Letter 94. To Mother Jeanne Charlotte de Bréchard

Superior at Moulins. Annecy, 15 February, 1617.

Vive > Jésus!

Verily, my dearest daughter, my darling, since the little note we wrote you lately we have been quite unable to answer you, partly from a certain weakness and lack of energy, and partly from having been occupied with the Countess de Tournon and her daughters, who, we trust, God willing, may draw profit and consolation from their sojourn here. We are writing while they are out visiting at Sainte Catherine, and your letter lies before me, so that I shall not forget anything you ask about. To begin with, my poor dear sister, so tenderly dear to me, I most earnestly beg of you to keep in close touch with the Rev. Father Rector,! and to be submissive to his will, and to listen to his advice, for he is evidently a very virtuous, wise, and experienced father, who for the glory of God is devoted to you and to your community: his letters show his sincerity,

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You have given us great pleasure by making us conversant with all your affairs; fear nothing. You know us: we will not spoil anything, and it is not expedient to take any further step at present. Our Lord will, out of it all, bring His glory and our profit. But we must be very humble and charitable in bearing with the defects and troublesome ways of that neighbour of ours.1_ We shall be too exacting if we do not love her for that which is good in her. And, what is more, dearest sister, we should accept the inconveniences caused by the want of not only useful but necessary things, as coming from the providence of God, and not from the hands that present them to us or procure them for us. By this means, believe me, we shall receive them with a sense of sweetness rather than of repugnance. You understand me: I mean to say, if Our Lord does not approve of her actions, that will not prevent Him from taking great pleasure in seeing you bear those actions as all tribulations and tests that come from Him should be borne. For His divine goodness sends them in order to make you advance in the perfection of divine love.

Look over the enclosed letters that I am writing to our sisters, and if you approve of them, give them to them; if not, tear them up. Take all possible care, my darling, to keep your daughters united to you. I am writing to them in such a way that, if they show the letters, no onecan take umbrage.

We must let dear Sister de Gouffier govern, but try very gently, with the help of the reverend father, to have all the little things that regard the interior of the house arranged in accordance with our way here, which you know: for example, the arrangements at table, of the furniture, the habits, offices, and such like for the good order of the house and for the maintaining of uniformity; so that all may be done according to holy simplicity and our accustomed poverty. Those grand bedsteads are very useless, for the

Rule orders that as much as possible the religious should have each one her little room and sleep alone. The good father could easily get Sister de Gouffier to fall in with these arrangements if he judges it necessary, as I think he will; and also to enlarge the building, since there is plenty of room; to have a secure lock on the tabernacle, and the kitchen furnished with what is requisite; these last will entail only a slight expense.

Your letter has just arrived as¹ am writing. God be praised that you have arranged all the little things suitably. It would be well to try, with the help of the good father and his prudent advice, to get into your own hands, by degrees, the entire government of all that affects the interior of the house. As to the chief temporal affairs, let her look after them. In regard to subjects, I think at the beginning, when minds suitable to serve God in our manner of life present themselves, we should not be exacting as to their dowries, provided they bring what will keep them in accordance with the poverty and lowliness that we practise here. Verily this is an important point: for who would be content that daughters of silver should take the place of those of gold!!_ Prudence must, however, be observed, as small communities are desirable, since they work better; and then even riches are not wanting in a life of sweet unity and of observance of Rule.

We are somewhat anxious about Sister Marie Avoye [Humbert]: try, I beg of you, to make her go on better, for I see many objections to sending another sister so far unless in case of extreme necessity. The Riom project has been broken off long ago, and we thank God for it. We could not satisfy them there without much inconvenience. There are great difficulties about these far-away places. We see but little prospect of being able to go to your assistance, though we long to do so; but my poor state of health, our buildings, and the innumerable number of sisters are big obstacles; besides, his Lordship will not hear of it. I

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Let all this increase your courage and trust in Our Lord. Have confidence that after you have been tried He will help and console you, not only by the founding of a house to His glory, but likewise in giving you peace and special consolation. Meanwhile you are doing very well by acquiescing in His good pleasure and awaiting it in patience. It is an immense relief to me to know what a help and support this good father is to you. We can see that he is devoted to you. Always keep well on your guard against your natural vivacity; for gravity and modesty are necessary above all in us, my poor dear sister. I speak out to you quite simply, just as it occurs to me. Courage, my child; be cheerful in His service, and let your consolation be to abandon yourself entirely to divine Providence. One day we shall be glad that we have suffered all these things for God.

To return to your long letter. His Lordship says you must retrench those offerings on the entrance of subjects, and take care to do nothing that savours of covetousness.

It is best, I think, not to burden yourself with those good gardeners and thus expose yourself to blame. But the enclosure being so small, you can at any time go into the garden for recreation, although the men may be there, provided you are two, and you need not lower your veil unless when approaching and speaking to them. At the beginning, you remember, we had to act according to circumstances.

As to this feeble-minded girl, you may take her in for charity, as you say, provided she is harmless and not violent and past all remedy, so as not to trouble the house.

Yes, you may visit Sister de Gouffier in her quarters, if no men are there, and she can serve as companion: you certainly may, for the house belongs to you, and she lives in your enclosure. Try to induce her not to receive visitors there. The parlour ought to satisfy her for seculars, except the women who enter with permission. As to those good old ladies who wish to retire from the world, you can take them, but we have already learnt from Rome that not one single going out will be permitted them after their entrance. Now I have answered your letter.

It is at least a fortnight since I wrote the above, awaiting an opportunity of sending it. His Lordship has not yet written, but he will write to you. In fact, one hardly catches a glimpse of him these times. May God preserve him and employ him entirely for His glory, and may He do in us His holy will.

Dear Madame de la Croix takes these letters: be very affectionate to her, I beg of you, for she deserves it. She is in hopes that you will be her hostess, and I shall be very glad of it if you are.

Adieu, my darling. I am somewhat overstrained and harassed, but I am, believe me, wholly yours in Our Lord.²³⁴

Footnotes

1. In the first years of the Order enclosure was less strict, the Constitutions not having yet been arranged in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent. ↩

2. Aignan Moreau. and that he is led by the Spirit of God. Withsuch a friend you may rest secure; even all I say to you I would have you submit to his prudence and discretion. ↩

3. Madame de Gouffier, ↩

4. St. Jane Frances here alludes to virtue, which she valuesmore than silver or gold. think he will no longer allow me to go into Burgundy. My son has implored of me to come and see to his welfare and settle up things; but unless it is absolutely necessary we shall not go to him: so that, my darling, there is little hope of seeing you by that means. ↩