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Letter 39. To St. Francis de Sales

LETTER 39 To St. Francis de Sales.

Vive > Jésus!

My best of Fathers,—I return you the letter you deigned to send me yesterday. There are, assuredly, sentiments in this letter which ought to be written in letters of gold.

God grant that the poor dear soul to whom it is addressed may subject herself above all else to walk by the road of humility and simplicity—those holy and blessed virtues. I dare not take the time to re-read this letter. I will quote it to them downstairs, and see again what Icando. May the great God be for ever, my very dear Father, our supreme and only love, and may He make our hearts His eternal dwelling-place with room for no other guest. Amen.

If M. le Poivre goes to Paris, be sure to recommend our expedition very strongly to him.

I am sorry to tell you that difficulties are [again] arising about our building. You must take the trouble to come and calm this disturbance, which I hope will soon pass and leave us in peace, if God so wills, till eternity.

I cannot conclude this letter, my true and good Father, without telling you that it seems to me as if you have not been strict enough with my daughter.” But this is the way fathers spoil their daughters, by being too tender about12

Footnotes

  1. The sisters of Annecy carefully preserved these exhortations of the holy Bishop, published later under the title of Conferences of Saint Francis de Sales. ↩

  2. The Saint here refers to Frangoise de Chantal, who, from her childhood, loved dress and gaieties. St. Francis took a fatherly care of this young girl, gently influencing her against such vanities. The wisdom and prudence of his guidance succeeded where a more severe treatment would have failed, $e SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL them and showing them too great kindness and indulgence. I know very well you will answer me that mothers pretty often spoil their sons by being too yielding and not speaking firmly enough to them. But, after all, there will be no spoiling, please God, because in all the divine will will be followed. ↩

Chapter 5 of 252