He succeeded Mgr. Lartique as bishop of Montreal on the latter's death in 1840, and in 1876 resigned, to become, on 10 July of that year, archbishop of Martianopolis, in partibus. A history of his work would be a record of the progress made by the French people in that part of Canada during the past fifty years.

In 1838 he established the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He created in 1840 the first cathedral chapter of Montreal. The Arch-confraternity of Mary Immaculate, a charitable association that has since spread over North America, was founded by him in 1844. Previous to this he had introduced the Jesuit and Oblate orders, and placed them in charge of Colleges he had erected. He organized the first temperance society in Canada. In 1844 he established the Asylum of Providence for the Aged, and also several houses of the Ladies of Charity; and in the same year he founded the community of nuns of " Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd," which has three houses in Montreal.

In 1847 he founded four religious orders: the priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who have three Colleges in Canada ; the Josephist brothers; the Clerks of St. Viateur; and the Marianist nuns, who direct several colleges and schools in Canada. A society for helping servant-girls, an asylum for Irish orphans, and the Hospice of the Holy Child Jesus, for the education of the deaf and dumb, were among the charitable works that he originated between 1846 and 1850.

In 1864 he erected another immense institution for the deaf and dumb in the rue St. Denis, and in 1874 founded the celebrated Asylum of St. John of God, for the care of the insane. The same year witnessed the establishment through his agency of the Catholic Union, and the school of medicine and surgery of Montreal.

Archbishop Bourget was the recognized leader of the ultramontane party in Canada, and was a prolific writer, his best-known work, which is accepted as a standard, being "Le cérémoniae des evques, commenté et expliqué par le usages et les traditions de l'église Romaine."

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 StanKlos.com^TM

BOURGET, Ignatius, Canadian bishop, born in Point Levis, Quebec, 30 October 1799; died in Sault aux Recollet, near Montreal, 8 June 1885. He went to Montreal in 1821, and was ordained 9 November 1822, by Bishop Lartique, first Roman Catholic bishop of that diocese. This prelate, struck by Bourget's abilities, appointed him his secretary. In 1836 he was named vicar-general of Montreal, and on 25 July 1837, was created coadjutor bishop of the diocese, being consecrated bishop of Telmessa, in partibus infidelium. He succeeded Mgr. Lartique as bishop of Montreal on the latter's death in 1840, and in 1876 resigned, to become, on 10 July of that year, archbishop of Martianopolis, in partibus. A history of his work would be a record of the progress made by the French people in that part of Canada during the past fifty years. In 1838 he established the society for the propagation of the faith. He created in 1840 the first cathedral chapter of Montreal. The arch-confraternity of Mary Immaculate, a charitable association that has since spread over North America, was founded by him in 1844. Previous to this he had introduced the Jesuit and Oblate orders, and placed them in charge of Colleges he had erected. He organized the first temperance society in Canada. In 1844 he established the asylum of providence for the aged, and also several houses of the ladies of charity; and in the same year he founded the community of nuns of " Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd," which has three houses in Montreal. In 1847 he founded four religious orders: the priests of the congregation of holy-cross, who have three Colleges in Canada ; the Josephist brothers; the clerks of St. Viateur; and the Marianist nuns, who direct several Colleges and schools in Canada. A society for helping servant-girls, an asylum for irish orphans, and the hospice of the holy child Jesus, for the education of the deaf and dumb, were among the charitable works that he originated between 1846 and 1850. In 1864 he erected another immense institution for the deaf and dumb in the rue St. Denis, and in 1874 founded the celebrated asylum of St. John of God, for the care of the insane. The same year witnessed the establishment through his agency of the Catholic union, and the school of medicine and surgery of Montreal. Archbishop Bourget was the recognized leader of the ultramontane party in Canada, and was a prolific writer, his best-known work, which is accepted as a standard, being "Le c6r6-moniae des evques, comment et explique, par le usages et les traditions de l'6glise Romaine."