mortified, and then God will live and reign in you. Take the advice and
follow the guidance of your good Mother, and God will bless you. That
God may do so is my prayer to Him.
I remain, in His holy love,
Yours, etc.
LXXXVII. _To Dom Galice, Barnabite Father at Montargis._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1632.
VERY REV. FATHER,
I most humbly thank you for the trouble you have taken in writing me so
full an account of what it has pleased Our Lord in His goodness to
operate in this privileged soul,[A] and of the favourable judgement
which the Archbishop of Sens and the Rev. Fathers de Condren and de
Suffren have formed of her. I do not think that it would be advisable at
present to seek further evidence, lest, as you say, the peace of her
spirit might thereby be disturbed. As for me, knowing as I have done for
a long time the true humility, simplicity, and sincerity of this soul,
it seems to me almost impossible to doubt that what passes in her is
from God. From her infancy, preventing graces have been evident in
her--graces quite exceptional in one of her age; and when received into
this house she, from the very first, manifested in all her actions the
true virtues of religion, and as she can herself tell your Reverence,
God led her by very rare lights and sentiments of devotion to seek Him
alone. I see by her letter to me that she does not wish to remain
inactive, and this comes from the ardent desire that she has to please
God. But I think, my Rev. Father, that all she has to do is to leave
herself in Our Lord's hands, simply regarding Him without the
distraction of any other thought. God will give you the light requisite
for the guidance of this holy soul, since He has placed her under your
care and direction. Indeed she is fortunate in having met your
Reverence, who takes such a paternal interest in her, and there is good
reason to praise God. The divine Goodness will recompense you
abundantly, besides which I believe, very Rev. Father, that this charge
is light and comforting to you. Do not forget to remember in the Holy
Sacrifice her who desires for you the most pure love of our Lord, and
who is truly,
Yours, etc.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] Mother Anne Marguerite Clément.
LXXXVIII. _To Sister Marie Aimée de Morville, at Moulins._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1632.
I have just come from holy communion, my dearest daughter, at which I
blessed and thanked the God of infinite goodness for the loud call with
which He has been pleased to bid you turn back to Him, and I besought
Him with all the energy of my soul to keep so firm a hold upon you that
nothing ever again may draw you away. For this I hope, dearest daughter,
through His grace and your faithful co-operation. I cannot but think
that your heart is too good ever to forget His superabundant mercies to
you. Ponder often on that counsel given by both the Princes of the
Apostles; Labour in fear and trembling by good works to make sure your
vocation.[A] Your past miserable experience ought surely to make you
tremble, and fearful of again falling, and very watchful in avoiding all
occasions of temptation, especially those which you know to be most
prejudicial, such as conversations, intimacies, affections, and
communications with the outside world, and even with spiritual persons
unless rarely and from true necessity. Then will it be your delight to
find contentment in the instructions you will receive from the good
Mother (Marie Angélique de Bigny), who has a singular love for you, and
is besides both capable and full of charity. Her tears, fasts,
austerities, and prayers so frequently offered to God on your behalf
will, I doubt not, have touched His heart, and helped to achieve your
conversion. To her will be given without fail every help requisite for
your happiness, and by means of her will His Goodness lead you in the
straight path. I have a strong belief that those who submit not
themselves to the guidance of their Superiors submit not to God. In a
word, apply yourself to do rather than to learn; this is my wish for
you. We have in abundance holy and solid instructions in the Institute.
For none better could we wish, and none are better adapted to lead us to
the great perfection that our vocation demands. May the study and the
practice of them henceforth be your delight. To this I conjure you so
that by means of them you may offer to the divine Goodness fruits worthy
of His mercy and to the Institute the perfume of a holy and sincere
conversion. Thus will be assuaged the sorrow and shame that by your past
disorders you have made it suffer, and all our hearts will be filled
with consolation. So much do I feel consoled by the generous acts you
have made[B] that my displeasure at the past is all gone, and I assure
you you are now within my heart, where I cherish you most truly and
affectionately, and believe me you will receive from all of the
Institute and from me nothing but proofs of love and affection.
I think it would be well some months hence, when you have given yourself
time to test your perseverance, that you should give testimony of it to
the houses of the Institute by some humbly written note, to make
satisfaction for your past misconduct. You have done well, dearest
daughter, in giving yourself unreservedly to God. His Providence will
not fail you nor permit you to be in want of anything. If the good
sister who used to serve you is worthy of the favour you desire for her,
most willingly can it be granted, but not till she has proved her
perseverance in well-doing for some years. I pray God to shed abundantly
upon you the assistance of His grace.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] "Labour the more that by good works you may make sure your calling
and election." 2 Pet. i. 10.
"With fear and trembling work your own salvation." Phil. ii. 12.
[B] In the early part of the summer of this year, 1632, says the Mother
de Chaugy, "it pleased God to open the eyes of the Benefactress of our
monastery of Moulins by means of a dream. One night she dreamt that she
saw a torch suddenly extinguished by someone at the moment it seemed to
be trying to give forth more light. Taking this as a divine warning that
her life would, when she least expected it, be thus suddenly
extinguished, it evoked a keen remorse for her past conduct. She sought
her Superior, and with every mark of genuine sorrow begged, for God's
sake, to be permitted once more to enter the novitiate, of which
petition the good Mother warmly approved. Sister Marie Aimée, now
desiring to make public reparation for the scandal she had given, asked
to do so at the open grille. This was allowed, and having there renewed
her profession, she tore up the document containing the list of
privileges which had been granted to her as Benefactress and
Co-foundress with Madame de Gouffier. At the same time she begged to be
allowed the favour of living as a simple religious, while confessing
herself unworthy of such a grace. From this time she became the
consolation and the edification of all her Sisters, an example of
fidelity to the holy Rule, and for fifteen months her obedience,
mortification, and piety were all that could be desired. At the end of
that time the dream which had wrought her conversion was verified. She
was taken suddenly ill, and had only time, before passing from this
life, to implore the mercy of Him who came to save the repentant
sinner."
LXXXIX. _To M. de Coysia, Counsellor to the Royal Senate of Savoy._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY,
_19th March, 1633._
Alas! Sir, what is this that I have just heard? That you are arrested
and charged with fresh accusations! Our good God, in permitting so much
affliction, can have no other design than by it to make you conformable
to His beloved Son our most gentle Redeemer. If you shut your eyes to
the things of earth and open them to eternal truths this tribulation,
accepted with loving and patient submission, will, in the end, work a
weight of glory and bring you solid peace. One single spark of this true
honour is worth more, a million times, than all the prosperity that the
world could offer, which, as you know, Sir, is all deceit and illusion.
Ponder well over the accusations with which the most holy Son of the
Eternal Father was charged, the pains that He suffered, followed as they
were by a terrible and ignominious death. You are not more innocent than
He. And all this He suffered for you, for me, for all ungrateful men,
because it was the good pleasure of His Eternal Father, with a love,
patience, and humility incomprehensible to us. So do you, Sir, seek to
imitate this portion of His Passion. Lovingly embrace His will. Resign
yourself absolutely to it. Place yourself and all your affairs in His
hands, so that He may dispose of all according to His good pleasure....
I need not assure you of our prayers: both affection and duty claim
them. May Our Lord be the joy and consolation of Madame, my most dear
sister, and of yourself.
Always sincerely your very humble servant.
Feast of the glorious Saint Joseph, to whom I recommend you with all my
heart.
XC. _To the Countess de Toulonjon, at Pignerol._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1633.
MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER,
I hear that God is about to give you again the blessing of motherhood,
and I like to console myself with the hope that you thank Him for this
grace and for all the prosperity you enjoy, taking all from His hand who
sends you these good things, not to be employed in pomp and vain
display, but to make you advance in holy humility and loving fear of
Him. Tell me, daughter, and tell me quite honestly and frankly, what are
your sentiments upon this point? for I always have a certain dread that
the atmosphere of this world's affluence and honours may smother us if
we do not keep well before our minds the thought of their instability,
the certainty that we must one day leave them, and the uncertainty of
the coming of that day. Think often of death and of the blessed eternity
those will enjoy who value true happiness above all perishable things.
Impress these truths on your daughter, for they are the best and most
permanent heritage that you can give her. Make her dearly prize the
happiness of living in the holy love of God, and in the fear of
offending Him. These things, as you know, I have always, from your
tenderest years, striven to engrave on your heart, and especially did I
advise you to fulfil all your duties towards your husband, as God
ordains. This advice I now reiterate. You should give him all the
satisfaction in your power. Tell me also your thoughts on this point.
Ah! for the love of God, daughter, let not your head be turned by the
honours and good things which you have in such abundance. I am told that
you have become sarcastic. Believe me, dearest daughter, it is by
Christian modesty and a gentle and gracious manner to all that you ought
to make yourself known. Turning others into ridicule is not becoming in
one of your position and age. Try to conquer and attract hearts by the
means I have just pointed out, and to surpass all in prudence and holy
reticence of action. Take this advice from your mother, who loves you
and desires to see you altogether perfect in your station. May God give
you the grace to be so!
XCI. _To Mgr. André Frémyot, formerly Archbishop of Bourges (the Saint's
brother)._
ON THE DEATH OF HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MME. DE CHANTAL.[A]
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1633.
MY VERY HONOURED LORD,
We have but to adore with profound submission the will of our good God,
and lovingly to kiss the rod with which He chastises His elect. Yes,
indeed, notwithstanding all the repugnance of nature, I praise and thank
Him a thousand times, because He is our good God, who sends us with the
same love joys and sorrows, and even for the most part causes greater
profit to come to us through affliction than through prosperity. Yet is
it not strange that knowing and experiencing this we should feel so
keenly as we do the death of those we love?--for I own to you that upon
opening the little note that announced the death of my poor dear
daughter I was so overcome that had I been standing I think I should
have fallen. I never remember any previous sorrow to have had the effect
of this note upon me. O! my Jesus! What a climax of grief it has been
to my poor feeble heart and how your trouble has added to mine! It is
most natural that you should feel it as you do, and at your age too;
what a sweetness and support you have lost in this daughter who so
lovingly looked after your health and every want of yours. All this
makes me suffer more than I can say, for whatever touches you touches me
acutely. But when I reflect that by means of these privations, lovingly
accepted, our good God wishes to be Himself everything to us, and that
the least advance we make in His love is worth more than all the world
with all its joys, and that in those sharp trials which deprive us of
our sweetest pleasure He prizes above all the union of our will with
His--truly, I say, when I consider these things, I find myself impelled
to acknowledge that the more sorrows that come upon one the more is one
favoured by God. I hope that before now you will yourself have received
this light and found comfort in it. First emotions [of grief], my
beloved and dearest Lord, are inevitable, and our sweet Saviour is not
offended by them. But I trust that after them He will abundantly fill
you with consolations; this I pray for unceasingly. Distract yourself as
much as you can and let the confident hope that we shall be united in a
blessed eternity fortify you. The virtuous life and holy death of our
dearly loved daughter gives strong hope that in God's mercy she is
already in this enjoyment. We are after all here only to prepare for
future happiness, and the sooner we possess it the happier for us.
I am writing to M. and Mme. de Coulanges, to whom this terrible loss
must have been a great blow. I believe they will take into their heart
the poor little orphan[B] and always keep her there. Verily when my
thoughts turn to her I have to hold them in. I trust that God, to whom I
confide her, will be Father and Protector to her, and I give her up to
the care of the Blessed Virgin with all my heart.
Our Sisters of both Convents upon this occasion have forgotten nothing.
Besides their own love for the dear deceased they also felt very much
for your sorrow in her loss and for mine. There is some comfort in
knowing that she is to be left, with the heart of my poor son, in the
care of the Sisters. Your judge of Nantua told me the other day that you
are at N. I was very glad, my dear Lord, to hear it, as it will help to
give you the distraction that you ought to seek.
My Lord,
Yours, etc.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] The young Baroness de Chantal died August 20th, 1633, and was buried
in the vault at the Visitation Monastery, Rue St. Antoine.
[B] Marie de Chantal, afterwards Mme. de Sévigné.
XCII. _To a blind Sister_[A].
Vive [+] Jésus!
[Date not given.]
MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER,
Your letter consoles me, for it tells me with what patience you have
accepted your cross, and what profit, by your submission to the good
pleasure of God, you are drawing from it. He, it may be, deprives you of
the light of the body in order to make you more abundantly enjoy that of
the spirit, and this is a great motive for blessing Him. As a saint once
said to one who was blind and very holy: "There is nothing to be proud
of in bodily sight; we have it in common with the beasts; but we may
well rejoice in God's having given us the interior light by which we see
and know His goodness." I am very glad that our good Sisters are so
affectionately attentive in their care of you, as this gives you
pleasure. I envy them in having the opportunity, for, I must tell you,
what will perhaps console you. I have always set very little value on
corporal sight, being of opinion that, except for the reading of good
books and somebody else's devotions, it is a hindrance rather than a
help in the spiritual life, so it is almost more desirable to be without
it than to enjoy it, as in its absence the interior sight remains
firmer, more purified from external objects, and more solidly fixed on
God. This is indeed the only thing, it seems to me, worth desiring. If,
nevertheless, you feel inspired to ask your cure of God, do so, but
always with your former resignation, and pray for her who is all, etc.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] From "Sainte Chantal: Pensées et Lettres." P. Téqui, 29, rue de
Tournon, Paris. 1899.
XCIII. _To Sister Bonne Marie de Haraucourt at Nancy._[A]
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1633.
God bless you, my dearest daughter, for the good news you send me of the
convalescence of the good prelate....
To return to yourself, whom I so dearly love. Repose in peace in your
state of spiritual poverty. Blessed are the poor, for God will reclothe
them. How happy should we be if our hearts were stript of all that is
not God, and if we loved so to be. What a blessed thing it is to be in
obscurity, with no devotion, no spiritual enlightenment, no consolation
from creatures. Oh, my daughter, when a soul finds herself in this
state, what can she do save hide herself like a little fledgeling, and
nestle under the wing of her good mother Providence, remaining hidden
there, not venturing to come out for fear the kite might capture
her--this, then, is your place of repose where there is naught to fear,
and in what better place could you be? And what richer clothing could
you have than to be covered beneath the shelter of the sweet providence
of your heavenly Father? Dwell there, and be well content to possess
this singular privilege. You know, my daughter, that you have a place in
my heart from which no one can ever dislodge you.
Yours, etc.
FOOTNOTE:
[A] Sister Bonne Marie de Haraucourt, whose memory is venerated in the
Visitation Order, spent her youth in the midst of the gaieties of the
Court of Lorraine without ever reflecting that she had a Jesus to
imitate or a heaven to gain. On terms of intimacy with the Duchess
Nicloe, wife of Charles IV., this girl became intoxicated with the
flattery by which she was surrounded because of her beauty and her wit,
when of a sudden the same words that converted the great Arsenius,
"Fuge, Tace, Quiesce,"* fell upon her ear. The arrival of St. Jane
Frances in Lorraine at the moment (1626) was propitious, and the young
Court favourite made no delay in answering the call. With mingled
feelings of joy at the thought of the great sacrifice, and of dread of
what it entailed, she offered herself to the Saint. Soon after the
arrival of Mademoiselle de Haraucourt at the Visitation of
Pont-a-Mousson, the flower of the younger ladies of the Court,
captivated by her example, followed her there, where, regardless of the
opinion of the world, they led a life hidden with God. After seven years
of solitude and prayer, Sister Bonne Marie was sent to help Mother P. J.
Favrot in the reform of the Penitentiary at Nancy, and she obtained
leave to found there a Convent of her own Order, with the holy desire to
perpetuate in this town, where she feared to have so much offended in
the past, a homage of unceasing reparation.
The Princes of Lorraine, and the Court, cherished and protected the new
foundation, but soon after, the horrors of the Swedish war and the
consequent departure of the Princess, left the little Community in a
most pitiable state of destitution. Elected Superior at this critical
time, Sister Bonne Marie, by the heroism of her faith, wrought wonders
equal to those of great miracle-workers amongst the Saints. When no
longer Superior, this holy Nun, by the force of her example, was the
life and soul of her Convent at Nancy, as she had been the joy and
support of Mother Favrot at Pont-a-Mousson. She died February 26th,
1666. (_Année Sainte_, Vol. II).
* Fly, be silent and be at peace.
XCIV. _To Sister Paule Jéronyme de Monthoux, Sister Deposed,[A] at
Blois._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY, 1633.
MY DEAREST DAUGHTER,
Your letter by which I see that you are in the midst of suffering fills
me with compassion. However, the Superior[B] being such as she is, I do
not think it desirable to remove you at present, for your absence would,
I fear, make matters worse.
You ought to follow faithfully the attraction you mention in your last
letter of wishing to live in profound humility in order to imitate more
perfectly the divine Saviour who was subject not only to His Father but
to His children, to His creatures. As you know, they did not treat Him
well, but with infinite contempt and opprobium, and all this suffering
He bore without complaint. If, then, you have the courage to suffer in
humility, sweetness, patience, silence, all that presents itself to you,
I most truly believe that by so doing you will become holy, that your
service will be agreeable to the divine Majesty, will work great good to
the Institute, and in particular to your own house.
These little things you mention to me, that the Mother does not wash the
dishes, and does not sweep, I should take no notice of, except to bring
them to her notice just once in a casual way and humbly. But when you
remark important things, tell her of them with gentleness and affection,
and try to win her heart, for if you once gain that you can do as you
will with her. Neglect nothing that you think could further this end.
With my pen as with my whole heart I beseech you to do all you possibly
can to remedy this evil. You see how it is, beloved daughter; the older
Sisters do not like to be the fault-finders. I gather this from their
letters, and I see also that they fail in humility and respect towards
the Mother. Certainly when a Sister, whoever she may be, is in charge as
Mother, the same obedience and respect should be given to her as to her
predecessor. To act otherwise is to prove that we have no virtue and
that we do not, as is our duty, regard God in the creature. So should it
be when she is in office. And when she is no longer Superior let us
cherish her as a sister, and keeping ourselves in humility, meddle as
little as possible with anything. If it is requisite to admonish it
ought to be done with such respect and charity that no harm can come of
it. In a word, as you would wish that others should act towards you if
you were Superior, so do you to them. I assure you, dearest daughter, it
grieves me more than I can tell you when I know that the newly elected
Mothers and the Sisters deposed are not in harmony; for it is clear as
noon-day that this comes from a want of humility. Wherever such a
misfortune exists it is the ruin of peace and of the observance of the
Rule, and that house is no longer held in good esteem.
May God put His hand to this reformation. If I outlive my term of office
I am resolved to keep myself so much in the background, and so ignorant
of the affairs of the house that I can give umbrage to no one. Should I
see wrong I shall certainly speak of it, but with all possible
gentleness and humility, and having done so, if it is not put right I
shall hold my tongue until the [Ecclesiastical] Superior's visit, then I
shall simply represent the matter without exaggeration to him. To
conclude, dearest daughter, do everything God suggests to you for the
good of your Convent and for peace. Charity remedies all things. I am
writing a long letter to the (Mother) Superior. Receive all I say as
coming from a heart that only desires your good, and is entirely,
Yours, etc.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] In the Visitation Order the former Superior upon the election of her
successor is called "Sister Deposed."
[B] Mother Marie Michel Gervain was not re-elected.
XCV. _To M. Noël Brulart, the Commander de Sillery._[A]
Vive [+] Jésus!
[Date not given.]