This Sunday, October 20, in Saint-Pierre Square, the Pope will preside over the canonization mass of the Canadian nun. A native of Quebec and founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family, Mother Paradis was keen to found a congregation wanting to serve the ministry of priests. Jacques Gauthier, author of “Sainte Marie-Léonie” – a biographical work published by NOVALIS editions (2024), reveals to us the daily life of a “whole-hearted” woman.
Vianney Gilliot – Vatican City
«A joyful holiness, a humble, light and free holiness» this is how the Quebec author characterizes the life of this sister born in the middle of the 19th century. Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis is not a saint of great brilliance but she set about constantly repeating, in mystical abandon, “everything for you my God”. She transmitted this vocation to her entire congregation which today celebrates the sanctified life of a child from Quebec.
A charisma of “piety and dedication”
Mother Marie-Léonie began her long life of service by joining the Marianite Sisters of Sainte-Croix at the age of 14, where she discovered her taste for teaching. This first vocation led her to go on a mission to the United States. For Jacques Gauthier, this period “will be profitable for her because she will learn English and she will found several houses in the United States“. Recalled to Canada to serve at the Collège Saint-Joseph in Memramcook, it was in this province of New Brunswick that she founded in 1880 the community of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family whose mission is to assist priests in their ministry by maintaining presbyteries, sanctuaries and seminaries. “Priests needed help», adds Jacques Gauthier.
«Very radiant through their prayer life», the Quebec biographer says he is touched by the spirituality of these sisters carried by the spiritual testament of their foundress. Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis is “a woman of faith, a woman of goodness, she truly lived the Gospel“. According to him, Mother Marie-Léonie, through the vocation of her community, exercised a “baptismal priesthood“. Greatly passionate about the Eucharist, she gave as her motto to the Little Sisters of the Holy Family “Piety and devotion. When she died in 1912, Mother Marie-Léonie left behind a community established in Quebec, Honduras and Italy, with several thousand consecrated sisters.
A strong spiritual heritage
The charisma of the congregation founded by Marie-Léonie Paradis made all the more sense as at the time priestly vocations were numerous and the seminaries were full. The century has changed but the teaching of the future saint remains an obvious source of inspiration for our century, believes Jacques Gauthier. She told the sisters in her community “be humble, without any pretension, loving to please others and you will always be happy» and, for the author this saint, who became “icon of the heart of God», makes us know Christ through his testimony of a simple, free and humble life.
«The humble among the humblethis is also how Pope John Paul II described the nun during her beatification celebrated in September 1984. Forty years later, Pope Francis will once again put this life of service in the spotlight. He will preside over his canonization mass this Sunday in Saint-Pierre Square.
Canada
Related News :