St. Marguerite Bourgeoys (patron against poverty, loss of parents, and people rejected by religious orders)

all those candles

hung over the rafters

of the kitchen

waver when the

door is open

and shut

as if he is coming

back to cut their wicks

if only we knew

how to calm

these bees

or could learn the slow

drone of harvesting

wax, of not getting stung

this was his way

to light the darkness

not ours

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Marguerite's father was a candle maker and passed away when she was 27. Shortly after his passing, the Governor of Montreal asked Marguerite to come over to the "new world" to teach, which became her first step to becoming instrumental in the Catholic educational system of Montreal.