To the Nuns of the Congregation of Notre Dame (11 September 1984)

The Holy Father visited the Nuns of the Congregation of Notre-Dame in their Mother House on Tuesday, 11 September 1984. The Pope recalled “the audacity of the love of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys," Foundress of the Congregation, in her apostolate with young people and families.

Dear Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame,

Before the Mass that will bring together all the Christian people of Montreal, time does not allow me to tell you all the thoughts that arise in my heart before the tomb of your holy foundress. I had the honour of declaring her a Saint on October 31, 1982, and on that day, I spoke of her spirituality, the admirable aspects of her apostolate with young people and families and the interest of her initiatives for pastoral work today. We honour this holy woman among the founders of Montreal and of the Church in Canada.

Today, I simply say to you, her dear spiritual daughters, but also to all the religious educators in this country, and to all those who cooperate in the education of young people, in the promotion of families: look at the zeal, the realism, the audacity of the love of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys. Consider the price she gave to the soul of each child, daughter of a colonist or daughter of an Indian family, as “a drop of blood of Jesus Christ”! See her dedication and her know-how as a teacher, opening popular schools on the ground, close to families and collaborating with them. Appreciate her concern to initiate young people into a complete formation, aimed at faith, prayer, the apostolic sense, the cultural and practical capacities to assume the tasks of the life of an adult woman. Admire her pastoral imagination and tenacity in preparing young men and women to found solid homes, to form Christian wives and mothers, cultivated, hard-working, radiant. Note the realistic support she continued to give to families, to married women gathered in associations. You know the faith, the firmness and the tenderness that marked all her work.

Today, the children and young people, like those whom I am going to see this afternoon and this evening, need educators like her to help them discover the meaning of life and to give of themselves generously. And above all, those families in distress have a greater need than ever of a specific apostolate in their favor (Ioannis Pauli PP. II, Familiaris Consortio ). Women who rightly desire their advancement have a reason to contemplate this valiant woman who wanted the women of her time to be worthy of their vocation.

Let us pray to Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys for all these intentions. And you, dear Sisters, continue to draw light and strength from her example. With all my heart I bless your entire Congregation.

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