Marie De L'Incarnation

Marie De L'incarnation (http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-MedicM.html)

During the 17th century the lives of women and aboriginals were very different from today. They had little rights and almost no education. Women were expected to raise families and never leave the house with the exception of food trading. There was, however, in this time, the beginnings of women activists who not only fought for rights but dedicated their lives to teaching Native American Children and teenagers. One of the first and well known was Marie De L’Incarnation; she spent 40 years of her life educating aboriginal girls. Marie is a truly inspirational woman due to the sacrifices she made toward the Ursalines of Quebec and also for her devotional works and in turn helped shape education systems and social services companies today.

From the age of eight and up Marie loved religion. She found it fascinating. By the time she understood it, she felt strongly towards it. She also felt strongly that women and men should have the same rights. While growing up Marie joined many groups who agreed with making women and men equal. But all of the groups she joined for ages 18-25 failed due to loss of power. By the time Marie was 26 she only thought of giving up a couple of times, but only when the time really was looking horrid. She was very determined to make a difference, although many people had discouraged her for marrying at 17 and giving labour when 18, as a nun she kept hard at work and joined all women’s groups who were teaching aboriginal children. She is one of the reasons why women have rights today.

The Ursalines were a Christian religious order founded in the sixteenth century. Marie was part of this. It was the first teaching order of women and was established in a barn. It was a religious school, and has adhered strictly to work of the order. The first cloistered convent was founded in Paris in 1612 by Madame De St. Beuve. Nine congregations of Ursalines with three-hundred convents existed before the French Revolution. The congregation of Paris was the most flourishing. Marie joined only so females would have a place of education as well. The order was meant for girls of all ages. Boys were banned from this school. Most of the women decided they were happy with this decision because of the fact that the all girls’ school was in a neat and orderly fashion and the founders of the school did not find males neat, orderly or fashionable.

Marie De L’Incarnation’s parents once stated, “She was born a caring and intelligent child, anyone could tell her she was wrong and soon find out it was themselves the wrong ones.” (Richards, Jane.00. http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/incarnate.html) Marie was very close to her mother, who saw her as inspiring, and not so close to her father, who described her as an over thinker. Marie’s family was very religious and read the bible before and after dinner, as well as just before getting into their beds and the first thing as they woke up. Marie didn’t have as many friends as a child but still got through life as one of the most inspiring women in the world.

Marie shows people that if you set your mind to it, you can do whatever you desire, with or without anyone behind you. She is an inspiration to all, through sacrifices and dedication towards the Ursalines of Quebec; she did quite a bit of devotional works and has helped make our school and social service systems today. She had a tough life as a child, loved religion and was very determined. I think it would be a better world if more people were this determined and this giving to others.

Bibliography

http://home.infionline.net/~ddisse/incarnat.html http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005108 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09668a.htm http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Marie_de_lIncarnation.aspx Aiken, Bob. Their Stories Our History