ST MARIE OF THE INCARNATION
Today is the Feast Day of St. Marie of the Incarnation. St. Marie was an Ursuline involved with education in Canada in the 1600's. But there's more to her than that.
Next and as told to me by a modern day Ursuline sister friend a few years ago, St.
Marie would teach Indigenous children and students outside on the grass (under a tree)
where they felt comfortable and unconfined. I can relate. And how relevant this is for all children in the pandemic today.
Continuing.
From Wikipedia:
St.
Marie was the Founder of the religious order of the Ursulines in
Canada, mystic, and writer (born 28 October 1599 in Tours France; died
30 April 1672 in Quebec City Canada.
Her work as a teacher helped to lay the foundations for formal education in Canada-- I won't hold that against her-- I hated school! She
also compiled dictionaries in Algonquin and Iroquois and taught for the rest
of her life in Quebec until she died (The dictionary part is so
interesting to me and says a lot about who St. Marie was as a person).
Lastly, St. Marie was known as the "laughing foreigner". It is said that St Marie is the patron saint of laughing because she believed laughing could always make you feel better.
St. Marie of the Incarnation pray for us and help us feel better during Covid.
A short video clip on St. Marie of the Incarnation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq_Iw5v0sIE
