wind, I wrote in
haste to M. Dupuis, Major of the garrison of Montreal, who was in Quebec
at the time, begging him to search for my box, and if he found it, to
forward it to France, by any ship he might find convenient. I
particularly requested him to send the papers, and to return the rest to
our Sisters in Montreal. He fortunately found the box, and I received it
in France shortly after. Behold me, then, embarked without clothing,
without provisions, without money, without anything for the voyage.
Worse still, I was the only female in the ship, but there were two good
priests among the passengers, who gave me great consolation. I arranged
a sack and a roll of cordage for my bed, on deck, with an improvised
enclosure. This was my _chamber_ during my passage; which was not very
long, however, as we arrived at La Rochelle in thirty-one days. I had
not made a change of underclothing during the voyage, as I had nothing
to make it with, except a piece of coarse canvas given me for a
mattress. This I converted into a night-dress, but, like all the rest,
it was lost. In this unpleasant condition I found myself at La Rochelle,
which country was strange to me, and I was one hundred leagues from
Paris. It was truly an embarrassing position, and I felt it so. It is
true, one of the priests offered me a supply of money, as payment for
some work that I and my companions had done for him during our first
stay in Quebec, but as I knew I had money in my box when it would
arrive, I refused his offer, saying I would be better pleased to receive
it in Paris, where I should need it more. It is also true that I had
lent 132 livres to a young man in Montreal, who had given a note for it,
payable in Paris, and that I had forwarded this note to M. Blondel, who
had hitherto transacted our business in France, but he died some time
previous to my arrival, and I was left without resource, the note not
having been paid, nor could it be found at the time. M. Fenelon was also
short of funds, yet he contrived to lend me fifty livres, the greater
part of which I used to pay my fare to Paris. With the balance I bought
food, and an absolutely necessary change of clothing. The captain and
the two priests managed to get me a comfortable seat in the stage, and
also a good room at the inn, but I took my meals apart, although they
invited me to dine with them."
She at last arrived in the great city, and went directly to the church
of Notre Dame, to renew the consecration of herself to God and His holy
Mother, then visited the College of Foreign Missions, to receive her
Bishop's blessing, and give him an account of her voyage, although she
did not reveal her distress to him. The prelate received her with
kindness, but as it was late, the visit was necessarily a short one, and
she went away, almost dead with hunger and fatigue, to pass the night at
the house of a poor woman, in the quarter of St. Sulpice. Next morning
very early she went to the church, to perform her usual devotions, and
after Mass a priest carried the Blessed Sacrament in procession to a
sick person. She followed till they arrived at the door of the Seminary.
Here Divine Providence again interposed in her favor, for one of the two
priests who stood near the door said to his companion in a loud,
distinct voice, "I have just received a letter from Canada, in which I
am directed to pay one hundred livres to a person I do not know. Her
name is Margaret Bourgeois." "That is my name," she said, turning
quickly, "but, if the money is for me, I do not know from whom it
comes." The good priest named the person who had written to him, and she
instantly recognized the name of a valued friend, one of the priests in
the Seminary at Quebec, who, not having funds to pay her before the
embarkation, took care that the money should reach her safely in Paris.
It was accordingly handed to her, and she went directly to pay the kind
captain his fifty livres. Again this favored daughter of God adored His
Divine Providence. She now confidently expected to receive her papers,
and did receive them a few moments later. On opening the box, she took
out her letters of recommendation, and, leaving a few at the Seminary,
set out to find the relatives of Messrs. Perrot and de Maisonneuve. She
first called at the address given in M. Perrot's letter. As her
appearance was not very presentable, after a long, and not over-clean
voyage, she met with a very cool reception. However, when her
fashionable entertainers read the letter (the contents of which she did,
not know), they soon changed contempt into respect, as M. Perrot had
requested them to receive her as they would receive himself, assuring
them that in Canada she was regarded as a little saint. She was
consequently invited to dinner, which she gladly accepted, as she was
much in need of it at the moment, but their ceremonious attentions did
not agree with her spirit of mortification and humility, and she
absolutely refused to remain over-night, although they pressed her quite
warmly to do so. She next visited M. de Maisonneuve, arriving at a very
late hour, as it was in the suburbs of the city. It is impossible to
express the joy that this great servant of God experienced on seeing her
again. He actually _ran_ to meet her and cordially offered the
hospitality of a little house he had just erected in one corner of his
garden, telling her that he had it made to look like an Indian cabin,
expecting some one from Canada might call who would be pleased to see
anything to remind them of home, and her visit fulfilled his
presentiment. She gratefully accepted the kind offer, and lodged there
during her stay in Paris. This tried and life-long friend then took
charge of her affairs, and rendered her the most important services. A
few days after, as they were talking about old times in Ville-Marie, he
desired to show her some papers, and laying his hand by chance on a
shelf of the library, took down a paper, which proved to be the
_identical note for 132 livres_, that she had believed lost. After the
death of M. Blondel, it had been placed for safe-keeping in the hands of
M. de Maisonneuve. She received it very gratefully, of course, but not
at all avariciously. Here the memoirs of Sister Bourgeois become
irregular, in both dates and events, which were perhaps so crowded that
she could not devote time to take note of them in the order of
occurrence, so we will content ourselves by relating a few incidents of
traditional report before again returning to the authentic manuscripts.
At the time of her second return to Montreal, with the six new subjects
that M. de Laval received in France, she found it necessary to secure
the services of an honest, robust man, who would be willing to work for
them, when necessary, during their travels. She accordingly made a
contract with a man named Louis Frin, whom she also hoped to employ in
teaching a boy's school in Montreal, in place of the young man that died
after his arrival in Canada. This Louis Frin became afterwards Brother
Charon, and eventually was known as Brother Louis. Her next care was to
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
sort of travelling community, of which she was the head, and during the
passage performed regular devotional exercises before the statue of Our
Lady of Good Help. They were indeed under the protection of God and His
holy Mother, for, although England and France were then at war, they
carried in the ship no other, artillery than brave hearts and arms. When
the voyage was about half made, the captain, who was constantly on the
look-out, descried four English ships, which he calculated contained at
least twenty-six pieces of cannon. They were making, as it seemed,
direct head-way for them, and as he was totally unprepared for such an
emergency, he called out to Sister Bourgeois, in accents of unfeigned
terror: "We are lost, we are lost; betake yourselves to prayer, at once,
you and your companions." But before his entreaty was ended, one-half of
her companions had fainted. Strange to say, all on board, including the
strongest men, turned to Sister Bourgeois for protection, feeling
persuaded that her prayers only could save them from becoming the prey
of the dreaded English. But her brave and holy spirit knew no fear. She
was looking intently at the white statue of Notre Dame de Bon-Secours,
and said, smiling, "If they do take us prisoners they will lead us to
England or to Holland, and we shall find God there as well as here, and
is not God everywhere?" Her wonderful tranquillity restored immediate
confidence, and all knelt quietly in prayer. It being Sunday, Father le
Fevre prepared calmly to celebrate Mass, although the English ships
approached rapidly, and, wonderful to relate, in less than two hours,
the foe had disappeared completely, so that the Holy Sacrifice was
followed by the glorious _Te Deum_. Every one on board believed that
this remarkable deliverance was the work of _Notre Dame de Bon-Secours_.
They arrived without further accident at Quebec on the 13th of August,
having been at sea just one month and eleven days. She had scarcely set
foot on land, when an imprudent person informed her that the community
in Montreal were in a state of starvation, and that their house was in a
ruinous condition, to which she replied simply--"God's holy will be
done--even if it falls to the ground, he can raise it again, when it
pleases Him." She found the report unhappily verified, however, on
arriving at Montreal, as the Sisters were absolutely destitute, yet she
entertained no fears. Her confidence in God being unshaken, she could
always look calmly and hopefully at the vicissitudes of this changeful
passing life. The poor Sisters were exceedingly pained to have nothing
better than _bread_ and _lard_ to offer her for dinner, but she assured
them it was very acceptable to a hungry person, and directed Sister
Genevieve, the cook, to prepare a good supper for the community. "What
shall I prepare it with?" said the simple Sister, "_we have nothing in
the house_." "Never distrust the Providence of God," was the
answer,--"go to your kitchen, and you will find food." In fact, that
very afternoon several persons came to visit them, bringing abundance of
all kinds of provisions, so that the Sisters were lost in astonishment,
and silently adored the providence of that God, who never abandons those
that trust in Him.