Chapter II: Part 2

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.

FOOTNOTE:

[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 God, my dear friend, do not allow yourself to be so easily carried away by your affections. Hold fast in God your spirit, your love, and all your pleasure. Keep your heart strong and generous, and interior joy will come back to you. We are not separated, my dearest daughter, be assured of this, and when it is necessary to think and speak of me accustom yourself to do so with a free and joyous spirit as if I were present to you. Ah! my love, to know that our good God is everywhere, and that He is always ready to be to us, Father, Mother, sweet and gentle Spouse, should indeed make us happy. I am very glad that you have taken Mme. de Chevrières for a mother;[A] she is a virtuous and useful friend and I greatly like her: offer her my humble respects. Our poor dear Sisters' Christmas carols are very nice. I love all these dear hearts: tell them so, darling, I beg of you....

In your next letter say how you are really feeling, for I cannot say that I like to hear of your getting thin. My daughter de Thorens has written to me (illegible lines), speaks of the marriage of M. de Foras with Françoise. Madame is wrong, I assure you, my dear friend, in blaming his Lordship[B] for not writing to her. I see very little of him, and I cannot tell you how long it is since I last spoke with him: he is overwhelmed with business. However, if I see him I will ask him to write to her, and I shall do so myself, if possible.

Well, most certainly I pity the good Archbishop of Lyons with his rules: the poor man is worrying himself to death over them. Why on earth does he not fish where he knows there is plenty of water. Do not send the regulations that he has made for us without also sending the rules, and get to know as tactfully as you can what he is planning and the cause of this delay.

As to exterior mortifications, they are performed here in the right spirit and with devotion. You know them: Some prostrate across the doorway with face to the ground, others hold out their arms in the form of a cross, others again wear a cord round their neck, and ask pardon, or mention and deplore their imperfections out loud, ask for an alms and the like. However, I permit them but rarely, because frequency lessens their power, and when done with devotion they profit and mortify those who perform them, and edify the others. You can of course allow them, but only at the times set down, unless the Sisters ask your permission, and let this come from themselves (illegible lines).

They have come to fetch the letters. Good-day, dearest daughter. Always yours. Be humble in all things, and practice mortification of spirit. Vive Jésus.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] It was a common custom at this epoch to contract spiritual alliances as a mark of reverence, gratitude, and affection. It is of such an alliance that Saint Jane Frances here approves. Madame de Chevrières was a pious and devoted friend of the monastery at Lyons.

[B] St. Francis de Sales.

XV. _To Sisters Péronne Marie de Châtel and Marie Aimée de Blonay._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY, 1616.
MY DEAREST DAUGHTERS,

I will begin by answering your last letter, and then go back as far as I am able to the preceding one, saying, please God, what He wishes me to say to you.

First, then, my dear daughter, I'll tell you what Our Lord wants of you and of us all, a humble and tranquil submission to His most holy will in whatsoever happens, for everything is, without question, ordained by divine Providence for His glory, and for our gain; henceforth to be indifferent to health or sickness, consolation or desolation, the enjoyment or privation of what we most cherish, should be our aim. May our hearts have but one desire, that His holy will be accomplished in us and in regard to us. Let us not philosophize on things that happen to ourselves or to others, but, as I have already said, remaining sweetly humble, and tranquil, in the condition in which God has placed us. In pain patient, in sorrow enduring, in action active, without stopping to think whether we commit faults in this way or that, for such reflections are nothing but self-love.

Instead of all that, look at God, and take faithfully as it presents itself every opportunity of practising suitable virtues. When you fail through cowardice or infidelity be not disturbed, make no reflections, humble yourself in meekness and confusion before God, and then lose no time in rising up again by an act of courage and holy confidence.

Now, my daughter (Péronne Marie), and my little one (Marie Aimée), do thus; this letter is for you both in common, for I know that your hearts hide nothing from one another. In future, as I have so little leisure, I will always write to you together, unless you tell me that, for some particular reason, you wish me to answer you individually, in which case I will willingly do so, for I am at your disposal. Believe me, I love you with all my heart, and I have to bear my fair share in the mortification of your absence, though indeed you are more than ever present to me in spirit; but the good God has arranged it so, and all is sweet in His holy will.

You, my Péronne, and the little Sister, when you happen to be ill, receive relief willingly and graciously. And mind, in whatever form it comes, whether it be to rise, to go to bed, to eat, obey simply, and without making difficulties. My dear Péronne, walk manfully in your old way, both as to the interior, and the exterior. When you are asked what point of prayer you take, and the like, answer boldly as to what you have done or thought formerly in this way: "I have had such thoughts in prayer or done such things while walking about, or when in bed"; but do not say: "To-day, or at such an hour, I have done such a thing." It is not necessary to be so explicit, but simply say, "I have done or seen such a thing," and have no scruple in calling all your good aspirations and thoughts prayer, for they are prayer, and so, for the matter of that, are all our actions when done to please God. It is enough to salute your good Angel morning and evening. Attention to the presence of God and of Our Lady includes all, for the blessed Spirits are engulphed in the abyss of the Divinity, and it is more perfect to walk simply. When a novice says to you, "What are you thinking of?" answer frankly, "I am thinking of God," without saying (if it is not so), I was thinking of the Passion, and the like, for no doubt to mention a particular subject (if we were not thinking of it) would be an untruth. Say simply, "I was thinking of Our Lord," and you might, for example, add, "My God, how happy we should be if we could always have the Holy Passion or the Nativity before our eyes." This gives edification enough. I see nothing else to say.

Oh! but yes; just a word for my Little One. I beg of you, my dearest Sister, not to trouble about what you feel or do not feel--this I say once for all. Serve Our Lord as it pleases Him, and while He keeps you in the desert serve Him there with good courage. He made His dear Israelites spend forty years there, accomplishing a journey that they could have made in forty days. Take courage then, and be satisfied with saying, and being able to say, though without relish, "I wish to live wholly for God and never to offend Him;" and when you stumble, as is sure to happen (be it a hundred times a day), rise up again by an act of confidence. Do likewise towards your neighbour, be content with having the desire to love him, or desiring to desire it, and to procure for him all possible good, and, opportunity given, minister gently to him.

In short take bravely the road in which God leads you--it is a safe one, although you may not have all the light and satisfaction you would like; but it is quite time to abandon to Our Lord all these plans and desires, and to walk blindly, as divine Providence wills, believing that it will lead you aright. Now, adieu. Our good M. Michel (Favre) will tell you all the news. Needless to say, I recommend him to you, for I am extremely fond of him. He is our dear brother and child: entirely devoted to us. Thousands of cordial messages to those most dear daughters of my heart, and special messages to whom you know, and to all, for indeed I most truly love them all.

Adieu, my beloved daughters.

XVI. _To Mother M. J. Favre._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY, 1616.
MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER,

Your letter deeply touches me. May God give us genuine humility, sweetness, and submission, for with these virtues there is truth, but without them usually deception and no sure dependence. No need to consult about this good woman, she must be put out, for a thousand reasons. Unless God give you light to the contrary, beware of acting on any human reasons put forward by her relations. You must drink the chalice, my daughter, and bear with contempt for the sake of exact observance. But act, I pray you, in this matter with gentleness and consideration, saying nothing that might cause any trouble to this poor woman.[A]

As to Mlle. N., we only have knowledge of her in so far as to be able to say that we fear her becoming very dejected from her melancholy and unstable temperament. However, you will have to receive her for a first trial and to tell her frankly that she will be obliged to undergo at least four months' probation in the house before she receives the habit. As to the condition she wishes to lay down of being always with you after her profession, it is not to be heard of. She must not claim to make arrangements on becoming a Religious, as if she was purchasing a farm-house; therefore, should there be no conditions in her contract, and no reserves, the only thing she can reserve to herself is the resolution never to do her own will, and to live peaceably and humbly in the Congregation. I beg of you, my true daughter, maintain a gentle and a humble, a generous and a joyous heart in the midst of the bustle of affairs, for this God requires of you.

You are right in thinking our Sisters de Châtel and de Blonay are two pearls of virtue. They have not a little obliged me in so candidly opening their hearts to you. I never doubted but that they would do so, and I am sure you will always receive consolation and support from them. Gently encourage the dear _Cadette_[B] to be more expansive and open-hearted with the sisters. She can do it if she look humbly unto God and overcome herself. I beg of her to teach her novices to see the advantage of correction, and to love it. They ought to aspire to great purity of life and become familiar in their communications with their divine Spouse. I shall not write to them now; it suffices that we two, whom God has so intimately united, confer with one another. God bless you, my child, I am very glad to know the state of your heart. Keep it one with God in fidelity to the Rule and a stranger to all unprofitable things; for, my true daughter, God has appointed you for my succour and to carry with me the burden which He Himself has laid upon me. Do not say that you are inconsolable on account of our separation. I assure you that I write much more to you than I tell our sisters here. We do not see one another it is true, but that is all, and I think a little corporal absence renders you more present to the mind than if you were present. In everything else we never make any difference between you and our Sisters here, if it be not that you are more loved and more carefully instructed. Now pity yourself no more, since Jesus Christ is the privileged bond that unites us.

Yours, etc.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Elsewhere St. Jane Frances thus sums up for her daughters the views expressed to her on religious life by their Founder, St. Francis de Sales. "In truth, there are few monasteries which do not possess some one who gives a great example of virtue, but the majority are weak and neither great nor elevated in character. This evil is brought about by persons becoming religious who are not yet really good Christians. Such know indeed their Founder and their constitutions, but they have little knowledge of Jesus Christ and His gospels. They aspire to become perfect in a day, while yet they are unaware of their own miseries and need of justification. They expect to be cured without thoroughly knowing their disease or the physician. They begin with the roof instead of with the foundations, and are eager to offer to the divine Master what He has only recommended as a counsel, without taking the trouble to give Him what He exacts as a debt. From hence come so many dissensions, murmurings, and complaints about trivial things, so much imprudence, so many indiscretions, suspicions, rash judgements, attachments to one's own inclinations and way of thinking, and to trifles; such impatience of contempt, so little fervour in prayer, so little reverence for the holy mysteries, so little fruit from confession and frequent communion, such a poor conception and idea of the life to come, so little gratitude to Jesus Christ, so little solidity and dignity in the practices of devotion. The remedy for all these evils is to employ the time of noviceship in learning truly to know the adorable Master; His precepts, maxims and counsels, by a thorough explanation of His gospel; truly to understand the nobility of man, whom God only can render happy; his fall and his misery, which the Incarnation and the death of a God could alone remedy: the corruption of his heart, of which self-love is master; the inability in himself to do any good without the grace of Jesus Christ: the never-ending danger from that concupiscence which, though conquered, is always within him; the necessity of continual prayer, of solitude, of penance, in order to keep the senses subject to the spirit; truly to understand how terrible God is in His judgements, how heinous are the sins committed after baptism, how differently we shall look upon things after death, and what a heavy responsibility for us will be the life and death of the Redeemer: truly to learn the folly of despising these truths and the sanctity which the grace of the law of this Jesus exacts from us, He who is our Saviour and our Model."

[B] A name given by St. Francis to Mother Marie Aimée de Blonay.

XVII. _To Madame de Gouffier._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY.
_17th July, 1616._

I can only send you this little note, my dearest daughter, but his Lordship is answering your letters. Our Sisters (Favre and de Châtel) are to arrive this evening, so you can imagine how busy we are getting ready for them. God be blessed for all you tell me, and may the work you have undertaken be to you a precious crown for the greater honour of God and for our consolation.

Certainly, very dear daughter, if the glory of God and your reputation were not so much involved in this transaction we should never risk sending our sisters. Our reasons would be unalterable in regard to anyone save you yourself. Sister Jeanne Charlotte will tell you what they are. The experience of Lyons has taught us to walk circumspectly. But we have not the heart to disappoint this daughter who is so much one of ourselves. May God be your portion and ours for all eternity! It is impossible for me to leave this house at present, so I cannot accompany the Sisters whom we are sending to Lyons. They will arrive, please God, on the 29th of this month, and they can start with you on the 5th or 6th of August, but not before. We shall write again by them. May God love us, and our love be all for Jesus eternally.

Adieu, my daughter. I embrace you with all my soul which is wholly yours. But let us not engage in any more combats until we are fully armed! I prefer to have few monasteries and those well established than many badly provided.[A]

FOOTNOTE:

[A] Madame de Gouffier, a religious of the Order of the Holy Ghost, was attracted to greater devotion by reading the "Introduction to a Devout Life," and made a long journey to confer with its author, St. Francis de Sales. The Sister annalist of the Order tells us that Madame de Gouffier, on arriving, "Devoutly ferreted out all she could about the rising Congregation to see if it might not be the promised land designed by God for her, in which she hoped to find rivers flowing with milk and honey. Full of admiration for the new Institute, Madame de Gouffier wished to become a member, but insurmountable impediments opposed her design, and she could only obtain permission to wear the religious habit within the enclosure, where she was known under the name of Sister Marie Elizabeth. With tireless energy the new benefactress gave a helping hand to the foundations of Lyons, Moulins, and Paris, in all of which houses she successively sojourned, ever seeking to make herself useful to the Sisters, whose virtue was indisputably made manifest by the thorns without number with which, all unwittingly, she strewed their paths. Towards the end of 1621 Madame de Gouffier quitted her exile here below for the true _Promised Land_."

XVIII. _To Mother Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Lyons._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY.
_June, 1616._
MY OWN DEAREST DAUGHTER,

You and all the dear Sisters to whom I am in debt must needs be perpetually pardoning me. Only at the last moment are we told of an opportunity to send letters, and having no time to get mine ready beforehand I am constrained to write in a breathless fashion. They have just come to say that Sire Pierre sets out to-morrow. Patience in all things! However, as I want to write to our sisters, and very fully to you, and very particularly to my son M. Michel, those letters I will send by the chaplain. You now know for certain what are our good Lord's intentions regarding the Religious question: I mean the conversion of our Congregation into a Religious Order, with the conditions laid down for us, which are all excellent, and about which our resolution is unalterable. This step has been before the Archbishop of Lyons for a long time, and he did not wish it to be known. But what does it matter to us, I pray you, whether our vows are solemn, or made as they are in public, or whether we are to be called a _Religious Order_ or a _Congregation_? Such things do not signify at all. We have always shown that we are willing for it on condition that nothing whatever is changed as to the end of our Institute or the means of attaining that end, to which, thanks be to God, we have, up to this, adhered for His glory and the salvation of our neighbour. We do not ask or seek to be brought forward, and only wish to be left as we are, content to remain in our littleness, and infinitely preferring it if the glory of God does not demand otherwise.

Now, dearest daughter, your mind will be clear on this subject, and you can satisfy those who make inquiries. I greatly desire that our good Father Rector, a man of great virtue and capability, should know all, and give his opinion on the whole matter to the Bishop, who is anxious to have it. His last letter to me gives the impression that he thinks quite the reverse of the above. For the rest, dearest daughter, if you have an opportunity get the Archbishop to write and tell his Lordship how he means to act in regard to the Bishop's last letter, for this is of importance to the affair in Rome; but do not let him see any eagerness on your part or that you have been asked to do this. Enough on this subject.

What a grace has not the good God done us these six years in having called us to true perfection by a manner of life so fitting to our sex. Ever blessed be this divine Saviour. I tried to-day to renew my heart fervently so as henceforth to live in accordance with God's holy will. My great longing for you, who are so dear to me, is that you may bravely cast aside all that is not of God, and having but one heart, that you may keep it exclusively for the one Saviour, who has given His dear life to win our love and our salvation....

Let us have a great love for our Sisters and bear gently and sweetly with their little miseries and weaknesses, without which we shall never be, and thus make good use of the first-fruits of the spirit which God has diffused on us here, and on you.

What joy took possession of my heart yesterday, dearest daughter, when I caught a glimpse of a chance of seeing you again, and what noise and excitement at recreation when I gave the news of your coming! Truly it is delightful to see how they all love you. Don't you think that it is quite necessary for me to keep my pleasure to myself in case you do not come, for they would all be so disappointed? Alas! my poor Péronne, if she is not cured she must come back to Annecy, for she will be useless to you and the change of air may be good for her. God knows how welcome she will be, but I fear you will miss her for your little ménage: however, God will provide.

I hope you will not give the habit to the good N. until she has completed her six months. If I have time I will write her a little note; if I cannot, her humility will bear with me, and her charity will be indulgent to me. I beg of her to ask God to grant me the grace of being entirely His.

A thousand salutations, daughter darling, to you and all your dear flock (a little special word to our two).[A] Remembrance also to the Rev. Father Rector, to my dear nephew, and to whom else you please. Aye, truly sister de Gouffier may well be admired! I shall write to her by the chaplain when he returns. She is only losing her time, and I am astonished that she has not written to me. Yes, indeed, she is losing her time. Adieu, my darling, _this holy day of the Feast of St. Claude_.

Yours, etc.

FOOTNOTE:

[A] Srs. Péronne Marie de Châtel and Marie Aimée de Blonay.

XIX. _To Sister Marie Aimée de Blonay, Mistress of Novices at Lyons._[A]

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY, 1616.

Who can doubt, little one, but that a thousand imperfections are mingled with all our actions. We must humble ourselves and own to it, but never be surprised nor worry about it. Neither is it well to play with the thought, but having made an interior act of holy humility, turn from it at once and pay no further attention to your feelings. Now let me hear no more about them, but use them all as a means of humbling yourself and of abasing yourself before God. Behave yourself in His presence as being truly nothing, and if you do, these feelings about which you talk will not do you any harm though they will make you suffer. Indeed, as much may be said of this fault of over-sensitiveness. Pray what does it matter whether you are dense and stolid or over-sensitive? Any one can see that all this is simply self-love seeking its satisfaction. For the love of God let me hear no more of it: love your own insignificance and the most holy will of God which has allotted it to you, then whether you are liked or disliked, reserved or ready-tongued, it should be one and the same thing to you. Do not pose as an ignorant person, but try to speak to each one as being in the presence of God and in the way He inspires you. If you are content with what you have said your self-love will be satisfied, if not content, then you have an opportunity of practising holy humility. In a word aim at indifference and cut short absolutely this introspection and all these reflections you make on yourself. This I have told you over and over again.

I can well believe that you are at a loss how to answer these young persons who want to know, forsooth, the difference between contemplation and meditation. How can it be, Sister (The Superior) puts up with them, or that you do in her absence? Sweet Jesus, what has become of humility? Stop it all, and give them books and conferences treating of the virtues, and tell them that they must set about practising them. Later on they can talk about high things--for by the exercise of true and solid virtue light comes from Him who is the Master of the humble, and whose delight it is to be with souls that are simple and innocent. At the end of all, when they have become Angels, they may talk as the Angels do. As to prayer, be at peace and do not attempt anything beyond keeping yourself tranquilly near Our Lord. This too I have often told you. In a word you are not to move any more than a statue can do. Your one wish has to be to give pleasure to God; now if He in His goodness shows you what you have to do, is it right for you to turn from this to do something else because this, His will, has no interest for you? You must take care not to fall into this fault, but be simple; don't think much about yourself and just do the best you can.

You have thoroughly satisfied your self-love, in writing me this paper. However, I will not return it to you, although I think that were I to do so it would be a mortification to you. Live wholly with all simplicity in God. I have a great affection for Sister Barbe Marie.[B] Take care of her, teach her to restrain her over anxiety, which makes her so eager for her own advancement and for that of everybody else.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] We are told in the "History of the Foundation of Annecy" that Sister Marie Aimée de Blonay fulfilled her duties as Mistress of Novices with such submission and reverence as entirely to justify the beautiful name of "The Living Rule," by which she is known throughout the Order; for her actions and her teaching were a faithful carrying out of what she had learned from its two holy Founders. She often inculcated the following doctrine: "Just as the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, and always must be, the universal foundation of our obedience and of our belief, even though there were a million new worlds, so should the particular maxims of the Visitation of Annecy be common to all houses of the Institute, even though it should increase to millions upon millions of monasteries." It gave St. Francis such pleasure to hear this ingenious comparison of the Rule to the Gospel that he ordered the following to be inserted in the acts and conditions of establishment for every new foundation: "That the Sisters undertake to live according to the Rules, Constitutions, and customs of the Monastery of Annecy." And in answer to a letter about this time from his dear "Cadette," he says: "My daughter, make use of this light all your life. Tell what you have seen, teach what you have heard at Annecy. This root is indeed little, insignificant, and hidden, but the branch that separates from it is fit for nothing but to be cut down and cast into the fire."

The life of Mother Marie Aimée de Blonay was written by Charles Auguste de Sales, nephew and one of the successors of St. Francis de Sales in the See of Geneva.

[B] Madame la Présidente Le Blanc, who was converted from a life of worldliness by St. Francis de Sales, and became a great benefactress to the new Institute. When at Lyons she lived in the Convent like a religious, and wished to be called Sister Barbe Marie.

XX. _To the Same._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY.
_January, 1617._

Truly, my dearest little one, you give me extreme pleasure by writing so fully and so simply. Always do so. I have shown your letter to his Lordship, who is very fond of you. God will be with you and all will go well. Never doubt but that divine Providence will guide and support you in all things, if you give yourself wholly into Its hands. Employ such little talents as you possess faithfully, and they will increase. For the rest what a pity it is that we allow ourselves to be upset about what we are and how we perform our duties. Let us set about them with simplicity, looking unto God, trusting to His goodness, then all will be accomplished, all will be sanctified.

How consoling it is to hear of your courageous postulants! Salute all of them affectionately for me, but to your last novice I pray you to offer my heart, which I offer her to serve her and to love her perfectly in Our Lord. What you tell me in your letter of her fidelity to observance already gives me great consolation in her regard.

Oh, Saviour of my soul! how blessed it will be for her if she persevere! I exhort all our dear novices to constancy, and I beg of them to take my word for it, that their peace will be perfect if they hold fast without swerving to the observance. May they forget themselves and all things else in order to achieve thoroughly this one thing, which is of so much importance. If they aim at it always faithfully and humbly, it will bring them inestimable happiness.

Daylight is failing me, my daughter.

Your very affectionate

XXI. _To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Lyons._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY,
_10th April, 1617._
MY MOST DEAR DAUGHTER,

I am sending you back our good Sister (Madame Colin). I see nothing in her that merits rejection. Her manner is a little dry, but that is natural to her, and I think she will improve, for she is most anxious to be gracious. She certainly seems to me to have, in the service of God, a well-directed heart, and a well-disposed mind. She will give you all our news and tell you about his Lordship, who, I feel sure, is altogether overworked. She has seen how he is overwhelmed with business. Grenoble was the last straw, on account of the endless letters it has entailed; they are too much for him. If only those ladies would have a little more consideration and confine their correspondence with him to what is useful, or to their spiritual needs! I am told that some of them will be visiting you. For God's sake see if through them you cannot discretely manage to curtail unnecessary appeals to him. You know how kind he is and how he never fails to send them a reply, although we are told that if he does not greatly retrench his correspondence it will have a very injurious effect on his health, and will shorten his days--days which are wholly at the service of God and his neighbour. This is a matter which it seems to me ought to concern everybody: so I am writing to Dijon, Chambéry, St. Catherine, and everywhere I can think of, to ask them to spare him as much as possible and only to write in cases of absolute necessity, or at least utility; for in such cases it cannot be avoided.

No doubt you perceive that I am a little disturbed, and indeed I am; for this morning I heard several things about him which have greatly upset me, and you know how valuable his life is to us--more it could not be. He will return next year to Grenoble. A great many people, and I believe half the diocese, regret it, especially M. de Boisy: but I do not, for it cannot be much prejudice to the bishopric, and is sure to be for God's glory, and he will, please God, reap a double harvest in this second visit. He greatly praises the goodness and piety of the people of Grenoble and particularly of the ladies. Poor Sister Barbe Marie arrived too late, but she made up for lost time and his Lordship has completely won her.

This woman has an excellent heart. She it is, I am told, who ought to introduce the ladies to us. Encourage her as much as possible to establish the Visitation at Grenoble. It is really very wonderful how on all sides they are asking for us, and we have no desire to settle ourselves anywhere, except at Grenoble. Everything looks encouraging in that direction. The ladies there are enthusiastic to have a foundation. Recommend the affair to Our Lord, for it seems to me that it will be for His glory. Our dear Sister (Barbe Marie) will tell you everything. She has written to me three times since the return of his Lordship and I once to her. This is only fair, for she is not as busy as I am. She is quite devoted to you. Get a thurible made out of that beautiful cup; we often need one and have to inconvenience our neighbours by borrowing from them. Sell our watch, my child, to help to pay for the making of it. You will have to do this for we are short of money. Good Madame Colin insists on our keeping her watch, but I shall not do so on any account unless she consents to take the value of it. It keeps good time and we have much need of such a one.

My poor dear Sister, I dearly love you. Live solely for God by giving yourself up entirely to His holy will and letting it act. Indeed, I long to do likewise and I pray God to let me die if I do not love Him henceforth with all my strength. Such is the desire of the miserable little heart of your poor Mother who has the toothache, so she must stop writing as soon as she has made up her mind what answer to give Monseigneur of Bourges. Our good Bishop will come for it this evening. We seldom, I assure you, see him now. But we do not mind so long as he can get through all his work. Would to God that I could relieve him of it!

Now this is the answer to the Archbishop of Bourges. Write to the grand-nephew as from yourself and say that if the matter is urgent we shall find great difficulty in providing Sisters, not having any yet sufficiently trained. I believe that Monseigneur intends first sending Cardinal Bellarmine's letter to the Father Rector, and afterwards to his Grace of Lyons....

I can understand poor N.'s temptation. Alas! from what I hear the poor Sister seems quite to have gone astray. God grant she may get into the right way again. In conclusion, dear daughter, I hope you will not take too much to heart what I have said about his Lordship's correspondence, I acknowledge to have written forcibly because it is doing him so much harm. Yesterday I let him know that I was going to write all round in the hope of curtailing it, and he told me that I must not do so, for he could manage very well. You understand, dearest daughter, I am not addressing myself to you, nor to any of our Sisters, for I don't wish to stop them from writing to him when they require his advice. Oh, indeed I do not! not them, nor any one. I only mean that discretion should be used in this matter.

Adieu, my most dear daughter. I embrace you lovingly in spirit and am wholly yours in our sweet Saviour. Amen.

XXII. _To the Same._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY, 1617.

I have three quarters of an hour free, my dearest daughter, and seize the opportunity to write to you. You have indeed given me very special pleasure by speaking a little of your beloved self and of your dear daughters. God be praised for all you tell me of both the one and the other. Oh! my love, if you but persevere in serving our great and gentle Redeemer with the highest part of your soul, indifferent as you say to all that presents itself, true happiness will be yours. Souls who act thus are royal souls. May the divine Majesty give you the grace of faithful perseverance.

You have done well to discontinue your retreat. I assure you I never undertake mine in the very hot weather on account of the great drowsiness which it causes. Well, if God wishes us to walk like one who is blind and groping in the dark, what does it matter? We know that He is with us.

I am surprised at what you tell me about Paris and Chalons,[A] we have heard nothing of it from any one else. It would be a great boon to us not to separate for a year: but the Holy will of God comes before all things, and grace urges us to the acceptance of it. If they send me, it will do me good to see you again.

I do not quite know what to say of Sister ----[B]; tell me about her a little more in detail and of the effects on her of what she feels.

Consult the Rev. Father Rector and get her to speak to him herself. She should certainly use every endeavour to hide what you tell me of, and should never abandon herself to it; but if there is humility and simple obedience we need have no anxiety. You should insist emphatically upon simplicity, truth, and straightforwardness in all her actions, above all when she has these consolations. But in a word, if she possesses virtue you need fear nothing, even though they may come from the evil spirit. Nature or the imagination would seem to me more dangerous. Speak of this, I beg of you, in her presence to the Father Rector.

I assure you I am consoled to hear about little Orlandin. But the other little one, Raton, how is she going on? My daughter, you do singularly well not to keep those girls that are unsuitable. Try to win over their friends so that they may be satisfied with our own choice of subjects, even though those we choose may not have much dowry. My God! how important it is to have good subjects! I shall be sorry if Sister N. goes, for I think that in time she may make a good novice mistress and so relieve that daughter[C] whose mind is so wearied by the charge. The continuance of this weariness of hers gives me pain. Oh! my daughter, how true it is that we must be more than women to serve God above all natural humours and inclinations. Yet what happiness so to subdue nature that grace reigns in its stead! May it please the good God to assist us, for we can do nothing without His succour.

I have just written a line to M. Austrain, who begs of us to keep his daughter at least till September. We will willingly do so for his sake, but I own to you, daughter, that she is no gain to us.[D]

Still no news from Rome. I think His grace the Archbishop[E] would be glad to help us should this business be delayed. Beg of him, I beseech you, to push on the matter and above all by using the privileges which the Father Procurator says that he has obtained for us. It is really impossible to submit to anything else. I think, daughter, that you will do well to write him a humble, dignified, earnest request on the subject, for I fear the Father Procurator may be a little slow in following it up: but write as from yourself. My child, I must conclude. May God be all to you. Amen.

May His goodness be blessed. Believe me to be always devoted to you and Sister Barbe Marie and to all your daughters.... My child, I write in such haste that I forget half of what I want to say. Yes, indeed, most willingly will we make a chalice veil for you, but not until the very hot weather is over, for one cannot work neatly while it lasts. I do not know if we have the silks: Sister Péronne Marie says we have not, but she will write to you about it.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Projected foundations in these towns.

[B] A Sister at Lyons who enjoyed great spiritual consolations. Her name is not given.

[C] Sister Marie Aimée de Blonay.

[D] In another letter to Mother Favre, dated July 3rd, 1617, Saint Jane Frances writes: "The little Christine is very much frightened at the prospect of returning to her father (M. Austrain), for she knows that he does not want her, and she dislikes still more the thought of going to St. Ursula. A lady came here from Neuville some time ago, and ever since the little Austrain has desired to be sent there. She is now imploring her father to let her go to that town. Help us, I beg of you, to get rid of her quietly and with courage."

[E] Mgr. de Marquemont.

XXIII. _To Mother Jeanne Charlotte de Bréchard, Superior at Moulins. On the death of the Saint's daughter, Madame de Thorens._[A]

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY,
_September, 1617._

Ah, Lord Jesus, grant that we may love Thee perfectly and Thee alone. His divine Goodness has truly pierced the depths of my heart, and I am overwhelmed with sorrow at the death of my daughter de Thorens. Yet what can I do but lovingly kiss the dear hand that has given this terrible blow? May it be blessed for ever! Indeed, this daughter was as lovable and as sensible as could be found at her age. I admired her great virtue and was consoled to see her firm resolve to dedicate herself entirely to God. O good Jesus, I did not deserve to have such a companion, and perhaps it was not good for us to have in this life such enjoyment and such contentment as she and I had in one another's society. So she is happy in the sovereign good which I have always desired for her, and God has surrounded my affliction with so many mercies and favours that trying to forget myself in my righteous sorrow I bless and thank Him for a grace which I dearly prize.[B]

FOOTNOTES:

[A] Marie Aimée de Chantal was born in 1593; married, in 1609, Bernard de Sales, Baron de Thorens: died in 1617. In September of this year the young widow gave birth to a daughter at the Visitation Monastery, Annecy, where she happened to be staying, and was unexpectedly taken ill. The infant only lived to receive baptism, and Marie Aimée died two days later, having made her profession in the Order on her deathbed. St. Francis de Sales, who received her vows, said he had never seen so holy a death.

[B] The rest of this letter has been cut off.

XXIV. _To M. de Neuchèze, the Saint's nephew._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY,
_November 6th, 1617._

I feel sure, my dearest nephew, that, alas! you must already know of the death of my dear one.[A] Five days after her decease we announced the news to Mgr. of Bourges,[B] but I fear the letters may have been lost. It has truly, my child, been a great grief to me to be deprived of the presence of this dear, amiable daughter, but with all my heart I adore and embrace the divine will which has sent me this sorrow. There is much to console me in her happy and holy death, while I am almost in despair at the thought of the state of soul of your cousin.[C] 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, my dearest nephew, can come near to it. If it were not that I am tied down here by a violent ague I would have already set out to be with him. I am asking him to come to me: if he does not, I beseech Mgr. of Bourges to find some pretext for visiting him, and for remaining with him till he comes to Nantua. Alas! he must be helped. I implore of you to do all you can in the matter. I can say no more. I am overwhelmed with sorrow, and my tears blind me. Obtain for him the prayers of all those good souls who walk steadily in the fear of God. My salutations to all the household. My dearest nephew, may His goodness grant you all blessings.

Believe me always your humble aunt and servant,
Sister J. F. Frémyot of the Visitation.

FOOTNOTES:

[A] The Saint's daughter, Madame de Thorens.

[B] Archbishop of Bourges, brother of St. Jane Frances. M. de Neuchèze was Vicar-General and Chancellor of his Diocese.

[C] The Saint's son, Celse Benigne.

XXV. _To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Lyons._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY,
_25th November, 1617._

This severe mortification which the good N. has given you is, my dearest daughter, the fruit of the holy cross. Ah! may God grant us the grace to profit by every mortification that He sends us. You are indeed blessed; for see how the divine Saviour lays on you burden upon burden. May His goodness give you His holy strength. He will do so, daughter, for with your whole soul you have given yourself into the arms of divine Providence, and you have no other arms to bear you up and no other breast on which to repose in love save His. Abide there as a gentle dove in all simplicity and tranquility, not making account of your afflictions but looking only at the _Heart_ of Him who has sent them to you.

Here we have truly shed many tears and prayed much for our dear one who is taken from us.[A] I have, however, much consolation; for could there have come a greater happiness to this pure and innocent soul than to meet her Saviour? Rejoice in her repose, my dearest daughter.

In order not to lose this opportunity of writing to you I am doing so without having given myself time to look over your letters again. Believe me, daughter, that if we are faithful to our vocation, and if in our little efforts we seek only the pure glory of God, His majesty will raise us up.

His Lordship wishes us to make another attempt before sending to Rome M. de Sainte-Catherine, who will be an admirable agent. God will help us, daughter, but we must keep lowly and patient and let ourselves be trampled under foot. His Lordship hopes that this new petition, supported by our Rules and the testimonials, will settle the matter. If the Archbishop thinks well to write a new letter of recommendation, from himself, to this gentleman who is acting for him, it is quite as it should be, so long as this gentleman acts in unison with the Father Procurator of the Barnabites. But to ask him to send these attestations to the house of Lyons would, I think, be loss of time, as they have already been sent here. The Prince, on his side, has heard that the matter is being taken up warmly. Ah! well, we have done what we can, and the success of it we must leave to the Providence of God and ask Him to guide and fashion this work according to His holy will. I hope we shall have some news in a few weeks.

His Lordship left us yesterday, and he asked me to send you his apologies for not having written to you, but he will write from Grenoble. He is absolutely overwhelmed with business. We spoke of our vow of obedience, and he believes it to be pleasing to God. He asked me how you bore that sharp mortification; but alas! I could not tell him.