St. Catherine of St. Augustine – Missionary and Caregiver of New France

ST. CATHERINE OF ST AUGUSTINE

St. Catherine of St. Augustine was a French nun and missionary who served in New France (Canada) in the 17th century. As a Hospitaller of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, she cared for the sick and dying with deep faith, and is venerated for her charity, purity, and spiritual gifts.

Saint Catherine of Saint Augustine, born Catherine de Longpré on May 3, 1632, in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte, Normandy, France, was a young woman drawn to a life of service and holiness from a tender age. At just 16 years old, she entered the Hôtel-Dieu de Bayeux and joined the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint Augustine. Two years later, moved by missionary zeal and the desire to serve God in the most demanding of places, she volunteered to travel to New France (present-day Canada), a land then known for its challenging climate, cultural differences, and dangerous frontier conditions.

She arrived in Quebec in 1648, where she served at the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, one of the first hospitals established in North America. Her life was one of profound humility, intense physical labor, and spiritual depth. Catherine worked tirelessly to care for the sick and dying, especially during outbreaks of disease and times of famine. Her deep interior life was marked by mystical experiences, including visions, ecstasies, and spiritual communication with the souls in purgatory.

Despite the hardships of colonial life, language barriers, and her own delicate health, Catherine remained faithful and joyful in her vocation. She combined her daily service with long hours of prayer, developing a spiritual life characterized by intense devotion to the Eucharist, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Our Lady. She took private vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and service to the poor, making her life an offering to God.

Catherine was also a cultural bridge in New France, treating both Indigenous and European patients with equal compassion and dignity. Her spiritual writings reveal a woman wholly surrendered to the will of God, unshaken by suffering, and deeply in love with her vocation.

She passed away on May 8, 1668, at the age of 36. Although her life was short, her legacy was immense, and she was quickly recognized for her sanctity. In 1989, Pope John Paul II declared her a saint, acknowledging her heroic virtue, missionary spirit, and exemplary Christian witness in the early days of the Church in Canada.

Feast Day

8-5-1668

Birth Date

3-5-1632

Died Date

8-5-1668

Canonised Date

23-4-1989

Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, Quebec City, Canada

O holy Catherine of Saint Augustine, faithful servant of the poor and the sick, intercede for us to have hearts full of compassion and trust in God's divine will. Teach us to serve with humility and love, following your example of selfless devotion. Amen.
ST. CATHERINE OF ST AUGUSTINE

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ST. CATHERINE OF ST AUGUSTINE

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Anudina Visudhar (Malayalam) – Life of Saints for Everyday
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Saint Companions for Each Day
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