she felt suddenly inspired to raise her eyes and look at the holy Host
in the ostensorium. A vision of the Redeemer was distinctly presented to
her, and she was so profoundly penetrated with love and gratitude that
earth had no more charms for her from that happy hour. Such is always
the effect of celestial manifestations, and it was by these favors
Almighty God prepared the soul of His servant for the great designs He
had upon her, of which she was then ignorant. However, they were not
much longer unfolding, and we shall, in the sequel, everywhere find
occasion to notice the watchful care of Divine Providence and the marked
protection of the Blessed Virgin over the colony of Ville-Marie, over
Sister Bourgeois herself, and over the Institute of the Sisters of the
Congregation.




CHAPTER V.

MARGARET BOURGEOIS, AFTER MANY TRIALS AND MORTIFICATIONS, AT LENGTH
SAILS WITH M. DE MAISONNEUVE FOR CANADA.


In a proceeding chapter we have spoken of M. de Maisonneuve, who was a
native of Champenois, and consequently a fellow-countryman of Margaret
Bourgeois--so favorably does divine Providence dispose the course of
future events. We have also seen what a remarkable chain of
circumstances led to his appointment as first Governor of Montreal. One
might almost consider it _miraculous_. He laid the foundations of the
new city, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin--naming it
Ville-Marie, City of Mary. He had two sisters in the city of Troyes, one