Letter 1543. To a Superior of the Visitation

My very dear Daughter,—I must tell you in confidence if it was known all that I have had to bear from several great servants of God, even bishops and many of our sister superiors, to prevent a system of union with authority being established in the Institute, which they consider necessary for its preservation; for they hold me in such esteem that they fear when I die the union by charity that God has bestowed upon the Institute will perish and it will then degenerate; if you knew, I say, what I have suffered to prevent this, and the battles I have had to fight to remain solely under the authority of the bishops (which I know to have been the wish of our Blessed Father, who told me so not long before his death), you would see that they ought not to believe me capable of taking so traitorous a step. They know that the first impressions they received were without foundation, and this ought to prevent them from harbouring them a second time; for imagine, I beg of you, my exposing

LETTER 1551 vg by myself in full assembly as a deserter from our Institute! Alas! I do indeed deserve to be well put to shame, but not, by the grace of God, on this point. Moreover, divine Providence has defended me through strangers who have witnessed to the truth without my knowing it, and I did not speak. But bringing the matter up again and your silence distress me; however, I have put it all in Our Lord’s hands; He knows that I have neither part nor parcel in it, save for His glory. He knows 1 look for no recompense from creatures for any work or service His goodness wishes me to do, and that I am doing for this dear little Institute.

My daughter, let this be between us in absolute confidence. May God be blessed for all! Amen. Yours, etc.