Jeanne Mance

The Vatican record

• 7 November 2014 — Heroic virtue declared — title Venerable (decree list, 2014)

Who they were

Jeanne Mance, born at Nogent-le-Roi in 1606, heard in 1640 of the women going to New France to spread the faith, and sailed in 1641. She cared for the settlers at Quebec through the winter.

In May 1642 she reached Montreal with Maisonneuve, adorned the altar for its first Mass, and founded a hospital in her own home, taking in settlers and Native people alike; in 1644 she opened the Hôtel-Dieu. She died at Montreal on 19 June 1673.

The miracles

The Catholic Encyclopedia does not describe her cause.

Why that counted as sanctity

A founder of Montreal who gave her life to nursing its people.