CONGREGATION OF OUR LADY.
Founded in Montreal, Canada, in 1618 by V. MARGARET BOURGEOYS (v.), for the instruction and education of youth. Widely spread in Canada and North America, it now has 402 houses divided into 10 religious provinces with 2,933 sisters living under simple vows and without strict enclosure. It was approved by the Holy See in 1925.
Bibl.: [E.-M. Faillon], Vie de la sœur B. fondatrice de la Congrégation N.-D. de Villemarie en Canada, 2 vols., Paris 1831; M. M. Droummond, La vén. mère M. B., sa vie, son temps, Montreal 1910.