Letter 1677. To Mother Anne Louise de Marin de Saint-Michel

Superior at Avignon. Annecy, 23 March, 1640.

Vive > Jésus!

My Daughter who is ever more dear to me,—I confess that I agree with your Charity in greatly disliking this eagerness to multiply our houses, for I fear me lest good subjects may fail them. Nevertheless, having weighed the points in your letter, in the presence of God and with no other end in view than His glory and that of corresponding to the pious intentions of those who wish to found us, it seems to me that Our Lord offers you by means of this proposed foundation [at Tarascon] a number of little advantages for the greater convenience and comfort of your house. But what is deserving of more consideration is the spontaneous action of these good people who are all so united in wishing for its establishment, without any proposition whatever on your part, for this looks as if the inspiration came from God. May He, in His goodness, make it the vehicle of blessings for the town and for your house.

As to temporal matters, it is a distinct advantage to have the town in the same diocese and only three leagues distant from you: for the proximity of the monasteries will facilitate your giving a helping hand to one another. Since you have been offered a house so well furnished, I would advise you to accept it for as long as you may require. This house, added to the revenue of two thousand crowns, together with the minor conveniences and the girls of good family who are ready to join you, removes, it seems to me, all financial anxiety. Sister N., being, as you say, so good and virtuous, will do well in the new house; but, on the other hand, her loss will inconvenience you. Indeed, seeing, as you tell me in your last letter, that you have a dozen very capable subjects of excellent judgment and intelligence, and who know how to pray well and walk steadfastly in the true observance, I trust, under your careful guidance, that God will more and more confirm your community in virtue and in the spirit of the Institute.

Oh, my daughter! what a fervent Adveniat regnum tuum | you must have said, for now Jesus, our divine Master, has indeed taken entire possession of your soul, and there He reigns quite tranquilly. Oh, the power of grace! It is beyond human ken—the language of angels can alone express it. The Omnipotent has absorbed all the powers and faculties of your soul. What bliss! If souls knew how to surrender themselves wholly up to God, the favours they would receive would be quite other than those they now experience. That which our infirmity cannot do is wrought by the sweet goodness of His omnipotent grace! Ask Him in your mute language to establish His reign and His union within us, while I pray Him to continue His graces to you. My dearest daughter, write to me fully about the guidance of God over you, and tell me, if it is possible to do so, something of this change of state which goes from purity to purity in holiest union, ever increasingly growing more simple and more intimate. Alas! I am utterly incapable of these sublime ways of God, but ask Him to make me very humble. I remain wholly yours.