Letter 1432. To Mother Francoise Gasparde de la Grave

My very dear Daughter,—From your affection for us I feel sure you are longing for our news. If one of your letters, though one that I received some time ago, is still unanswered, it is because of the upset of travelling. Here we are at Chambéry since the 27th of this month. Thank God, our journey through Provence has been a most happy one. It has given me immense consolation and many subjects of thanksgiving to see, in all the houses we had the privilege of visiting as we made our tour, how His sweet goodness was pouring down graces and blessings, and how great peace, union, and love of their vocation reigned in them. All these monasteries have excellent Superiors. Many whose houses we were unable to visit came to meet us at Aix, and assured us, thanks to Our Lord, that their convents were in equally satisfactory state. You tell me, dearest daughter, that your town is very much infected with the plague. I am greatly distressed to hear it, though indeed to die of it, God willing, may be desirable these times; for the miseries, the calamities, the desolation consequent on these wars are so terrible that unless Our Lord has pity on His people our condition seems hopeless. The wars have brought affliction upon many of our houses, and we must pray earnestly to God for them. Savoy has so far escaped; yet it is in fear and trepidation, for there is no knowing when all this will end, and Savoy has its own share of misery. Money is not to be had there. I beseech of Our Lord to take the matter in hand and make all succeed to His glory.

Saluting all our dear sisters, I beg of them to keep themselves in readiness for all God asks of them. May holy love be theirs and yours in a special manner, dearest daughter. Yours, etc.