Letter 337. To Mother Mane Jacqueline Favre

Truly, my very dear Daughter, one of the things in the whole world I most dread is a bad superior in our houses, © for I know well that happiness depends on good ones. Nevertheless, I have not condemned our sister, for I do not know who she is, though, indeed, I think she must be good Sister Compain,! but I knew not that she was with you. O my God, how you delight me by what you have told me! Verily I believe it will be more profitable to the house than ten years of religious life with less virtue. However, it is better not to speak about it, for the world, which only regards the exterior, would hold her in less esteem, nay, even the sisters might. So ask for a mistress of novices to be sent you, and then quite gently instruct and prepare this good sister for the charge of superior. There is no doubt God will bless her if she is humble, puts all her confidence in His goodness, and attaches herself faithfully to

Our Order has not so much need of spiritual succour from without as many others, for his Lordship’s instructions are so full that hardly anything can happen of which you will not find an explanation in the Conferences. It is our great happiness to need so little communication with those outside; provided we have a Jesuit father (for they are solid), or some other, four or five times a year, that is enough. Let us live on our own bread, it is the best for us. Here in Paris, where there is an abundance of all spiritual help, our sisters do not ask to speak to those without. Beyond our extraordinary confessions, only one, I think, has done so, and that only once or twice. All goes well and tranquilly, thank God.

You do very wisely not to be communicative with your neighbours. The Archbishop of Lyons is not here. He will find all in good order. May God bless your house, which I love with all my heart.

I and our sisters here salute affectionately all your sisters, especially our sister the assistant.

Adieu, my daughter; you know I am wholly yours.¹

Footnotes

1. Sister Marie Jacqueline Compain, professed of Lyons, governed the monasteries of Montferrand, Paray-le-Monial, and several others. She was a humble and gentle soul, singularly devoted to the will of God’s good pleasure. She died in our house of Lyons in 1670, the observance of the Rules. You can help her until the autumn. Perhaps Our Lord has not permitted our Sister Francoise Jéronyme to be employed at Montferrand so that she can be made use of elsewhere, for though we thought the Dijon foundation quite off, it appears to be on its feet again. I do not yet know when it will take place, but in a month, please God, we shall; meanwhile I will write our hopes to Sister F. Jéronyme without naming anyone to her, for the Archbishop of Lyons has left me to use my own discretion in the matter, and he will be satisfied. ↩