Jeanne Le Ber was a 17th-century religious recluse living in Montreal, New France. Born into a wealthy and influential family in 1662, she was highly regarded within her community. At age eighteen, she received parental permission to live as an anchoress, withdrawing from society to focus on prayer. She lived in a specially constructed cell behind the altar of a church, where she maintained vows of poverty, chastity, and perpetual seclusion until her death in 1714.
Life and devotion
Following her education with the Ursulines, Jeanne dedicated her life to spiritual practice. While living in seclusion, she performed various charitable works, such as sewing vestments for the church and providing for the education of underprivileged girls. Although she lived a life of poverty, she managed family properties and donated land to local hospitals. Her cousin, Anna Barroy, served as her attendant to assist with physical needs and preserve her isolation.
Veneration and legacy
Jeanne is recognized as a saint in the Catholic tradition, with her feast day observed on October 3. Modern forensic analysis of her remains helped confirm her identity, noting physical signs consistent with her life of prayer. Her spiritual influence led to the 1943 establishment of the Recluse Sisters in Alberta. Additionally, a federal electoral district in Canada was named in her honor.