Between 1840 and 1864, Marie-Rosalie Cadron-Jetté transformed the landscape of charitable care in Montreal by providing shelter and midwifery services to stigmatized unwed mothers. While she began this mission operating out of her own home, her dedication led to the establishment of the Hospice de Sainte-Pélagie and the founding of a permanent religious institute.
Early Life and Family
Born in Lavaltrie on January 27, 1794, to Antoine Cadron and midwife Rosalie Roy, she was raised in a devout Roman Catholic household. She married Jean-Marie Jetté on October 7, 1811, and the couple settled on a farm while raising eleven children. Financial instability and the loss of multiple children to early death marked these years. Following the 1832 cholera epidemic, which claimed her husband's life, she lived as a widow, eventually focusing her efforts on community and charitable work once her maternal responsibilities subsided.
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Her charitable path developed through her relationship with Ignace Bourget, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Montreal, who served as her spiritual director. Responding to his requests for crisis assistance, she provided secret accommodation for expectant women facing severe social stigma. In 1848, she formalised these efforts by taking religious vows and establishing the Sisters of Misericorde. By 1849, she obtained official qualifications in midwifery, further professionalising the care provided at the congregation's facilities.
Legacy and Canonization
In 1853, the congregation moved into a dedicated convent at the intersection of Dorchester Boulevard and Saint-André Street, which served as her residence until she died in 1864. Decades later, the Roman Catholic Church initiated the formal process for her canonization, which remains under study at the Vatican. In 2013, Pope Francis officially declared her venerable, recognizing her sustained contribution to the social and medical support of marginalized women.
Fast facts
- Born: 27 January 1794, Lavaltrie
- Died: 5 April 1864, Montreal
- Occupation: Midwife, nurse, nun
- Religious Name: Marie of the Nativity
- Spouse: Jean-Marie Jetté (married 1811)
- Congregation: Sisters of Misericorde
- Declared Venerable: 2013
Questions readers ask
What specific charitable work did she perform?
She provided secret shelter, emotional support, and midwifery care to unwed mothers who faced significant social stigma in 19th-century Montreal.
Is she considered a saint?
Her cause for canonization is currently under study by the Vatican; she was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2013.
