Catherine de Simon de Longpré, who adopted the name Mary Catherine of St. Augustine, became a significant figure in the medical and spiritual administration of New France after arriving from the Kingdom of France in 1648. Her career focused on nursing at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, where she managed clinical operations and personnel until her death in 1668.
Early Formation
Born in 1632 in the town of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, she spent her formative years under the care of her grandparents. In 1644, she joined the Canonesses of St. Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus at their monastery in Bayeux. She entered the order's novitiate on 24 October 1644, transitioning into the religious life that defined her subsequent work.
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At sixteen, Catherine traveled to the colony to support the hospital established by her order. Her journey involved a severe bout of plague, which she claimed to have survived through the intervention of a statue of the Blessed Mother. After landing on 19 August 1648, she served as a nurse, treasurer for nine years, and Novice Mistress. She learned the languages of the local First Peoples to facilitate better care. Marie of the Incarnation, an Ursuline, noted Catherine’s gentle temperament and dedication, despite a lifestyle involving frequent prayer and physical mortification.
The Case of Barbe Hallay
In December 1660, Catherine assumed responsibility for Barbe Hallay, a servant sent to the hospital by Bishop François de Laval. Hallay exhibited behavior interpreted at the time as demonic possession, reportedly triggered by a curse from Daniel Vuil. During this period, the hospital also grappled with a deadly outbreak of an illness characterized by fever and coughing. Biographer Paul Ragueneau documented that Catherine endured physical abuse while caring for Hallay, with witnesses reporting visible bruising. Hallay remained in her care until 1662.
Legacy and Beatification
Catherine’s health declined following the Hallay case, marked by significant weight loss and exhaustion. She died in 1668 at age 36 and was interred at the Église des Augustines-de-l'Hôtel-Dieu-de-Québec. Recognized as one of the six founders of the Catholic Church in Canada, her cause for canonization began in 1926. Pope John Paul II recognized her extraordinary virtue in 1984 and beatified her on 23 April 1989. Her remains are currently held at the Centre Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin.
Fast facts
- Born: 1632, Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte
- Died: 1668, Quebec City
- Religious Order: Canonesses of St. Augustine of the Mercy of Jesus
- Arrival in colony: 19 August 1648
- Beatification date: 23 April 1989
- Feast day: 8 May
- Burial site: Église des Augustines-de-l'Hôtel-Dieu-de-Québec
Questions readers ask
What medical roles did she hold at the hospital?
She served as a nurse, the hospital treasurer for nine years, and as the Novice Mistress.
Was she canonized?
She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 23 April 1989, following the opening of her cause in 1926.
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