Marie de l'Incarnation

(=Marie Martin=, =née Guyart=)

(1599-1672)

   Born at Tours, France. Married early, and was left a widow after two years, with an only child. For twelve years devoted herself to his education; and then entered the Ursuline convent at Tours; in 1639 accompanied Madame de la Peltrie to Canada, and became the first superior of the Ursuline convent at Quebec. Her Lettres Historiques, written for the edification of her son Claude Martin, form one of the most valuable sources of information on the history of the period. Composed a catechism in Huron, three in Algonquian and a dictionary of French and Algonquian.

   Index: F Arrival of, at Quebec, 28; on Jesuit Relations, 30; on influence of convent teaching, 89; on rapid decline of Indian population, 168. L On the devotion of Laval to the sick, 33; on his saintliness, 34, 254; on conversions wrought by the earthquake, 45; mentions Dollard's exploit, 75; on piety of the soldiery, 79; her piety, 92; called the Theresa of New France, 93; Abbé Ferland's account of, 93; on the zeal of Fénelon and Trouvé, 109; on the sale of brandy to the Indians, 113; praises Talon, 114; on Canadians, 119; on education of Indian girls, 125; death of, 153, 154; character and influence, 155. Ch Praises virtues of early settlers, 258.

   Bib.: Lettres de la Vénérable Mère Marie de l'Incarnation; Martin, La Vie de la Vénérable Mère Marie de l'Incarnation; Charlevoix, Vie de Mère Marie de l'Incarnation; Casgrain, Vie; Life, by a Religious of the Ursuline Community.