Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys’ Canonization

The power of this woman

draws me like a magnet;

I cannot look away.

She lures me from the shelter

of false comforts

into the maelstrom

to set my face into the wind

and dare to follow

as she scatters

heartfuls of hope

in her wake.

Dolores McKinney, CND

Marguerite set out in 1653 into the little known realities of life in Ville Marie. Her courage, passion and trust in Divine Providence lit up her world there. She left a legacy of greatness of heart and deep compassion. We draw on her legacy in the spirit of Visitation where we find the inspiration for our lives, rooted always in Jesus Christ.

 On October 31, 1982 Marguerite was canonized in Rome by Pope John Paul II. Sisters throughout the Congregation were chosen by lottery to attend the ceremonies in Rome. These Sisters from the United States were blessed and chosen to attend: Rosemary Cianciolo, provincial, Barbara Arnesen, Marie Buckley, Angela Culotta, Evelyn Gillis, Clare Kearney, Elizabeth Kennedy, Ann Marie Landry, and Kay Powers, who remembers receiving communion from Pope St. John Paul II. In addition, Anne Leonard, Director of Education in Chicago, was sent to the Canonization by Cardinal Bernadin, and Susan O’Halloran was in Rome on sabbatical that year and gave the Sisters tours of the city while they were there for the canonization.

Sister Kay Powers recalls,

While waiting at the airport in Rome on the way home Kay and some of the Sisters were sitting across from Lise Gauthier, who was cured of cancer through the intercession of Marguerite. She told Kay and the other Sisters that she really didn’t believe in praying for a cure. The doctor in the hospital had given her very little time to live. She put the relic which her father had brought her into a drawer. Her roommate noticed this and encouraged her to take it out and use it since her father had hoped for a miracle.

That night she put the relic on her stomach and fell asleep. The next morning when she woke up she felt hungry and asked for some food. The staff were amazed because she had never asked to eat anything. The doctor was called and could no longer find any cancer. Lise told the Sisters that since that day she carries the relic in her purse all the time.

We too ask St. Marguerite for the healing we need and place in her care all those we carry close to our heart.

St. Marguerite, pray for us.

Joann Compagno, CND