Preliminary Questions
Each witness was asked :
If he knew the enormity of the sin of perjury.
His name, age, profession, country, and the name of his father and mother.
If he went to Confession and Communion at Easter and at other times.
If he had ever been excommunicated or condemned for crime.
If he was actuated by any worldly motive.
By whom he had been summoned.
1 . As to whether she was aware of the gravity of the sin of perjury :
She answered:
" I know that perjury is a very great and grievous sin, and I certainly do not wish to commit it."
- Concerning her name, age, profession, country, and the name of her father and mother.
48 Saint Sane #. tre CljantaPs depositions
She answered :
" My name is Jane Frances Fremyot, commonly called de Chantal, native of Dijon, capital of the Duchy of Burgundy. My age is fifty-four : I am the daughter of Messire Benigne Fremyot, Second President of the Parliament of Dijon, and of Dame Marguerite de Berbisi, and I am the first Religious and first Mother Superior of the Order of the Visitation of our Lady, and in that first capacity, daughter of Blessed Francis de Sales, our Founder."
- As to whether she went to confession and communion at Easter and at other times. She answered :
" I go to confession twice a week, usually. Our rule bids us communicate every Sunday and Holy day (feast day), and on Thursdays; and by the advice and command of our Blessed Founder, I communicate every day, and have just now come from Communion."
- As to whether she had ever been excom municated or condemned for any crime. She answered :
" I have never undergone any penal sentence, nor have I incurred any excommunication that I am aware."
- As to whether she was actuated by any human motive.
She answered :
" I am not induced to make this deposition by any personal interest, but only to render testi mony to the truth, and to glorify God, Who has shown Himself wonderful in His Saint."
- As to who had summoned her. She answered :
" I appear here in consequence of the summons I have received from Monsieur Jean Favre, priest, and show you, my Lords, the copy of the said summons which he served upon me."
LIST OF POINTS INVESTIGATED
Particulars concerning the father and mother of the servant of God.
His childhood.
The charity which from his childhood he showed towards the poor.
His behaviour while he was pursuing his studies at Annecy and Paris.
The devotion which he from that time forth en tertained for the Blessed Virgin.
His behaviour during the time of his studies at
Padua, and his journey to Loretto and to Rome.
- His visit to the Bishop of Geneva, Claude de
Granier, after his return from Padua.
His behaviour after his return from Padua up to the time of his entering the Priesthood.
His behaviour as a deacon.
The manner in which he fulfilled both his priestly duties and those of Provost.
n, 12. The ravages made by heresy in the Chablais, the servant of God's mission there, and the procession from Thonon to Annemasse.
The book of The Standard of the Cross.
Where he celebrated Holy Mass during the
Chablais Mission.
- How he carried the Blessed Sacrament to the sick during the Chablais Mission.
1 6. His conferences with the heretics,
52 Saint Sane J. tie ffiJjantal'g depositions
- His desire to convert England and Switzerland.
1 8. His being chosen by the Bishop of Geneva as his coadjutor.
His journey to Rome and what happened there.
What occurred on his return from Rome.
His behaviour towards the Bishop of Geneva, whose coadjutor he was.
His behaviour at the time of Henry IV.'s in vasion of Savoy.
His consecration, and how he prepared for it.
His faith.
His hope.
His love of God.
His love for his neighbour.
His practice of the four Cardinal Virtues.
His chastity.
His humility.
His patience.
His gentleness.
His piety, mental prayer, and recollection of the presence of God.
His love of his enemies.
His zeal and his many sermons.
His works of mercy.
His peace of mind and his efforts to settle law suits and make peace.
His virtue of Religion.
His conformity to the Will of God.
His discernment of spirits and gift of prophecy.
His magnanimity.
His assiduity in the confessional.
His care for the perfection of Monastic Orders.
His zeal for the salvation of souls, and the books he published.
His contempt for honours and for worldly goods.
His manner of dealing with his neighbour.
His conduct in the government of his diocese.
The excellent order of his episcopal household.
His charity to the poor.
The miracles which he worked during his lifetime.
5 1 . His reputation for sanctity.
His last illness and death.
His funeral and the veneration shown by the people to his mortal remains.
The graces obtained by his intercession.
The lives of the Saint written by various authors.
POINTS INVESTIGATED
When Saint Chanted came to the points brought forward ly Dom Juste Guerin, the Procurator in this Cause, she answered as follows :
Chapter 2 of 59