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| Walking to the fancy entrance through the snow |
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| View of the monastery wall from the lobby (indoors!) |
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| More of the old walls with new structures |
The monastery continues its tradition of hospitality and care for the sick. It has a hotel, a restaurant, a health spa, daily Mass, and a museum cataloguing the history of the order in Quebec.
Our first stop was to see the wing of the church where the sisters pray and attend Mass. It is separated off from the main body of the church where the general public comes to pray.
A small room has various liturgical items from the monastery on display, including relics of saints.
The main founder of this monastery is Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine. Born in 1632, she joined the Augustinians at Bayeux, France (where the Tapestry is from), in 1644. A call came for sisters to travel to New France to assist the canonesses opening a hospital in what is now Quebec City. She accepted in 1648, traveling to the New World at the age of sixteen! She worked tirelessly in developing the hospital.
The main body of the church is fabulously decorated with a lot of white and gold, making it radiant. It is not very large but is impressive.
The museum part of the monastery has an impressive array of displays. This model shows the original layout of the hospital.
The sisters have the happy combination of work and prayer so necessary to an authentic Christian life. This display shows a rosary (for praying) and a mortar and pestle (for working).
The sisters came over in groups. Three sisters shared one large trunk that had three locks--one key for each sister. They had to pack everything they needed into it before leaving France.
More work and prayer here--a cake mold and a reliquary!
For some decisions, the nuns would vote using white and black beads.
The number of statues is truly amazing.
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| The sisters' part of the church |
A small room has various liturgical items from the monastery on display, including relics of saints.
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| Bones of the saints |
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| Chalices and other items |
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| More of the same |
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| A monstrance for benediction |
The main founder of this monastery is Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine. Born in 1632, she joined the Augustinians at Bayeux, France (where the Tapestry is from), in 1644. A call came for sisters to travel to New France to assist the canonesses opening a hospital in what is now Quebec City. She accepted in 1648, traveling to the New World at the age of sixteen! She worked tirelessly in developing the hospital.
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| Blessed Catherine of St. Augustine |
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| Sacristy with some original 17th century furniture |
The main body of the church is fabulously decorated with a lot of white and gold, making it radiant. It is not very large but is impressive.
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| Main altar (with the nuns' wing on the right) |
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| Side altar dedicated to Our Lady |
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| Side altar to St. Augustine |
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| The pews for the congregation |
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| Relics of Blessed Catherine and St. Jean de Brebeuf |
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| Madonna and child in the hallways |
The museum part of the monastery has an impressive array of displays. This model shows the original layout of the hospital.
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| The first hospital |
The sisters have the happy combination of work and prayer so necessary to an authentic Christian life. This display shows a rosary (for praying) and a mortar and pestle (for working).
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| Ora et labora! |
The sisters came over in groups. Three sisters shared one large trunk that had three locks--one key for each sister. They had to pack everything they needed into it before leaving France.
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| Trunk |
More work and prayer here--a cake mold and a reliquary!
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| Food for body and soul |
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| Statues |
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| Trunk and keys |
For some decisions, the nuns would vote using white and black beads.
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| Early voting machine |
The number of statues is truly amazing.
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| A lot of statues |
We wish it had not been snowing so hard when we visited so we could have seen the gardens. It was restful and joyful to visit the monastery.
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