Saint of the Month - October 2019: Saint Marguerite D'Youville

St. Marguerite D'Youville

A Light in the New World

Feast: October 16th

October's Saint of the Month hails from our neighbor up north - Canada. Her name is Marguerite d'Youville and she was the foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal. Born on October 15, 1701, in the town of Varennes, Marguerite was the oldest of six children. Tragedy struck early on in her life when, at the age of seven, she lost her father whose untimely death left the once-prosperous family impoverished. The event had the effect of maturing the little girl, who had to assist her mother in running their busy household and raising her younger siblings, all while attending a school run by the Ursulines Sisters of Québec. Thanks to the influence of these nuns, piety was instilled in young Marguerite's heart.

"I have never lost confidence in

our Heavenly Father."

~ Words of St. Marguerite

After her mother remarried, the family packed up and relocated to Montreal where the lovely Marguerite met the wealthy Francois d'Youville. He was charming, at first, and she consented to marry him in 1722... but it wasn't long after that his true colors showed - Francois became involved in the seedy business of trafficking in alcohol with the native Indians in exchange for furs. This enterprise often caused his long absences from home but, despite his excursions into the Canadian wilderness, the couple managed to have six children of which only two survived past infancy.

In the face of these multiple tragedies, the indifferent Francois proved to be of little comfort to his grieving wife so in her loneliness and sadness Marguerite turned to her faith for consolation. Perhaps this was all part of God's grand design for this Saint because, rather than becoming an embittered soul in the face of all her personal trials, she developed a deep spirit of compassion and charity for those around her who were also suffering.

As for Francois, upon returning home from one of his illicit dealings, he came down with a sudden and serious illness, himself. Marguerite lovingly cared for him until his death in 1730, which left Marguerite a widow by age 30... and in debt again.

"All the wealth in the world cannot be

compared with the happiness of living

together happily united."

~ Words of St. Marguerite

Now free of any marital obligations, the young widow focused her energy not just into raising her two surviving boys (they both became priests) but she also opened a small store to support her family, pay her husband's debts, and to fund several charitable endeavors. Furthermore, Marguerite began welcoming the least fortunate into her home, beginning with a poor blind woman. The ministry grew, despite strong opposition and ridicule from members of her own family and a few skeptical neighbors. Like-minded women joined the budding foundress and by 1737 the group was a pious association with its members consecrating themselves to the exercise of charity - it was the birth of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, which became an official congregation in 1745. The Sisters eventually adopted a beige-grey habit, earning them the enduring nickname of the "Grey Nuns" from the locals.

In 1747, the Grey Nuns were given charge of the Montreal General Hospital, which had fallen into disarray and facing bankcruptcy. Through the capable administration of Marguerite and her sisters, the hospital was rescued from its debt, restored, and expanded.

For the rest of her life, Marguerite worked and served alongside her sisters - instilling in them by her personal example - the importance of their charitable work, combined with a deep prayer life and unwavering trust in Divine Providence. The foundress - the "Mother of the Poor", as she came to be called - died in the general hospital on December 23, 1771, after seeing her work expanded to other towns in Canada.  A luminous cross appeared in the sky above the hospital upon her passing, confirming her sanctity to the masses.

Pope John Paul II declared Marguerite D'Youville a Saint in December 1990.

Prayer to St. Marguerite d'Youville

(from the Sanctuaire Youville, Canada)