Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Grey Nuns The Order of Sisters of
Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal, commonly called Grey
Nuns because of the colour of their attire, was founded in 1738
by the Venerable Marie-Marguerite Dufrost de Lajemmerais (Madame
d'Youville) and the Rev. Louis M. Normand du Faradon, at that
time superior of the seminary of St. Sulpice of Ville Marie (now
Montreal). Madame d'Youville's first associates were Mlle.
Louise-Thaumur Lassource, Mlle. Demers, and Mlle. Cusson. The
four ladies rented a small house, and began by receiving four or
five poor people, which number shortly rose to ten. This
beginning was made 30 Oct. 1738. On 3 June, 1753, the little
association of ladies received the royal sanction which
transferred to them, under the title of "Soeurs de la Charité de
l'Hôpital Général", the rights and privileges which had been
granted by letters patent to the "Frères Hospitaliers" in 1694.
The peculiar dress of the sisterhood was adopted by mutual
consent and worn for the first