Letter 1721. To Mother Marie Augustine d’ Avoust

My very dear Daughter,—As God has given you the desire to write to me, you ought not to stifle it by the reflections of which you speak: for why has He made me leave

Soon after her profession in 1623 she was called upon to leave Blois for the foundation of the monastery of Mamers, which she governed for twelve years. After the death of St. Jane Frances de Chantal the signal miracles wrought in favour of the community of Mamers proved the affection of the Saint for the monastery and its Mother. Indeed, so great also were the favours conferred on this community through the intercession of St. Francis that the two holy founders seemed to vie with one another in the bestowal of their good gifts. Under Mother d’Avoust’s government the zeal of the sisters was well-nigh boundless. After her death on January 8, 1657, Pére Nouet, S.J., gave the following testimony of her virtue: ‘I have never met a more humble soul, nor anyone with a more thorough contempt of self. Others may admire the graces God bestowed upon her, but as for me they only serve to increase my admiration for her profound humility and for God’s way of leading her to complete detachment. I revere the spirit of the holy Bishop of Geneva in all those whom God has called to your Order, but I have never seen it More manifest than in this virtuous sister.—Taken from Année Sainte, vol. i.

Your earnest desire to live in complete confidence with my dearest Sister Jeanne Agnes? [Provenchére] is a great consolation to me. You know how good she is, what an affection and esteem she has for you, and how she would like to give you complete satisfaction. So I hope your mutual union and her humility will glorify God and edify your daughters.

There is no doubt that the less these young sisters know about affairs of the community the better. Now, when it happens that you and Sister Jeanne Agnes are not of the same opinion, gently tell her your reasons, and ask her to think them over and to consider your proposals. After which decide with your counsellors what action is best to take, and I am sure she will humbly submit.

You are very fortunate in having so good and virtuous a spiritual Father, and one so devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Recommend me, I beg of you, to his holy prayers. In conclusion, my dearest daughter, if you have sisters to whom you can give all those little charges that you have given to dear Sister Jeanne Agnes, let them have them, for I very much wish the sisters Déposées to have at least one year of rest, so as to recoup themselves a little. Give them the office of counsellor and coadjutrix, nothing else. As to building the chapel, it is, I think, quite reasonable and necessary to satisfy your good spiritual Father by permitting him to look after it.

You ought not to have given a general leave to the sisters to speak with dear Sister Déposée, for it only gives occasion for many little useless talks, and, although there is no fear of any harm coming of it in the present case, it opens the door to the practice, and this ought not to be. It is always better that they should subject themselves to ask for permission when they wish to speak to her, and then you ought to give it very cheerfully; as also, when she desires to speak to some sister, she should mention it to you with all freedom and confidence.

She of whom you speak has written to me: read my answer to her. Evidently she is of a very turbulent spirit.

As to the foundation you speak of, I see no great need of it Take my word for it, my daughter, it is much better to establish one house well than to make several little foundations which there is no means of maintaining. See what is said on this point in the ‘ Book of Customs,’ and try to keep to it. Now I have fully answered your letter, my dearest daughter. Be great-hearted, but humble and gentle in your government, without, however, pampering any softness or weakness in the sisters; though it may be necessary to give them support while striving to emancipate them, in order that they may walk with a free step faithfully and joyously in the way of their observances. Let an affectionate and holy union reign supreme amongst you, but especially must your love and trustfulness make dear Sister Déposée happy. Pray for me, etc.¹²

Footnotes

1. The Lord threw many a ray of light and many a dart of love into the heart of Mademoiselle d’Avoust before He finally conquered her. But once vanquished, she made rapid strides in the narrow way of the evangelical counsels. She adopted as her motto these strenuous words, ‘Nothing by halves,’ and, while striving to act up to it, her heavenly Conqueror one day said to her: ‘I wish to destroy in thee the being thou hast received from Adam, so that nothing may remain in thy soul save what thou hast from Me.’ As she heard these words she felt a great void in her soul, whereupon the Holy Spirit, taking possession of it, operated marvels therein and revealed to her ineffable mysteries. Unburdened of the heavy load of self, with eyes fixed upon the Sun of justice and of love, wherein all creatures are absorbed and lost to self, Sister Marie Augustine from that time forth found no happiness save in glorifying God and surrendering herself body and soul to the action of divine Providence. the world if not to serve equally and affectionately all our Visitation sisters? And I pray Him to give me the grace so to serve that it may be for His glory and their consolation. You see how God has placed you in a charge which will sometimes give you occasion to write to me, and I will willingly correspond. I very well remember you and the account you gave me of the favours which God had bestowed upon you in your religious life. It was indeed necessary that divine Providence, in destining you for your present work, should make you pass through many trials and temptations, in order to ground you in most holy humility and in the surrender of self into His blessed hands. Such are the fruits you ought to draw from these tribulations— given, likewise, that you may learn by experience how to guide and comfort others in thorny and difficult ways. So let not this state depress you, nor the longing to be rid of it; rather try to bear your cross sweetly and tranquilly, without noticing or making any reflections on what passes within you, but looking with submission up to God and busying yourself with the duties of your charge. How good of Him in the midst of your desolation to give you such a clear light and feeling of His presence! The memory of this favour ought to keep your heart up amidst your sorrow for the next three months—though I think His graces come to you more frequently than that. The resolution not to speak of self or of one’s belongings is good and necessary. Hold to it faithfully, and try to bring yourself to praise others and to wish to hear them praised more than yourself. To do so is essential. Be on the watch, I beg of you, in regard to this virtue, and ground our sisters well in it, for it is very important. ↩

2. The Sister Déposée. ↩