Sister Marie Berthe of the Blessed Sacrament, (Marie Marguerite Berthe Spenard)

Marie Marguerite Berthe Spenard was born on July 3, 1909, and baptized on July 4, 1909 in St. Pierre les Becquets, County of Nicolet, Quebec, Canada. Her parents were Joseph Alphonse Adrien Spenard and Aurore Zepherin Monpas. In 1922, her family immigrated to Lowell, Massachusetts where she studied at the Sisters of the Assumption. In 1925, the family moved to North Grosvenordale, Connecticut.

In 1928, at the age of 19, Berthe entered the Carmel of Montreal, Canada as Our Sister. However, because of failing health she had to leave. Then on August 5, 1933, at the age of 24, she joined the Sisters of the Holy Cross in St. Laurent, Canada and took the religious name of Sister Marie Ste. Aquila. She received the habit on February 11, 1934, and made her first profession on August 15, 1935. She made her Perpetual Profession on August 15, 1940. She had missions in the U.S. and Canada, preferring manual work to teaching. After long years of service as a Holy Cross Sister, she was given six months of vacation in 1976, and she asked to spend this vacation in the Philippines to see her two Carmelite sisters, who had been missionaries in the Philippines for a long time. She arrived in Davao City in February 1976.

After her three months stay outside, she was allowed by her community to enter Carmel in order to try the life inside the cloister. Berthe decided to join the Carmelite community of Davao as a Novice. She was accepted and took the holy habit of Carmel on September 14, 1976. Mother Mary of the Assumption (Germaine Spenard - blood sister of Berthe) was Prioress at the time. On September 15, 1977, Sr. Berthe made her profession a a Carmelite.

In 1981, she became sick, underwent surgery and was advised by the doctor to have the treatment in Canada, because of the climate. Sr. Berthe, accompanied by Sr. Rachel and Sr. Susan, left for Canada in August 1981 where she was treated and which seemed to be very successful. Then on January 15, 1982, Sr. Berthe had a heart attack and in less than half an hour, she passed away to her heavenly home. She was buried in the crypt of the Carmel of Montreal, Canada.