|
|
Marie-Léonie Paradis, The Legacy Lives on Throughout Marie-Léonie’s life, she accomplished many grand things, including miracles and life-turning events. Although she isn’t as well-known as other holy figures, she always lived with the faith that led her into a life of sanctity, from her birth in L’Acadie to her death right here in Sherbrooke. She pushed herself to extremes trying to help others, thus leading a fulfilling and righteous life. The day she was sent to the convent of the Notre-Dame congregation in Laprairie, where she had her first contact with the life of the sisterhood, she knew that she wanted to do the same with her life. She then travelled across America, teaching French to young Americans. After gaining the respect from the Christian community, she was awarded with her own community: Les Petites-Soeurs de la Sainte-Famille. It’s through this congregation that she achieved many of her great accomplishments and forged a legacy that is highly regarded amongst the people of the city. Marie-Léonie; the life, the legacy, the accomplishments, the miracles, the path to sanctity. The city of Sherbrooke was greatly influenced by the life and times of Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis. Who would jave thought that this little girl from the town of L’Acadie would revolutionize the Sherbrookian Christian community? From a very younbg age, she knew that her place in life would be beside the God in whom she had unlimited faith. After being a minor sister and, thanks to her bilinguism, teaching French to young Americans throughout northern United States, particularly in Michigan. After coming back to the province of Quebec, she continued in her life of piety. After doing that, she gained respect from everyone and she finally accomplished one of her lifelong dream: founding her own religious community: les Petites-Soeurs de la Sainte-Famille. As the head of that congregation, she made many miracles, launching her to the stardom of sanctity. Even after her death in 1912, she continued to heal people, mainly their eyes, putting her closer and closer to her actually having the title of a saint, which is a very difficult process by the way . And so her adventure begins. Chapter 1 The life of Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis The village of l’Acadie is but a small dot on the map, but it has been almost perfectly preserved throughout its history. It is in a rural region, with as many farms as there are houses. It was in this small village on the twelfth of May 1840, that Alodie-Virginie Paradis (who was always called Élodie) was born. Her father was Joseph Paradis and her mother, Émilie Grégoire. (Cimichella, p 10-11) Her family moved for the first time in her life when she was five years of age. She started becoming more and more religious over time, mostly because every time her mother felt she needed help from the Heavens, she would ask little Élodie to pray for her. Through this devotion, she learned to respect and love her religion. Because of this faith, Élodie’s mother decided to send her to the convent of the Notre-Dame congregation in Laprairie. (Cimichella, p 13-14 ) Once there, Élodie had a hard time trying to adapt to life without her family. Her father also had trouble getting used to her absence, so to remedy this, he would often bring her back home until his daughter grew tiresome of always having to leave her family over and over again. She asked her father to stop visiting her if he was to do it all the time. (Cimichella, p 15-16 ) She had to leave the convent the very year she had entered it (1849) because her father left for California and her family was moving to Napierville. It was there that she began her life of sacrifice. During lunch, she would often share, even give her food to less fortunate people. (Cimichella, p 17-18) In 1850, she returned to Laprairie, where her relation with God became much deeper. Long after she had left the congregation of Notre-Dame, she would still talk about the devotion of the sisterhood there. (Cimichella, p 19 ) In 1852, the mother of Élodie went on a pilgrimage with her oldest son and a neighbour named Camille Lefebvre. Returning form this trip, Camille decided to leave home and devote himself to God.
|
