Letter 1703. To Mother Marie Suzanne Baudet

Superior at Nevers. Annecy, 7 June, 1640.

Vive > Jésus!

My very dear Daughter,—Praise be to the most holy Sacrament of the Altar! It is the Feast of Corpus Christi, and I am taking advantage of an opportunity to send you our affectionate greetings and to tell you that we have received your box and, I think, all your letters. So you need not any longer be uneasy. Please accept on the part of our community and of myself our very humble thanks for the beautiful communion cloth you have sent us. We have, as you wished, offered it to our Blessed Father, and have carefully put it up with the vestment for the much-desired canonisation.

ruly, dear daughter, your sisters are marvellous needlewomen; ours, though they work well, cannot do anything like this; however, they do not know this stitch on both sides. Embrace affectionately the sisters who have done this lovely work, and tell them that our wish for them is that their souls may each be a white and spotless foundation whereon, meeting with no resistance on their parts, the divine Spouse outlines and embroiders to His liking. And although all the community may not be embroiderers, we wish, in accordance with the holy unity which charity has established amongst us, that all may share our thankfulness and the good wishes we send; and we hope that they will give us a share in their prayers, so that we may employ this holy time according to the intentions of our Mother, Holy Church.

It has occurred to me, dear daughter, to exhort you never to open your doors except to foundresses and benefactresses. The entrance of ladies who have not these rights is very much to be condemned, and we should be most careful about it. I do not tell you this without good reason. His Lordship is so admirable a prelate and father to you that I feel sure he will uphold you in maintaining your observance to the full. You are very fortunate in possessing a bishop so full of merit. May God preserve him long for His glory and your profit! He ought to see your election list, and if he wishes you to be put on it again, you must not object. Submit your own wishes to the holy will of God. If His providence discharges you, bless Him, and make use of the time of rest to humble yourself, and keep the while all the closer to Him. If you are re-elected, bless Him still, and with humility and confidence work at the good government of your house. ... Yours, etc.