Saints

Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

Short Biography of Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin (1787-1851) was a French Canadian Roman Catholic woman who founded the Sisters of Providence, a religious congregation dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized. She was born in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, the daughter of a wealthy merchant.

As a young woman, Gamelin felt a strong call to serve the poor and marginalized, and began to devote her time and resources to helping those in need in her community. She particularly focused on providing education and assistance to the children of the working poor.

In 1843, Gamelin established the Sisters of Providence, a religious congregation of women dedicated to serving the poor and marginalized. The congregation focused on providing education, healthcare, and social services to those in need, with an emphasis on helping the children of the working poor.

Gamelin served as the Superior General of the congregation until her death, and under her leadership, the Sisters of Providence rapidly grew and established convents and service centers throughout Quebec and Ontario.

Gamelin was known for her deep spirituality, compassion, and dedication to serving the poor. She had a particular concern for the care of the elderly and the sick. She also established an institution for the care of the dying, which became a model for similar institutions throughout the world.

Gamelin died in 1851 in Longueuil, Quebec and was buried in the cemetery of the Sisters of Providence. Her cause for canonization was opened by the Catholic Church in 1938.

In 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified her, the second step towards canonization. Her memorial is celebrated on October 18 and she is known as the “Angel of Charity.”

Gamelin’s teachings and legacy continue to inspire the work of the Sisters of Providence, which today operates schools, hospitals, and other service institutions in Canada and the United States, helping to serve the poor, the sick, and the marginalized.

Prayers to Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin, you dedicated your life to serving the poor and marginalized in Montreal. Please intercede for us as we strive to follow in your footsteps of love and compassion. Help us to see the dignity and value of every person, especially those who society deems as forgotten or overlooked. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

 

Heavenly Father, we give thanks for the life and witness of Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin. We ask that you bless us with her spirit of humility, love, and service to the poor and marginalized. Help us to imitate her charitable heart and to be a beacon of hope for those in need. Amen

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Detailed Biography of Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

 
Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin was a remarkable woman who devoted her life to serving God and the poor. She was the founder of the Sisters of Providence Montreal, a religious order that continues to spread the Gospel through works of mercy and compassion. In this blog post, we will explore her life story and her legacy of faith.
 

Early Life and Family

 
Emilie Tavernier was born on February 19, 1800 in Montreal, Canada. She was the youngest of the 15 children of Antoine Tavernier and Marie-Josephe Maurice, a pious and prosperous family. She received a good education and learned to read, write, sew, embroider, and play the piano. She also developed a strong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and a love for prayer.
 
At the age of 23, she married Jean-Baptiste Gamelin, a fruit broker who shared her faith and generosity. They had three children, but sadly, none of them survived infancy. Emilie suffered another blow when her husband died of cholera in 1827, leaving her a widow at the age of 27.
 

Widowhood and Charity

 
Emilie did not despair in the face of these tragedies. Instead, she turned to God and found comfort in His will. She also felt a call to dedicate herself to the service of others, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, and the orphaned. She opened her home to those in need and used her inheritance to support various charitable causes. She joined several lay associations that promoted social justice and Christian values.
 
She also felt a strong attraction to the religious life, but she was unsure of her vocation. She consulted several priests and spiritual directors who advised her to wait and discern God’s plan for her. She remained faithful to her state as a widow and continued to practice charity.
 

Founding of Sisters of Providence

 
In 1841, Emilie met Bishop Ignace Bourget of Montreal, who had a vision of founding a new religious order that would serve the poor in his diocese. He asked Emilie if she would be willing to lead this project and become the first superior of the new congregation. Emilie accepted this invitation as a sign of God’s will and agreed to form the Sisters of Providence.
 
The Sisters of Providence were officially founded on March 25, 1843, with Emilie as their mother superior. They took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor. They wore a simple black habit with a white bonnet and a large cross on their chest. They adopted the motto “Charity is our only rule”.
 
The Sisters of Providence began their ministry by caring for the elderly in a hospice that Emilie had founded earlier. They soon expanded their apostolate to include orphanages, schools, hospitals, asylums, prisons, and missions. They also welcomed women from different backgrounds and nationalities who wanted to join their order.

 

Death and Beatification

 
Emilie led the Sisters of Providence with wisdom, humility, courage, and love for 18 years. She was known for her kindness, generosity, compassion, and zeal for souls. She was also a woman of prayer who had a close relationship with Jesus and Mary. She often said: “I have only one desire: to love God until I die”.
 
Emilie died on September 23, 1851 in Montreal at the age of 51. She was buried in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Sisters of Providence. Her tomb became a place of pilgrimage for many people who sought her intercession.
 
On October 7, 2001, Pope John Paul II beatified Emilie Tavernier Gamelin in Rome. He praised her as “a woman of Providence” who “gave herself entirely to God and to the service of her brothers and sisters”. He also said: “May her example inspire us to live our faith with generosity and courage”.
 
Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin is a model for all Christians who want to follow Christ in serving others with love. Her feast day is celebrated on September 23.

Saints Similar to Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Vincent de Paul. Both Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin and St. Vincent de Paul were deeply involved in charitable work and care for the marginalized. They both dedicated their lives to helping those in need, with Blessed Emilie founding the Sisters of Providence and St. Vincent de Paul being known for his numerous charitable initiatives. Next up: Biography of Blessed Herman the Cripple

 

Also check out our handmade Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin Medal and Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin Rosary Bracelet and Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin Medal .

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