Letter 1570. To M. Noé Brulart, Commander de Sillery
My very honoured and dear Father,—Blessed for ever be our most sweet Saviour, who draws His glory and the happiness of souls out of things that in the judgment of men are the most unlikely and the least hopeful. Such are the marvels of His omnipotence and infinite mercy in regard to what is happening in this business, and particularly to the person of the very dear Mother Prioress [of Loudun].+ We have seen the Holy Names renewed that are imprinted on her hands, [by means of which] it has pleased the incomprehensible Goodness to manifest the power He has placed in the intercession of our Blessed Father. It is for us a subject of peculiar consolation and of a thousand thanksgivings. You are, I perceive, quite conscious of the estimable qualities with which God has endowed this good Mother. In truth I look upon her as a chosen soul, humble, frank, simple, with a capable mind, and great truthfulness. Her way of prayer is, I think, very good; it is easy and altogether solid. We have spoken about you, my very
As for the affair of the Temple! and the novena for it, we have not begun it yet, as we are in a great bustle here this week on account of the multitudes of people who come to see the good Mother Prioress. We have hardly had time to talk it over, although we have several times discussed your plan about the Temple. It appears to be so evidently for the glory of God that one cannot doubt but that His goodness will accomplish it. As a rule the works of God are contradicted, and the more contradiction they meet with, the more, usually, does the work succeed to His glory. Our Blessed Father used to say, as you know, my dear Father, that we should with firm courage and a long breath, without ever growing slack, pursue the good works committed to us by God, so long as we see His holy willin them. But he also said that we should, if such were God’s good pleasure, cease the pursuit—nay, even, if it did not succeed, sweetly and tranquilly abandon it altogether. The Saint was admirable in this practice. Oh! my very dear Father, if it should be Our Lord’s will that the affair of the Temple go no further—which, however, I do not think—His divine goodness will take into account your desires and all the plans you have resolved on about it. Besides, it has already been the means of a thousand benefits for your neighbour and for your own dear soul, which I am sure is greatly enriched thereby. It may be that this last act of humility—your peaceful and tranquil relinquishment of the scheme—is worth more than a thousand little undertakings.
Oh, may God be blessed, who gives us so many graces! As to our Blessed Father’s cause, since God has put a reasonable hindrance in the way, we must have patience and await His good pleasure; but when it can be taken up again, I do not think we need delay on account of the fears of the Capuchins. We are kept very busy with so
May God make you all His own and very holy, and do not forget me before His divine Majesty, whom I beg to preserve you. And you, my very dear Father, look upon me as yours without reserve, for I truly am, etc.1
Footnotes
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The extraordinary circumstances of the possession of the Ursulines of Loudun belong to history. We will only recall here the facts regarding the journey of Mother Jeanne des Anges to Annecy. As is well known, this religious was possessed of devils who tormented her, and from whom she was only delivered after having made a vow to visit the tomb of St. Francis de Sales. Constrained to obey the exorcisms of Pére Surin, S.J., the spirits of darkness, upon quitting her, left imprinted on the left hand of Mother Jeanne des Anges the names of ‘ Jesus, Marie, Joseph, Francis de Sales,’ so that all, says a contemporary author, might be persuaded of the reality of the possession and of the submission of the demons to the holy Church of Christ. In reply to a letter from Pére Surin, dated February 16, 1659, Mother Jeanne des Anges says: ‘ If afterrecommending the thing to God, Father Anginot, Father Batide, and yourself judge it well that I oppose the visits of my Angel and the renewal of the Holy Names which I bear on my hands, I am quite ready to do so. I will pray to God to stop all these things, and will ask Him with so much affection that I hope in His goodness He will grant me my request. ... For God knows I want only Him, and all the rest is nothing to me.’—Spiritual Letteys: Surin, Letter lxii. London: Art and Book Co., 1892. dear Father; she respects you, greatly esteems your piety, and appears to receive comfort from you. But who does not? for in very truth you have a heart full of kindliness for those whom you love and who reciprocate your affection —an affection all in God and a help to virtue. Your dear soul is so full of ardour that when it comes in contact with those who seek only God it becomes more and more on fire. Indeed, the feast would have been complete, as would have been our consolation and that of several others, persons of distinction, if you had come. But I no longer dare to hope for this pleasure and incomparable honour. Not only your delicacy of health deprives us of all such expectation, but likewise the good works in which God employs you. I trust, however, in His infinite goodness and in the incomprehensible merits of Our Lord that we shall meet each other in heaven to bless and praise God forever. So beit. Amen. I am in admiration of your zeal in the service of God, and in the pursuit of your own perfection—a grace that is a great gift from God. The attraction which you now feel to despoil yourself completely of the goods of this world is a noble thought. Such a thought deserves to be carefully examined, so that you may know clearly whether it is a divine inspiration and the will of God, who wishes its effect to take place; or, only a disposition of will and a resolve to follow and to do what shall be plainly discernible as the holy will of God. For sometimes Our Lord asks us to doa good work when He wishes only our consent and not its accomplishment. Since in your humility and great kindness you wish me to speak fully and give my opinion simply and frankly to the good Mother [Ursuline], I have done so. She will tell you all I said. I am not capable of making a decision in such important matters, in which everything consists in clearly seeing and getting to know by your movements and interior lights what God wills. And once His will is known there should be no further doubt or fear of taking up the work, as, in His goodness, He provides all that is necessary, disperses clouds, and removes difficulties. Our community will offer up prayers and communions for this special intention, for you know how much we are yours. 284. SAINT JANE FRANCES DE CHANTAL * Commander de Sillery was thinking at this time of founding, in connection with the Order of Knights of Malta of which he was Commander, seminaries for the instruction of priests as well as lay students. The Grand Prior of France had even named him his Vicar-General, sharing with him the power and authority to visit the commanderies and establish the reign of Christ in souls. But the opposition to his project was so strong that M. de Sillery was forced to abandon it. much writing and so many visits on account of the good Mother. ↩
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