1640. J MADEMOISELLE MANCE. 199 



Of Marie de I'lncarnation we read, that at the age 

 of seven Christ appeared to her in a vision ; ^ and 

 the biographer of Mademoiselle Mance assures us, 

 with admiring gravity, that, at the same tender 

 age, she bound herself to God by a vow of per- 

 petual chastity.^ This singular infant in due time 

 became a woman, of a delicate constitution, and 

 manners graceful, yet dignified. Though an ear- 

 nest devotee, she felt no vocation for the cloister ; 

 yet, while still " in the world," she led the life of a 

 nun. The Jesuit Relations^ and the example of 

 Madame de la Peltrie, of whom she had heard, 

 inoculated her with the Canadian enthusiasm, then 

 so prevalent; and, under the pretence of visiting 

 relatives, she made a joui'ney to Paris, to take 

 counsel of certain priests. Of one thing she was 

 assured: the Divine will called her to Canada, 

 but to what end she neither knew nor asked to 

 know ; for she abandoned herself as an atom to be 

 borne to unknown destinies on the breath of God. 

 At Paris, Father St. Jure, a Jesuit, assured her 

 that her vocation to Canada was, past doubt, a 

 call from Heaven ; while Father Rapin, a RecoUet, 

 spread abroad the fame of her virtues, and intro- 

 duced her to many ladies of rank, wealth, and 

 zeal. Then, well suppHed with money for any 

 pious work to which she might be summoned, 

 she journeyed to Rochelle, whence ships were to 

 sail for New France. Thus far she had been kept 

 in ignorance of the plan with regard to Montreal ; 



1 Casgrain, Vie de Marie de I'lncarnation, 78 



2 FaiUon, Vie de M"^ Mance, I. 3. 



