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Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin: Foundress of the Sisters of Providence
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Emilie Tavernier Gamelin of Montreal, Quebec.
Born on February 19, 1800, Marie-Émilie-Eugène Tavernier Gamelin was a French Canadian social worker and Roman Catholic religious Sister. She is best known as the Foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Montreal.
In 1960, the Catholic church began what they called the "investigation process" to work towards her beatification and canonization (Sainthood). In 2001 she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and is now referred to as "Blessed" before her name as a result of her honor.
To say that Gamelin lived a life of tragedy is frankly putting it lightly. Emilie was the last of 15 children born to Antoine Tavernier, a wheelwright, and her mother Josephte Maurice. Of the children born to this couple eight died in infancy. Josephte was described as frail and delicate in health yet strong in character and was very beloved by her children. She was known for lavishing attention on Emilie and for having a deep interest in caring for the poor.
It is said that as early as age three Emilie took after her mother's charitable nature and she gave up her own food for a beggar that appeared at the family home, as she was moved to tears by his suffering.
It is said that as early as age three Emilie took after her mother's charitable nature and she gave up her own food for a beggar that appeared at the family home, as she was moved to tears by his suffering.
A young Emilie Tavernier Gamelin.
The first of what is described as the "great sorrows" of Emilie's life was when her mother died when she was only four. She also lost her father, sister, and sister in law by the age of 18. After these losses, she then went to live with her aunt Marie-Anne Tavernier and her husband Joseph Perrault in Montreal. Marie-Anne also had an interest in charitable endeavors, she and Emilie were very close as a result of their shared interest and values. Emilie also attended an excellent school while under her aunt's care.
After Emilie's sister in law died she moved in with her brother to help his household. While there she used one of the rooms in her brother's house as a dining room for the poor, which was frequently in use. Emilie nearly entered religious life as a young woman and was dissuaded by friends, but she had no interest in marrying.
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Surprising everyone, at age 23 Emilie suddenly married 50 year old respected Montreal resident John Baptiste Gamelin. John Baptiste was financially comfortable, also shared Emilie's beliefs about the importance of kindness and charity to the poor, and her commitment to religion. The age gap turned heads but by all accounts both were genuinely happy with their marriage.
Emilie's happiness was tragically short-lived when her first two children died within months of their birth. In 1827, her husband died after a long illness and a year later her third and last child died. Lost in grief, in 1827 she was guided by her spiritual director, Jean-Baptiste Bréguier dit Saint-Pierre, to pray to Our Lady of Seven Dolors and to join two charity groups.
She thrived under these projects and opened a guest house on her property, moving in a 102 year old in need of help as a first patient. Her friends and family ridiculed her "foolishness." Soon two more houses and the care of 30 residents were also her responsibility.
Emilie sold all of her valuable possessions that she inherited from her deceased husband to pay for the care of the poor she cared for, including parting with her own cherished wedding ring after a local woman and priest mocked her for it's extravagance.
The only possession she kept of value was a gold locket that contained hair from her deceased children, which she was buried with.
Much like her friend and protege Mother Joseph, she repeatedly felt God's Providence work throughout her life:
Much like her friend and protege Mother Joseph, she repeatedly felt God's Providence work throughout her life:
Part of old Montreal.
"One day she prayed at Montreal's Notre Dame church because she did not have the money to buy food. After prayers, she continued on her way to the market where she planned to beg at the stalls. An old man approached her and handed her 23 louis ($100) saying it was for the poor. Émilie Gamelin's life is filled with similar incidents in which she trusted completely in Divine Providence and was able to continue her work."
She worked with people ill with cholera and was known for changing the views of the rich towards the homeless and infirm from scorn to compassion. She also helped change the attitudes towards the mentally disabled:
'Émilie Gamelin's strong interest in the care of people with mental illness can be traced to a request made by her husband around the time of his death. John Baptiste had begged her to continue caring for Dodais, a boy with mental retardation whom he had befriended. Dodais had rescued him after an attack in which John Baptiste had been left unconscious by the side of a road. The cries of Dodais summoned help.
Émilie Gamelin fulfilled her husband's wish and cared for Dodais until he died at age 30. Dodais was described as "unable to do the smallest thing for himself, and capable of uttering only confusing and unintelligible sounds." Émilie Gamelin revealed to her spiritual director that Dodais at his death was granted the use of speech long enough to thank her for her tender care. Her interest in people with mental afflictions resulted in the establishment of many institutions of care throughout Quebec.' - Providence Archive
Painting hanging in the Tomb of Emilie Gamelin.
The Angel of the Poor Visits Patriot Prisoners in Montreal.
During the years leading up to the Lower Canada Rebellion, Gamelin was a supporter of the Canadian Party, the forerunner of the "Patriote" Party that the Pariseau family was also supporting. Her brother Francois Tavernier was an ardent supporter of Joseph Papineau and the Patriots, and during the 1832 Montreal West by-election he was arrested and charged with assaulting a supporter of an opposing Tory politician.
At this same time, young Esther Parizeau was running her own "Younger Sons and Daughters Patriote" brigade, and her brother Joseph Pariseau was leading a Patriot militia nearby in St. Martin, Laval. Terrebonne, Quebec native François X. Matthieu escaped prison and a death sentence for similar activities in Montreal and headed west to help pioneer Oregon City, Oregon.
Emilie's cousin Joseph Perrault had been elected to the Assembly as a member of the Canadian Party, so the family was interested in political endeavors in general. Incredibly, 226 women sought to vote in the 1832 by-election for Montreal West and Gamelin was able to cast her vote for the Patriot candidate her brother Francois was arrested for supporting!
During this rebellion (1837-1839), Gamelin obtained special permission to visit the imprisoned rebels who were under sentences of death. She not only provided supplies and counseling to the men at “Au Pied du Courant” prison, she also acted as a secret messenger between them and their families. Once she even snuck in a prisoner's younger sister for a final visit - this young visitor later became one of Gamelin's Sisters of Providence.
Pieta in the chapel at Providence Medical Center, Portland.
Asile de Providence and "the Work of the Soup" to Feed the Poor.
Bishop Ignace Bourget asked the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris to come to Montreal carry on the work started by Emilie Gamelin. Eventually, word from Paris arrived that the Sisters were not able to come, so Bourget decided to found an order of Sisters called The Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor. They were affectionately called "Sisters of Providence" by the people of Montreal that they served.
Emilie Gamelin was was not among the original group of seven sisters and was denied entry to religious life multiple times by Bourget.
Frustrated, but not dissuaded, Emilie continued to pray for Bourget to allow her join the new community. Eventually he "tested" her with a mission in May 1843: obtain a copy of the "Rules of St. Vincent de Paul" from the Sisters of Charity in Emmittsburg, Maryland. Upon returning with the requested book, Emilie joined the group of novices that October.
Finally, on March 30, 1844, Emilie officially became "Mother" and first Superior at the age of 44. On December 26, 1844, Emilie Gamelin welcomed 20-year old Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart as the 13th member of the new convent.
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Second Asile de Providence in Montreal, Canada where Mother Joseph and Emilie Gamelin met. The first Asile was sadly torn down for a Metro station.
One of the many projects the sisters did to help the indigent of Montreal was open a soup kitchen. Many days the line for free soup through the Asylum's window stretched around the block for most of the day. Gamelin and her Sisters took feeding the poor seriously as a way to show God's love, calling the process "the Work of the Soup."
During the Irish famine of 1847, many people immigrated to the United States and Canada only to die of cholera by the thousands during passage. Mother Gamelin received over 650 children orphaned by the epidemic in Montreal, raising several herself. She also established day schools, boarding schools, shelters and places dedicated to the care of persons with mental illness and a school for those with hearing impairments.
During the Irish famine of 1847, many people immigrated to the United States and Canada only to die of cholera by the thousands during passage. Mother Gamelin received over 650 children orphaned by the epidemic in Montreal, raising several herself. She also established day schools, boarding schools, shelters and places dedicated to the care of persons with mental illness and a school for those with hearing impairments.
Emilie's Life as a Lesson in Self-Care.
The community grew rapidly under Mother Gamelin's direction and the community need for services was overwhelming. Before Gamelin died, the community had 49 sisters and nine houses. Near the end of August 1851, cholera returned to Montreal. Three Sisters of Providence died caring for cholera victims. Many Sisters were afraid to care for cholera patients but Mother Gamelin and Sister Joseph continued to care for the ill and obviously dying patients in their care when others would not.
In the middle of the night on September 23, 1851, Mother Gamelin awakened her dear friend, confidante, and roommate Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart saying, "I have the cholera. I am going to die." She had also had an earlier premonition of her own death on her last trip, remarking to her companions, "It feels like cholera weather." She died just 12 hours later, a devastated Sister Joseph acting as her nurse and weeping at her bedside. Her last words to her Sisters were: “Humility, simplicity, chari…” (ty). Part of her epitaph read: She hath considered a field and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
In the middle of the night on September 23, 1851, Mother Gamelin awakened her dear friend, confidante, and roommate Sister Joseph of the Sacred Heart saying, "I have the cholera. I am going to die." She had also had an earlier premonition of her own death on her last trip, remarking to her companions, "It feels like cholera weather." She died just 12 hours later, a devastated Sister Joseph acting as her nurse and weeping at her bedside. Her last words to her Sisters were: “Humility, simplicity, chari…” (ty). Part of her epitaph read: She hath considered a field and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
Religious Icon of Emilie Gamelin in the Portland Providence Medical Center Hospital's Chapel.
After Emilie died Sister Joseph fell into a deep depression, noting it was the "greatest sorrow of her life." It was only when her long held dream of heading west to the Oregon Territory manifested after much prayer and what she felt was God's intervention ("Divine Providence") did she find relief from her crushing sadness.
It is interesting that SJ's birthday, September 22, is the last "happy" day Gamelin and Mother Joseph spent together.
It is interesting that SJ's birthday, September 22, is the last "happy" day Gamelin and Mother Joseph spent together.
Emilie's tomb in the relocated Providence Motherhouse, Montreal.
Jubilee prayer card for Blessed Emilie Tavernier Gamelin.
We found a fascinating article discussing how scientists analyzed a relic lung piece taken after Emilie's death, and how it has somehow been misplaced! The actual cause of Gamelin's death was indeed cholera, which they traced to the stray cats she was known to care for, paired with exhaustion. Emilie Gamelin's unending supply of compassion for others paired with being a Crazy Cat Lady like Andrea and SJ ended up burning her out and killing her.
It was a lesson that both of us have thought about a lot ever since. We look forward to visiting Montreal and paying our respects to Emilie at the Sisters of Providence Museum in the future. The kind Sisters of Providence in Montreal that SJ has corresponded with for research have sent us Emilie Gamelin relic medals and offered us a personal tour of Emilie's Tomb at the Museum. The Museum is near the site of the original Providence Motherhouse (an area now called "Place Emilie-Gamelin") that was sadly torn down on August 14, 1963 for the construction of the Montreal Berri-UQAM Metro Station on site.
It was a lesson that both of us have thought about a lot ever since. We look forward to visiting Montreal and paying our respects to Emilie at the Sisters of Providence Museum in the future. The kind Sisters of Providence in Montreal that SJ has corresponded with for research have sent us Emilie Gamelin relic medals and offered us a personal tour of Emilie's Tomb at the Museum. The Museum is near the site of the original Providence Motherhouse (an area now called "Place Emilie-Gamelin") that was sadly torn down on August 14, 1963 for the construction of the Montreal Berri-UQAM Metro Station on site.
Portland Providence Medical Center replica of the statue in Montreal.
Once the construction of the metro station was completed, the station's roof formed what they then called Berri Square, which was basically a patch of concrete. In recent years it has been revitalized as a community garden. Due to its long history serving the destitute, many homeless people still congregate near this area and it is also the frequent site of protests against perceived injustices. Also, Montreal's PRIDE celebration centers around Place Emilie-Gamelin, which is awesome.
There is a famous statue by sculptor Raoul Hunter called "Mere Emilie Gamelin" outside the Rue Sainte-Catherine exit of the Metro Station. The statue was installed on May 25, 2000 and is located where the shelter she founded once stood.
The bronze on the statue's right hand, which is symbolically stretched out toward people in need, is slowly fading because of all the people that come to shake her hand and take photos with her.
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Even Emilie's statue continues to bring joy to the area where her community stood. I'd imagine she enjoys the children that come to shake her hand, even though it is eroding the statue itself, mirroring her life of self-sacrifice.
Outside of the Cancer Center near the turn around at Portland's Providence Medical Center is a full-size replica of the famous Hunter statue of Gamelin in Montreal.
This statue has one notable change - the open hand that the public won't stop shaking in Montreal has been replaced with an outstretched loaf of bread instead to preserve the finish.
Part of the Sisters of Providence History display, Portland.
Mother Joseph is similarly honored here.
Blessed Emilie Gamelin - One Step From Sainthood.
Emilie Gamelin is the only woman from Montreal to be raised by the Church to the rank of "Blessed", which occurred on October 7, 2001. The Office of the Cause in Montreal is in charge of the process leading to her canonization, or Sainthood.
From Wikipedia: "In 1983, an inquiry into Gamelin's canonization cause was begun by a diocesan tribunal. The evidence heard by the tribunal was compiled into a document called a positio, which was sent to Rome and presented to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. The positio was examined by a committee of expert theologians and, upon their recommendation, Pope John Paul II declared Gamelin to be Venerable (the second of the four stages of sainthood) on 23 December 1993.
Also in 1983, a 13-year-old boy named Yannick Fréchette was observed to make a surprising recovery from leukemia following prayer directed to Mother Émilie Gamelin.
The medical file relating to this case was submitted to doctors in Rome, and in 1999 those doctors unanimously declared Fréchette's recovery to be a miracle, attributable to the intercession of Gamelin. The healing was formally acknowledged as an authentic miracle by Pope John Paul II on 18 December 2000. The declaration of a miracle enabled Gamelin to meet the requirements for beatification, the third of the four stages of sainthood, and on 7 October 2001 Pope John Paul II beatified her. As a result of her beatification, Gamelin received the title "Blessed", and public veneration to her was authorized by the Roman Catholic Church in areas associated with her."
Also in 1983, a 13-year-old boy named Yannick Fréchette was observed to make a surprising recovery from leukemia following prayer directed to Mother Émilie Gamelin.
The medical file relating to this case was submitted to doctors in Rome, and in 1999 those doctors unanimously declared Fréchette's recovery to be a miracle, attributable to the intercession of Gamelin. The healing was formally acknowledged as an authentic miracle by Pope John Paul II on 18 December 2000. The declaration of a miracle enabled Gamelin to meet the requirements for beatification, the third of the four stages of sainthood, and on 7 October 2001 Pope John Paul II beatified her. As a result of her beatification, Gamelin received the title "Blessed", and public veneration to her was authorized by the Roman Catholic Church in areas associated with her."
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After the recognition of a second miracle obtained after his/her beatification, the Blessed person can be proclaimed a Saint and his/her cult becomes universal.
The Office of the Cause has put out the call to the public for over 50 years to connect with anyone that may have a report of Emilie's intercession and a proof of a second miracle to finish the Sainthood process.
We expect that sometime in the next 100 years that Blessed Emilie Gamelin will be venerated to Saint Emilie Gamelin. Truthfully, we think Mother Joseph deserves to be venerated also.