Cares and Compassion

The Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal will inaugurate on May 6, 2009, the temporary exhibition “Cares and Compassion” which commemorates the 350^th anniversary of the arrival in 1659 of the first three Hospitallers of St.Joseph in Ville-Marie: Judith Moreau de Brésoles, Catherine Macé and Marie Maillet. The care of the body and soul, such is the mission of these women of faith, compassion and audacity.

The community was founded in 1636 at La Flèche, France, by Jérôme Le Royer de La Dauversière and Marie de la Ferre serving for the poor sick of the Hôtel-Dieu. This nascent community was part of the spiritual and apostolic revival brought by the Catholic Reformation of the 17^th century in France.

In La Rochelle, three Hospitallers embark on the “Saint-André” along with Jeanne Mance on June 29, 1659. They disembark in Quebec City on September 8 and stay with the Ursulines waiting for Mgr de Laval authorization letter to go to Ville-Marie. The Ursulines annalist notes that these women wear simple clothes composed of black serge, a small square wimple and a taffeta headdress.

They arrive in Ville-Marie on October 20 and are greeted by Monsieur de Maisonneuve. In 1662, Marie Morin, a Quebec City native, enters probationary. Their daily life is shared between prayer and serving the sick. Privation, cold and fear of the Iroquois are the everyday lot of the community. In 1671, they become cloistered and adopt the solemn vows, the black veil and the Rule of St. Augustine.

Three hundred and fifty years have gone by, witness of compassionate cares given by Hospitallers, from a nascent Ville-Marie up to a 21st century Montreal marked with great modernity. Most documents and objects are presented to the public for the first time. It reveals to the visitors the spiritual and professional world of the Hôtel-Dieu Hospitallers. We invite you to discover the work of devotion of these pioneers of health cares in Montreal.

Opening Hours

From mid-June to mid-October

Tuesday to Friday        10am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday   1pm to 5pm
Closed on Mondays and during some public holidays. Please check the Museum’s website for more information.

From mid-October to mid-June

Wednesday to Sunday  1pm to 5pm
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays as well as during some public holidays. Please check the Museum’s website for more information.

Crédit photo : Musée des Hospitalières de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal
Production multimédia du CHUM, vitrail du Pavillon de Bullion, Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal.