Saint Marie of the Incarnation Guyart (1599–1672) was a French Ursuline nun, mystic, and missionary, revered as one of the foundational figures in the evangelization and cultural formation of New France (modern-day Canada). Her life is a remarkable testament to the fusion of deep contemplative spirituality and courageous apostolic action—hallmarks of the great saints of Catholic tradition.
Early Life and Conversion
Marie Guyart was born on October 28, 1599, in Tours, France, into a devout but modestly situated Catholic family. She married at 17, bore one son (Claude), and was widowed at 19. After her husband’s death, she returned to live with her family and worked to support her child. During this time, Marie experienced profound mystical graces and an increasingly strong interior call to religious life.
Her mystical experiences, including a notable vision of the Blessed Trinity when she was just 7 years old, only deepened over the years. Eventually, in 1631, after placing her son in the care of relatives, she entered the Ursuline monastery in Tours, taking the religious name Marie of the Incarnation in honor of the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ, which became central to her spirituality.
Missionary Vocation and Work in New France
In 1639, responding to a long-felt call to bring Christ to the Indigenous peoples of North America, Marie of the Incarnation embarked for New France alongside a small group of Ursulines and lay volunteers. They arrived in Québec City in August of that year. Despite immense hardships—harsh winters, cultural barriers, and frequent threats from warfare—she established the first school for girls in North America, aiming to educate both French and Indigenous children in the Catholic faith.
Saint Marie learned multiple Indigenous languages, including Algonquin and Iroquois dialects, and even compiled catechisms and dictionaries to aid in her apostolic work. Her mission was not simply educational in the modern sense; she sought to form Christian souls, to draw hearts to Christ through the virtues of charity, humility, and piety.
Mysticism and Spiritual Writings
Her life was profoundly mystical. Marie of the Incarnation maintained a deep interior union with God amidst the busyness of her external mission. She corresponded frequently with her son, Claude (who became a Benedictine monk), and with various French ecclesiastics. Her letters and autobiographical writings, written under obedience, offer rich insight into the union of contemplation and action. They are among the most significant documents of early Canadian Catholic spirituality.
She was often compared to St. Teresa of Avila for her mystical depth and pioneering spirit.
Death and Canonization
Saint Marie of the Incarnation died on April 30, 1672, after over 30 years of missionary labor. Her legacy continued through the Ursuline order in Canada, which became a cornerstone of Catholic education for centuries.
She was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1952, and after recognition of her heroic virtues and enduring impact on the Church in Canada, Pope Francis canonized her on April 2, 2014, in an equipollent (equivalent) canonization—an acknowledgment of sanctity without a formal canonization ceremony.
Spiritual Legacy
Saint Marie of the Incarnation is celebrated as a:
- Mother of the Canadian Church
- Apostle to Indigenous peoples
- Model of Incarnational spirituality
- Woman of heroic faith and intellect
Her feast day is observed on April 30 in the Roman Martyrology.