Letter 222. To M. Michel Favre

To M. Michel Favre, Confessor of St. Francis de Sales, and of the Religious of the Visitation at Annecy. [Paris, 1619.] Vive > Jésus!

You shall only have these few lines, my dear Father, for, now that you see him whom your heart desires, too long letters would, without doubt, put you out of conceit with me. I share your satisfaction and I cannot tell you the consolation I feel in the thought that his Lordship, that best of Fathers, is in the midst of all his poor people as a king of benediction and a most tender Father who profitably and gently provides for all their bodily needs with an eye to their spiritual profit. How fortunate you are to be continually the witness of his actions! Make good use of this favour, and do not slumber in the spiritual delights of our dear little Annecy—I love it better than all the great towns of the world. They do not equal it in piety.

There is nothing more to say, my dear Father, except that these night-watches of his Lordship would be insupportable to me if I did not feel sure that our good God takes a special care of him to preserve him for the service of His greater glory. You ought, as far as you are able, to lessen the affairs that occupy him by day; but, as for those who come to him, there is no remedy, for his incomparable kindness can refuse none of his poor people. To do so would be a double burden to him, because of his desire to give contentment and satisfaction to everyone. He is a prodigy of virtue and goodness, is this most worthy Father. Ask God to let me imitate him in something, and believe me, yrs. etc.