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Saint Marguerite d’Youville
Feast Day: October 16
Marie Marguerite d’Youville was born on October 15, 1701 in Varennes, Quebec and baptized the next day at St. Anne’s Parish. She was the first of six children born to Christophe DuFrost de Lajemmerals and Marie Renee Gaultier. Marguerite’s father died when she was only seven years old. Therefore she learned very early how to be a caregiver as she helped her mother provide for her family.
At the age of twenty, Marguerite married Francois d’Youville. Soon after Marguerite married, she became aware that Francois was only interested in money. He was a gambler and bootlegger. The couple had six children though only two lived to adulthood. After only eight years of marriage, Francois died leaving Marguerite with the incredible burdens of and paying off his enormous debts, and raising two young sons. Eventually, those two boys became priests.
Out of her own poverty, Marguerite was inspired to help others. She visited the poor in the hospital and mended their clothes. She begged for money to bury criminals. She helped anyone in need of food, clothing, or shelter.
In time, Marguerite’s selfless acts inspired three other women. On December 31, 1737, Louise Thaumur la Source, Catherine Cusson, and Catherine Demers joined Marguerite. They consecrated themselves to serve the poor. These women became the founders of the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, the “Grey Nuns.”
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