Saint Émilie Gamelin

Life story

Emilie Tavernier was born on 19 February 1800 in Montreal, Lower Canada, the youngest of 15 children. On 4 June 1823 she married Jean-Baptiste Gamelin, a 50-year-old apple dealer. He died on 1 October 1827. Of their three children, two died shortly after birth and the third died within a year of her husband's death.

After her husband's death she joined Montreal charity groups and took in elderly women. On 4 March 1830 she opened a shelter for frail or sick elderly women. It was incorporated in 1841 as the Montreal Asylum for Aged and Infirm Women, and in October 1841 she was elected its director.

She began her novitiate in 1843 and took the habit on 8 October 1843. The Sisters of Providence received canonical status on 29 March 1844, and she was elected Superior General the next day.

She died of cholera on 23 September 1851, aged 51, during an epidemic in Montreal. Pope John Paul II beatified her on 7 October 2001. Her feast is 23 September, or 24 September in Canada.

Works and witness

• Opened a shelter for elderly women on 4 March 1830
• Director of the charity incorporated in 1841
• Founded the Sisters of Providence; Superior General from 30 March 1844
• Died of cholera on 23 September 1851

Saints from the same country

Saint André Bessette, Saint Marie of the Incarnation, Saint Marguerite d'Youville, Blessed Dina Bélanger

References

• Providence Archives, "Mother Émilie Gamelin's Beatification Chronology of Events" (providence.org)
• Sisters of Providence of Montréal, "Cause for canonization reopened" (sistersofprovidence.ca)

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.