In the Shadow of the Cloister: Representations of Female Holiness in New France

Every time Christianity encounters a new frontier, it needs martyrs and saints to legitimize the spread of its doctrine. ¹ Thus, as in early Christian times, the “athletes of Christ” marked the early days of New France through the ascetic and mystical exploits that would lead to their celebration as saints. The best-known were the Jesuit martyrs, but they were not alone; through their various activities, women, too, were involved in what came to be called the “mystical epic” of the colonization of Canada.