Archconfraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“M. Quiblier had written to M. Desgenettes, parish priest of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, Paris, and founder of the association, in 1836. This gentleman, having entered the names of our Sisters in his registers, sent their admission tickets on March 21, 1840; the archconfraternity was erected in Montreal cathedral in February of the following year, as a public and solemn monument by which Mgr Bourget wished to eternalize the memory of the graces with which the diocese had been enriched.
The main aim of this association, in addition to honoring the Blessed Virgin, was for the conversion of sinners; and the first practice of the associates, the recitation of the angelic salutation followed by this invocation: “Maria refugium peccatorum ora pro nobis.” (…).
The association, founded by M. Desgenettes and approved by Mgr Quélen, Archbishop of Paris, was inaugurated on the third Sunday of Advent 1836: singing of Vespers, instruction explaining the motives and purpose of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, salute to the Blessed Sacrament during which the “Refugium peccatorum” and the “Parce, Domine” were sung. Soon this devotion spread throughout France and almost all of Europe… The New World did not lag behind, and the Queen of the Universe heard the cry for help in unison, from the banks of the Neva to those of the Mississippi. His Holiness Gregory XVI, with an apostolic brief dated April 24, 1838, elevated the association to the dignity of archconfraternity, i.e. mother confraternity, throughout the world.
Excerpt from: “Histoire de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame de Montréal”, part three – X1Xth century, vol. VIII, 1840-1849