St. Marie of the Incarnation
On
Thursday, April 3rd, 2014, Pope Francis declared Marie of the Incarnation a
saint. Marie of the Incarnation, who is the namesake for one of our
Catholic schools in Bradford West Gwillimbury, is recognized as the
"mother"of the Canadian church.
She was born in 1599 and although drawn to the religious life, she
followed her parents' wishes and was married at the age of 17. Six
months after her son was born, her husband died. When the child turned
12, she entered the Ursuline order and, in 1639, set sail for Quebec
with several other Ursulines. She died in Quebec in 1672.
St. Marie of the Incarnation was decreed a saint along with St. Francois
de Laval and St. Jose de Anchieta. Pope Francis declared these three
saints for the Americas without a canonization ceremony. St. Marie of
the Incarnation and St. Laval are both considered pioneers of the
Catholic Church in Canada.
"It is with great joy and thanksgiving that the bishops of Canada
welcome today's proclamation by Pope Francis that the Universal Church
recognizesBishop François de Laval and Mother Marie of the Incarnation
as saints,"said the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in a news
release after thePope signed the decrees.