Hardship and danger can deter some people. But for St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, hardship and danger gave rise to an active and purposeful life.
The hardships and dangers of living in the Canadian wilderness inspired Marguerite to serve the Native Americans and the settlers. Marguerite went to the governor of Ville Marie and convinced him to let her open a school.
When Marguerite arrived in Ville Marie, she realized that children did not live to an age old enough for school. So, Marguerite went to work in the hospital. She helped Jeanne Mance, who ran the hospital, to change this tragedy. When Marguerite eventually had some children to teach, she set up a school in a stable.
Marguerite enlisted other women to work with her. They called themselves the Congregation of Notre Dame. They were an order of teaching sisters. In addition to children, the sisters taught women how to survive in the frontier.
In 1679, the bishop told Marguerite she and the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame had to join with a cloistered order of Ursulines. The bishop’s order would put an end to all the good work of the Congregation. But Marguerite did not give up easily. She explained to the bishop that the sisters could not do their good work in a cloister. Eventually the bishop replied, “I cannot doubt, Mother Bourgeoys, that you will succeed in moving heaven and earth as you have moved me!”
The Congregation of Notre Dame remained an active teaching order. It was one of the very first of its kind for women.
