THE LIFE AND SPIRITUALITY OF BLESSED CATHERINE OF SAINT AUGUSTINE

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

On May 8, the Church in Canada celebrates the life and witness of Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine. When she was 12 she decided to enter the community of Hôtel-Dieu of Bayeux, which was directed by Augustinian nuns, the Hospital Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus. Later, she offered herself for the Canada mission and promised “to live and die in Canada if God would open its door” for her. She made solemn profession as a nun at age 16 on May 4, 1648, in Nantes and set sail for Canada on May 27. The ship arrived in Quebec City on August 19. Catherine set about learning the languages of the First Nations people, and looked after the sick. She is considered a co-founder of the Church in Canada and was beatified on April 23, 1989, by Saint John Paul II. The principal text outlining her life and spirituality which has been posted on the CCCB Website is a translation from the liturgical booklets issued by the French Sector Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments for each Canadian Saint and Blessed. Printed copies of the complete booklets in French are on sale from CCCB Publications.

The following outline of her life and spirituality is part of an initiative by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life. The CCCB English Sector Office for Evangelization and Catechesis has developed catechetical resources on the life and spirituality of Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine.

Link to the biography of Blessed Catherine of Saint Augustine (PDF)

Link to catechetical resources in English

Link to the website of the Centre of Catherine of Saint Augustine