On Dec. 9, Pope Francis signed a decree acknowledging that Cadron-Jette lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way and is venerable.
Founder of the Sisters of Misericorde, Cadron-Jette was born in Lavaltrie, Que., in 1794 where she lived until moving to Montreal in 1826. The order began as a response to the needs of unwed mothers.
The Sisters of Misericorde were founded three years after Cadron- Jette began providing assistance and shelter to young pregnant woman. On Jan. 16, 1848 Cardon- Jette and seven other soon-to-be sisters took the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, along with their order’s personal vow to assist poor women in sickness.
The order continues to exist in Montreal where the motherhouse is. The news was cause for celebration there.
“Today, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, is a joyful day for us Sisters of Misericorde of Montreal,” said Sr. Huguette Beauchamp. “We have been waiting a long time for this recognition from Rome. There are other steps to her sainthood, the next one being her beatification, but we say let us take one step at a time and enjoy today.”
Although the application for her cause wasn’t officially received by Rome for review until Nov. 12 1990, Montreal Bishop Ignace Bourget ignited the idea in 1881.
“You have to canonize your Mother Nativity,” he said. “You must have enough faith and trust in her protection, to obtain miracles and then the Church will decide.”
On March 29, 1996 the committee of historian experts reviewing the application approved the positio unanimously which was then approved by the committee of expert theologians, who recommended the pope sign a decree of venerability in 2011.
The celebration reached all the way to Toronto where the Sisters of Misericorde founded Scarborough General Hospital and opened what became Rosalie Hall.
“On behalf of everyone at Rosalie Hall we are celebrating the news of Mother Rosalie Cadron-Jette’s advancement towards canonization,” said Larissa Bholaramsingh, manager of development. “Rosalie Hall is proud to be a part of the Misericordia family and history and we rejoice and celebrate with the Misericordia Sisters.”