Mademoiselle Mance in Paris
In 1640, five years after the death of her father, Jeanne became aware, through her cousin Nicolas, chaplain of the Holy Chapel in Paris, that nuns as well as society women were drawn to missionary work in New France. According to Dollier de Casson, it is around that time that Jeanne Mance felt drawn to missionary work in New France. The “real motive” of her true calling was growing roots deeper and deeper in a heart readied by a selfless life.
She left Langres for Paris, and during a prolonged stay at her cousin Antoinette Dolebeau, Nicolas’ sister, she presented her project to Father Charles Lalemant, then provider for the missions in New France, who was highly interested. She met numerous influential people, and established links with key resources, that would turn out to be valuable to her mission in time of need. To mention a few: Charlotte-Marguerite de Montmorency, princess of Condé, chanceloress Pierre Séguier, duchess of Aiguillon, marchioness of Liancourt, Louise de Marillac, and finally, the queen herself, Anna of Austria, who wanted to meet her personally. She was also introduced to Angélique Faure, the widow of Claude de Bullion, superintendent of Finance for France, herself a wealthy lady, a low profile, and generous protector of most charitable endeavors in France. She entrusted Jeanne with the foundation of a hospital, in the heart of the mission to Canada.
In April 1641, Jeanne bade farewell to relatives and friends, and went on to Larochelle, the boarding point for most missions to Canada, on her way to fulfilling her own desire to embrace missionary life. She crossed path with Jérôme Le Royer de La Dauversière, to whom God had inspired the foundation of Ville-Marie, in 1635. «The Associates of Montreal needed a person of precisely her type, wise, devout, intelligent, and resolute, as bursar and later as nurse for the Montreal contingent.» (cited from Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online).
M. de La Dauversière made urgent appeals to Jeanne. When he obtained her consent, she also became a member of the Society of Notre-Dame of Montréal.
Mindful of doing everything in accordance to the original purpose of the new foundation, she proposed that M. de La Dauversière should set down in writing an outline of the “true motives” of the foundation of Ville-Marie. She would then address “invitations to membership in the Société de Montréal” to the distinguished and generous ladies and to the devout women with whom she had associated in Paris, and would attach to each invitation a copy of M. de La Dauversière’s letter.
Upon her return to Paris, and subsequent to these visits, the number of Associates went up from 6 to 35 members, according to historian Jacques Lacoursière. These members came from all walks of life: clerics, nobles, men and women alike, celibate or married Some were wealthy, others of modest means. The foundation of Ville-Marie was shaping up, and Jeanne Mance’s influential impact on the recruiting process at the very start of the settlement contributes significantly towards considering her a true foundress, adds historian Jacques Lacoursière.
Christian Tessier
Article from the website Tendances et Enjeu (Trends and Issue), published on June 9, 2012, and adapted for this publication
