Marguerite, Francois, children (2), Mother in law, blind woman, poor, orphans, sisters (2), Other people, English soldier, French Soldier, English commander
There once was a beautiful young lady named Marguerite Varennes. Marguerite lived in Montreal, and she spoke in a ridiculous French Canadian accent, saying things like 'I lurve Celine Dion" and "I want more of dzi poutine!"
One day a very dashing young man, named Francois, approached Marguerite, got down on one knee, took her hand, and said, in his own outlandish accent "Oh Marguerite, you are sweeter than a sugar shack on a crisp march morning! Won't you marry me?" Then he kissed her on the hand.
Marguerite said "Zut alors! You are so charming! Bien oui!"
So Marguerite and Francois were married.
(Enter Mother in law, sons)
Soon after, her pushy mother in law moved in, and she had two very needy children who always wanted her attention.
Francois did not help her. He was too busy making and selling alcohol illegally.
Eventually Francois died.
(Exit priest, mother in law, Francois, boys. Enter Blind woman)
One day Marguerite met a blind woman, who said "Please won't you help a poor blind woman who cannot work for herself?"
Marguerite said "You poor dear. Come and live in my home."
(Enter poor, sick, orphans)
Before long Marguerite was bringing poor people, sick people, and orphans into her home.
(Enter sisters)
Soon other women joined Marguerite serving the needy in her home. It was a very crowded house!
(Enter other people) But the other people in Montreal were mean to them, even throwing rocks at them. They said things like "Stop bringing all these needy people into our neighborhood!" and "What are you doing Marguerite? Selling them your husbands illegal alcohol?" They all laughed. Then they started saying "You women are just a bunch of drunks!"
Now the word drunk in French is "grises", so the mean people started calling them "Les Grises."
But Marguerite had an idea. She said to her sisters "Sisters, if they want to call us 'les grises', let's be 'les grises'.
Here sisters said "you can't be serious! You want us to be drunks?"
Marguerite said "Not at all! But grises does not only mean drunk. It also means grey! Let's all dress in grey habits!"
The sisters giggled, and thanked Marguerite for that French lesson. Ever since then they have been known as the Grey Nuns.
(Exit other people, Enter English soldier)
One day while Marguerite was sewing a tent, an English soldier came running into the hospital, looking for somewhere to hide. Marguerite helped him hide under her sewing.
(Enter French soldier) Then a French soldier came running in. He said "Did you see an Englishman come through here?"
Marguerite pointed out the back door. The French man said "Merci!" and ran off. When it was safe the Englishman popped out from under the tent, and thanked Marguerite who saved his life.
(Exit French soldier, enter English Commander)
Some time later the whole English army gathered outside the hospital. The Commander yelled. "We know that you are hiding and helping French soldiers! We have canons aimed at your hospital, and will knock it down!"
The sisters and all the poor screamed and huddled around Marguerite. Marguerite said "But I'm not ready to be canonized!"
The audience groaned at the bad pun. Some of them whispered to each other "I don't get it".
The Commander said "Ready, aim...."
Suddenly the English soldier said "Wait! Sir, these are the nuns who helped me to escape from the French!"
The Commander said "Stand down men!" Then to Marguerite he said "You have our gratitude."
(Exit English commander and English soldier)
Marguerite spent the remainder of her life living with the Grey Nuns she founded, and serving the people of Montreal. She was the first person born in Canada to be canonized a saint.
Saint Marguerite d'Youville- Pray for us!
Eventually Francois died.
(Exit priest, mother in law, Francois, boys. Enter Blind woman)
One day Marguerite met a blind woman, who said "Please won't you help a poor blind woman who cannot work for herself?"
Marguerite said "You poor dear. Come and live in my home."
(Enter poor, sick, orphans)
Before long Marguerite was bringing poor people, sick people, and orphans into her home.
(Enter sisters)
Soon other women joined Marguerite serving the needy in her home. It was a very crowded house!
(Enter other people) But the other people in Montreal were mean to them, even throwing rocks at them. They said things like "Stop bringing all these needy people into our neighborhood!" and "What are you doing Marguerite? Selling them your husbands illegal alcohol?" They all laughed. Then they started saying "You women are just a bunch of drunks!"
Now the word drunk in French is "grises", so the mean people started calling them "Les Grises."
But Marguerite had an idea. She said to her sisters "Sisters, if they want to call us 'les grises', let's be 'les grises'.
Here sisters said "you can't be serious! You want us to be drunks?"
Marguerite said "Not at all! But grises does not only mean drunk. It also means grey! Let's all dress in grey habits!"
The sisters giggled, and thanked Marguerite for that French lesson. Ever since then they have been known as the Grey Nuns.
(Exit other people, Enter English soldier)
One day while Marguerite was sewing a tent, an English soldier came running into the hospital, looking for somewhere to hide. Marguerite helped him hide under her sewing.
(Enter French soldier) Then a French soldier came running in. He said "Did you see an Englishman come through here?"
Marguerite pointed out the back door. The French man said "Merci!" and ran off. When it was safe the Englishman popped out from under the tent, and thanked Marguerite who saved his life.
(Exit French soldier, enter English Commander)
Some time later the whole English army gathered outside the hospital. The Commander yelled. "We know that you are hiding and helping French soldiers! We have canons aimed at your hospital, and will knock it down!"
The sisters and all the poor screamed and huddled around Marguerite. Marguerite said "But I'm not ready to be canonized!"
The audience groaned at the bad pun. Some of them whispered to each other "I don't get it".
The Commander said "Ready, aim...."
Suddenly the English soldier said "Wait! Sir, these are the nuns who helped me to escape from the French!"
The Commander said "Stand down men!" Then to Marguerite he said "You have our gratitude."
(Exit English commander and English soldier)
Marguerite spent the remainder of her life living with the Grey Nuns she founded, and serving the people of Montreal. She was the first person born in Canada to be canonized a saint.
Saint Marguerite d'Youville- Pray for us!
