The Project Gutenberg EBook of Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, by Jane Frances de Chantal This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. Title: Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal Author: Jane Frances de Chantal Translator: The Sisters of the Visitation Release Date: December 2, 2015 [EBook #50592] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SELECTED LETTERS--ST. JANE *** Produced by Judith Wirawan, Karina Aleksandrova and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) SELECTED LETTERS OF ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL Nihil Obstat. F. THOMAS BERGH, O.S.B.,ers Censor Deputatus. Imprimatur. EDM. CAN. SURMONT, Vicarius Generalis. Westmonasterii, Die 6 Novembris, 1917. ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL. (Foundress of the Order of the Visitation.) SELECTED LETTERS OF SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL TRANSLATED BY THE SISTERS OF THE VISITATION HARROW WITH A PREFACE BY HIS EMINENCE CARDINAL BOURNE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER R. & T. WASHBOURNE, LTD. PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON AND AT MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM, AND GLASGOW All rights reserved 1918 PREFACE We are all apt so to idealise the Saints whom we love to study and honour, and strive to imitate, that we are in danger of forgetting that they possessed a human nature like our own, subject to many trials, weaknesses and frailties. They had to struggle as we have to struggle. The only difference is that their constancy and perseverance were greater far than ours. Biographers are often responsible for the false tendency to which we allude. They like to give us the finished portrait of the Saints, and only too often they omit in great part the details of the long and weary toil that went to make the picture which they delight to paint. In the case of some of the Saints we are able to come nearer to the reality by reading the letters which have been preserved, in which in their own handwriting they have set down, without thought of those who in later days might read their words, the details of their daily life and struggle. Thus in the few selected Letters of the holy foundress of the Visitation which are now being published in an English translation we get glimpses of her real character and spiritual growth which may be more helpful to us than many pages of formal biography. In one place she excuses the brevity of a letter because she is "feeling the cold to-day and pressed for time." In another she tells a Sister, "do everything to get well, for it is only your nerves." Nerves are evidently not a new malady nor a lately devised excuse. She knew the weariness of delay: "still no news from Rome.... I think His Grace the Archbishop would be glad to help us.... Beg him, I beseech you, to push on the matter." Haste and weather had their effect on her as on us: "I write in such haste that I forget half of what I want to say.... We will make a chalice veil for you, but not until the very hot weather is over, for one cannot work properly while it lasts." What mother, especially in these days of sorrow and anxiety, can read unmoved the Saint's own words as she speaks of her daughter's death, and of her fears about her son. "I am almost in despair ... so miserable am I about it that I do not know which way to turn, if not to the Providence of God, there to bury my longings, confiding to His hands not only the honour but even the salvation of this already half lost child. Oh! the incomparable anguish of this affliction. No other grief can come near to it." And then we feel her mingled grief and joy when at last she learnt that this, her only son, had given up his life, fighting for his King, after a humble and fervent reception of the Sacraments. Thus in the midst of the daily small worries of life, and of the great sorrows that at one time or other fall to the lot of all, we see a brave and generous soul, with human gifts and qualities like to our own, treading her appointed path to God. No one can read her words without carrying therefrom fresh courage for his life, and a new determination to battle steadfastly to the end. FRANCIS CARDINAL BOURNE, Archbishop of Westminster. Feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, August 21st, 1917. TRANSLATORS' PREFACE The letters here translated are, with a few mentioned exceptions, selected from "Sainte Jeanne-Françoise Frémyot de Chantal: Sa Vie et ses Œuvres," "First edition entirely conformable to the original manuscripts published under the supervision of the religious of the Visitation of Holy Mary at Annecy, by E. Plon and Co., rue Garanciere 10, Paris, 1877." The rendering cannot be looked upon as entirely literal, but the translators have kept as closely to the original as was consistent with an easy rendering in modern English. The circular letter to the Sisters of the Visitation (page 152) is a remarkable document worthy of the reader's special attention, as are also the letters to "Dom John of St. Francis" on St. Francis de Sales, and the subtle manifestation of St. Jane Frances' own state of soul in her letter to "A great Servant of God." It has been thought better to leave the superscription heading all the Saint's letters, "Vive Jésus" (Let Jesus reign), as in the original, and untranslated. The title of "Sister Deposed" given to the immediate predecessor in office of the actual Superior is peculiar to the Visitation Order. There are, as will be seen, a few slight omissions, but only when the matter was of no interest or importance. The Saint, as the reader will observe, does not keep to any fixed rule in regard to capital letters. CONTENTS LETTER PAGE JUDGMENT OF ST. FRANCIS ON THE VIRTUES OF MOTHER DE CHANTAL 1 I. TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES 3 II. TO THE SAME 4 III. TO M. LEGROS 5 IV. THE DUKE OF SAVOY TO ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL 6 V. TO MADAME D'AUXERRE 7 VI. TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES 9 VII. TO THE SISTERS OF THE MONASTERY OF ANNECY 11 VIII. TO SISTER J. C. DE BRÉCHARD 12 IX. TO SISTER P. M. DE CHÂTEL 15 X. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 17 XI. TO THE SAME 20 XII. TO THE SAME 23 XIII. TO SISTER P. M. DE CHÂTEL 27 XIV. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 30 XV. TO SISTERS P. M. DE CHÂTEL AND M. A. DE BLONAY 33 XVI. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 37 XVII. TO MADAME DE GOUFFIER 40 XVIII. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 42 XIX. SISTER M. A. DE BLONAY 46 XX. TO THE SAME 49 XXI. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 51 XXII. TO THE SAME 55 XXIII. TO MOTHER J. C. DE BRÉCHARD 58 XXIV. TO M. DE NEUCHÈZE 60 XXV. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 61 XXVI. TO MADAME DE LA FLÉCHÈRE 64 XXVII. TO SISTER P. J. DE MONTHOUX 65 XXVIII. TO M. MICHEL FAVRE 68 XXIX. TO SISTER A. M. ROSSET 71 XXX. TO SISTER P. J. DE MONTHOUX 72 XXXI. TO MADAME DE LA FLÉCHÈRE 73 XXXII. TO MOTHER J. C. DE BRÉCHARD 75 XXXIII. TO MOTHER P. M. DE CHÂTEL 76 XXXIV. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 77 XXXV. TO SISTER M. A. HUMBERT 79 XXXVI. TO THE SISTERS OF THE VISITATION AT BOURGES 80 XXXVII. TO THE SISTERS OF THE VISITATION AT MOULINS 81 XXXVIII. TO MOTHER P. M. DE CHÂTEL 83 XXXIX. TO MADEMOISELLE DE CHANTAL 85 XL. TO MOTHER J. C. DE BRÉCHARD 87 XLI. TO MADEMOISELLE DE CHANTAL 90 XLII. TO SISTER M. M. LEGROS 92 XLIII. TO MADAME DU TERTRE 94 XLIV. TO M. DE PALIERNE 95 XLV. TO ST. FRANCIS DE SALES 100 XLVI. TO MADAME DE LA FLÉCHÈRE 102 XLVII. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 103 XLVIII. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 105 XLIX. TO M. DE NEUCHÈZE 108 L. TO MOTHER A. C. DE BEAUMONT 110 LI. TO MOTHER M. J. FAVRE 112 LII. TO MOTHER A. C. DE BEAUMONT 116 LIII. TO MOTHER M. H. DE CHASTELLUX 118 LIV. TO SISTER M. M. MILLETOT 123 LV. TO SISTER F. G. DE LA GRAVE 124 LVI. TO THE BISHOP OF AUTUN 125 LVII. TO SISTER A. M. ROSSET 127 LVIII. TO THE REV. FATHER DOM JOHN DE SAINT FRANÇOIS 129 LIX. TO A RELIGIOUS OF THE FIRST MONASTERY OF THE VISITATION AT PARIS 139 LX. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 141 LXI. TO SISTER A. C. DE SAUTEREAU 144 LXII. TO MOTHER A. C. DE BEAUMONT 146 LXIII. TO THE SAME 148 LXIV. TO MOTHER M. A. FICHET 149 LXV. TO THE SISTERS OF THE VISITATION 152 LXVI. TO SISTER A. M. DE LAGE DE PUYLAURENS 164 LXVII. TO THE BARON DE CHANTAL 166 LXVIII. TO THE SAME 167 LXIX. TO M. DE COULANGES 168 LXX. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 169 LXXI. TO THE SAME 170 LXXII. TO MOTHER M. A. FICHET 171 LXXIII. TO MOTHER A. C. DE BEAUMONT 173 LXXIV. TO A VISITATION SUPERIOR 175 LXXV. TO MOTHER J. H. DE GÉRARD 176 LXXVI. TO SISTER F. A. DE LA CROIX DE FÉSIGNEY 179 LXXVII. TO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 181 LXXVIII. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 183 LXXIX. TO MOTHER FAVRE (EXTRACT) 185 LXXX. TO SISTER A. M. CLÉMENT 186 LXXXI. TO MOTHER C. C. DE CRÉMAUX DE LA GRANGE 187 LXXXII. TO M. POITON 189 LXXXIII. TO DOM GALICE 191 LXXXIV. TO THE SAME 193 LXXXV. TO MOTHER A. M. CLÉMENT 194 LXXXVI. TO SISTER M. D. GOUBERT 195 LXXXVII. TO DOM GALICE 196 LXXXVIII. TO SISTER M. A. DE MORVILLE 198 LXXXIX. TO M. DE COYSIA 201 XC. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 203 XCI. TO MGR. ANDRÉ FRÉMYOT 205 XCII. TO A BLIND SISTER 208 XCIII. TO SISTER B. M. DE HARAUCOURT 209 XCIV. TO SISTER P. J. DE MONTHOUX 211 XCV. TO M. NOËL BRULART 214 XCVI. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 216 XCVII. TO M. NOËL BRULART (EXTRACT) 218 XCVIII. TO THE COUNTESS DE TOULONJON 219 XCIX. TO SISTER M. A. DE RABUTIN 224 C. TO M. NOËL BRULART 225 CI. TO MOTHER M. A. LE ROY 229 CII. TO SISTER A. L. DE MARIN DE SAINT MICHEL 231 CIII. TO THE ABBÉ DE VAUX 234 CIV. TO A GREAT SERVANT OF GOD 237 CV. TO MOTHER A. M. DE RABUTIN 243 CVI. TO ST. VINCENT DE PAUL 244 CVII. TO SISTER C. M. F. DE CUSANCE 246 CVIII. TO SISTER J. B. GOJOS 248 CIX. TO SISTER L. A. DE LA FAYETTE 249 CX. TO THE DUCHESS DE MONTMORENCY 252 CXI. TO A NOVICE 254 JUDGMENT OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES ON THE VIRTUES OF MOTHER DE CHANTAL "My brother de Thorens," said St. Francis to one of his friends, "travelled last month into Burgundy to fetch his little wife, and brought back with her a mother-in-law whom neither he is worthy of having nor I of serving. God has given her to me. She has come to be my daughter in order that I may teach her to die to the world and to live to Jesus Christ. Urged by God's design over her she has left all, and has provided for all with a strength and prudence not common to her sex, such that in her every action the good will find wherewith to praise her and the wicked will not know in what to blame her." In a letter the holy Bishop expresses himself as follows: "The Queen Bee of our new hive, because she is so eager in the pursuit of virtue, is much tormented with sickness, yet she finds no remedy to her liking save in the observance of her Rule. I have never seen such singleness of intention, such submission to authority, such detachment from all things, such acceptance of the will of God, such fervour in prayer as this good Mother shows. For my part I believe that God will make her like unto St. Paula, St. Angela, St. Catherine of Genoa, and the other holy widows." Writing elsewhere to one of his relations he says: "I feel unutterable consolation in seeing the moderation of our dear Mother in regard to all the obstacles that come in her way and her total indifference to the things of earth. In all truth I may say that, proportionately to the graces received, a soul could not arrive at higher perfection. I regard her as an honour to her sex, one who with the science of the Saints leads a most holy, hidden life concealed by an ordinary exterior, who does nothing out of the common and yet is irreproachable in all things." Once again, writing to a Bishop in answer to a letter about Mother de Chantal, St. Francis says: "I cannot speak but with respect of this most holy soul which combines profound humility with a very broad and very capable mind. She is simple and sincere as a child, of a lofty and solid judgement. A great soul with a courage for holy undertakings beyond that of her sex. Indeed, I never read the description of the valiant woman of Solomon without thinking of Mother de Chantal. I write all this to you in confidence, for this truly humble soul would be greatly distressed if she knew that I had said so much in her praise." [Pg 1] [Pg 2] SELECTED LETTERS OF ST. JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL I. To St. Francis de Sales. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1611. How soon may I hope for the happy day when I shall irrevocably offer myself to my God? He has so filled me with the thought of being entirely His, and it has come home to me in such a wonderful and powerful manner, that, were my emotion to last as it now is, I could not live under its intensity. Never have I had such a burning love and desire for the evangelical life and for the great perfection to which God calls me. What I feel about it is quite impossible to put into words. But, alas! my resolve to be very faithful to the greatness of the love of this divine Saviour is balanced by the feeling of my incapacity to correspond with it. Oh, how painful to love is this barrier of powerlessness! But why do I speak thus? By doing so I degrade, it seems to me, the gift of God which urges me to live in perfect poverty, in humble obedience, and in spotless purity. II. To the Same. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1612. My Lord and my own Father, I pray God to fill your soul with His choicest blessings, with Himself, and above all with the most pure love of Jesus. Now, for fear others may alarm you, I am telling you myself that this morning I was taken very ill. After dinner I had a shivering fit and collapsed completely for a time, but now, thank God, I feel quite well again; so do not let this trouble you, for the love of God, that God Whom my soul loves, adores, and desires to serve with the utmost singleness of heart and with perfect purity. Obtain for me, my Father, when to-morrow you hold this divine Saviour, His grace in such abundance that I may for ever adore, serve, and love Him perfectly. It is an immense consolation to know that you are occupied with that heavenly work "the Divine Love."[A] With what ardour I sigh for that love! Alas! my God, when shall we see one another utterly consumed therewith? I have seen the good aunt: what a venerable old lady she is! I assure you I am well now, and you know I would not say so if it were not true. May Jesus reign and His Holy Mother. Amen. The Treatise on the Love of God. III. To M. Legros at Dijon. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 18th June, 1612. Sir, We have given your daughter a true welcome. This offering which you and she have made so lovingly cannot fail to be very agreeable to the good God. You may be consoled and at peace about her for she is, and will always be, very dear to me. God obliges me to have an exceeding great care and love for all those whom He leads here and the goodness of your heart, together with her confidence in me, urges and binds me closely to her. I have not leisure for more, but once again, let me assure you that this dear little soul has found here an affectionate Father and Mother, so you may be happy about her. I am extremely obliged to you for the trouble you have taken about that business (illegible lines).... May God fill you with grace, consolation, and strength to walk in the way of His divine commandments! I affectionately salute all your children, for whom I wish a like grace. Madame Legros and I have agreed to be as sisters to one another. I greatly love and esteem her: she is a brave, generous woman. God guide her to Himself. [Pg 3] [Pg 4] [A] [Pg 5] Always, Sir, your very humble servant, Frémyot. IV. The Duke of Savoy to St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Very Reverend Dearly Beloved and Devout Petitioner, Your choice of my daughter, the Infanta Duchess of Mantua, as your Mother and Protectress gives us much pleasure. We are delighted that you have erected your Congregation in our States, as we profoundly esteem your piety, charity, and devotion, and we desire by this letter to assure you that you have our special protection, and that it is our wish to aid, favour, and assist you in all that is necessary for the carrying out of your good work. We have written to this effect to our nephew the Marquis de Lans and to our Senate of Savoy, to which you can always have recourse. The Countess de Tournon is charged to assist the Infanta at the solemnity which you will be celebrating and to instruct her as to her duties in regard to you. May I beg a remembrance in your prayers and in those of your devout flock, whom I pray God to have in His holy keeping. Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy. Turin, 22nd of December, 1613. V. To Madame d'Auxerre,[A] Foundress of the Monastery of the Visitation at Lyons. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1614. Madame, My most dear and beloved Sister, The grace of Our Lord be in your heart. He has been pleased to grant you your request and it is He alone who has inspired you with this desire. Again, He alone has put into the hearts of this little Community a feeling of general satisfaction in regard to your undertaking, and for this intention we have communicated and prayed much. As for me I tell you, trustfully, in confidence, that when I was speaking to our Lord about this affair His divine goodness seemed to make manifest to me that He Himself led you here with His own hand. This consoled me and made me resolve to give you what He commands, and this my dearly loved Sister is my answer to what you ask. I give it simply and in all sincerity. O how happy you are to have been thus called by God to this most excellent service. Respond courageously to such abundant graces and remain very humble and faithful to His holy will. I must say this one word more in answer to what you feel as regards God's goodness in giving you as guide this great and admirable servant of His.[B] Know, my dearest Sister, that I also so strongly feel this, that every day I make a special act of thanksgiving to God for it, and the longer we live the more we shall understand what a grace it is. I remember, in reference to it, a Capuchin once telling me that it increased his regard for me to think of the peculiar care and love that God must have for me to have given me this grace.... Remain now full of thanksgiving in peace and certainty, as much as it is possible to have in this life, that you are carrying out God's holy will. We pray continually for you. All our Sisters unite with me in saluting you most cordially. I, indeed, look upon your heart, my beloved Sister, as mine own, and because this is the very truth you must look upon my heart as yours in His who is our only Love. Adieu. May we belong always wholly to God. I remain with incomparable affection, Yours, etc. This pious widow together with two other ladies made a journey to Annecy in 1613 in order to place themselves under the direction of St. Francis de Sales. On their return to Lyons all three petitioned the Archbishop, Mgr. de Marquemont, to establish a Monastery of the Visitation in that town. Before, [Pg 6] [Pg 7] [Pg 8] [Pg 9] [A] however, acceding to their request he asked St. Francis the object of the new Order. The Saint at once replied: "To give God souls of prayer who will be so interior as to be found worthy to serve and adore His infinite Majesty in spirit and in truth. To the great Orders already established in the Church we leave the praiseworthy exercises and brilliant virtues by which they honour Our Lord. But I wish that the Religious of my Order should have no other ambition than to glorify Him by their lowliness, so that this little Institute of the Visitation may be as a dovecot of innocent doves whose care and employment will be to meditate on the law of the Lord without making itself seen or heard in the world, remaining hidden in the clefts of the Rock and the Hollow places of the wall there to give to their Beloved, as long as life shall last, proofs of sorrow and love by their lowly and humble sighing." St. Francis de Sales. VI. To St. Francis de Sales. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1614. I write because I cannot refrain from doing so; for this morning I am more wearisome to myself than usual. My interior state is so gravely defective that, in anguish of spirit, I see myself giving way on every side. Assuredly, my good Father, I am almost overwhelmed by this abyss of misery. The presence of God, which was formerly such a delight to me, now makes me tremble all over and shudder with fear. I bethink myself that the divine eye of Him whom I adore, with entire submission, pierces right through my soul looking with indignation upon all my thoughts, words and works. Death itself, it seems to me, would be less painful to bear than the distress of mind which this occasions, and I feel as if all things had power to harm me. I am afraid of everything; I live in dread, not because of harm to myself, but because I fear to displease God. Oh, how far away His help seems! thinking of this I spent last night in great bitterness and could utter no other words than these, "My God, my God, alas! why hast Thou forsaken me." At daybreak God gave me a little light in the highest part of my soul, yet only there; but it was almost imperceptible; nor did the rest of my soul and its faculties share the enjoyment, which lasted only about the time of half a Hail Mary, then, trouble rushed back upon me with a mighty force, and all was darkness. Notwithstanding the weariness of this dereliction, I said, though in utter dryness, "Do, Lord, whatever is pleasing to Thee, I wish it. Annihilate me, I am content. Overwhelm me, I most sincerely desire it. Tear out, cut, burn, do just as Thou pleasest, I am Thine." God has shown me that He does not make much account of faith that comes of sentiment and emotions. This is why, though against my inclination, I never wish for sensible devotion. I do not desire it. God is enough for me. Notwithstanding my absolute misery I hope in Him, and I trust He will continue to support me so that His will may be accomplished in me. Take my feeble heart into your hands, my true Father and Lord, and do what you see to be wisest with it. VII. To the Sisters of the Monastery of the Visitation of Annecy. Vive ✠ Jésus! Lyons, 16th February, 1615. Excuse me, I beg of you, my dearest and very good Sisters, if I do not answer you each one separately, which indeed the kindness you have shown me deserves that I should do, and my affection for you would desire: but neither head nor leisure permit it, and besides, God be thanked for it, I see no necessity to write to any one in particular. Persevere in your good desires and every day become more faithful to the observance of your holy Rules and love them better. This alone, believe me, should be your sole care. Cast not a look upon anything else and be assured that you will walk upon the right road and will make a good and prosperous voyage. May God in His infinite mercy be with you and bless you so that you may perfectly accomplish His holy will. With all my heart I desire this, for I love you all, and each one individually, with the greatest possible affection, far beyond what you could imagine. This I tell you all, not forgetting those who have not written to me. God bless you, my very dear daughters. May He be your sole love and desire. Pray, I beseech you, for the needs of your poor Mother, who is very affectionately Your most humble and unworthy servant in our Lord. VIII. [B] [Pg 10] [Pg 11] [Pg 12] To Sister Jeanne Charlotte de Bréchard, Assistant and Mistress of Novices at Annecy. Vive ✠ Jésus! Lyons, July 9th, 1615. My dearest Sister, my darling, See now how trouble is lifted off your shoulders by the presence you enjoy of my very honoured Lord![A] He is most anxious to work at our Rules,[B] and is about to curtail them considerably at the desire of the Archbishop of Lyons. I think he intends to spend these months of July and August at Annecy, for he tells me that during the great heat he has more leisure, having fewer visitors. I shall be very glad when he has finished the blessed book so much desired and so long awaited.[C] Until I have put it into the printer's hands for publication I am not, I believe, to leave here for Annecy. So if you are in such great need of me, help by your fidelity and your prayers to secure time for this good and dear Lord to complete the work. The whole day, as far as he is free, ought to be devoted to it, but though it no longer requires much application, yet it progresses very slowly: such is the will of the great God, and may His will be accomplished here and everywhere. For all that, you must keep up your courage; we shall find September upon us before we know where we are, and then God will console us. You cannot think how I am looking forward to my return—I am simply longing for it; but, my love, His Lordship does not agree with you as to its present necessity; he considers I am more useful here now, to satisfy certain persons. Meanwhile, I am getting on with our little business, and I trust, through the goodness of God and the brave heart of my dearest Sister, that all will go tranquilly till I return. Please God, I will do so at the appointed time, when the business of the house will be more pressing. Then I shall relieve my poor little Sister of the burden as much as I am able, and she will have nothing to do but to kindle in the hearts of her dear novices the love of their Spouse, and to caress her poor mother, who is so fond of her. Do not forget the sweetmeats for the poor nor the dried fruit, as much as you can procure of it. In the month of September lay in a provision of butter and cheese; Sister Anne Jacqueline (Coste) will help you in this. I am a little surprised that you tell me there is only corn enough for the end of this month, for it ought to have lasted till the end of September. Perhaps you have not paid for what was due, or you may not have returned what was advanced to you for the masons. Anyhow you must buy more as soon as it is wanted; but for these two first months purchase the old corn rather than the new. After that, awaiting the season for laying in provisions, we shall see as soon as possible if my son cannot return part of what he has had from us, until he is able to pay it all back. See that Sister Marguerite (Milletot) writes to say that we shall keep her pension here, and tell her to ask out boldly for the ewer and the gown about which so many promises have been made to her. They need make no excuse about not being able to send them for it is quite easy to get things from here to Dijon. You must treat poor Sister Mary Madeleine (de Mouxy) very gently, and she will, I think, in time, see for herself what is necessary. I am writing in great haste, for this letter goes by the Bishop. It is absolutely necessary to build the sacristies, complete the church, and enclose the little court, for you know we must have more accommodation. Then we'll stop. As to the continuation of the buildings, we must wait and see what can be done when what we are now doing is finished. If we buy the houses, as his Lordship tells me, and have the Fathers' garden, that will be a good bit of business done. I salute affectionately my very dear and beloved Sisters. May Jesus be all things to them, and they all to Jesus. Amen. My kind remembrances also to my son M. Michel (Favre),[D] to all our friends, and to the workmen. I send two combs for my daughters to tease the red wool, and two ells of material to cover the bodice of a dress for little Françoise, and two of stuff, which is very ugly but most expensive, for the bodice of a petticoat, for sleeves and neck kerchiefs, to last her over the summer. Please God, for the future I'll choose her clothing myself, and not trust it to anyone else. Goodbye, and a happy Vespers,[E] my dear good Sister. It is nearly noon and we are only just out from table; for the Archbishop of Lyons, as usual, came about 10 o'clock,[F] and then came Madame Saint Chamond. Give me your best prayers, for I am most truly miserable. Nevertheless, may the great God accomplish His holy will in us! Amen. St. Francis de Sales. The Saint here calls the Constitutions by this name. The Treatise on the Love of God. The Convent Chaplain at Annecy. The Octave Day of the Feast of the Visitation. The Sisters' dinner hour. [Pg 13] [Pg 14] [Pg 15] [A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] IX. To Sister Péronne Marie de Châtel at Lyons. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1615. My dearly beloved Sister, Your letters delight me, they are altogether after my own heart, that heart that so loves its dear Péronne. It is true, my child, that in this life we must always be beginning anew, but if it were not so where should we be? For this is essential to our humility and to confidence, the two virtues our good God asks of us. Be brave, train yourself to courage and to exactitude in the observance. Keep a light heart, and above all things put sadness far from you. God is wholly ours, and we, my daughter, have no other wish than to be wholly His. How then can we be solicitous about anything whatsoever? When you have time give me news of that heart that is so dear to me and that I know so well, I say, so well, thanks be to God. I am quite easy as to dearest Sister Marie Jacqueline, for I never doubted but that she would be a success, yet to hear your assurance of it is very consoling. Give her all the help you can so as to lighten as much as possible the burden of her charge. Look after her health; I entrust it to you, and on this point she is to go by what you say. I beseech you, my love, be a good example to others, avoid all useless conversation, never absent yourself from the community assemblies without real necessity. Give challenges to spur each other on to virtue. Let your chief care be to inculcate recollection, practise it yourself in good earnest, it ought to be preeminently our practice. Incite one another to it, and to seek Our Lord, and our own perfection in singleness of heart. I have received all your letters and the other things you sent by Chambéry, but they came very late. Another time, my dearest daughter, to give you comfort we'll talk as you desire, heart to heart, but I am feeling the cold to-day, and am pressed for time. In a word, humility, exact observance, holy confidence and joy in God. Our very dear Father is, he says, entirely yours. All our Sisters salute you. To conclude, you are, as I told you the other day, my own dear Péronne, whom I love with all my heart. When M. Michel goes to see you he will give you plenty of news; he is not, however, going for some little time yet. Yours wholly in Jesus. X. To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Lyons. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1615. They have taken me by surprise. Here is M. de Boisy, who tells me that if I wish to write to you, my daughter, now is the opportunity. He starts at dawn, and so at dawn I write this letter in all haste. Well, as to your letters, they always give me pleasure and console me exceedingly. All praise to the good God who I see leads you and holds you by His paternal Hand, so that you have nothing to do but to cling close to it, and leave yourself to Him, walking with all possible humility, and simplicity, under His holy protection, while you train your little flock to advance faithfully, for it is in this way that He wishes you to show your fidelity, and it is for this end that I always tell you, my dearest, that you should keep yourself, as much as the performance of necessary duties allow, free and disengaged from occupations, so that you may be continually in the midst of your Sisters at the times that they are assembled together, thus will you enlighten and animate them in their duty by example as well as by precept. I quite agree with our worthy and excellent Archbishop. He is right, my daughter, believe me, you must be Mother and Mistress. Nevertheless, it is well to try the capacity of Sister Marie Aimée,[A] for she is good, though a little too reserved and somewhat lazy, letting nature dictate, and yet I hope that she will, notwithstanding, further the progress of these dear children by good example and by her tongue if she lets it loose. Moreover, as you will often be unable to be with them yourself, she can take your place, and thus be a constant relief to you. Your resolve about Madame Raime is quite to my mind. Deduct the amount of the damask plums from what you receive and you can ask M. de Medio[B] and M. Voullart as to how to act. Be at ease about the dearly loved Péronne Marie. I never thought of what they told you, but do not on that account delay to train these girls to housework, for most certainly charity obliges you to give the good daughter a rest after she has put the house in good order, and others have been trained for this purpose. Alas! my dearest daughter, I have great compassion for poor Sister ——. Undoubtedly, her imagination plays a large part in her case, but our good Archbishop and the confessor ought to help in the curing of her. Treat as despicable and in no manner condone what she esteems so much in herself. I will write to her as to the others when I have leisure. You must take great care of the good Sister ——. Keep her bright, and as much occupied as possible, see that she eats and sleeps well, for usually any weakness [Pg 16] [Pg 17] [Pg 18] [Pg 19] of the brain lends itself to such temptations of the imagination, so, dear daughter, show her infinite compassion, charity, and patience. God and time will reveal to us what it is all about. Daylight is breaking, and I have nothing very special to say except, indeed, that you ought to be very grateful for the blessing God has conferred upon you in giving you as fathers two such exceptionally great and worthy prelates, whose remarkable piety pleases God and man.[C] I cannot tell you what a consolation it is to me to see how God has united these two souls, and I believe this union will bring Him more glory than our little judgements are capable of understanding. So with all my heart I praise God for having given me this consolation which I have so long prayed for and desired, clearly seeing how much good it would effect, and the solace of mind it would bring to our worthy Lord Archbishop, whose goodness merits and needs it. His dear Lordship here is full of kindness, and in perfect accord with this prelate, and has a great reverence for him. I will write as soon as possible to these dear children; meanwhile, give them my affectionate love. May the great Jesus fill their hearts with sweetness, simplicity, and innocence! My respectful and affectionate remembrance to my Lord Archbishop. My regards also to good Father Philip de Saint-Nizier, the chaplain, and whoever else you think I ought to mention. Do not tell the President[D] that you do not get letters from me for I never fail to write when there is an opportunity. Remember me very specially to your two dear companions, my daughters, and most dear Sisters. Good-morning, my love. May Jesus be your all. Amen. Sister Marie Aimée de Blonay had just been made Mistress of Novices, a charge which she greatly dreaded. Canon of Lyons. St. Francis de Sales and Mgr. de Marquemont. Antoine Favre, Mother Marie Jacqueline's father. XI. To the Same. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1615. ... I think you have received both the letters that I have written to you since our arrival. Now to answer yours, which has been a joy beyond words to me: so is it in your power, my dearest Sister and friend, to give me true pleasure. You are indeed happy in serving our Lord and His holy Mother: give your service, my beloved friend, with boundless joy and courage. Our very good Father, whom as yet I have hardly seen, wrote you the other day an excellent and beautiful letter.[A] Ah! how blessed are they who hide themselves in the sacred breast of the Saviour, and elsewhere find no delight. But I really must answer your letter. I am writing during the Sisters' supper, and I have had no time as yet to converse with any of them. Keep firm to the line you have adopted with M. de Saint-Nizier, that is all I have to say on that point. I must answer Père Théodose, but it is you who ought to do this. Yes, I told Sister —— that you would give her a little book on perfection, but she must not let her imagination run away with her, so as to think she possesses all the good qualities she desires and which she hears discussed. Keep her gently and cordially humble, and believe me, my love, she will, please God, do very well. There are countless things, my dearest Sister, that I long to say about the true and sincere affection I have for you, and this because I verily believe that we are not separated, but more united than ever, for our mutual intercourse by letter brings home to us, it seems to me, all the more forcibly our affection. O God! may this love be eternal: our life here is too short to suffice for the enjoyment of so great a good! But to answer your little questions. God be praised for the zeal of our good Sisters in holy obedience. Oh! but it is sweet and pleasant news to me, and for them an inestimable treasure. I beseech these dearest daughters, whom I truly love, to give all the consolation possible by following after perfection holily and faithfully. Oh, my God, we have only, my dearest one, my Sister, to die or to love our good Saviour. Amen. His Lordship has, through the chaplain, acceded to the desire of Madame Colin. You have answered N. right well; no thanks are needed in such matters. If I can I will write to M.; if not, do it yourself, my love, for these are our affairs. Believe me, I pray much, and will continue to do so for you, and still more for your dear Father and Mother.... In this letter, having consoled her for the departure of Sister J. F. de Chantal, Saint Francis addresses these sweet words to her: "We need never part from one another, we whom the very blood of Our Lord—that is to say, His love, through the merits of His blood—binds and unites together. Indeed, as for me, I am in very truth so entirely yours that in proportion to the distance that these two or three days of journeying seem to separate us corporally the more strongly and with the more affection am I united spiritually to you as to my very dear daughter. You will be the first after our Mother (de [Pg 20] [A] [B] [C] [D] [Pg 21] [Pg 22] [A] Chantal) in my prayers and my solicitude, a solicitude, however, which is more sweet through the extreme confidence which I have in the heavenly care of divine Providence for your soul."—(M. S. Lives of the First Mothers, by Mère de Chaugy.) XII. To the Same. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, 1615. My dearest Sister, my darling, First of all it is quite true that I am entirely at your service. Next, it is from no lack of diligence on my part that you have been kept so long without news of us, for we have frequently sent to the trades-people to find out if any were going to Lyons. You must not, then, think that I am wanting in care or affection for you. I do not know how that traveller you speak of passed through without my knowing. Now to answer your letters, though I assure you I have to do so in the greatest haste. We have sent you our Office books, and the carrier has delivered everything from you—the beautiful candlesticks and the crucifixes, for which, above all, we thank you. God will give you all that is necessary to instruct these girls from Riom. It is well that you have them, for it is essential that they come either here or to Lyons, otherwise it would be impossible for us for a good long while to provide subjects suitable for foundations. Truly the making of Superiors is not the matter of a day. The First President of Toulouse has written to his Lordship asking for Sisters for a foundation, and he has replied that he will see to subjects being formed for it. This community is becoming very large, and needs assiduous care. Mademoiselle du Châtelard and Mademoiselle d'Avise were here last week, and asked with great humility and earnestness that the votes might be taken for their admittance as probationers. This has been done, and they are coming at the beginning of the approaching great feasts. Both souls are altogether to my liking. Several others are applying for admission.... We must charitably bear with N., and employ both the green wood and the dry to keep her brothers and sisters away from her, and to induce her to curtail her correspondence. She is in bondage to these things, and never will she have courage to break her chains if she is not helped. May God in His mercy take her by His good hand and lead her out of all superfluous cares. His grace the Archbishop has acted prudently in at once settling that her sister is not to be received, to do otherwise would have been inexpedient. She ought not to put upon us these great obligations to Madame la présidente Le Blanc[A] who is one of those women of the world whom I greatly admire. A thousand cordial salutations to her. My darling, for the love of God always write quite openly to me about all your little affairs, and don't take the trouble to copy your letters. I say this not only for myself but also on the part of our good Lord, and it will suffice to write only to one or other of us, for we are as one by the grace of God, and I see that so much writing gives you headaches. This too will economize your time. You will easily be excused by everybody, except perhaps by the dear brother de Boisy[B], for the rest they must write to you and not expect answers unless you have time and want to recreate yourself. I am undecided whether or no to write to M. Austrain, but in any case be sure to offer him my respects. His little daughter[C] is indeed very happy. Three of us have the special care of her. She is very charming, but M. and Mme. Austrain ought to inculcate obedience, and tell her that they always hold it in reverence. I am very fond of her and so are all our Sisters. Assure them of this, and that I greatly desire to serve them and to give them satisfaction in regard to her. In reference to this over affection that you have for me, you are doing quite right. Alas! dearest daughter, I am not exempt from these feelings. In such things be very generous in the guard you keep over yourself; hardly ever speak of it, still less think of it: feelings of this kind should be borne with silently and sweetly, taking, as it were, no notice of them. How consoled I should be if M. D. is caught in the net. May the good God do this mercy. I want you to get news of the temporal affairs of our late good Sister Marie Renée (Trunel) from the General of the Feuillants, and to ask his opinion; the first paper which Sister Péronne Marie (de Châtel) sent was a rough draft; you will have received what we wrote to you by M. Voullart. For God's sake, darling, do all you can soon to procure the money that should come to us for Sister F. A., as we are in great necessity, and nobody wants to pay us. M. Voullart has the authority for receiving it (illegible lines).... Adieu, my love, I am all right as to health, but I want to improve otherwise when I have time to think about it. I intend to take full advantage of my co-adjutrice. I don't know which to choose unless Sister N. Sister P. M. [de Châtel] would make an excellent one. Some day please God I hope to have her, meantime I advise you to make use of her for yourself. Adieu, once more. Let us be His for ever and ever.[D] [Pg 23] [Pg 24] [Pg 25] [Pg 26] See note to Letter XIX., page 49. The Count de Boisy was brother of St. Francis de Sales. The Monastery of Lyons was under obligations to M. Austrain, and St. Jane Frances took his little daughter back with her to Annecy at his desire. Subsequent letters show that this child did not respond to the Saint's kindness and had to be sent away. The Lives of Mother Favre, de Bréchard and de Châtel are given in the "Lives of the First Mothers of the Visitation," by Mother de Chaugy. There is a recent life of Mother de Châtel under the title of "Péronne Marie" (Burns and Oates), in which are introduced slight character-sketches of Mothers Favre, de Bréchard, de Blonay and de Sautereau. XIII. To Sister Péronne Marie de Châtel at Lyons. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, January, 1616. At last, my dearest daughter, I take up your letter to answer it as far as I am able. May the good God inspire me to say what is for His glory and your consolation. All the repugnances of which you speak, all your feelings, aversions, difficulties, are all to my judgement for your greater good, and you are bound not to yield to them. You should keep making resolutions every day to fight and resist them—nevertheless when you fall, say fifty times a day, never on any account be astonished or uneasy, but quite gently reproach yourself, and take up again the practice of the contrary virtue, saying all the time words of love and confidence to Our Lord, and saying them just as much after you have fallen into a thousand faults as if you had only fallen into one. Do not forget all we have said to you on this subject, and practise it for the love of God, being assured that God will draw His glory and your perfection out of this infirmity, never have a doubt on this point, and bear up bravely and sweetly whatever happens. If sometimes you feel weak, cowardly, with no confidence in God, compel your lips to utter words the very opposite to your feelings, and say them firmly. My Saviour, my all, notwithstanding my miseries, and my distrust, I trust Thee out and out, for Thou art the strength of the weak, the refuge of the miserable, the wealth of the poor, in a word Thou art my Saviour, who hast ever loved the sinner. Now these and like words, my dearest daughter, you can say, and though with neither devotion nor tears, yet with set purpose. Then pass on to divert your mind in some way, for the Almighty will not let you escape from His hand, which has so securely captured you, and do you not see how His sweet goodness comes to your succour in so striking and profitable a manner? I beg of you preserve the remembrance of the instructions you have received in the past, and put them into practice, whenever occasion offers. When you feel the need of writing to me, write. I will always answer you promptly, and with the truthfulness of a heart that is wholly yours. Be very careful to give good example. Fidelity and exactness in observance is, as you know, necessary for this, and also a well-ordered exterior, the basis of which depends on the practice of the presence of God. As far as you can quietly manage it release yourself from household duties. I have already spoken to Sister[A] about this, and you will, I think, find her of my opinion, for otherwise those for whom the charges are intended cannot be fittingly trained. Certainly, my love, I am altogether satisfied and consoled with your dear little Mother, who is with you; every one tells me how well she gets on and what you yourself continue to write about her gives me increasing pleasure, for I know with what sincerity you speak. I trust in God that she will be one day a great and worthy servant of His and that she will do good to many. She ought to steep herself ever more in humility and grow in resignation: help her according to your little lights, and tell her simply in all truth, what seems to you for her own good and for that of the house. God knows how sincerely I love her; I know her heart and how she feels under obligation to you, while you are conscious that the obligation is on your side. I am well aware of the help and profit that I receive from my coadjutrix; such is an inestimable blessing for superiors, who from the multiplicity of affairs cannot give sufficient attention to minor things which it is expedient should be remedied. Let me once more beg of you, my dear little Péronne, to further in every way you can my desire that our dear Sister's spirits are kept up, and without teasing her have an eye to her health; tell her frankly what is necessary, and see that she does it, for she ought to yield to you in this, just as you should obey her quite simply when she orders what she considers necessary for your health. You can humbly represent to her how much you feel able to do, but in such a way that she may have no reason to distrust or be displeased with you. It is better to exceed in charity than in labour, and for God's sake never give way to disquietude: do everything you can to get well, for it is only your nerves. I must conclude, for I am feeling somewhat indisposed. A hundred thousand loves to all our dearest sisters; indeed with all my heart I love your little flock. May their thoughts be ever set on their Spouse, and may they hold intercourse with Him like pure, sweet, simple, chaste doves. I embrace them all, big and little, lovingly and tenderly, in spirit, but above all do I embrace my well-loved Péronne. His Lordship salutes you and loves you tenderly. Vive Jésus. Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre. [A] [B] [C] [D] [Pg 27] [Pg 28] [Pg 29] [Pg 30] [A] Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre. XIV. To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Lyons. Vive ✠ Jésus! Annecy, January 4th, 1616. Only one word, my poor dear daughter, for there is no time to write as much as I should wish. Hardly has one been told that there is an opportunity of sending a letter than they come to fetch it. For the love of Go...