Letter 1464. To M. Noé Brulart, Commander de Sillery

at Paris. [Annecy] 9 February [1637].

Vive > Jésus |!

My true and very honoured Father,—I beseech the divine and most adorable Saviour of our souls to fill your dear and precious soul with His pure and holy love! I had not thought of writing to you this time, but the letters I have just received from your little, though, I think I may say, very dear, daughters of Melun give me occasion to do so. They tell me of all the consolation and edification they have received from the [canonical] visit which you have made with so much prudence, charity, and gentleness. The particulars they mention give me occasion to bless and thank the goodness of Our Saviour, who so bountifully

262. SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL bestows upon you at such times a participation of the spirit of our Blessed Father—a spirit so revered and so heartily desired by you. These poor daughters are enchanted; you have left themso full of peace and courage in well-doing. The two letters they have written are a great joy to me. They are all about you and about their annual confessions, which in your fatherly kindness you wished them to make to you. What a happiness is theirs to have sometimes the pleasure and the profit of seeing you! They tell me at full length the mode of your corrections and encouragements, under which they do not forget to say that they comported themselves with great simplicity, and how pleased you were with them in consequence. This, dear Father, comes of your gentle courtesy. I pray God to increase His holy blessings on this little flock, and your consolation in them.

Mother [A. Margaret Clement] appears to be always advancing, for Our Lord continues greatly to favour her. She is a truly humble and charitable soul.

Now for a word about the great comfort I received from the Superior of Paris! and her innocent and faithful flock. To tell the truth, there is nothing more to desire for this family save holy perseverance, by which may it continually increase in perfection even until it attain the fullness of it. May our good God ever more and more abundantly fill them with His holy love! They are fortunate to have you so near them, and happy in the affectionate devotedness that God has given you for them; for unending are the spiritual and temporal blessings they receive from you. We ought to be deeply grateful to God, and to you our true and unique Father, and ever to wish you abundant blessings in this life and the reward of a full measure of glory in the next. Such are my soul’s desires for yours. I beseech of you to do me the charity of praying for me with great diligence and fervour, for God has so willed that, I may tell you in confidence, lamin very great need of prayer. Ask, I beg of you, the virtuous souls that you know, especially the good Father Condren, to intercede for me. Before I conclude I must tell you that poor Sister Marie Angélique de Bigny entreated¹

Footnotes

1. Mother Favre. me very urgently to write to the Sister Superior of the faubourg, and ask her to receive her into her house, for she does not feel at home in our mountains and dreads staying on here when she reflects that I may not live long in this world, or in this country. She has no acquaintances and no one to whom she can turn here for comfort or assistance in her troubles; so she would like to be settled in some house where she may meet with more solace. In truth she excites my pity, for I see that these fears of hers are not without reason. Alas! We cannot give her the help and comfort that is not in our power; what we can, we most willingly do for her. She certainly conducts herself well in the Community, following all the exercises very peacefully and exactly, and I am sure she would do the same elsewhere. The important thing is to know if they are willing to do her this charity, which would indeed be a great one. I simply propose it to you, for I know well that when our sisters hear her request, they will tell you of it. Truly, since she is a daughter of the Institute, I am of opinion that the matter ought to be considered before God, who will perhaps inspire them with thoughts very different from human thoughts; for the eternal charity of our good God for souls is very great, and He spared neither His blood nor His life for their salvation and their repose. Perchance He may inspire them to do this kindness to the poor dear daughter. The doubts I feel as to what may be His holy will, together with her urgent entreaties, impel me to make the proposition in all simplicity and confidence, for you are our true and common Father, and I am your poor, insignificant, and unworthy daughter, who indeed wishes you our good God’s choicest Braces, etc:,, etc. ↩