Catherine of St. Augustine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedCatherine of St. Augustine O.S.A. |
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An image of the Blessed Catherine painted by the Abbé Hughes Pommier about the time of her death
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| Canoness Regular and missionary | |
| Born | 3 May 1632 Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Province of Normandy, Kingdom of France |
| Died | 8 May 1668 (aged 36) Quebec City, New France, French Colonial Empire |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church (Quebec) |
| Beatified | 23 April 1989 by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | Centre Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin, Québec, Canada |
| Feast | 8 May |
Mary Catherine of St. Augustine (born 3 May 1632, died 8 May 1668) was a French nun from the Augustinian Order. She played a very important part in setting up the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, a hospital in New France (which is now Quebec, Canada). The Catholic Church has honored her as a 'Blessed' person.
Contents
Who Was Catherine of St. Augustine?
Her Early Life in France
Catherine was born as Catherine de Simon de Longpré on May 3, 1632. Her hometown was Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte in Normandy, France. Her grandparents mostly raised her. Even as a child, Catherine cared deeply for people who were sick or poor.
When she was 12 years old, in 1644, she joined a monastery in Bayeux. This monastery was run by the Canonesses of St. Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus. They also managed a hospital called the Hôtel-Dieu. When she joined, she was given her religious name, Mary Catherine of St. Augustine.
Journey to New France
In 1648, when Catherine was 16, she heard that the nuns in Quebec needed help. They had started a hospital there called the Hôtel-Dieu for the people of the new colony. On May 31, she sailed for New France.
During her trip, she became very sick with the plague. She believed she was miraculously cured. She said it was thanks to the Blessed Mother Mary and a special statue she had brought from France. This statue is still seen as miraculous today. Catherine arrived in Quebec on August 19.
Helping People in New France
Working at the Hospital
After arriving, Catherine began working as a nurse at the hospital. She cared for people's bodies and their spirits. She even learned the languages of the First Peoples (native inhabitants) of the area. This helped her serve them better. She wanted to help patients feel closer to God.
The head of the hospital later said that Catherine spent a lot of time in prayer. She also made many personal sacrifices for her spiritual mission. Sometimes, these sacrifices were so strict they affected her health.
Her Many Roles
Besides caring for patients, Catherine was also the hospital's treasurer for nine years. This meant she managed all the money. She was also in charge of training new nuns joining the community. This role is called Novice Mistress.
Even with such a demanding life, Catherine was known for her kindness. Both her superior and another famous nun, Marie of the Incarnation, said she was always sweet and gentle. This kind nature made her well-known throughout the colony.
Catherine of St. Augustine passed away in 1668 at the hospital she had helped to run. She was 36 years old. Many people in New France believed she was a saint.
Honoring Catherine
A Founder of the Church
Catherine gave her life to help both the European settlers and the native people. Because of this, she is honored as one of the six founders of the Catholic Church in Canada. She represents the important work of the Augustinian nuns.
The process to declare her a saint began on July 28, 1926. She was given the title of Servant of God.
Declared Blessed
On March 9, 1984, Pope John Paul II declared that Catherine had lived a life of amazing goodness. He said she offered her life to help establish the Catholic faith in Canada. On April 23, 1989, the same Pope declared her "Blessed."
Catherine's feast day is celebrated in Quebec on May 8. Her remains are kept at the Centre Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin in Quebec. This center is next to the Hôtel-Dieu hospital.
