Letter 1827. To Mother Francoise Madeleine Ariste1 and to

To Mother Francoise Madeleine Ariste1 and to the Mistress of Novices at Troyes. Moulins, 20 August [1641]. Vive >& Jésus!

My dearest Daughters,—The union which God has put into your two dear hearts makes me feel that one letter will suffice between the dear Mother and the Mistress of Novices, since we have such an innumerable number to answer. It is a great consolation to me to see such cordial relations between you and the good Mother of the Faubourg Saint- Jacques [the Second Monastery of Paris]. This is as it should be, and so must we remain content with whatever measure of success Our Lord permits us. As for my opinion, dearest daughters, I think you will do well to keep this poor sister, for wherever she is she will have to bear her cross. It will not be less in another monastery than in yours, and this desire to change always puts it into the heads of others to make the same demand.

We shall not fail to pray for the Rev. Mother of the Trinity; give her my kind respects. Do, both of you, all you possibly can to pacify Sister Anne Thérése’s mind.

• ‘Mother F. M. Ariste, professed in the First Monastery of Paris in 1623, was a young girl of quality. Joined to this advantage she had great beauty, a remarkable memory, a sweet and sympathetic temperament, a pleasant voice, and great power of agreeable conversation, which procured for her the sobriquet of Ja belle éloquente. Generously following the call of God, she sought to hide herself in the cloister, and therein God hid her so effectually from herself that she was conscious only of the defects of her soul, and always sought to lower, humiliate, and bring discredit on herself. Immediately after her profession Our Lord showed her that, in return for her love in the triple vow she had made, He would bind Himself to her by a triple gift of His Heart, which should bring great profit to her soul, that of interior prayer, of mortification of all the senses and of the mind, and a long bodily infirmity’ (Mother de Chaugy).

‘This infirmity did not, however, prevent Sister Frangoise Madeleine from being sent on the foundation of the Second Monastery of Paris, and, later, on that of Troyes, where she made herself very useful and wrought perfection in her own soul. She was elected Superior after Mother C. M. Amaury, and with great virtue and happiness served the house of Troyes for twelve years. May her memory be held in perpetual benediction.’—Année Sainte, vol. vi.

I am aware from what others tell me that you are already doing this; nevertheless, I do not cease to recommend it to you, for we must have great forbearance with these poor weak minds. Don’t trouble about what she says of you, for she would do just the same with another superior.

To conclude, I beg our dear sister Mistress of Novices not to lament so much over my coming to Moulins; it is not in order to be made Superior here, for we have our election next Thursday,’ and after that we hope, please God, to return to our dear monastery when what we came for has been accomplished here. Things cannot be done so quickly. Grant me always the charity of your prayers and those of the sisters and novices, that I may perfectly accomplish the will of God. Yours, etc.

P.S.—Very dear daughter, we have just received Sister Déposée’s letter, as also that of the good sister to whom I am replying. I tell you in confidence, dear daughter, that I should be very glad if they did not write to me, while I am here, without absolute necessity, for I find myself somewhat overwhelmed with visitors and correspondence, having no one to relieve me. I have not even time to dictate my letters, so much does the parlour take possession of me. Let me know if it is necessary that I should myself answer your spiritual Father. Fearing I may not be able to do so, I think of employing one of our sisters to write for me.