forever lost to God if the young city was forsaken, and that it would be
a national humiliation for France to abandon Canada to the vengeance of
wild savages, who were constantly killing each other. Therefore,
fluctuating between hope and fear, I implored M. de Maisonneuve to
hasten back to France and secure additional military protection for
Montreal and its martyred people."

He willingly acceded to the brave woman's request, and in September,
1651, returned to France, having first appointed de Masseau commander of
Ville-Marie in his absence. He was obliged to spend two entire years
inducing recruits to enlist for Canada, so great was their horror of the
Indians, and had to labor hard against disappointments, and go to great
expense to secure his object. But God at length blessed with success his
efforts in the cause of religion. He secured a company of more than a
hundred brave soldiers, who sailed with him to the New World in 1653. It
was during this voyage he first became acquainted with the remarkable
virtues of Margaret Bourgeois, who accompanied him from France at a
period when the whole nation was disgusted with the Canadian mission.
This admiriable young woman, who had no other resources than courage and
confidence in God, did not hesitate to cross the sea, to consecrate
herself to the service of the Church, and to propagate devotion to the
Mother of God. How perfectly she succeeded is proven by the splendid
monument of her zeal which still exists in almost primitive fervor,
after the lapse of more than two centuries. That monument is the
"Congregation of Notre Dame," which has rendered such incalculable
service to the cause of religion in Canada.