Letter 1510. To Mother Catherine Elizabeth de la Tour

at Gray). {Annecy, 1637.] Vive > Jésus!

My very dear Daughter,—It has greatly consoled me to get more detailed news of you, for we were anxious at not having received any since your departure. None of your letters, except that dated the 11th of September, has reached us. I thank God for the courage He has given you in looking after your little flock so profitably. This little flock is very tenderly loved by me, and it gives me great pleasure to see that you and it find all your contentment in our Institute. Such is the true life of the daughters of the Visitation. As to you yourself, dearest daughter, neither let the toil you have to undergo nor your incapacity

This money that has been given to serve for your needs shows you how you have cause to trust in the providence of our good God, who never fails to help those who trust in His sweet goodness.

Since you are getting on well where you are, beware of making a change of place before peace is well established, and do not move without the advice of your friends.

Be careful what subjects you receive, so as not to admit any who are not truly virtuous. You have done wisely not to burden yourself in this respect.

Your long letter, dearest daughter, has given me great pleasure, for I read in it God-given strength and courage to serve your holy family by the example of your great fidelity to the common life. This will, believe me, bring you much sweet peace of soul. I feel impelled to bless and thank Our Lord for it, and this I do with all my heart. I love you with sincere and cordial affection, be assured of this, and that it is out of the question that I could mistrust you. I have full confidence in you, and believe you to be one with me. May God give you the grace to be perfectly and most holily His. Amen.

My most good and dear daughter, keep up and practise this spirit of gentleness and kindness towards your sisters, and towards all with whom you come in contact, bearing with great charity all that God puts in your way, and give your sisters confidence to tell you everything freely, while you, on your part, should never show any repugnance nor any sensitiveness. Make merit out of all, and God will bless you. I beseech His goodness to do so. I remain wholly yours in Him.¹

Footnotes

1. Mother Catherine Elizabeth was one of those souls predestined to great labours and sufferings for the glory of the Lord Jesus. Soon after her reception at the Visitation of Dijon she was sent to the Foundation of Besangon, and then to the First Monastery of Annecy, from which, in a short time, she was removed to succeed her cousin, Mother M. Frang¢oise dela Tour- Remeton, in the government of the Community of Champlette, removed to Gray. The monasteries of Salins, Autun, Langres, Montuel, and Seyssel had successively the privilege of possessing this true religious. In all of them her zeal exemplified those words of the Imitation of Christ: “Love maketh light all that is burdensome, and equally bears all that is unequal .. . for love proceeds from God, and cannot rest but in God above all things created.’—Challoner’s translation, Book III, chap. v. preoccupy you, but trust always to divine Providence. And at the beginning of all exercises pertaining to your superiorship, as often as you can, humble your spirit before God, and beg His help to do whatever you are about to undertake well and according to His good pleasure. Be assured, dearest daughter, that if you do as I tell you, Our Lord, who has Himself put you in this charge, will, by means of you, lead and govern your family. Keep your courage high then always; never let it be cast down whatever fault you may commit. That lay-sister novice is not suitable to our manner of life. You have done well in sending her away. I am greatly consoled to hear from you that you honour those who preceded you, and follow in their footsteps. This shows a good and a truly humble heart and will make your daughters love and esteem you all the more. ↩