A Life Changing Trial

Gilles Archambault, illustrator

The Le Verrier house was destroyed by fire on 31 January 1745, and the Widow d'Youville and her household found themselves on the street. Owing to the populace’s dislike of them, it was going to be hard to find a new home. But their trust in God would enable them to continue in spite of everything and to commit themselves in an even more radical way to the service of the poor.

Two days after the fire, Marguerite d'Youville and her companions were able to see this event as a sign sent to them from above. “We had been a little too comfortable … henceforth, we shall live with everything in common….” They signed an act of mutual surrender of goods that is still in effect and is known as the “Original Commitment”: 

"So that this union may be firm and lasting, …we have agreed … to live together for the rest of our days…unreservedly to consecrate our time, our days, our work, indeed our lives, to labour, the product thereof to be put in common to provide subsistence for the poor and for ourselves..."