By Sister Anne Edward, G.N.S.H.

Early Canada, in its struggling era as New France, was the setting for the life of the “Mother of Universal Charity.” Here amidst Indian attacks, long and rigorous winters, crop failures, over all unrest -- Marguerite de Lajemmerais was born on October 15, 1701, the first child of Christopher de Lajemmerais and Marie de Varennes.

Marguerite’s life in Quebec was one of rich culture especially saturated with the refinement of the thoroughly French. Yet, early in life, the cross could be seen casting its vibrant shadow upon this happy home. Marguerite’s father died when the child was not quite seven, leaving her the oldest of five children. No doubt, during this time of deep sorrow, her devotion to the Eternal Father had its awakening.

A few years later, due to the kind benevolence of her relatives, Marguerite was able to attend the Ursuline Academy in Quebec City. Realizing to the fullest the obligations she bore towards her younger brothers and sisters, she worked with unswerving devotion. Her studies continued for two years. Then, some months later, the family moved to Montreal. Here Marguerite met for the first time the young, wealthy, Francois D’Youville whom she married less than a year later, not being fully aware of the craftiness of his character.

In all, six children were born to this couple. Yet, four of them saw the light of heaven during their first years. When the last child, Ignace, was born, the father himself was dead, and having squandered his fortune on trifles, left his wife a penniless widow of twenty-nine, the support of their two children.

Marguerite, placing her trust in Divine Providence, labored zealously year after year to rectify the debts acquired by her late husband. During these years of toil, God had been working in the soul of this young widow, as well as in the souls of her two sons, whom Christ had called to His priesthood. She realized now, life was not one of mere egocentric concentration but one of true Christocentric charity. The poor and afflicted of Montreal always found in their “Mother” a ready solace. No task was too importune for this beloved daughter of the Eternal Father.

Soon other young woman, filled with admiration at her emphatic selflessness, wished to follow in her footsteps. On December 31, 1737, Marguerite D’Youville and three companions knelt in their simplest oratory and dedicated themselves to God’s poor, choosing for their dress the provincial French costume of the widow. Finally, in 1755, after much opposition these heroic instruments of God’s Providence were officially recognized as the Sisters of Charity, the Grey Nuns of Montreal.

As their works increased, God did not fail to send more laborers into His vineyard. In 1840, a second congregation of Grey Nuns was established in Quebec. Another was founded in Ottawa in 1845, with the saintly Sister Elizabeth Brueyere as its first Superior General.

The year 1921 brought a request from His Eminence, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty, that the Grey Nuns of Ottawa form an entirely autonomous American congregation in Philadelphia. In answer to this appeal, Mother Mary Augustine ably guided the newly formed Congregation of the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart in the dedication to the service of the poor and the education of youth.

In the relatively short span of time since its foundation, the Grey Nuns of Sacred Heart, numbering now over 400 living professed members, have built twenty seven establishments stretching as far north as Kodiak, Alaska and as far south as Lima, Peru.

At the request of Bishop Gerald P. O’Hara, the Grey Nuns of Sacred Heart, in 1937, journeyed to Atlanta and the foundation of Christ the King School. Since then three other schools, staffed by Grey Nuns, have sprung up in the south: Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1958, D’Youville Academy in 1960 and St. Jude’s in 1963. A total of thirty two daughters of Mother D’Youville labor in Atlanta, striving to fulfill their vocations in the spirit of their beloved foundress.

A vocation to leave all and follow Him, what does it mean? What is a young woman seeking when she enters religious life? What will be her reward? The last two questions can be answered succinctly. She seeks Christ in others in order to form Christ in herself and in those about her.