St Louis Academy - Academic Log Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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s st as'-1fexam21u1mnlmumlmulmslzexesssra' G L E ,x N 1 N ts s X ,aagafsggmuinniuuuiluilllllllllrsesssue-r1-1-: , Q MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS History as it folds back its glory-crowned scroll, in recounting Faith's awaken- ing in the wilds of North America, reveals among other noble names that of our Venerable Mother Bourgeoysn. She was an outstanding figure among those missionaries who planted the seed of Faith in the hearts of the savage Indians who inhabited North America. She was a most valiant woman, a pearl beyond compare, of whom the world knows but little because of her characteristic love for obscurity. When we read her life and get an insight into her noble character, we do not wonder that she was God's chosen one to launch upon the most daring educational innovation that the world has ever seen-the founding of the first uncloistered teaching community of women in the church-The Congregation de Notre Dame. It seems significant that Marguerite Bourgeoys should be born and baptized on Good Friday, April 17, 1620, for it is said of her: In Calvary's soil Marguerite grew, Close by the Blood-stained Tree, And from the pierced Heart she drew The glow of Charity. Marguerite was endowed with Godis richest gifts,-intelligence, docility, and fervor, mingled with a super-natural love for humility and mortification. She was one of God's chosen souls set apart for some special work in His vineyard. From her earliest years Marguerite loved to gather her small companions about her and teach them to work and prayg and, when, at the age of twelve she lost her dear mother, her heart was seized with a strange loneliness which, try as she would, she could not escape, and thus her zeal for teaching and helping others was greatly increased and intensified. H The void made in Marguerite's heart by this great loss, deepened with the years and in her attempt to fill it with God's love, we see her going about doing good, bringing joy to the sorrowful, help and guidance to the weak, consolation to the afliictedg and peace to the dying. lt was then that Our Blessed Mother, beneath whose blue mantle Marguerite's orphaned soul had found refuge, smiled upon her with the smile of predilection, which Marguerite saw not until a vision was accorded her. On Rosary Sunday, 1640, Marguerite took part in a procession in honor of Our Blessed Mother and while pausing to salute a statue, the figure of Our Lady became transfigured and cast a look of wondrous love and tenderness upon the kneeling girl. The hour of grace had dawned. Marguerite's heart was transformed and raised to new heights of sanctity. A Her sole desire was to die to self and live for Christ, her Blaster. Drawn by divine grace, she strove to follow the mysterious call that sounded in her heart. Vain were her efforts to obtain admission into the Cloistral sanctuary of the Carmelites and Poor Clares. In 1653, Paul de Maisonneuve, Governor of Ville Marie, came to Troyes to visit his sister, a religious of the Congregation de Notre-Dame. These dear sisters pleaded earnestly with him to have an active part in evangelizing the New World 44 U 1:2 'J 'Z'-Y.',:-H1911ifllllllillllillllllllllllllllIIIIII.llIlllllllIIIllllllllllIllllIII!lllllllllllllllllllllllIINIllIIIllIIIlllIIilIllllllIlllllIllIIIlllllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllillliilllll!k 'Gi s f 9 D

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5 ss 4 'TQNZZEitllIllillllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEIELfki-4250 fl I, E A N l N G S ?i5'1'-ii5315-llllllIllIllIlllllllllllllllll-?f5L'7' 'P C but Mr. de Maisonneuve declined their generous services because they were a Cloistered Order. When, on the suggestion of one of the nuns that they could take the President of their sodality with them, De Maisonneuve asked to see this young woman whose virtues and practical ability would be invaluable to the new settlement. blar- guerite was immediately summoned and when she saw De Maisonneuve she cried out, This is the man I have seen in my dreamsg I am to labor with him for God and souls. De Maisonneuve recognized at once the sterling worth of the character with whom he had thus strangely become acquainted. A few questions were soon asked and answered, and De Maisonneuve entreated her to return to Canada with him to found an uncloistered Order of religion to teach the little Indian children. No sooner was the decision made, than tortuous doubts began to rack her soul. These shadows soon disappeared and our Blessed lNIother herself spoke the decisive word. One beautiful morning, when the sun was just beginning to mount his way across the pale blue heavens, shedding his Warm, cheerful rays over the whole earth, Marguerite suddenly awakened as if someone had called, and rap- turously gazed on a vision of inexhaustible loveliness. Robed in white, Our Lady stood before her! Marguerite, worshiping her, marveled at her seraphic smile and the majesty of her bearing. While she was admiring this beautiful vision, a voice resonant with heavenly cadence spoke, and down through the ages the promise of Mary's Words has crowned a work so nobly begun in her honor: Go, I will never abandon thee. From that moment, Marguerite never wavered in her purpose. Concealing her plans from all save a few intimate friends she set out Without money or luggage trusting to Divine Providence to provide all her needs. Her labors in the land of her adoption were innumerable. For years after her arrival besides acting as De Maisonneuve's advisor in the affairs of Ville Marie, she became a common mother-the eye of the blind, the foot of the lame, the consolation of the afflicted, the solace of the homeless- making herself all things to all men in order to save all. It was not until the year of 1657 that Marguerite's heart's desire was accom- plished. It was on April 30, in that same year, that she opened her first school in a poor stone stable given by the Governor. Such was the cradle of the Con- gregation de Notre Dame, and Marguerite always felt that a Bethlehem-like benediction rested upon it-a benediction since attested to by the wonderful spread of the Order upon which it rested, until at the present time two normal schools, two colleges, and one hundred and thirty-five Hourishing schools through- out Canada and the United States, wherein almost fifty thousand souls are taught to know Christ. Unable to continue her work alone, Marguerite crossed over to France, and after a long arduous journey, returned with four companions. In spite of untold poverty, uninterrupted toil, and continual danger from the Indians, the work of these pioneer educators was successfully carried on. Children were received at a very early -age, and in order to provide for the education and instruction of the well-to-do colonists, a boarding school was opened. Great attention was given, not only to religious and secular education, but also to manual training. What is known as Domestic Science or Domestic Economy was a special item of Mother Bourgeoyls curriculum. The blessing of length of days was given Marguerite in which to accomplish her mission. On January Ist, in the year 1700, Mother Bourgeoys was awakened by a sister who brought the news that a young sister was dying. She cried out, , 45 U L: 'I i. .- lim i llIIllillllilllllllllIlliIllllIIIIlIllIIIIllllllIIIllllllllIlllllllIllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllllIllIIllIllllllllllllIIlllIIllllllIllllIIIlllIlllllllllillllillllll + ffl'-. .f V 3