Old Montreal in Montréal, Québec — Central Canada (French-Canadian)
Maison de Mère d'Youville
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024
1. Maison de Mère d'Youville Marker
Marguerite d'Youville, première sainte d'origine canadienne
Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais est née à Varennes, au Québec, en 1701.
Mariée, puis veuve de François Youville de la Découverte, elle fonde la congrégation des Sœurs de la Charité de Montréal, « Sœurs grises », en 1737. Le Roi Louis XV lui confie la direction de l'Hôpital général de Montréal où elle accueille les plus démunis. Décédée le 23 décembre 1771, elle inspire plusieurs générations de Sœurs grises qui ont marché dans ses pas.
En considération de sa vie exceptionnelle de dévouement et de charité envers les pauvres, elle a été canonisée le 9 décembre 1990. Le 9 décembre 2010, elle a été inhumée dans la Basilique Sainte-Anne de Varennes, où une chapelle dédiée.
Hôpital général
Habitée par Marguerite d'Youville de 1747 a 1771, cette maison, construite par les Frères Charon dès 1693, a été restaurée en 1980. Aujourd'hui connue sous le nom de Maison de Mère d'Youville, elle abrite maintenant le siège social de la congrégation. Fermée au public à cause de rénovations majeures, il est possible
this page online
Marguerite d'Youville, First Canadian-born Saint
Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais was born in Varennes, Quebec, in 1701.
Widow of François Youville de la Découverte, she founded the congregation of Sisters of Charity of Montreal, “Grey Nuns”, in 1737. King Louis XV of France entrusted her to manage the Montreal General Hospital where she and her companions cared for the city's many destitute people. After her death on December 23, 1771, she continued to inspire many generations of Grey Nuns to walk in her footsteps.
She was canonized on December 9, 1990, in consideration of her life of exceptional devotion and charity to the impoverished. On December 9, 2010, she was interred in the Basilica of Ste-Anne de Varennes, where a chapel is dedicated to her.
The Montreal General Hospital
This house, where Marguerite d'Youville resided from 1747 to 1771, was originally founded by the Charon Brothers in 1693. Known today as the Maison de Mere d'Youville, the building was restored in 1980 and is currently the Congregation's Headquarters. Presently closed for major renovations, it is still possible to virtually visit the exhibition “In her Footsteps” at: http://www.sgrn-visites.ca/ visite.html.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024
2. Maison de Mère d'Youville Marker
Le marqueur se trouve à côté de la clôture périmétrique et surplombe la Maison de Mère d'Youville à l'est. • • • The marker is beside the perimeter fence and overlooking the Maison de Mère d'Youville to the east.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Colonial Era • Religion & Religious Structures • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1693.
Location. 45° 30.035′ N, 73° 33.329′ W. Marker is in Montréal, Québec. It is in Old Montreal. It can be reached from the intersection of Place d'Youville and Rue Saint-Pierre, on the right when traveling north. The marker is near the southwest corner of the building at this intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 138 Rue Saint-Pierre, Montréal QC H2Y 2L7, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Canada. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mère Marie-Marguerite d'Youville (here, next to this marker); L'évolution du site comme témoin du quartier / The Evolution of the site as Witness to Neighbourhood (within shouting distance of this marker); Caserne 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); L'Ancien Hôpital General des Sœurs Grises / The Grey Nuns' Hospital (within shouting distance of this marker); Les Sœurs Grises de Montréal / The Grey Nuns of Montréal (within shouting distance of this marker); Marguerite d'Youville et Sœurs Grises de Montréal / Marguerite d'Youville and Grey Nuns of Montreal
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 20, 2024
3. Maison de Mère d'Youville (southwest elevation)
Vue du coin sud-ouest de la Maison de Mère d'Youville vue à partir de quelques mètres au sud du marqueur. • • • Southwest corner view of the Maison de Mère d'Youville as seen from a few meters south of the marker.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Mother Marie-Marguerite d'Youville and The Grey Nuns of Montréal
Also see . . .
1. Marcher dans ses pas / Walk In Her Footsteps.
Excerpt : Les Sœurs Grises vous souhaitent la bienvenue å la visite virtuelle de l'exposition permanente « Marcher dans ses pas ». Cette exposition, a été présentée de 2004 2017 la Maison de Mère d'Youville située dans le Vieux Montréal. Elle raconte l'histoire de l'Hôpital général des Frères Charron, de Marguerite d'Youville et des Sœurs grises de Montréal.(Submitted on May 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)[English translation] Welcome to the virtual visit of the “In Her Footstep” exhibit, presented from 2004 to 2017 at the Maison de Mére d'Youville in Old Montreal. It relates the history of the Charron Brothers' General Hospital, of Marguerite d'Youville
and of the Grey Nuns of Montreal.
2. Marie-Marguerite d'Youville (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Marguerite and three other women founded in 1737 a religious association to provide a home for the poor in Montreal. At first, the home housed only four or five members, but it grew as the women raised funds. As their actions went against the social conventions of the day, d'Youville and her colleagues were mocked by their friends and relatives, and even by the poor they helped. Some called them "les grises", which can mean "the grey women" but which also means "the drunken women", in reference to d'Youville's late husband's career as a bootlegger.(Submitted on May 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)By 1744, the association had become a religious congregation with a rule and a formal community. In 1747, the women were granted a charter to operate the General Hospital of Montreal, which by that time was in ruins and deeply in debt. D'Youville and her fellow workers re-established the financial security of the hospital. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1765. The congregation rebuilt the hospital soon after. As the congregation expanded to other cities, it became known simply as the "Grey Nuns".
Marguerite d'Youville died in 1771 at the General Hospital. In the next century, her status continued to increase, as people cited prayers for her intervention in aiding them. After her spiritual writings were approved by theologians on February 1, 1888, her beatification process was formally opened on April 28, 1890, and she was granted the title Servant of God. She was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XI on June 16, 1931. In 1959, she was beatified by Pope John XXIII, who called her "Mother of universal charity". She was canonized in 1990 by Pope John Paul II. She is the first native-born Canadian to be elevated to sainthood by the Catholic Church.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 24, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
