Twenty-third point. His consecration, and preparation for it

Her answer on the twenty-third point was :

Our Blessed Founder told me that, when he was returning from Paris in the year 1602, he heard at Lyons of the death of the late Monseigneur de Granier, his predecessor, and at once consecrated himself to God, to serve Him and the souls whom He should put under his charge with no reservation of life or anything else whatever; and that he made this resolution with such strength, that he never fell away from it. When he arrived in his own country, he retired to Sales, and sent for the Reverend Pere Fournier, a Jesuit. He prepared himself for his consecration by many spiritual exercises, self-examination, and a general confession, in all which he received great graces and divine con solations; renewing in his mind and heart resolutions to serve God faithfully in this charge which was about to be given him. He also prescribed rules for himself which I have seen,

7 8 Saint Sane J. tie CHjantaPs 3! editions written by his own hand, and have read. He chose for the day of his consecration the Feast of the Conception of Our Lady.

The ceremony took place in the Parish Church of St. Maurice of Thorens, where he had been baptized, and he was consecrated by His Grace the Archbishop of Vienne, the Bishop of St. Paul, and the Bishop of Damascus. This most humble servant of God, when he was teaching me how to prepare by meditation for a general confession, told me that when he was being consecrated it seemed to him quite clear, that the most adorable Trinity was imprinting in wardly on his soul those marks which the Bishops were making outwardly on his person; that he even seemed to see the most holy Mother of Our Lord taking him under her protection, and the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul at his side guarding him. I think I am giving you his very own words.

He also told me that, for about six weeks after his consecration, he was intensely absorbed in feelings of devotion, and in thoughts of the greatness of the ministry to which he was called and its exceeding dignity, so much so that he honoured even the smallest detail of its vest ments. Some years later he wrote these words in a letter : After my consecration as a Bishop, coming from my general confession, and from the company of the Saints and Angels among whom I had made my new resolutions, I spoke only like one who is a stranger to the ivorld; and although the tumult of that world may since have somewhat weakened the passionate throbbing of my heart, yet, by the divine grace, its resolves remain firm and unchanged. Once again, writing of this event, our Blessed Founder says : " When I was conse crated Bishop, God took me away from myself, that He might take me to Himself, and then He gave me to the people. That is to say, He converted me from what I had been for myself to what I should be for them, and thus may it come to pass that being taken away from ourselves, we may be converted to Him by the sovereign perfection of His most holy love ! "

As the reverend deponent, on account of the lateness of the hour, did not pursue the subject any further, she resumed it the following day, July 2 8th, in the presence of the Most Illustrioiis_ and Eight Reverend Andre Fremyot, Lord bishop of Bourges, the Lord Bishop of/ and the Reverend M. George Ramus, pointed Judges.

To continue the subject of the twenty* point : after the consecration, our Blessed Foun< came to this town of Annecy, the place of his residence, where he was received with the honours customary on such occasions; both clergy and people unanimously receiving him with extra ordinary enthusiasm, expressing in every possible way their delight at having for their father and

So Saint Sane ff. tie CfjantaPg pastor one whom they esteemed so highly. Our Blessed Founder responded with incredible sweet ness and graciousness. And this is true, &c.