Letter 1439. To the Reverend Mother Marie de la Trinité

To the Reverend Mother Marie de la Trinité, Prioress of the Carmelite Convent at Troyes. [Annecy, 1636.] Vive > Jésus!

My most dear and good Mother,— May the divine Saviour of our souls fill your soul and those of all your dear sisters with His holy and sacred love! Here we are, thank God, happily returned to our blessed houses of Annecy. As you know, we have two houses here, in which, methinks, the sisters live in a charity and union altogether pleasing to our good God. Greater innocence, simplicity and obedience than reign in this second monastery could not be seen. As for the first—and indeed to God alone be the glory—it keeps up its high standard, and I even find it grow in the stability of true religious virtues, in exactitude to observance, and in union with God. There are rare souls in that house, and on both houses Our Lord spreads many sweet favours. May His sovereign goodness be eternally blessed. Truly, my very dear Mother, I tell you in confidence that in all the houses I visited on my journey I found a plenitude of God’s blessings; peace and union reigned within them, and the sisters had a very great love and esteem for their vocation, with a spirit of holy joy to which nothing, it seems to me, can be added. I know it will give you consolation to hear this because of your love for the little Institute, and still more for the glory it gives to God.

On my journey I saw two or three of your houses. The holy perfume of their virtues is spreading itself everywhere and is very great. I was specially consoled at Aix, in Provence. The Mother there I found bore your name, and it gave me pleasure. From all that family I received great edification.

You see I must tell you all our little news, my dearest Mother, for I love you so tenderly, in our good God, whom I once more beg to fill us and all my dearest sisters, your daughters, with the abundance of His holy love. The profession of the little one gives me joy. I beg of you and all your holy sisters to recommend me often to the divine mercy. I need prayers urgently. I will never forget you, and remain in heart, my good Mother, your very humble daughter, sister and servant in Our Lord. My dear companion salutes you all.