From the beginning, in 1535, the founders, Angela Merici, had already answered a particular call in those days : the establishment of a Company of consecrated women, named the Company of Saint Ursula. They placed themselves under the protection of Saint Ursula, a martyr of the fourth century.
In 1611, in France, we find that the first Ursulines had become a religious order under the rule of Saint Augustine.
In 1639, in France, Mary of the Incarnation with two Ursuline companions from the monastery of Tours, along with Madame de la Peltrie and her maid-servant, boarded a vessel destined for New France.
This was the origin of the present day Ursulines belonging to the Ursulines of the Canadian Union. These Ursulines live in Canada, Japan, Peru and the Philippines.
They live together in communities of love, nourished by union with Jesus Christ. Their mission consists in the developement of each person within a faith and educational setting.
During the last few decades lay people have chosen to live the charism of Angela Merici as Associates.They invite the Ursulines to share the Merician spirituality with them in order to develop Angela Merici’s charism and to live her love of the Gospel.
The Ursulines gather for the celebration of the Centennial of the Rimouski sisters. Developing Reciprocal Links`'ire boand w one another by the -bond of chat*" (Angela Merici, last Counsel)
Our Aim - develop reciprocal links with the people who visit our Web Site - together, find alternatives to be able to better contribute to the humanisation of our world Developing Reciprocal Links - by information relevant to our life style and commitments - by sharing what sustains us and what constitutes our heritage - by implementing varions activities, relationships and understandings - by suggestions for resourceful accompaniment - by welcoming your suggestions, reactions, comments , and answering your questions, or questioning your answers
Finding Alternatives - by openness to the novelty of experiences and calas - by regular updatings - by searching for new paths that can lead us to living together at best in our Church and SocietyTop
Constitutions and Rules of The Ursulines of the Canadian Union
Excerpt – New Covenant -
1 st chapter
The Prophetic Mission of Consecrated Virginity
In Christ, God seals with the human race the eternal covenant of His love, so that the universe, restored by the Spirit, be presented to the Father in glorious praise, when the fullness of time is accomplished. (Eph 1, 3-4) Moved by the Spirit, and at God’s appointed time in the progressive realization of salvation, Angela Merici renewed, at the heart of the Church, the propheticism of consecrated virginity. With the simplicity of heart of the Beatitudes, she gave herself to Jesus Christ in the service of others . Angela invites her daughters to walk in this same light, telling them to honor Jesus Christ to whom they promised their virginity and their entire being; to put their hope and love in God alone and not in human creatures. Faithful to the charism of their founder the Ursulines recognize the dignity and demands of their calling. They live their covenant with Christ the Lord in a spousal relationship which nourishes their contemplation, strengthens their mutual communion, and urges them to work in the Church’s mission of education. As true spiritual mothers, they dedicate themselves to the education of faith in youth and adults. (New Covenant, p. 17)
The disctinctive sign of the Ursulines was realized by Don Calixte Beaupré, a Benedictine monk from St-Benoit-du-Lac. Symbol of the death-resurrection mystery, it reminds us by its contrasting effect, of the various forms of this death-resurrection mystery. The prominent and shiny part of the cross symbolizes the light of Christ, the faith, hope, and love which stem from it. Emerging from a background of shadows - the dark and depressed area - it recalls the darkness of evil in our lives which is overcome by the strength of the light. Equal charity for God, brothers and sisters is represented by the equal length of the intersecting bright lines. Their enlarged ends signify that the Ursulines really open their hands to welcome people from all over the world.
A saltire escartelee losenge escutcheon: • on chief, or, a sable patee couped Greek cross, charged with same in aiguisee silver; • on sinister, gules, three lilies issuing from a stem, all gold; • on dexter, gules, a laurel branch with gold leaf; • on base, azure, an equipped vessel sailing on unde, all gold.
SYMBOLISM
• Gold evokes spiritual values, immortality, life. • Silver (white) suggests divine transparency and purity. • Black (crossed perpendicular and horizontal lines) symbolizes mystery and great sacrifice. • Red (vertical sections) expresses courage, charity, martyrdom, and apostolic zeal. • Blue (horizontal sections) speaks of peace and security. • The lily stands for virginity and the three vows. Angela’s virginal consecration was directed and sustained by charity and zeal for souls (red). • The palm (or laurel) illustrates the victory of St. Ursula’s martyrdom • The sailboat symbolizes Marie of the Incarnation, the first missionary sister. She sails on a sea of serenity (blue) in spite of the searing pain of separation from her loved ones. Our Founders are represented by gold to portray immortality and life.
Saint Angela promised to stay at our side. She wanted to be faithful to her specific grace of governing the ‘ Company ‘ to the end of time; but to replace her, she bequeathed Leaders and Lady-Governors to keep near each one of the sisters; she wrote: ‘’ ... Now I am more alive than I was when I lived on earth, and I see better and hold more dear and pleasing the good things which I see you constantly doing, and now, even more, I want and am able to help you and do you good in every way.’’ (Counsels, prologue, 23-25) Since then, Angela’s foresighted way of governing underwent several changes. Nevertheless, we endeavor to let her spirit permeate us and cordially live up to the commitments requested by our sisters in different governmental services. Those who are called to serve in government are asked to be ‘’loving and tender in their relationships, they bear each of their sisters graven in their hearts and provide, as best they can, for their temporal and spiritual needs. At the feet of Jesus Christ, they draw the strength to promote harmony and unity in heart and will.’’ (New Covenant, p. 80)
Guiding Principles for Governing
The service of authority is based on the principle of subsidiarity, and coresponsibility, whence the need for information, dialogue, consultation and participation at all levels of life and of the mission. How important it is for each sister to feel concerned with the life of the other as a whole!
Government Levels
The Local Communities of which the number of members, and the general terms and conditions vary according to the different needs, form a living environment at the heart of the institute. The quality of life of the group as a whole depends on its vitality. The Local Communities are grouped by ‘’provinces ‘’. Presently, we can count three of them: one in Quebec, one in Japan (including the Philippines) and one in Peru. The three of them are grouped together under the government of The Ursulines of the Canadian Union. All are heirs of Mary of the Incarnation who arrived in Quebec in 1639.
