Letter 285. To Mother Jeanne Charlotte de Bréchard
I forgot to tell you that we have resolved to profess our Sister Marie Marguerite, but on a condition that will displease her relatives and will affect them, for which I am sorry. Make another effort, I beg of you, to settle matters; for it is foolish to put them off: we must endit. Be very affectionate to Madame de Meurle; she is a truly goodand sensible woman. Our Sister de Gouffier asks for five hundred crowns besides what you have procured for her: there is a bill of five hundred livres for the interest on her money. She is hard in her treatment of us, but God has His reasons for permitting it.
May Jesus, Our Saviour, who was poor, bless you. Amen. Pray and get fervent prayers for our sister the assistant,? who is very ill. Think of my anxiety.
' LETTER 311
To Mother Mane Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Montferrand. {Paris] 7 February, 1621. Vive > Jésus! My very dear Daughter,—I was bent on not writing to you until I had found out where you were stopping on your journey, and also until our good Sister de Frouville? was settled here. Her contract was concluded yesterday after millions of difficulties, and now, this morning, when we proposed to give her the habit, it is nine o’clock and we are still in doubt as to whether the ecclesiastical superior will perform theceremony. Oh! how full of contradictions are the things of this life! But our good God, who permits this for our trial, wills that we should draw great profit therefrom, and truly this is what we ought to do.
I think you know that the monastery of Turin has been taken possession of in the name of our Congregation. The rent is twelve hundred gold crowns. Youare to be Superior, but his Lordship told me that the princesses and those good souls who desire to enter wish to keep the old Madre? for some months. I do not know what he has decided, but if they invest us with this charge it will, I feel sure, be a great consolation that you and I should undertake it together. Still in all may the holy will of God be done. The house you are in will soon be able to do without you, and I think you should leave about St. John’s Day; it would not be necessary to go so soon if we were only going to Lyons.
Oh yes, my dearest daughter, you can have two foundresses, and each of them may adopt another. I have answered your other questions. We expect his Lordship with the Prince Cardinal; but, as you know, our princes are so uncertain that we despair of them. He has received the Rules, but I have not. There are several good subjects waiting, until we get a house, to join us. Those we have already received are excellent, and progress, thank God, with great equanimity.
Adieu and good morning, my most dear daughter, to you and to all your flock. The cold impels me to finish: it is severe here. I long for newsof you: we have had none since Christmas. In conclusion I must tell you our most holy Lady and Mother always favours me by settling up something good for me during her octaves. Thank God for it. May He give us the grace to serve Him faithfully. Amen. Have I not told you that our Sister de Gouffier is no longer with us?2
Footnotes
Chapter 41 of 252