In Search of Political and Religious Recognition: 1669-1672
During this three-year period, Bourgeoys and her newly founded Congregation sought various forms of official recognition and legitimation from both the Crown and the religious establishment in New France. In 1669, Bourgeoys had an audience with the colony's highest religious power, Bishop François de Laval. He ultimately granted her wishes through an ordinance that gave permission to the congregation Notre-Dame to teach on the entire island of Montreal, as well as anywhere else in the colony that saw their services as necessary.
In 1670, Bourgeoys set out once again to her native France, this time with the goal of gaining an audience with the King. By May of 1671, she had not only met with Louis XIV, but had obtained letters of patent from him which secured the viability of her community in New France. In fact, the French monarch went so far as to write that: "Not only has (Marguerite Bourgeoys) performed the office of schoolmistress by giving free instruction to the young girls in all occupations (...), far from being a liability to the country, she had built permanent buildings (...)."
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